Imagine water cascading down a narrow canyon. It’s Red Butte Creek, a vital stream near Fort Douglas. This creek’s story flows through time.
Red Butte Creek starts high in the mountains. Its source is in Red Butte Canyon, at about 8000 feet. The creek then winds its way down to the Jordan River. It drops to an elevation of about 4400 feet. Red Butte Creek measures just over 15 miles.
Back in the 1850s, pioneers eyed Red Butte Canyon. They wanted its red sandstone for the LDS Salt Lake Temple. A wooden railroad was considered. But they chose granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon instead.
The U.S. Army played a significant role. Fort Douglas was established near Red Butte Creek’s mouth in 1862. The Army protected the watershed. This protection grew stronger over the years. In 1969, the U.S. Forest Service acquired the canyon. They declared it a Research Natural Area.
By 1875, the Army built two reservoirs. They diverted water from Red Butte Creek to fill them. In 1890, a court declared Red Butte Creek’s waters belonged solely to the U.S. Army. That same year, Congress passed a law. It protected Fort Douglas’ water supply. No land could be sold, and no further watershed development was permitted.
A dam was built on Red Butte Creek between 1928 and 1930. It supplied additional water to Fort Douglas. This continued until the fort’s closure in 1991.
Red Butte Creek’s flow changes throughout the year. Spring brings high flows from snowmelt. The flow decreases significantly during the rest of the year. This lower flow is due to groundwater. In May, the average flow is nearly 15 cubic feet per second. By September, it drops to just 2 cubic feet per second.
The canyon is mostly untouched. The U.S. Forest Service keeps it gated. This preserves one of the most pristine areas along the Wasatch Front.
However, Red Butte Creek has faced challenges. In 2010, a Chevron pipeline ruptured. Nearly 33000 gallons of oil spilled into the creek. The oil reached the Jordan River. Wildlife had to be rescued. Restoration efforts followed to clean up the creek.
Despite this incident, Red Butte Creek remains an important resource. It supports diverse ecosystems. It also tells a story of human interaction with nature. Red Butte Creek is a reminder of both our potential impact and our capacity for stewardship.