News Release Archive

Strawberry Valley Project Celebrates Centennial

Media Contact: Don Merrill , 801-379-1074, dmerrill@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: June 27, 2005

Strawberry Reservoir - The Strawberry Valley Project, near Spanish Fork in north-central Utah, commemorated 100 years of service in a ceremony on June 24 within view of the main project feature, Strawberry Reservoir. The event, co-hosted by the Strawberry Valley Water Users Association and the Bureau of Reclamation, commemorated the foresight and muscle of those who planned and built the project in the earliest days of the 20th century.

Investigations into a means to transport water from the Colorado Basin, through the Wasatch Divide and to the Bonneville Basin began as early as 1903. The project was authorized by Congress in 1905 with construction beginning the following year. The Strawberry Valley Project was one of the first large scale water projects built by the Federal Government, and the first to establish repayment contracts to the Government for project construction. The project was completed in 1922.

The project consists of several major features, which includes Strawberry Reservoir, the Indian Creek Dike and feeder canal, the Strawberry Tunnel, the Springville-Mapleton lateral, the Highline Canal, the Power Canal and the Upper and Lower Spanish Fork Power Plants. The original Strawberry Dam was breached in 1974 to allow for the larger Soldier Creek Dam which enlarged Strawberry Reservoir.

More than 100 people attended Friday's event, to include the John Keys, the Commissioner of Reclamation, Utah Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert and Joe Hunter, Chief of Staff for Congressman Chris Cannon. Mayors from communities throughout Utah County as well as representatives from a number of water entities were also present. The event featured a moving flag ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 999 of Provo, Utah, music from the 23rd Army Band and a vocal rendition of the National Anthem by BYU Graduate Mrs. Carmella Canete. Guest speakers were presented with a commemorative plaque by Strawberry Water Users Association President Garry Brown.

The Strawberry Valley Project provides irrigation to more than 45,000 acres of farm land, generates 1,550 kilowatts of hydroelectric power and provides more than 17,000 acres of water surface for recreation to nearly half a million visitors annually.

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