Utah crews work to restore the habitat along the Jordan River

Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Trees, Inc. employees Nick Bleckert, left, and Trent Morris, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, cut down a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Trees, Inc. employees, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, cut down a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Employees with Trees, Inc., contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, put a russian olive tree through a wood chipper after cutting it down in the Big Bend Conservation area in West Jordan, Utah, October 21, 2013. The city. Of West Jordan is partnering w/ multiple agencies to remove invasive species from the area to help restore 70 acres of habitat.

Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Trees, Inc. employees Nick Bleckert, right, and Trent Morris, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, cut up a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Trees, Inc. employee Nick Malae, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, feeds a Russian olive tree into a wood chipper along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Trees, Inc. employees, (l to r) Tyson Malae, Nick Bleckert and Wayne Rose, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, remove a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

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Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune Trees, Inc. employees Nick Bleckert, left, and Trent Morris, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, cut down a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune Trees, Inc. employees, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, cut down a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune Employees with Trees, Inc., contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, put a russian olive tree through a wood chipper after cutting it down in the Big Bend Conservation area in West Jordan, Utah, October 21, 2013. The city. Of West Jordan is partnering w/ multiple agencies to remove invasive species from the area to help restore 70 acres of habitat. Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune Trees, Inc. employees Nick Bleckert, right, and Trent Morris, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, cut up a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune Trees, Inc. employee Nick Malae, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, feeds a Russian olive tree into a wood chipper along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune Trees, Inc. employees, (l to r) Tyson Malae, Nick Bleckert and Wayne Rose, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, remove a Russian olive tree along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Keith Johnson | The Salt Lake Tribune Trees, Inc. employee Nick Malae, contracted by Rocky Mountain Power, feeds a Russian olive tree into a wood chipper along the Jordan River, October 21, 2013, in an effort to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat along the river corridor. The City of West Jordan and the Jordan River Commission are partnering with multiple agencies including Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Conservation Corps. The Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project will restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· October 21, 2013 6:01 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Rocky Mountain Power tree crews and Utah Conservation Field Corps began removing Russian Olive and other invasive trees and vegetation along the Jordan River Monday near 8600 South to restore five acres of riparian habitat. The Jordan River Commission was recently awarded $50,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to return the area to a naturally functioning floodplain. Monday marked the first on-the-ground work of West Jordan city's Big Bend Habitat Restoration Project, which will eventually restore 70 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.