This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
During its mid-20th century heyday, Ogden prospered as a railroad hub and industrial center. Unfortunately, remnants of those years still scar the banks and flow of the Ogden River.
"We've been left with the remains of an industrial era," said Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey, referring to the many salvage yards and routine dumping of concrete and debris along the river corridor.
In June 2009, the Weber County city received $1 million in federal stimulus dollars to begin a $7 million-plus restoration of a section of the river that extends 1.1 miles from Washington Boulevard west to a railroad bridge below Wall Avenue.
On Wednesday, the state Water Quality Board unanimously approved a $1 million hardship grant to allow crews to work through the winter and complete the restoration project by the end of 2011.
Another $1 million in matching funds will be sought from corporate and private sources to carry the restoration to completion. The new grant gives the city leverage to raise those remaining dollars, said Public Services Director Jay Lowder.
Without it, the project would have stalled through the winter, wasting prime time for conducting the required in-stream work and heavy bank construction.
The cash influx enables the city to retain its current contractor, Willard-based Ormond Construction, and to complete major structural work outside of irrigation season.
Water resource consultant Caroline Bradford beamed about the project's progress.
"We've put in storm water retention ponds — I call them wetland gardens," Bradford said.
These ponds, with built-in aerators, are positioned to collect sediment and pollutants before they hit the river — and wetland plants suck up some of that pollution.
"It's a very progressive way to deal with storm water through an urban corridor," Bradford said.
Besides restoring native vegetation and wildlife habitat, the project will also reduce future flooding.
"The buildup on the river banks got more and more severe, restricting the channel flow" — but river restoration has opened that up, Lowder said.
City Engineer Justin Anderson predicts that people will appreciate the finished product.
"They'll see a river that has improved water quality, improved banks and native plants coming up," Anderson said.
"And the trail network will be complete and in place to travel up and down the river," he said.
Funding Ogden River restoration
$1.55 million • Ogden City
$1.25 million • Federal stimulus dollars
$100,000 • Habitat Council
$823,000 • Central Weber Sewer
$100,000 • Weber County
$100,000 • Weber Basin Water (request)
$750,000 • Land conservation agreement
$48,000 • Blue Ribbon Fishery Council
$600,000 • Ogden Arts Council
$155,000 • Weber R.A.M.P. Fund
$1 million • Water Quality hardship grant
$1 million • New local donor campaign
Timeline
January 2010 • Groundbreaking
Winter 2010-11 • Complete in-stream, heavy bank work
Summer 2011 • Landscaping
Fall 2011 • Finish construction