Thursday, statewide leaders gathered at Sailboat Beach in Deer Creek State Park to commemorate the completion of a massive infrastructure upgrade to the Deer Creek Dam.  The Deer Creek intake project began in 2019, when the Provo River Water Users Association joined forces with state leaders to upgrade aging intake and guard gate systems at the Deer Creek Dam. The dam, which is about 85 years old, saw key components modernized to strengthen operational efficiency and water delivery for downstream users.  The project came with a nearly $100 million price tag, but that cost came without draining the reservoir, which allowed for uninterrupted water and recreational use throughout a three-year construction period.  Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said she is grateful for the people who steward projects that “can benefit future generations.”“The fact that this intake project was done in such an innovative way, in a way that didn’t have to drain the reservoir,” Henderson said. “It is just very impressive and I’m very grateful for that.” Natural Resources Commissioner Joel Ferry said Deer Creek “isn’t just a scenic backdrop,” but the “life blood” of millions of Utahns who depend on the reservoir for water.  “(A) vision like this doesn’t just happen. This was an ambitious project,” Ferry said. “Utah is one of the fastest growing states in the country. It’s also one of the driest, and so these types of projects, these reservoirs, are our reserve.” Ferry said keeping a “bank account” of water in place is critical for life in Utah, where nearly the entire state is in some form of drought. “It’s critical to what we do and how we live our lives, and so making sure that we have the investment and that we’re making the right choices and how we use this water is so important to all of us,” Ferry said.  The Deer Creek intake system delivers drinking water, secondary irrigation, industrial and agricultural water to a large portion of Utahns.  New guard gates and intake systems will help maintain and manage water levels in the reservoir. The dam is also now equipped to ward off degradation by invasive species such as quagga mussels. AE2S Design representative Deon Stockert said when the project began it was not a question of draining the reservoir. It was a question of how to work “in the wet.” That included divers working underwater. “There was no rulebook for this project,” Stockert said. “We had to create it for ourselves.” Challenges throughout the project went beyond working underwater, and included battling high winds while operating atop a barge.  Provo River Water Users Association General Manager Jeff Budge said the “monumental” project was a shared vision and responsibility. He complimented stakeholders for thinking “outside the box.” With the completion of the Deer Creek intake project construction also comes the reopening of Sailboat Beach for public access at Deer Creek State Park.  The post State leaders ‘grateful’ for completion of Deer Creek Dam upgrades, intake project appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less