Willow Heights Conservation Area

In 2000-2001 Save Our Canyons helped to bring groups such as Utah Open Lands, the Utah Growth Commission, and Salt Lake City to the table in order to negotiate the preservation of 155 acres of open space in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

New ‘Heights’ in Canyon Preservation
Autumn 2001

After more than a year of negotiations, the Willow Heights drainage in Big Cottonwood Canyon will be forever preserved from developers who were trying to get approval for 32 homes to be built on 154 acres reaching all the way up to the pristine Willow Heights pond in an aspen grove. There were many people involved in preserving this important piece of land. Salt Lake City Public Utilities made this area a top priority and stood firmly behind water protection in promises not to allow its development. Utah Open Lands was instrumental in negotiating the deal over many months. Salt Lake City and the Utah Quality Growth Commission came up with the 2 million dollars to purchase the property from United Park City Mines. Utah Open Lands will oversee the conservation easement for this land ensuring that it never be developed. This is a tremendous advancement for protection of the Wasatch from which everyone in the valley will benefit. Our water will remain clean and the gorgeous aspen stands and wildlife habitat will remain undeveloped and open to the public.

To go to the Utah Open Lands website click here.