Mormon settlers arrived in Utah.

 

 

Additional water was needed to bring more land into production agriculture. Two Utah State Senators, Henry Gardner and John Lewis, visited/camped in Strawberry Valley and developed the idea to create the Strawberry Reservoir, trans-basin mountain conveyance tunnel, Indian Creek Dike and feeder canal, Springville/Mapleton lateral, Highline Canal, Power Canal and the Upper and Lower Spanish Fork Hydro-electric Power Plants.  

 

Local officials filed necessary paperwork to petition the U.S. Government to fund and construct a reservoir and power generation facilities.

 

The Strawberry Valley Project (SVP) was established – the first large-scale trans-basin mountain diversion from the Colorado River Basin to the Bonneville Basin.  The SVP received approval and funds ($3.5 million) were authorized for the SVP dams, diversion tunnel and ditch laterals. 

 

Construction begins on the Strawberry Tunnel – West Portal (elevation 7,650 feet). 

 

Large camp, of 75 men, is constructed at the West Portal.

 

Construction began on the Power Canal – located at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon stretching 3 miles from the Diversion Structure to the Power Plant.

 

Strawberry Tunnel excavation stopped because of slow progress & lack of funds.

 

Strawberry Tunnel excavation work resumed.  300 inches of snow fall. First water released down the Power Canal.  Spanish Fork Hydro-Power Plant began operations.

 

Spanish Fork Hydro-Power Plant is completed and immediately transfers electricity to the Strawberry Tunnel West Portal for expedited drilling.

 

Excretion water flows were approximately seven second feet during Strawberry Tunnel construction. 

 

Strawberry Tunnel was completed – total of 3.8 miles (19,091 feet), seven feet wide, nine feet high with a capacity of 600 cubic feet per second (cfs).  This tunnel moves water from the outlet of the Strawberry Reservoir through the Wasatch Divide for discharge into Diamond Fork (a tributary of the Spanish Fork River) and diversion to the Strawberry Power Canal to supply the Springville/Mapleton lateral, the Highline Canal system and the Upper and Lower Hydro-electric Spanish Fork Power Plants.

 

Strawberry Dam completed, including the Spillway.  This dam was the largest of its kind in Utah, standing 72 feet high. 

 

Earthquakes caused the Strawberry Dam to settle, no damage.

 

High Line canal construction was completed.

 

Construction began on the Springville/Mapleton Lateral.

 

Entire Strawberry Valley Project (SVP) was completed, serving 3,500 shareholders and irrigating approximately 40,000 acres of south Utah Valley farmland from Springville, Mapleton, Spanish Fork, Salem, Payson and Genola.

 

The Strawberry Water Users Association (SWUA) was incorporated.

 

The SVP was completed. 

 

The SWUA contracted with the Reclamation Service to operate, maintain and repay the debt of the SVP over a 50-year period. 

 

Strawberry Reservoir was enlarged by the construction of Soldier Creek Dam, located seven miles downstream from the old Strawberry Dam, to provide increased storage capacity. 

 

The SWUA made final debt payment – final check was $1,050.60.

 

Rebuilt the Spanish Fork Hydro-electric Power Plant. 

 

Rebuilt the Spanish Fork Diversion Structure and Power Canal.

 

SWUA transferred 56,000 acres to the U.S. Forest Service in Strawberry Valley (retained grazing and oil/gas rights) and received fee title to 95 acres in Strawberry Valley.

 

SVP Centennial Celebration near Strawberry Reservoir in Strawberry Valley.

 

SWUA Centennial Celebration at the Spanish Fork Hydro-electric Power Plant.