Trailhead to Viewing Tower
Construction of Provo River Delta’s new Skipper Bay trailhead is complete. The trailhead includes a non-motorized boat ramp, vault restroom, parking for up to 17 cars or trucks and five trailer pull through spots, and several horse hitching posts. The trailhead will provide access to the new Skipper Bay trail and eventual loop (approximately 3.8 miles).
With the trailhead complete, construction crews will be mobilizing to the site of the new Wildlife Viewing Tower located on the west end of the new Skipper Bay trail, near Utah Lake. The tower design was recently finalized and helical piers for the 25-foot tall structure have been staked. Construction of this feature is expected to be completed this October. [View our anticipated project completion schedule]
In addition to these features, the new Skipper Bay Trail and the equestrian trail accompanying it are being paved, benches are being installed and locations for interpretive signage in the delta have been established.
Please note, although the Skipper Bay trailhead has been constructed and looks mostly complete from afar, it will remain closed, along with the rest of the Provo River Delta project site, until the project is opened to the public on Saturday, October 26. Viewing tower construction will require heavy equipment movement through the delta project, thus for your own safety and to allow us to finish the project on time, please stay out of the area until it opens.
Feeling Nostalgic?
Take a trip down delta memory lane with reviews of the project’s last four years of construction:
Original Channel Activities
While work on the delta area is wrapping up, crews are continuing work on the original Provo River channel from near Lakeshore Drive trailhead downstream to Utah Lake State Park. The most noticeable activity over the next few months will be the installation of boat ramps and fishing platforms. Currently, Alligator Park is closed while crews use this area for boat ramp construction. We expect this area to reopen by September 16, but trail users should expect other periodic closures until all recreation features are constructed (see our anticipated construction completion schedule).
Alligator Park closed until September 16, 2024.
Other work, which may continue into 2025 includes, completion of the small dam near Utah Lake State We have also planned multiple clean up days to assist in removing the trees and vegetation that have fallen into the channel over the past few months.
Throughout the summer, around 10 cubic feet per second of water has been delivered to the original channel from the Provo River. With the higher than average spring runoff that lasted well into June this year, debris from the river regularly plugged up the diversion, making delivery of this water challenging. We are planning to make some changes to the diversion structure over the winter to facilitate water delivery at high river flows.
Aeration of the channel has been underway since July of 2023 as we evaluate the best methods to maintain oxygen levels in the channel. The number of diffusers (instruments that release oxygen into the water) was increased in June 2024. The accompanying water quality monitoring has shown this increase in diffusers has helped spread increased oxygen throughout a much larger area of the channel. We will continue to monitor water quality in the channel and adjust the aeration system as needed.
In the coming years, the channel will be managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) as a community fishery. The UDWR will be evaluating the channel to determine what fish species will be appropriate for the area and develop any necessary fishing regulations. With the work planned for this area, we anticipate the channel to continue to support recreation and be an amenity for those who use the Provo River trail.
