In spring 1983, City Creek overflowed toward downtown Salt Lake City on May 29, and Big Cottonwood Creek overtopped its dikes at the Cottonwood Cove mobile home park. The two events show how creek water can reach buildings in the city and its suburbs, and why a property near a creek needs a plan.
Key takeaways
- City Creek overflowed toward downtown Salt Lake City on May 29, 1983, so creek water has reached the city's core before.
- Big Cottonwood Creek overtopped its dikes at Cottonwood Cove in spring 1983, which shows that defenses can be exceeded.
- Utah's own water-rights records describe the 1983 overflows, so the event is part of the state's documented flood history.
- Creek floods reach homes through low openings, streets, yards and storm lines, not only through the channel itself.
- Peak-flow records are kept for Big Cottonwood Creek and the Jordan River, and they show how high the water has run.
- A property near any creek should know which channel is nearest, how it would reach the building and who to call first.
What happened in the spring of 1983?
In spring 1983, City Creek overflowed toward downtown Salt Lake City on May 29, and Big Cottonwood Creek overtopped its dikes at Cottonwood Cove. The records describe a period of high water that reached the city and nearby communities in more than one place.
The City Creek overflow on May 29 moved water toward the downtown area. That is a reminder that a creek running through or beside a city can change its course in a short time when the water is high. Streets, yards and basements can all become part of the water path when a creek leaves its channel.
Big Cottonwood Creek overtopped its dikes at the Cottonwood Cove mobile home park, a community that sat in the path of the water. The Utah Division of Water Rights records the event as part of the state's flooding history, and it reported that about 300 residents were displaced.
| When | What the record describes | Where it reached |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 1983 | City Creek overflowed toward downtown | Downtown Salt Lake City |
| Spring 1983 | Big Cottonwood Creek overtopped its dikes | Cottonwood Cove mobile home park |
| Ongoing | Peak streamflow records kept for Big Cottonwood Creek | Read alongside the event record |
Why did the creeks overflow?
A creek overflows when the water in its channel is more than the channel and its banks can carry. High flow, debris and the state of the ground around the creek all affect how quickly the water rises and where it goes.
Dikes and banks are built to hold a certain level of water, and a flood that exceeds that level finds the weak points. Water that tops a bank or a dike does not stop at the edge; it moves across the lowest ground nearby and into whatever is there.
Debris can also change the flow. Branches, silt and other material in a channel can narrow it, which pushes the water higher and sends it toward the banks. A creek that looks ordinary on a dry day can be quite different at high flow, which is why the channel is worth watching in wet seasons.
How does creek water reach a home?
Creek water reaches a home through the same openings that any outside water finds: low doors, window wells, floor drains, slab edges and the ground along the foundation. A house near a creek can take in water even if the creek does not reach its walls directly.
Water that leaves a creek runs across yards and streets before it reaches the building. A house can be wet from water that came down the street, not from the channel next door, so the route matters as much as the distance.
Storm drains and sewer lines can carry creek water back into a building when they fill. A floor drain in a basement can become an entry point during a flood, and the crew checks it on every creek call.
What does the 1983 record mean for planning?
The 1983 record shows that a creek overflow is a recognized local event, not a theoretical one. A property near a creek should plan as though a similar event could happen again, with a clear idea of its low points and its entry routes.
A planning step is to walk the route from the creek to the house, noting every place where water would meet the building. Those places include yards that slope toward the foundation, low spots in the street and any drain or inlet that could fill.
The second step is to keep the entry points clear. Window wells, basement doors and drains should be checked and cleared, and stored items should be kept off the floor. These are simple steps, and they reduce the damage a flood would do.
What do the peak-flow records show?
The U.S. Geological Survey keeps peak streamflow records for Big Cottonwood Creek, along with records for the Jordan River. Those records show the highest flow in each year and can be read alongside the documented events.
A peak-flow record is a measure of the water in the channel, not of the water at a given address. It helps a reader see how unusual a high-water season was, and it can be compared across years to show a pattern.
The record is most useful when it is read with the local history. The 1983 overflows show what happened on the ground, and the flow records show how much water was in the channel. Together they give a homeowner a clearer view of the risk than either one alone.
What should a homeowner do in a creek-flood season?
Watch the creek when the water is high, keep the entry points clear and know who to call. A written plan with the crew's number, the power shut-off location and the route to the nearest high ground is the most practical preparation.
Check the creek's condition after heavy rain, if you live near one. Look for debris in the channel, water over the banks and any new change in the flow. Report anything unusual to the local authorities as well as to your own crew.
Keep the plan with the property file. Include the name of the closest shut-off valve and the breaker for the lower level, and make sure every adult in the house knows where they are. A plan that is written down is easier to follow when the water is already in the street.
What did the 1983 events teach about recovery?
Recovery after a creek overflow is slower than after a pipe leak, because the water carries silt and reaches more materials. The 1983 events show that a community is affected for a long time, and that cleanup depends on careful handling of each building.
Silt from creek water settles into carpet, cracks and the spaces behind trim. It stays wet long after the surface looks dry, and it has to be removed rather than simply wiped. A cleanup that skips the silt leaves a problem behind.
Each building is different. The materials, the openings and the ground around it decide how much has to be removed and dried. A crew that reads the building from its lowest point can set a drying plan that matches what it finds, rather than a plan copied from the house next door.
What should a family do when the street itself is flooded?
Stay out of moving water on the street, do not drive through flooded roads, and follow the instructions of the local emergency authorities. A street that is under water can hide an open manhole, a washed-out edge and debris that is hard to see.
If the family must leave, leave early and by a route the officials have named or that is clearly above the water. A vehicle can be carried off a road by moving water more easily than most people expect, and a few inches of fast water can be enough to lose control of a car.
If the family is asked to stay put, keep to the upper floors or the highest dry room and keep the phone charged. Make sure someone outside the area knows where the family is and when they last checked in, so that a message can be passed on if the phone signal is lost.
How should the home be checked once the water recedes?
Wait until the authorities say it is safe, then check the outside first, the power next and the inside last. Look for cracks in the foundation, shifted doors and windows, and any new sign that the ground has moved near the house.
Walk the perimeter of the building and note where the water reached on the outside walls, fences and the foundation. Photograph those marks, because the height of the water line is part of the record for any claim and for the crew that comes to read the building.
Do not enter a room that still has standing water, mud or a sewage smell until a crew has confirmed the room is safe. Keep the electrical panel, the furnace and the water heater off until a qualified person has checked them, because they can be damaged by water.
How does this history fit with the rest of the local record?
The 1983 creek overflows sit alongside the Jordan River floods of 1896 and 1909, the Surplus Canal built in 1885 and the April 2023 state of emergency. Together they show that the valley's water comes from more than one source and can arrive in more than one season.
A homeowner who reads the whole record gets a more useful picture than one who reads a single event. Creeks, the river, the canal and the storm system all carry water toward the built environment, and each one leaves a different kind of damage.
The record is a starting point for planning, not a forecast. It tells a homeowner where to look and what has happened before, and a property inspection tells them how the water would reach their particular building.
Frequently asked questions
Did the 1983 creek floods reach downtown Salt Lake City?
City Creek overflowed toward downtown Salt Lake City on May 29, 1983. This guide does not describe the extent of the damage downtown, because that detail is not part of the summary it rests on.
How many people were affected by the 1983 overflow at Cottonwood Cove?
The Utah Division of Water Rights records that about 300 residents were displaced when Big Cottonwood Creek overtopped its dikes at the Cottonwood Cove mobile home park. The displacement figure is the state's, and it is cited here as the record gives it.
Is my home near a creek at risk of the same kind of flood?
A creek flood can reach a building in the same way it reached the 1983 communities, but the risk depends on the property. Walk the route from the creek to the house, and note the low points, the openings and the drains.
What can I do now to prepare for a creek overflow?
Clear the window wells and drains, keep stored items off the floor, know where the power shut-off is and write down the crew's number. Photograph the room as it is now so a later loss has a starting point.
Does the creek's peak-flow record tell me how high the water will get?
No. A peak-flow record shows the highest flow in a past year, measured in the channel. It does not predict the depth of water on a given street or in a given building, and it should be read alongside the local history.
Who should I call first if a creek is running high near my home?
Call the local emergency authorities if the creek threatens the street or the neighborhood. Then call a restoration crew once water is in the building or close to it. Keep the numbers for both written in the property plan.
What should neighbors do together after a creek overflow?
Share the crew number, the local authority numbers and the names of anyone who needs help. Neighbors can also share the photographs of the water line, which help everyone document the event. Coordinate with the local authorities before clearing debris from the street.
This guide is general information for Salt Lake County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.