The Surplus Canal was first built in 1885 to carry Jordan River overflow, and floods on the river were recorded in 1896 and 1909. Those dates are the documented record that makes river overflow a real risk for a Salt Lake County basement. Whether a given property is exposed depends on its ground, its openings and its distance from the channel.
Key takeaways
- The Surplus Canal was first built in 1885 to carry Jordan River overflow, so the canal corridor is part of the documented flood record.
- Floods on the Jordan River were recorded in 1896 and in 1909, which is the reason river overflow is treated as a documented risk.
- Whether a basement is exposed depends on its openings, its grade and its ground, not on the year it was built.
- Peak-flow records for the Jordan River are kept by the U.S. Geological Survey and can be read for a closer look at past high water.
- A basement near the river or the canal should be checked for low openings before a high-water season, and a plan should be ready in advance.
- A flood record tells you where water has gone before, but a building inspection tells you how it will reach your property.
What does the documented Jordan River record actually show?
The documented record shows that the Jordan River has overflowed in the past, that the Surplus Canal was built in 1885 to carry the overflow, and that floods were recorded in 1896 and 1909. It is a short list, but it is the local history that matters most for river overflow.
The record is kept by state history resources, which describe the Surplus Canal as a response to Jordan River overflow and list the later floods. A reader who wants the original wording should look at those sources directly, since this guide summarizes them and does not add to them.
A record of this kind shows where water has gone before. It does not show how high it reached at every point along the river, or how much damage a given street or building suffered. Those details are not part of this summary, and a property owner should not assume them.
How did the Surplus Canal come to be?
The Surplus Canal was first built in 1885 to carry overflow from the Jordan River. Its existence is a record of how often the river had spilled, and the corridor it follows has been part of the flood story since then.
A canal built to carry overflow is a sign that the river needed a second route for high water. The canal does not stop flooding, but it changes where the overflow goes, and so it changes which ground is most likely to take in water.
For a property owner, the practical point is that the canal corridor is a place to be aware of, not a guarantee of safety. Ground near the canal and the river should be checked for low openings and drainage, whatever its age or style.
What do the 1896 and 1909 floods tell a homeowner?
The 1896 and 1909 floods are recorded floods on the Jordan River. They show that high water on the river has reached the valley before, and that a property near the channel can be affected in the same way.
Two recorded floods in the early history of the river do not predict the next one. They do show that the risk is documented rather than imagined, and that a homeowner in the corridor has good reason to prepare.
The lesson is not to fear every high-water season. It is to know your property's low points, to keep the openings clear and to have a plan for who to call and what to move, before water arrives.
Which dates should a property owner keep on file?
Keep the dates of the documented events, the source of each record and a short note on what it means for your property. A simple table on file helps the owner and any future inspector see the history in one place.
The table below lists the dates named in the documented record. It is a starting point for a property file, not a full history, and it should be checked against the original sources before it is relied on.
The later 1983 creek overflows and the 2023 emergency are included in other guides on this site. They are not part of the Jordan River record itself, but they show how water in this valley has reached the city in more than one way.
| Year | Event | Why it matters for a basement |
|---|---|---|
| 1885 | Surplus Canal first built to carry Jordan River overflow | Shows the river needed a second route for high water |
| 1896 | Jordan River flood recorded | A documented river flood in the early history of the valley |
| 1909 | Jordan River flood recorded | A second documented river flood, which makes the risk a pattern rather than a single event |
How does the Jordan River reach a basement?
River overflow can reach a basement through a low door, a window well, a floor drain that runs back, or water that rises through the ground. The route depends on the building, and the same flood can enter one basement at a single point and another at several.
The ground around a foundation takes in water first, and it can push water toward the building for some time after the river has fallen. That pressure can find cracks, joints and drain lines that are dry in ordinary weather.
A drain that backs up is a separate risk. If the storm or sewer line is full when the river is high, water can come back up through a floor drain even when the building itself is dry. A plumber can check the line, and a crew can read the room if water does appear.
What can a property owner check now?
Check the openings that are lowest on the property: window wells, basement doors, floor drains and the grade of the ground beside the foundation. Make sure each one can drain away from the building and that nothing blocks it.
Look at the ground along each wall and note any place where water would pool after rain. Clear leaves and mud from the window wells and the drain covers, and make sure the downspouts discharge away from the foundation.
Move stored items off the basement floor and keep the sump pit and its pump in working order, if the building has one. Photograph the room as it is now, so a later loss can be measured against a known starting point.
What can the USGS peak-flow records add?
The U.S. Geological Survey keeps peak streamflow records for the Jordan River, and those records show how high the river has run in recorded years. They are a useful reference for anyone who wants to look closer at past high water.
A peak-flow record gives the highest flow reached in a given year, which is a different measure from the depth of water on a particular street. A reader can use it to compare years and see how unusual a high-water season was, but not to predict the water at a given address.
Records of this kind are most useful when read with the local history. The documented floods show what happened; the flow records show how much water was in the channel. A homeowner who reads both gets a fuller picture than either one alone.
How is a river flood different from a creek flood at a property?
A river flood usually rises over a longer period and covers a wider area than a creek flood, so its water can reach ground that a creek would not. A creek flood can arrive faster and with more debris. Both can reach the same basement by different routes.
A river that rises slowly can keep the ground around a building saturated for a long time, and that pressure is what finds cracks and joints. The water may stand against the foundation for longer, which makes the outside of the building as important to check as the inside.
A creek can rise and fall quickly, leaving silt, leaves and debris behind. Both kinds of water are handled with the same first steps: keep people out, cut the power, photograph the water line and call a crew. The planning differs in the detail, and a property owner should know which kind of water is nearest.
What should a homeowner do after high water on the river?
After high water, check the property for water entry, dry the affected areas promptly and record what was found. A crew can read the room and set the drying plan, and an inspector can look at the foundation and its drainage.
Walk the outside of the building after the water has gone down, and look for cracks, new staining and soft ground. Keep notes and photographs, since they will matter if the same area takes in water again.
Ask a qualified person to review the foundation if cracks are widening or the wall has moved. A flood record can tell you what the river has done before, but the condition of your own building is what decides what to fix next.
What does this history mean for a Salt Lake County basement?
It means river overflow should be part of the risk planning for a basement in the corridor. It does not mean every basement in the county will flood, and it does not replace a look at the property itself.
The records make the Jordan River a recognized risk. A homeowner who owns a property near the channel should plan for high water in the same way as for a storm, and should keep the plan with the property file.
Every property is different. The grade, the openings, the drainage and the distance from the channel decide how much a flood would reach. Those are things a crew or inspector can see, and a history book cannot.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1885 canal mean my home will flood?
The canal shows that the river has overflowed in the past and that a second route was built to carry the water. It does not decide whether a particular home will flood. Your property's openings, grade and drainage decide that.
Were the 1896 and 1909 floods the worst on record?
This guide does not rank those floods or give their depth or damage, because the summary does not carry that detail. Read the original historical sources for the wording of each event, and do not assume a size or a cost from the dates alone.
Where can I find the Jordan River flow records?
The U.S. Geological Survey keeps peak streamflow records for the river. Those records are a reference for high-water years and can be read alongside the local history. This site does not link to a particular page of them.
What is the single most useful step for a basement near the river?
Check the lowest openings and make sure they drain away from the building. Clear window wells and drain covers, keep stored items off the floor and photograph the room so a later loss can be measured.
Should I buy flood protection because of this history?
That decision belongs to the owner and their insurer, based on the property and its policy. This guide does not recommend any product or insurance, and it cannot say what a policy will cover.
Who can tell me how my basement would take in river water?
A qualified inspector or a restoration crew can look at the openings, the grade and the drainage of the building. A crew that has already read the room after a flood can also explain what it found, and why.
How can I tell which channel is nearest my property?
Use a current map that shows the river, the canal and any creek near the address, and note the distance and the lay of the ground between them. A local planning office or a surveyor can confirm the location. The answer changes how you plan for high water, so it is worth checking once.
This guide is general information for Salt Lake County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.