In 2010, the three counties that touch the Jordan River — Davis, Salt Lake and Utah — along with the cities of Sandy, North Salt Lake and West Valley City all signed the original Interlocal Cooperation Agreement forming the Jordan River Commission.

The Jordan River itself flows 9 miles through Lehi and Saratoga Springs and into Utah Lake. While those cities joined the Jordan River Commission in 2018, Utah County discontinued its membership at the time.

During a Feb. 19 meeting, county commissioners voted unanimously to join the Jordan River Commission once again.

Talks of reviving the partnership had come into view in recent months, according to Commissioner Skyler Beltran, who will represent the county on the river commission’s governing board. After much consideration, he said, elected officials felt the time was right to support a partnership once again.

“You know, as we continue to grow, natural resources are very important to our residents,” Beltran said in a phone call Friday morning. “And the Jordan River, especially (is) very important to Saratoga (Springs) and Lehi, as it’s in the middle of their cities. We decided to rejoin and have a seat at the table again.”

The Jordan River Parkway Trail is used by many for walking, bicycling, inline skating and other hobbies.

Sections of the trail are easily accessible from residential neighborhoods, public parks or city thoroughfares and are utilized nearly year-round.

Utah County, which manages its area of the trail system, had already invested $2.5 million in funding toward improvements along a section of the trail in Lehi between 2100 North and Thanksgiving Point, which has been underway for most of the winter.

Beltran said the improvements are nearing completion and should be reopen to the public by the end of March.

Plans also are underway to install a canoe and kayak dock near Cold Springs Ranch in Lehi, providing residents with increased access to the river.

“Those are opportunities the river commission and the county love to see, allowing residents to explore (the river) without commercializing our recreational opportunities,” Beltran said.

He says that where the two agencies hopefully can collaborate and brainstorm ideas will involve preserving, protecting and enhancing the river.

The Jordan River Commission said it’s a huge milestone for the organization — for the first time in its 15-year history, the commission now includes every local government within the boundaries of the Jordan River.

While the Jordan River Commission doesn’t hold regulatory or maintenance authority for the Jordan River corridor, the entity works with local government agencies as a technical resource, providing a forum for coordination of planning, restoration efforts and funding channels to support developments within its footprint.

“It helps them (Utah County) connect into what’s happening in other sections (of the river) and see that big picture, instead of being so siloed,” said Rachel Turk, communications and outreach manager for the Jordan River Commission.

Utah County also is part of the Jordan River Watershed Council, which has jurisdiction over Utah Lake and its numerous tributaries, including the Provo River.