In early 2008 Salt Lake County and a number of cities along the Jordan River jointly funded a "Blueprint Jordan River" planning effort for the Jordan River corridor in Salt Lake Valley December 2008 they published a 57-page report, outlining recommendations for preserving portions of the river corridor within a series of nature preserves, while allowing the development of "mixed use" (dense residential, commercial (shopping centers), and office complexes in a string of so-called "river centers."   While the proposed "river centers" as shown on maps were reduced to about 6 in the final document, some 14 so-called "mixed use" development areas have been identified and are presumably still on the drawing boards, though not explicitly shown in the plan.

The future of the river corridor is, therefore, still highly uncertain.   While the public has thunderously declared its preference to preserve wetlands, wild nature, and wildlife throughout the river corridor (see chart below showing relative public preferences for corridor use)--

the economic development staff and some of the mayors of cities up and down the river have declared their intention to maximize development in large commercial complexes--essentially shopping centers, office building complexes, and condominium clusters--spanning and directly fronting along the river in a half dozen to a dozen locations.

Leading the pack is West Valley City, which in 2008 floated a proposal to spend $33 million of taxpayer money to build a "mixed use" commercial complex of office buildings, condominiums, and retail stores along the river north of 3300 south.

And next in line is Draper City, whose town fathers in their wisdom plan to put a massive commercial center including a rail line and rail station, office buildings up to 5 stories high, condominium blocks and a shopping center, within existing open space inside lands identified as a proposed "Nature Reserve" on the "Blueprint Jordan River" maps.

For more information on this topic, read the feature article, "Blueprint Jordan River:  Commercial Centers or Open Space?".