The Goshute tribe named Little Cottonwood Creek, si’a-dai-di-ma. To other tribes, it was wa-ko-no-kin [01]. It was used as shared hunting grounds for the Ute, Goshute, and Shoshone [05]. Colonial settlers changed its name to reflect the “littleness” of canyon width and the cottonwood groves along its banks.
The canyon is known for its fabled town, Alta. Extractive industries mined and smelted silver and lead along the creek through the late 1800s. Remnants of three smelters can still be seen at the canyon mouth and heavy metals continue to impact water quality [06]. Now, Alta is better known for its “Greatest Snow on Earth.”
The creek is a valuable water source for Salt Lake Valley residents. From July to March, the creek has little flow due to diversions, becoming fully dewatered in dry years. Jordan River water is brought in, via a canal, at Fort Union. This has seriously degraded water quality and the riparian ecosystem.
