Snowmelt plugged City Creek's storm drain in May 1983, and floodwater poured into downtown Salt Lake City. About 6,000 volunteers sandbagged 1.5 miles of State Street into a riverbed to carry it toward the Jordan River. The city built footbridges over it, and fishermen stood on the sidewalks beside it.
Salt Lake City Turned State Street Into a River
In late May 1983, record snowmelt sent City Creek out of its channel and into downtown Salt Lake City. The city's answer was to turn State Street, the road running south from the Utah State Capitol, into a river on purpose.
A Plugged Drain and a Rising Creek
Salt Lake City declared an emergency on May 26, 1983, as spring runoff swelled the creeks that run down the canyons into town. Crews were already diking 1300 South to hold back one flood.
On May 29, City Creek left its banks at Memory Grove and flooded downtown. The creek's storm drain conduit had plugged with sand, gravel and debris, so the water had nowhere to go.
6,000 People and a Pile of Sandbags
A call went out for volunteers to sandbag about 1.5 miles of State Street, down to 4th South. The sandbag walls were later extended to 9th South.
According to the city's own account, about 6,000 volunteers answered. Other accounts say thousands more came out.
Mayor Ted Wilson called the turnout "the biggest street festival ever."
The State Street River
Once the walls were up, water released from Memory Grove ran down State Street between them. The river was nearly two feet deep, according to Utah Humanities.
It disrupted commuters and downtown businesses, so city crews built pedestrian bridges over it. University of Utah archive photos show a makeshift footbridge letting pedestrians cross the water near Eagle Gate at South Temple.
Some people cast fishing lines from the sidewalks beside it and others ran it in kayaks. Kayakers complained that the bridges left too little headroom to paddle downstream.
The city's plan was to convey the water on to the Jordan River. Within a couple of weeks City Creek receded, and the river on State Street ran dry.
Thanked by the City
Citywide, volunteers put in an estimated 50,000 person-days of flood work that spring. On June 7, 1983, the City Council and the mayor issued a resolution of appreciation for their efforts.
For a couple of weeks, a downtown street worked as a riverbed,.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Did Salt Lake City really turn State Street into a river in 1983?
How many volunteers sandbagged State Street?
Why did City Creek flood downtown Salt Lake City?
Could people cross the State Street River?
Verified Fact
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · 5 sources checked
Source: Seven Canyons Trust (Salt Lake City Public Utilities account)Show verification details
Claims checked
- Plugged City Creek storm drain flooded downtown Salt Lake City in May 1983
- About 6,000 volunteers (city account) sandbagged about 1.5 miles of State Street
- Footbridges were built over the channel
- Fishing beside the channel, with fishing from the banks reworded to sidewalks
- River ran for nearly two weeks before receding
Sources: Salt Lake City Public Utilities account, Utah Humanities, ABC4, University of Utah Marriott Library
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