Burgeoning commercial and residential growth also are imperiling Salt Lake County's clean water and the environment that depends on it.

On Wednesday, County Mayor Peter Corroon unveiled an initiative aimed at improving water quality throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

Flanked by several mayors and water officials along the Jordan River Parkway at Murray's Kennecott Nature Center, Corroon introduced the "Watershed Water Quality Stewardship Plan." It is the first comprehensive look at the valley's water since the mid-1970s.

"With the population of Salt Lake County soaring to more than 1 million last year, the need for ongoing and short-term planning for one of our most-valuable resources becomes even more urgent," Corroon said. "We will protect and preserve the quality of life in our valley, increase the public's safety and protect our natural environment."

The water-quality plan, which outlines improvements to streams and rivers and drinking water, will cost in excess of $500,000. It is being coordinated with all 16 municipalities within the county.

"This is the beginning of a comprehensive regional process, where we bring in all of the cities and develop a long-range strategy," said Cal Schneller, a county water-issues planner.

When completed by year's end, the water-quality plan will offer guidelines for governments, sewer districts and others to improve streams and rivers and the riparian corridors along them.

In 2008, it will go to the public review and comment.

Water quality is a telltale environmental barometer for how well communities are handling growth, explained project director Karen Nichols, a consultant from Stantec Consulting Inc., Edmonton, Alberta.

"Our natural resources throughout the county are at stake," she said. "The plan will have land-management strategies that cities and the county can look at adopting."

Murray Mayor Dan Snarr said clean water requires a cooperative effort among governments as well as builders and developers.

"We want everyone to understand how important it is to keep our water as clean as possible for humans and wildlife habitat."

Communities are willing to pay to keep the environment healthy, said David Eckhoff, a project adviser.

"When we get down to it, what are our values? What do these kinds of amenities mean to a community?" he said, pointing to the Jordan River Parkway. "They are priceless."

csmart@sltrib.com

About the water plan

The plan aims to:

* Improve water quality in streams.

*Develop regional wastewater-planning procedures.

* Evaluate the effects of Utah Lake and irrigation canals on water quality.

* Restore and protect stream channels and banks.

* Increase preservation of stream corridors and groundwater recharge areas.

* Develop strategies to evaluate stream flows.