But members of environmental groups - blamed in the letter to the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission (URMCC) for generating a "negative campaign" - say city leaders "just don't get it."

"The area that was destroyed was not just some percentage of the entire project, but the jewel and crown of the entire project to date," said Vaughn Lovejoy, a restoration coordinator for Tree Utah.

The city distributed the letter because city officials felt they were being victimized by Tree Utah, Great Salt Lake Audubon and local newspapers.

"South Jordan City has been the victim of a very negative campaign to impugn our reputation as a custodian of open space and protector of the environment," City Manager Ricky Horst wrote.

It was intended to set the record straight regarding South Jordan's commitment to the environment and the conservation area, Horst said. He argues: The city has saved 233 acres along the corridor and planted more than 10,000 trees throughout the city.

"The city isn't wanting to engage in a debate with Tree Utah and Great Salt Lake Audubon," said Robert Wall, an assistant city manager. "The city is going to mitigate the damage."

The issue became a hot topic in late April when South Jordan officials sent three backhoes into the preserve to dig a trench for an underground culinary-water line. Crews cut a 25-foot-wide swath through trees and undergrowth.

The land is part of a 120-acre wildlife preserve that covers the east side of Jordan River bottomland between 10600 South and 11400 South. The parcel with the pipeline right of way is owned by South Jordan, which granted a conservation easement to the URMCC.

Horst's letter, dated Monday, was addressed to the commission's executive director. On Wednesday, Mike Weland said he had yet to see the four-page document.

Because the area is a nature preserve, the two environmental groups had contracted with the federal government through its agency, the URMCC, to remove invasive and alien plants. In their place, volunteers planted native greenery in an effort to draw migratory songbirds back to the Jordan River.

The city argues that the area damaged represents a smidgen - 0.29 percent - of the entire project area and that it took only two hours of work to create.

Nonsense, says Lovejoy.

Volunteers have donated 24,800 hours of work to the entire tract of land. He estimates that some 700 hours were dedicated to the damaged portion.

The city also blames the groups for not obtaining authorization to plant in the area earmarked for the water line. "Neither Tree Utah, nor any other environmental group to our understanding, ever coordinated any tree planting efforts with the city of South Jordan as required by the contract and grant of conservation easement," the letter states.

Nathan Darnall, president of Great Salt Lake Audubon, says the city commissioned a restoration plan years ago.

The groups are now fearful that the ongoing debate will hurt the restoration project's future.

"This letter is contrary to the direction we are trying to go," Darnall said.

Horst concludes his letter by saying the city also wants to continue working on the preserve but wants "to be given some recognition for the good works by the City and a cessation of the negative campaign."

jsantini@sltrib.com