Following the lead of one concerned resident, community members gathered Saturday to discuss their "common backyard."
More than 50 residents of Murray and Holladay cities participated in the facilitated discussion about Big Cottonwood Creek that some say will lead to the start of an official association.
The meeting at Holladay Library sprang from the concerns of Dee Holladay, who has lived near the creek for the past five years.
"There has been some abuse on the creek; things happening that shouldn't be happening," he said.
The group identified the most pressing issues, ranging from the need to protect open space to rodent control, bank erosion to trespassing.
The creek, which starts in Big Cottonwood Canyon, stretches 24 miles, with residents lining it for 12 miles.
"It is a common backyard for the people who live near the creek. If one section is polluted it affects the whole creek," Holladay said.
The residents also listed trash dumped into the creek, loose dogs and noise as issues that must be addressed.
But besides the specific issues identified at the meeting, facilitator Rob Campellone of the National Park Service said the meeting was more about building community.
"The community did the work. They showed up to the meeting," he said. "We are empowering them to better the creek."
With the relevant issues identified, Campellone, Holladay and the Great Salt Lake Audubon will mail out surveys to all who attended so the group can identify top priorities.
Holladay hopes the effort will lead to an organized association that meets with city, county and state government about ways to improve the creek and better educate those who live near it about their rights.
"I see there is a big education void that we need to be able to cover," he said.
Holladay has the support of Steve Glaser, who has lived near the creek for three years.
"It was nice to get people together so you don't feel like you are thinking in a vacuum. Whether it turns into something or not we can't tell until the future," he said.
But Glaser and the other members of the community promised facilitators that they would continue their involvement for at least another meeting.
E-mail: mcanham@desnews.com