This is the sixth and final article in a periodic series discussing one of the single most significant excavation projects in the Park City area – the construction of the Snake Creek Drain Tunnel.
In 1953, upon graduating from Park City High School, Richard Martinez went to work at the Mayflower Mine. He carried on a family tradition, the third generation to work underground. In 1960, United Park City Mines (UPCM) recruited Richard to work at the Judge Mine. He retired from UPCM in 2003. His career was “exceptional.”
Hardrock mining is dangerous work. For practitioners of the profession, it is the responsibility of each generation to preserve and transfer the accumulated knowledge to those who follow. Richard Martinez represented the embodiment of this sacrosanct tradition. Two of his sons would join him at UPCM – infused with his wisdom. They would make him proud.
Faced with ever increasing demands for water, in 2003 The Midway Irrigation Company, contemplated reopening the Snake Creek Drain Tunnel. As mentioned earlier in this series, in 1923 the U.S. Supreme Court decreed that they were rightful owners of the water associated with the original ill-fated project. Their ability to capitalize on that ownership proved fleeting from that moment in 1923. Later that year, a catastrophic cave-in 2,500 linear feet from the portal sealed the tunnel. The water stopped flowing, making their ownership moot. Now, 80 years later they intended to find their water.
To do so they contracted with a regionally renowned civil engineering firm: The Xcavation Company. The founder and CEO was Clark Martinez, the fourth child of Richard Martinez. In 1982, following Noranda’s abrupt closure of their Park City operations, Clark embarked on a journey to control his own destiny. The creation of his company represented a mission accomplished.
Credit: Courtesy of The Xcavation Company.
Clark reviewed the project with his father. During their conversation, Richard advised Clark to “be damn careful.” Clark was slightly surprised at his father’s comment – he was always “damned careful.” It was part of his gene pool. Clark respected the power of subterranean energies. He knew that the strongest timbers could be snapped like toothpicks, steel beams twisted like pipe cleaners.
Based upon his time at the Judge Mine, Richard knew the Snake Creek Drain Tunnel was different. There was only one way in and one way out. No escape routes existed. The tunnel was a proven killer. The moment one entered the portal danger lurked. Though confident in his ability and that of his crew, Clark assured his dad that extra precautions would be taken. This included building floor-to-ceiling protective barriers using 32-inch-thick concrete blocks. Steel doors secured passage. These precautions would be life savers.
The portal was opened and rebuilt in February 2004, with a steel gate installed to prevent uninvited guests. Clark and his crew began removing debris. It was arduous. At 1,600 linear feet they were surprised to encounter a formidable cave-in. Based upon 1923 reports, the tunnel was supposed to be clear to 2,500 linear feet.
For this first year, work concluded in April 2004. The mountain had been quiet – that would be the last time. Crews returned in 2005, 2006 and 2007. After a pause, work resumed again in February 2013 and ended in February 2015. Each year the outcome was the same: The mountain thwarted every attempt to clear the blockage, and vengefully so. Mud, boulders, sand, and water would periodically demolish all previous accomplishments. This included blowing the steel doors off their hinges on Clark’s protective walls. Risk was omnipresent.
As the crews removed their equipment for the final time, water was finally flowing again, but at a mere fraction of the 7,000 gallons per minute recorded in 1916. The team, all hardrock mining veterans, agreed that in their respective careers none of them had ever encountered a “situation” like the Snake Creek Drain Tunnel. They vowed “never again.” Their sentiments and fears were similar to those who preceded them. And so, the demonic tunnel resumed its hibernation.
Thank you to Clark Martinez for your time and generosity recounting your experiences with the Snake Creek Drain Tunnel. Your input made this article, this series a reality.