A component of the Diamond Fork System includes construction of associated recreation facilities to provide public outdoor recreation opportunities. Facilities include angler-access areas, a day-use area, trail-head improvements, education and interpretation, and a campground.

The Spanish Fork Ranger District of the Uinta National Forest and the Mitigation Commission released a Draft Environmental Assessment dated February 23, 1997, of a proposal to redesign and upgrade the then existing Diamond and Palmyra campgrounds in Diamond Fork Canyon. Based on public input, a revised draft assessment was later released, which incorporated a new alternative that responded to concerns raised by the initial proposal. A decision was made in December 1998 to select the revised proposal.

Construction began September 1999, and was completed September 2000. The Diamond and Palmyra campgrounds were reconstructed into one campground, Camp Diamond, with a reduced capacity of approximately 33 percent. This represented a significant difference from the initial proposal, which would have increased campground capacity by approximately 45 percent. The reduced capacity was achieved by removing individual campsites and loops within the 100-year flood plain in order to protect riparian vegetation and facilitate future stream restoration efforts. Sections of the campground impacting wild turkey roosting habitat were also closed and reclaimed. Group-site facilities were closed and will be reconstructed in a more suitable location, which is being analyzed in a separate Environmental Assessment.

A final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for constructing a group-site campground has been issued. The Forest Service will construct the campground with a capacity of approximately 475 people at one time. The Commission will fund the project. The new campground will replace recreation opportunities lost when the Diamond and Palmyra Campgrounds were removed and will provide additional camping opportunities to meet existing and anticipated demand. [Click here to link to the Forest Service's web page to view the final Environmental Assessment]