How did the Mormons make Salt Lake suitable for living and farming?

Answer 1

When the Mormon pioneers first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, there was very little water. The ground was dry and there were very little plants (and therefore very few trees to use for lumber). The easiest accessable water source was the Great Salt Lake, which is saltier than the ocean and therefore pretty unuseable for farming or drinking water.

The Mormon pioneers dug irrigation canals from mountain streams all through the city. This became a common practice in most areas of Utah. Many of these irrigation ditches can still be seen, especially in small farming communities where they are still in active use.