Project Details

Newton Reservoir is a popular fishery located just 15 miles northwest of Logan, Utah.  The reservoir is best known for its once dense population of tiger muskie, a species capable of attaining lengths exceeding 50-inches and weights of over 30-lbs.  Because of the large size attained by this fish, it is extremely popular with anglers.  Tiger muskie are usually a rare catch, but Newton Reservoir's abundant tiger muskie population once offered both experienced and novice anglers an excellent opportunity to catch this fish, with anglers often catching multiple fish in one trip.  In 2013, a low water year resulted in over 100 large tiger muskie exiting the reservoir through the current outlet structure.  Once out of the reservoir, these fish entered the irrigation system where they died; littering ponds and clogging water conveyance structures.  The muskie population at Newton Reservoir now appears to be a small fraction of its former numbers.

Tiger muskie are a sterile fish, meaning the DWR has to stock this species in order to maintain population numbers.  These fish are relatively expensive to produce and thus become a particularly valuable resource as they get larger and older.  Historically, the tiger muskie fishery at Newton Reservoir drew anglers from across the state and from nearby states like Idaho.  The tiger muskie fishery has not rebounded since the loss of fish in 2013, resulting in noticeably lower angler visitation.

When tiger muskie leave the reservoir and enter the irrigation system, they cause problems for water users.  Such problems and additional work include removing fish that foul pipes and temporarily impaired water distribution.

The currently outlet structure and screen at the reservoir are ineffective at preventing losses of most fish; with large gaps that allow even big fish like tiger muskie to move freely into the irrigation system.  This is a lingering concern for fishery managers because of the loss of valuable fish and the resulting decline in fishery quality that can happen when large fish leave the reservoir, not to mention the continuation of headaches for water users who have to deal with the fish that end up in the irrigation network.

In order to prevent further events from happening, fishery managers and Newton Water Users are seeking funding for an improved outlet screen.  The screen would prevent all but the smallest fish from leaving the reservoir.  An added benefit would be that the new screen would facilitate operation of the new pressurized irrigation system that water users have been constructing over the past several years to improve water efficiency and leave more water in the reservoir.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

Newton Water Users and DWR have already worked with an engineering firm to create a design for the proposed outlet screen.  One round of design has already taken place and been sent to BOR for approval.  See attached drawing for the current screen design.  The current screen design calls for 4" x 3" galvanized steel mesh, which will prevent most fish from becoming entrained in the irrigation system.  The BOR has commented on the current screen design and is requiring some improvements to the strength of the current screen design, so more engineering will be necessary.

The old outlet structure has already been removed and replaced with a new outlet works, which has been funded by Newton Water Users.  Dredging to remove sediment that had accumulated around the old outlet works has also already been removed. The new screen would be constructed and installed in early fall of 2017; following the irrigation season.

Newton Water Users will oversee construction and installation of the new screen.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.