Project Details

Recently the ownership of the Olmsted Power Plant changed and a complete renovation of the power plant was completed. Upon completion of this renovation existing water rights where water flows from the Olmsted Diversion approximately 3 miles upstream of the Murdock Diversion directly into the power plant through a pipeline. These flows combined with the water diverted at the Murdock Diversion result in insufficient flows to maintain fish and wildlife habitat and fish populations in the stretch between the Murdock Diversion and the Olmsted Power Plant for approximately 90 days during the summer irrigation period. In order to maintain the aquatic populations, habitats and recreational opportunities in this stretch of the Lower Provo River addition water in needed. 
The Lower Provo River supports approximately 28,000 angling hours per mile and is fished by an estimated 6,957 anglers per mile per year. Each angling hour conservatively generates $10.50 per hour (BRFAC study estimates $84/8 hour day) yeilding an economic impact of $294,000 annually per mile of river. This river is very heavily used and has a great economic impact for the state. The modifications to power generation at the mouth of Provo Canyon jeopardizes the angling use of over a mile of river without securing water flows between the Murdock Diversion and the Timp Diversion. This proposal is requesting funds to pay for the loss of power generation allowing water to flow through this stretch of river rather than flowing through the power plant while still meeting the water right demands further downstream below the Olmsted power plant.

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.

The goals tasks identified will aid in partial fulfillment of the goals identified in the Lower Provo River Ecosystem Flow Recommendations Report (Stamp, Olsen, and Allred 2008).  The study utilized multiple methodologies to determine flows needed to sustain a healthy and naturally functioning riverine ecosystem.  Primarily the study focused on flows needed to maintain minimum water temperature, limit terrestrial vegetation encroachment, maintain aquatic habitat, flush sediment from spawning gravel, and several other metrics.  The flow recommendations are as follows for summer (Jul-Sep) base flows for dry year 57cfs, moderate year 86 cfs, wet year 113 cfs.  Our initial goal of a total of 25 cfs instream flow is a modest initial goal that only obtains 44% of the lowest recommended flow.  The Division and its partners will pursue options to secure additional flows and to further evaluate target flow needs. 
This project addresses the Division's Strategic Plan including the following: Resource Goals: Conserve, enhance and actively manage Utah's protected wildlife populations.Objective R1: Increase, decrease or maintain wildlife populations, as needed, to meet the objectives in our
management plans. Objective R2: Maintain existing wildlife habitat and increase the quality of critical habitats and watersheds. Objective R4: Decrease risks to species and their habitats through integrated implementation of the Wildlife Action Plan, species recovery plans, conservation agreements and other management plans (species, AIS, disease, etc.). Constituency Goals: Strengthen support for wildlife management by demonstrating the value and importance of wildlife to all Utahns. Objective C1: Increase participation in fishing, hunting
and other wildlife-related activities. Objective C4: Increase understanding of our customers and potential customers and take reasonable steps to address their needs, wishes and priorities. Objective C6: Create a culture of respect, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness within the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Agency Goals: Create a culture of respect, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness within the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Objective A6: Create a culture of respect, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness within the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

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.

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.