Project Details

The Helper River Revitalization is an environmental infrastructure project on the Price River. A conceptual study report for the Price River through Helper was completed in July 2013.  It prioritized the construction of green infrastructure for 2.5 miles of waterway and has been adopted into the Price River Watershed Plan. The Project has and will continue to restore stream and riparian health functions, improve water quality, enhance public access and safety, and build community stewardship of the river.

The Pilot Project (Phase I) at Ivy Street was completed fall 2014. Phase II was completed in 2015 and included the removal of an abandoned sheet pile diversion near Janet Street and construction of two grade control structures to improve passage of fish, especially of the bluehead sucker. Phase III included the removal of obsolete grade control structures and was completed in 2017. Phase IV implementation was focused on providing longitudinal connection of the river over an existing diversion structure for fish from below and people from above. This phase was recently completed. Phase V is being completed in the winter of 2020 and will remove another grade control structure made from iron railroad rails.

It is the goal of this next phase (Phase VI) to continue to connect aquatic species to habitats that have been long blocked by diversion structures, in this case an obsolete irrigation diversion that was abandoned several years ago. In the fall of 2019, DWR staff performed an inventory of species upstream of the Pilot Project site and found Colorado River cutthroat trout and Bluehead sucker thriving (see attached monitoring report).  Other species identified include speckled dace, mottled sculpin, mountain sucker, brown trout, and cutthroat trout. Phase VI of the Project, we intend to further open this habitat for these species, finalizing a long-term multi-phase project through Helper City.

Historically the Price River was straightened and realigned for the highway and railroad. Several steel pile-on grade control structures were installed to stabilize the channelized reach. Land developments filled the floodplain, hardened the banks, and encroached the river. The channel and banks have been inadequately stabilized using concrete, slag, riprap, cars and other junk fill materials. Floodplain habitats no longer exist. Vegetation overstory is dominated by invasive species, such as Russian olive and Siberian elm, nearly choking out the biological diversity. The narrowed channel has become entrenched, creating excessive velocities, limited pools, and homogeneous aquatic habitat. Since the completion of the Pilot Project there have been native and sport fish species found upstream of that project reach that had not previously been observed. The Project reach has not been considered viable for fish stocking, but DWR staff familiar with the project have stocked the reach with Colorado River cutthroat trout post-revitalization and 400-500 hatchery raised fish were released in 2016. The conservation and restoration of the stream channel, as well as riparian improvements, is needed to restore stream health, floodplain habitat, riparian buffer areas, and create public access to the restored Price River.

The Project is immediately upstream of a 303(d) impaired segment of the Price River listed for partially supporting beneficial uses. In 2010, the downstream segment was listed for macroinvertebrate and biological impairment; and in 2004 for total dissolved solids (TDS). Non-point pollution sources (hydromodifications, sediment loading, diminished native riparian vegetation, and loss of floodplain connectivity) have adversely impacted natural channel functions and significantly contribute to the 303(d) listed impairments.

There were 6 major fish passage barriers within the project reach before the Helper River Revitalization Project began. This phase proposes to create passage for all fish species around 1 of these barriers. The initial five phases of the project have already removed 5 barriers to fish. Opening up and restoring this reach creates a potential corridor for native species extending for 6 miles, and advances the effort for the Colorado River Recovery Program.

The overall project has been designed to accommodate this phased approach as funds become available. The continuation of the Project in Phase VI, will include many strategies to further improve both aquatic and riparian habitat connectivity and access for anglers and the community. This phase will highlight incentives for continuing to protect and enhance the natural channel values and the reduction of fish barriers.

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.

Funding through WRI and others through 2020 has made it possible to complete preliminary survey of the Giggliotti Pond obsolete irrigation structure site.  The project presented in this phase is the complete removal of the obsolete structure, with plans to replace it with natural rock grade control weirs and habitat features to provide fish passage upstream of the project area. See attached memo of current condition and plans for the future condition at the project site.

The goal of Phase VI is to provide passage for fish through this reach and to re-naturalize the river. Bluehead sucker have been identified as the target fish species and the project will be designed to pass this non-jumping fish.  It is also the goal of this phase to allow passage and make the reach viable for stocking of other native and high interest game and fish species, such as the Colorado River Cutthroat, which have thrived in the new river conditions.

This phase will continue the work of the first five phases by opening up another mile+ of aquatic habitat for Colorado River cutthroat trout, bluehead suckers, mountain suckers, and many other species. The project includes a monitoring and maintenance plan in collaboration with Helper City, schools, citizen volunteers, and state agencies. Community volunteers are excited and active, organizing via the Helper River Revitalization Facebook page.

Project objectives are to finalize the implementation of projects to: 1) Remove fish barriers on the Price River for native and sport fish; 2) Repair and enhance riparian habitat; 3) Create designated river access points for boat and angler ingress/egress; 4) Implement BMPs to improve water quality, restore aquatic and riparian habitat, and move toward meeting aquatic life beneficial uses; and 5) Connect the community to the river by enhancing access and recreational experiences. Future maintenance of projects may be needed, but this is the final major phase.

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.

The Price River has been encroached and neglected for years. Without taking action, the Price River risks continued degradation to water quality and aquatic life beneficial uses. Without restoration of stream health, the reach will continue to have limited survival rate and habitat fragmentation of resident fish. The bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus) would continue to have low population and limited habitat within the reach. The presence of dams and diversions, channelization and bank alteration from urban development, and rampant overgrowth of invasive plant species, has led to a severely degraded Price River through Helper.
Without restoration of pools, holding capacity, and public access, the reach will continue to decline as a viable sport fishery. Without the removal of fish passage barriers the potential to recover historic habitat will continue to be limited. Riverbanks of the Price are overgrown with Russian olive and other noxious and invasive plant species. Without their removal and replacement with a native riparian corridor the reach will continue to see bank erosion problems, recreational access issues, and low diversity in its wildland plant and animal communities. Without the creation of improved public access the upstream reaches of the Price River will continue to be over-fished. The completed phases of the Helper River Revitalization have already shown local improvements to all threats listed above. It would put the overall Project at risk to delay this phase.

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 Utah State Resource Management Plan (UT RMP) has identified fishing and wildlife watching as key recreation aspects that contribute to the economic vitality of Utah communities, especially rural communities like Helper. Additionally, the UT RMP identifies healthy fisheries, riparian and floodplains, and recreation and tourism as important issues for consideration. The Helper River Revitalization project encompasses features that relate to all of these resource topics and has consistently shown to increase the economic base for Helper City and Carbon County.

Helper City also won a design competition to have the American Association of Architects conduct a "Sustainable Design Assessment Team" (SDAT) in 2018. This planning effort resulted in four specific tenets that Helper City will follow through on for community improvement. Notably, the River was one of the four focal points for improvement and identified specifically as a unique resource for the basis of community sustainability. This effort resulted in regularly scheduled volunteer events focused on the river and may result in the eventual establishment of a river celebration festival.

Project planning has identified opportunities that align multiple local, county and statewide plans for restoration, recreation, and economic growth. These plans include the Price River Watershed Plan, Price River System Conservation Pilot Project, Helper City General Plan, Helper City Stormwater and Capital Facilities Improvement Plan, Carbon County Weed Management Plan, Carbon County Natural Resource Use and
Management Plan, Carbon County and Price City Trails Plan, Carbon County Comprehensive Plan, Utah Wildlife Action Plan, Colorado River Recovery Program, Price River Drainage Management Plan, DEQ/EPA West Colorado Total Maximum Daily Load, the Utah State comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, and the Price River Watershed Plan.  Phase VI of the Project will implement the following measures which complement existing plans:
*	Enhance multiple recreational uses
*	Encourage multi-agency and public and private landowner coordination
*	Support public education programs
*	Promote stewardship and connect citizens to the land
*	Maximize public and private benefits of water resources
*	Remove invasive species
*	Enhance the riparian area
*	Enhance the urban fishery
*	Remove fish passage barriers
*	Facilitate angler access
*	Encourage tourism and business growth
*	Support economic development

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.

Heavy track equipment will be used for excavation and haul-off of timber and stone walls, junk fill, and other materials from the banks. Bank and channel stabilization will include both stone toe protection, and bioengineering methods utilizing biostabilized stream banks, vegetation revetments, pole planting and container planting. Best Management Practices to protect the Price River from sedimentation and turbidity issues during construction including turbidity curtains, oil booms, coffer dams, and other care of water techniques. Work will include the removal of invasive Russian olive trees utilizing cut-stump herbicide and excavation treatments.

Revegetation and native enhancement of riparian vegetation is included in Phase VI by working with the Utah Conservation Corps. Aquatic habitat enhancement will include excavation of bed materials to establish pools and the placement of boulders for object cover and artificial riffle-pool enhancements.  A significant effort for the Care of Water and on-shore Best Management Practices will be required to minimize disturbance from construction activities and to comply with Clean Water Act Sections 404/401 and SWPPP permit requirements. Preparation for the construction plans and specifications is being completed through the professional services provided by a team of engineers and scientists. This phase of the project includes a request for funding to support permitting and construction oversight.

Contractual services for heavy equipment will be used for the Project. The project is expected to use excavators of 350-ton size with articulated thumbs with the ability to rotate and place boulders up to 6' size. Loaders, side-dumps, and skid-steers will also be used for excavation and haul-off. Aerial bucket lifts are expected for trimming to protect mature native cottonwoods.

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.

Helper City is the main organization that is leading and managing the river restoration and will continue to provide project administration services. Trout Unlimited is assisting Helper City in developing community stewardship and funding for the project and has recently opened an office in Price. The Price River Watershed Council continues to provide high level input through the Price River Watershed Plan. The Price River Enhancement Committee has recently changed focus from water management to river and stream restoration in the watershed and will provide a forum for discussion of project success and failures. Additional contacts have been made with local schools in partnership with the Utah Natural History Museum to get middle school kids engaged with river stewardship. Helper City is also working closely with land owners that own adjacent lands to the project.

Other partners include the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Utah Division of Water Quality, who have provided funding and resources to support the implementation of the project in past phases. In FY 2021, Helper City will reach out to the Endangered Species Mitigation Fund, Wild Utah Project, and other partners to increase the stewardship of the Price River and create a lasting beneficia

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.

Helper City will hold land easements and be responsible for the future maintenance of the Project.  A community led volunteer group has formed since the completion of the Pilot Project to perform maintenance and watering of revegetated areas "The River Helpers". This group is excited about future phases of the project and is committed to stewardship of their river. See their Facebook page for their coordination efforts.
An Operation, Maintenance, Repair, Replacement and Rehabilitation (OMRR&R) plan will be developed with the objective to give the project a 50-year lifetime and commitment to success. Operational practices will include weed control, stormwater basin clean-out, and regular maintenance of irrigation, trash, access and pathways. The OMRR&R strives to maximize native planting survival, and restore structures to as-built conditions and/or adjust structures that are adversely affecting hydraulics. In conjunction with the OMRR&R plan a monitoring program will be implemented to assist Helper City and adjacent land owners with adaptively managing the riparian corridor.

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.