Skip to Content
Main Menu
Search
Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative
Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative
Projects
Maps
About Us
Register
Login
Search
Saving...
Thank you for requesting access to WRI.
An administrator will contact you with further details.
Stewart Lake Control Structure Engineering and Cost Estimate
Region: Northeastern
ID: 7530
Project Status: Cancelled
Map This Project
Export Project Data
Project Details
*
Need for Project
Stewart Lake is the most important nursery habitat in the upper Colorado River system for two species of listed fishes, the Razorback Sucker and the Bonytail. Since 2012, UDWR has operated Stewart Lake in cooperation with the USBOR under the Larval Trigger Study Plan. To accomplish this, we have made various improvised changes and alterations to the existing outlet works in place for selenium mitigation. Although we have had remarkable success with the project, the existing infrastructure is less than optimal and causes multiple safety concerns during operation. An engineered plan and cost estimate for needed improvements will give us the tools needed to seek funding.
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.
*
Objectives
Obtain an engineered plan and cost estimate for a new water control gate (split gate design), a new slanted fish exclusion screen, catwalks with railings around the fish excluding screen, a permanent ladder in the confined space between the gate and fish screen, a storage shed with cement pad, a jib crane, and a new fish trap design or alternate fish kettle system.
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.
*
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?)
Our operations at Stewart Lake have been indispensable in facilitating natural reproduction and survival of both Razorback sucker and Bonytail. The recent proposed down-listing of Razorback Sucker from endangered to threatened was likely contingent upon demonstrated success of Razorback Suckers surviving beyond the larval stage at Stewart Lake. We have demonstrated the importance and effectiveness of our operations at Stewart Lake over the last 13 years. While the current infrastructure has sufficed for experimentation of wetland operations, we now need permanent, safe, and efficient tools to continue this proven management paradigm.
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.
*
Relation to Management Plans
This will support the recovery plans for both Razorback Sucker and Bonytail as well as the Larval Trigger Study Plan and 2006 Record of Decision for Flaming Gorge Dam.
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.
*
Fire/Fuels
The proposed alterations to the control structure will improve the ability to fill the wetland during years with drought hydrology and limited periods of larval drift by replacing the fish excluding screen with one that is easier to clean and has greater surface area. Achieving a more complete fill with deeper water should have a small to moderate effect on cattail and bullrush growth in the center of the wetland, thus reducing fuels.
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.
*
Water Quality/Quantity
These improvements will allow us to entrain water into the wetland at a faster rate during the spring runoff and larval drift period, thus improving water quality later in the summer when low dissolved oxygen and elevated TDS often become an issue. Our endangered fish operations are conducted in accordance with an annual drain and fill cycle recommended for mitigation of selenium contamination that predates the Larval Trigger Study Plan. These improvements will help us continue this in a safe and efficient manner.
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.
*
Compliance
Most work will likely occur within the existing footprint of the control structure and levy. We will consult with the UDWR habitat section on the need to NEPA work if the engineered plan requires additional disturbance.
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.
*
Methods
Hire an engineering firm experienced with water control structures, and/or fish traps or passages to develop a project plan and cost estimate.
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.
*
Monitoring
Ongoing monitoring of fish use of Stewart Lake is conducted under recovery program project fr165.
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.
*
Partners
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Bureau of Reclamation
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.
*
Future Management
After completion, we will use the project plan and cost estimate to pursue recovery program/BOR capital funds or other grant opportunities to complete the project.
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.
*
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources
Recovery efforts for these species allow water development and dam operations to continue with compliance under the ESA.
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.
Title Page
Project Details
Finance
Species
Habitats
Seed
Comments
Images/Documents
Project Summary Report
Saving...