One of the goals of the Red Fleet Management plan is to manage Red Fleet for stable forage fish populations and for balanced predator to prey ratios.One of the objectives under this task is to create and maintain a more stable forage base. Black Crappie and Yellow Perch are both forage species that were selected by the committee to be stocked into the reservoir. This will occur in the Spring of 2016. Red Fleet is a canyon type lake with a mix of both rocky and muddy terrain. The reservoir has some habitat for these species but the majority of the reservoir lacks the type of structure that Black Crappie typically utilize. The goal of this project is to begin (on a small scale) creating and installing some Black Crappie structure at specific pre-planned locations within the reservoir.

1) Identify areas where Black Crappie structures could be most effective and utilized by fish. 2) Build and Install 3-5 structures at each Identified location within the reservoir. 3) Monitor structures for effectiveness 4) Ensure structures are safe, secure and if needed clearly marked for BOR maintenance purposes and for boater safety. 5) Continue this project as multiple smaller scale projects or until a lake wide large scale project can be funded and completed.

The main threat to this scenario of this project is not started is the trust in which the angling public and Red Fleet Management committee instilled in the DWR to carry out projects. Red Fleet rotenone treatment was a highly controversial issue, so for the DWR to carry out specific tasks as outlined in the management plan is critical to building public trust and move forward with other local projects into the future. This project is a small step in that direction! If habitat structures are not installed in a timely fashion some of these forage species identified might not survive and reproduce as needed to ensure a more stable forage base at the reservoir.

Red Fleet Management Plan, Goal #2, Objectives 1 & 4. Goal #2) Manage Red Fleet for stable forage fish populations and for balanced predator: prey ratios. Objective #1) Ensure two of the three forage species (YP, BC, MWF) are recruiting in each 3 year cycle. This can be assessed by annual surveys such as gill-netting, trap-netting and electrofishing surveys. Objective #4) Work with BOR and State Parks to create black crappie structures that can be installed in Red Fleet for long term improvements for this species. Installation of these structures will likely benefit other forage species as well.

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Some of the available structures placed in target areas do have the potential to increase water quality by reducing erosion and possible sedimentation into the reservoir. Several flash flood events have created sediment deposition where wind and wave action cause increased turbidity, these structures could help.

Written approval from the BOR and following the already in place MOU between BOR and UDWR. Biologist has been in conversions with the Provo office of the BOR about this project and will submit a detailed plan for approval. No other permitting should be required, as all structures would sit on the lake bed well below the high water mark.

Utilizing the structures identified in the BOR/UDWR habitat MOU, we would identify, create and install multiple styles of in-lake habitat structures within Red Fleet Reservoir. After installation we would monitor these structures for effectiveness as both long term fish habitat structures and fish attractors. Installation most likely would have to occur in the Fall or early Winter when water levels are low. Other methods of installation are utilizing state parks barge or contracting out a professional company with the capabilities of installing larger types of structures.

Monitoring of these structures could be done utilizing underwater camera (Gopro and Marcum pancam) which the UDWR already owns. Scuba and snorkle surveys along with boat electrofishing are two other monitoring methods that will be utilized when monitoring these structures for effectiveness.

Utah State Parks and BOR are both potential partners in this project. We would also ask members of the Red Fleet Management committee to assist or any other local angler groups. This is the type of project were local anglers can get involved and see instant progress to a fishery and we plan to utilize them as partners.

Red Fleet now has a long term management plan that we can follow and assess well into the future. The goals and objectives established within this plan allow for both flexibility and direction for this up-and-coming destination fishery.

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07/01/2016

12/19/2016

2017

The project changed direction from when it was originally submitted by Natalie Boren to when it was implemented. The original proposal was to create habitat structures inshore but it was determined, after looking at the existing natural habitat, that there was probably enough for yellow perch and black crappie to spawn successfully in years that the reservoir filled or came close to filling. It was decided to pursue deeper habitat structures as existing natural deeper water habitat cover was limited reservoir wide. After gaining approval from the BOR to install them, commercially available structures were purchased, assembled and placed in the reservoir using volunteers and DWR personnel and equipment.

It was decided to purchase commercially available structures due to simplicity and ability to install the structures in the fall of 2016 without having to wait for the reservoir level to fall low enough to be able to access deeper bottom areas of the reservoir. After evaluating available commercial structures, Pond King Honey Hole structures met the requirement for crappie habitat structure improvement. Structures were placed in reservoir at an approved location on Oct 21st, 2016. The locations were selected as they were deeper than the lowest 10 year average low point of the reservoir level. 110 structures were installed in two groups of 55 placed approximately 50 yards apart. Fish were seen using the habitat shortly after installation.

Structures will be monitored in the future for fish use, durability and potential boating hazard as reservoir levels fluctuate. They will be marked by Parks personnel using buoys so anglers will know their location and boaters can avoid them in any low water years.