The Ouray Park Irrigation canal system begins at the Uinta River and moves downstream to Bullock and Cottonwood reservoirs. Fish management of these two waters has moved to a predator control concept to control the influx of "rough" fish from the Uinta. Downstream of these two reservoirs, however, are two Blue Ribbon (probationary) fisheries. Brough Reservoir is down-pipe from Cottonwood Reservoir and is currently managed as a trophy trout fishery for brown trout and rainbow trout. Largemouth bass and green sunfish were observed in 2012 and carp were observed in 2014; therefore, while trophy trout regulations are still in place, the water is in need of serious help as the most likely source of these unwanted fish was Cottonwood Reservoir. In order to restore the trophy trout status or any Blue Ribbon status of Brough, we have to protect it from fish moving down from Cottonwood Reservoir. Pelican Lake is fed most often from the pipeline from Cottonwood Reservoir, but can also be fed from the canal from Bullock Reservoir as well. Pelican Lake is a trophy bluegill fishery, though a recent influx and expansion of the carp population has hurt the status of this fishery as well. In order to save this fishery, we must also protect it from fish moving down from Bullock and Cottonwood reservoirs. Because there are two possible sources of unwanted fish to at least one of these waters, because the Ouray Park Irrigation District has ultimate say over any structures built along the canal, and because I have no idea what screen design will best protect, but also satisfy the Irrigation District, you guys thankfully gave me money to hire engineers to do the thinking for me. The engineers are currently coming up with two potential designs, one that screens inflows to Bullock and Cottonwood and one that screens outflows from these two reservoirs.

Protect Brough Reservoir and Pelican Lake from upstream fish sources. Restore the trophy status of these two reservoirs.

Pelican Lake and Brough Reservoir will eventually be removed from the Blue Ribbon list without protection from upstream sources. We don't have creel numbers for Brough, but we do have information for Pelican Lake. It is far too important to the NER as a regional fishery to ignore the problem. We see over 33,000 angler hours at this lake with folks coming from all many states to fish it. We don't have numbers to support it as a main contributor to fishing license sales, but we can say that it is an important component to many local and Wasatch Front angler's fishing trips annually.

Brough and Pelican Lake do not have individual management plans, although we are in the process of drafting one for Pelican Lake now. Currently, their management is described under the HUC plan (2005) for the Duchesne River drainage. We will also begin development of a 6-digit HUC plan for the Lower Green River in the near future which will include management of both of these waters.

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Because of the nature of the project (installation of infrastructure on existing structures that are privately owned), an arch survey is not necessary as long as any proposed structure stays within the irrigation district's right-of-way. In addition, an EA is not required either. We may be required to complete a stream alteration permit and if so, we will do that before moving forward with construction. And finally, if outlet works are modified, we will work through Dam Safety to ensure their concerns are mitigated.

By the end of this fiscal year, we should have a final proposed design as recommended by RBG engineering and approved by dam safety and Ouray Park Irrigation District, Blue Ribbon Council, and the Pelican Lake management team. If approved to move forward, we can then determine permitting needs, move forward with those, and make plans for construction. Depending on permitting requirements and how quickly we can meet those requirements, we may still be able to move forward on construction in FY17. Assuming that we are able to move forward on construction, we would shoot for spring 2017 for construction. Although spring high flows often prohibit this kind of work, the irrigators in this system get winter water and are normally no longer diverting water into the system beginning in March, but definitely by April. This should give enough time to move on the permitting in the fall and overwinter and still do construction in spring.

Pelican Lake and Brough are both sampled (fishery) regularly during the region's annual trend monitoring. Brough is on a 3-yr schedule and Pelican Lake is currently monitored annually. Pelican Lake is also on a 10-yr creel cycle and will be surveyed again in 2020-2021. Brough is not currently on a full-yr creel cycle.

We aren't truly partnering with anyone on this project; however, I will be working with biologists internally to ensure our needs are met with any proposed design. We will work with Ouray Park Irrigation District and Dam Safety to ensure that their concerns are addressed and mitigated and we will work with the Pelican Lake Management Team and Blue Ribbon Council to ensure that they are supportive of the project including the amount of money requested vs the likelihood of preventing a reinvasion of unwanted fish species.

Future management of these two waters would be restored to Blue Ribbon status. We know for sure that the goal for Pelican Lake is to restore the memorable Bluegill and quality Largemouth Bass status. Brough management has not been finalized and we could make a change in species if deemed appropriate by Blue Ribbon, TU, and other stakeholders via a management planning process. Trophy status (with special regulations and limited harvest) would be maintained.

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07/01/2016

06/30/2017

2017

This phase of the project was just completing the engineering design and construction specs for the upper fish screen at Pelican Lake. This was completed and the final documents are attached to this proposal, including the specs, designs, and geotechnical report.

Construction was originally intended to occur in fall 2016 or spring 2017; however difficulties arose making it impossible to proceed at the original and preferred location. We subsequently found a willing landowner to allow us to construct and access the screen into the future; however, it did push the construction back to spring 2017 at the earliest. Overwinter we pursued an MOU with the Ouray Park Irrigation District since the screen would go in their canal. Difficulties arose with that MOU and these negotiations further delayed the project. Given these difficulties, construction was not possible in FY17; however, we were able to finalize the design and specs and will be ready to construct whenever funding is available.

Once built, the screen will be maintained by the UDWR Northeastern Region. Operation will occur mainly in the winter when OPIC is first in line with their water right. They often receive additional water throughout the year, however, at least in higher snowpack years or higher water years and the screen will need to be maintained during these times as well. The screen catchment area will be cleaned with heavy equipment once a year when the canal is dry. We will work with OPIC to coordinate this timing.