Big Creek currently has populations of Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT), Brook Trout, and Brown Trout. Randolph Creek, the largest tributary of Big Creek (about 7 miles), has only BCT after UDWR installed a temporary fish barrier and conducted two renovation treatments and BCT reintroduction in 2015. The UDWR desires to complete another piscicide removal of non-native trout and have only BCT present in about 17 additional miles of Big Creek and tributaries. A permanent fish barrier is needed to prevent non-native trout reinvasion following this additional piscicide treatment. The UDWR and the USFWS completed a Northern-region wide environmental assessment (2012) that covers the construction of fish barriers and conducting rotenone treatments, including on Big Creek, that expires after 2018.

1) Topographic survey (GPS) of about 1.5 miles of Big Creek. 2) Develop fish barrier alternatives and work with the landowner, water users, and agencies to select a preferred alternative. 3) Construction design and cost estimates of preferred fish barrier alternative.

Non-native trout outcompete and predate upon native BCT. Many BCT populations have been lost because of non-native trout invasion, competition, and predation. Big Creek has a pure BCT population along with Brook Trout and Brown Trout that have advanced upstream in recent years.

Utah Wildlife Action Plan: The Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy identifies "species of greatest conservation needs" including BCT [Tier I; Table 5.1 on page 5-3] and several other species that this project will benefit. The plan identifies and describes a series of strategic actions designed to benefit these and other at-risk species and their habitats. Consistent with those strategic actions, this restoration project on Big Creek will address specific high priority threats and conservation actions [Table 6.1 on page 6-41], including (1) "hybridization and competition with non-native species" and (2) "chemically or physically remove non-native salmonids". The work on Big Creek is within a Utah WRI riparian focus area and a WAP Conservation Action Area and benefits mountain riparian habitat, one of the top ten keys habitats in the state as identified in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan. UDWR Strategic Plan: this project will help the UDWR meet its Resource Goal, which is to "expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. This project will specifically address objectives 2 and 3 of the UDWR Resource Goal, which are to (1) "increase fish and game populations to meet management plan objectives and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities," and to (2) "conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered." UDWR Upper Bear River Management Plan (hydrologic unit 16010101): Identifies native and nonnative interactions as a resource and biological issue in this watershed [page 9]. Management strategies for BCT include (1) "chemical treatment of streams or lakes to remove nonnative fish" [page 11]. Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Conservation Agreement and Strategy (signed by all states within historic range): The goal of the BCT CAS is to (1) "ensure the long-term existence of BCT within its historic range [page 2]. Specific actions include (2) the selective control of nonnative species [page 34, sections 4(a,b and c)], as well as (3) subsequent introduction/re-introduction actions [page 35, sections 5(a, b and c). This project will also help to address the specific objective of additional BCT conservation populations in the Bear River in Utah [Table 2].

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

NEPA and cultural resource surveys are not required for the survey and design work being proposed on private property.

An engineering firm will be contracted to conduct the three steps of the fish barrier design process: 1) A high-resolution Global Positioning System topographic survey will be completed on about 1.5 miles of Big Creek that includes two existing irrigation diversion structures. The survey will include the USGS stream gage station that is about 0.25 miles upstream of the upper diversion. By surveying the USGS site and water levels at the time of survey, then the engineering firm will be able to model stream flows very accurately to assist with the development of alternatives and the final design of the preferred fish barrier. Also, fish barrier alternatives will not likely be considered that potentially back water up to and affect the gage site. 2) Develop fish barrier alternatives and work with the landowner, water users, and agencies to select a preferred alternative. Several alternatives will be developed that involve modifying or replacing one or both existing irrigation diversion structures to serve as a permanent fish barrier. Once alternatives are developed, then a meeting among the land owner, water users, and agencies will be held to review the options and select one that would serve both irrigation and fish barrier purposes. 3) Construction design and cost estimates of preferred fish barrier alternative. A complete design to construction detail will be prepared for the selected alternative. The fish barrier will be designed to be stable at the 100-year flow and impassable to fish at a 50-year flow.

Not applicable for this phase of the project.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Bureau of Land Management; Trout Unlimited

Big Creek is currently managed for BCT by UDWR and will remain this way after piscicide treatments are conducted to remove non-native trout.

Irrigation of pastures and hay fields for cattle are current uses of the two irrigation diversions that may be part of this project. We will work with the water users to develop alternatives that may benefit irrigation water management. Better water control and application to fields should improve forage production.The proposed Three Creeks grazing allotment consolidation is included in the headwaters of Big Creek. This allotment proposal has the potential to improve riparian conditions and stream shading and reduce sediment; benefits that could extend downstream to the private property where this WRI project is proposed.

09/12/2016

06/29/2018

2018

Final design of a fish barrier was completed for private property on Big Creek. This included field reconnaissance, a topographic survey, and meetings and correspondence with the final landowner. The initial landowner with whom the project was going to be pursued was ultimately unwilling to continue the project. Trout Unlimited and the Division of Wildlife Resources were able to find an upstream landowner that was willing to consider a fish barrier.

An engineering design was completed for a fish barrier on Big Creek. The barrier will serve as the downstream point to prevent non-native trout movement.

The fish barrier will be built on Big Creek by September 14, 2018 with additional support from WRI (project #4597). A renovation treatment will be conducted by Division of Wildlife Resources during September of both 2018 and 2019. Cutthroat Trout will then be restored to about 24 miles of Big Creek and its tributaries. The creek will then be managed solely for native fish.