Brook Trout are present with BCT, NLC, and boreal toad in Deadman Creek. UDWR desires to remove the Brook Trout and have only native aquatic species present. A low dam and pond currently serves as a partial fish barrier and could be modified or reconstructed to serve as a full fish barrier. In addition, the owners of the dam (Uinta Lands) desire to more fully utilize their water right to increase the area and volume of the pond to provide a recreational fishery. A culvert for Deadman Creek for the North Slope Road on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is undersized and beavers are consistently damming it.

1) Detailed topographic survey (GPS) of about 0.25 miles of Deadman Creek, including both existing ponds. 2) Develop dam and pond alternatives to present to Uinta Lands and agencies to select a preferred alternative. 3) Construction design and cost estimates of preferred dam/pond and fish barrier alternative. 4) Replace the culvert on the North Slope Road.

Many cutthroat trout populations are lost because of Brook Trout expansion. If Brook Trout are not removed from places where they are present with BCT, then it's likely that the BCT population will be extirpated. Mill Creek and its tributary, Deadman Creek, are a genetically pure population of BCT. One of the main sources of Brook Trout in the drainage is Deadman Creek and this project will eradicate this source of Brook Trout. Brook Trout have similar effects on NLC; Deadman Creek is one of 3 extant populations remaining in Utah. In addition, one of six known Boreal Toad breeding locations in the Uinta Mountains exist in Deadman Creek; the eradication of this piscivorous fish would benefit this species. Few options are available for a full fish barrier on Deadman Creek. The willingness of Uinta Lands to allow the use of their dam as a full fish barrier is possible because they would like to expand their pond area and volume. Undersized culverts can lead to road damage, as has occurred on other streams in this area.

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, including NLC, sculpin, and speckled dace. 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 Deadman 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 Deadman 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]. Management strategies for NLC include (2) "removal of nonnative fish species" and (3) "introduction into historical range" [page11]. 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]. UDWR Rangewide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Northern leatherside chub: The goal of this effort is to (1) "ensure the long-term persistence of northern leatherside chub within its historic range" by implementing strategies including to (2) "restore populations at selected localities within the historic range" [page 1]. Achievement of this goal requires implementation of conservation elements such as (3) nonnative control and (4) range expansion [pages 5 -- 6], which are proposed for Deadman Creek. Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas boreas) Conservation Plan.

Not applicable.

Water quality will be improved with the replacement of the culvert. The current undersized culvert is being built upon by beavers and these dam materials are removed by USFS personnel to prevent erosion to the roadway fill.

No NEPA or other resource compliance requirements are required for the survey and design work. Culvert replacement is covered under a programmatic EA for the USFS and will not require a stream alteration permit.

An engineering firm will be contracted to conduct the survey, development of alternatives, and final design process: 1) A high-resolution Global Positioning System topographic survey will be completed on about 0.5 miles of Deadman Creek that includes two existing dams and ponds. The total surface area of the ponds may not exceed 2.82 acres under the Uinta Lands water right. Currently the ponds are estimated to cover 1 to 1.5 surface acres. Also, to remain classified as a low-hazard dam under the state of Utah's definition, then the lower pond dam height can not exceed 10 feet in height (currently about 4 feet at a maximum) or 20 acre feet in volume. 2) Several alternatives will be developed that involve modifying or rebuilding the lower dam and pond to serve as a permanent fish barrier and improve the recreational fishery. Once alternatives are developed, then a meeting among Uinta Lands, the agencies, Trout Unlimited, and the engineering firm will be held to review the options and select one that would best serve the intended purposes. 3) A complete design to construction detail will be prepared for the selected alterative. The fish barrier will be designed to be stable at the 100-year flow and impassable to fish at a 50-year flow. The final design will included construction cost estimates and potentially any geotechnical assessment and guidance work required.

Not applicable for this phase of project.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Uinta Lands. Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Trout Unlimited

Deadman Creek is currently managed by UDWR and the UWC for native fishes and Boreal Toads and will continue as such with this project. As part of the project, the smaller, shallower upstream pond will be left intact so it will continue to be utilized by Boreal Toad for breeding and NLS/BCT. These species also will likely use the enlarged downstream pond following construction. The UDWR will work with Uinta Lands and allow the stocking of sterile rainbow trout into this pond. Rainbow trout are not as piscivorous as brook trout and will not be a threat to BCT, NLC, and boreal toad like brook trout are currently.

Not applicable.