FY19 Update: This project was presented to Blue Ribbon Advisory Council and Habitat Council for funding in FY18 and was not funded. We are reapplying for funding to complete engineering work in FY19 so that we will be ready for pier construction in FY20. The fishing pier is just one part of a larger overall plan at Fish Lake to improve public facilities, add new facilities and ammenities, attract additional anglers and improve the overall recreation experience for the public. In addition to the fishing pier other improvements that are occuring or planned for in the near future at Fish Lake include: renovation and improvements at all three marinas (larger marinas, improved parking, restrooms, more boat slips, new ramps, new docks, etc.), boardwalk viewing areas for kokanee salmon spawning, improved perch tournament, Forest Service expansion of parking areas at Pelican Point and Doctor Creek, resorts expanding cabin rentals and RV spaces and hiking trail around east shoreline. FY18 proposal: Still apllies to FY19 proposal. Fish Lake is one of the most popular and productive fisheries in southern Utah. It supports over 157,000 angler hours annually (2017 DWR Creel Survey) and there are three private resorts with public boat ramps located at the lake. The Forest Service operates several campgrounds, restrooms and parking areas along the lake shore. All of the Fish Lake basin is a very popular recreation area. In 2014 the Fish Lake Fishery Management Plan was written and approved, which outlined goals and objectives for the future management of the fishery and angling at Fish Lake. Goal # 3 is: Create additional shoreline fishing areas for anglers. Because there are dense weed beds along the shoreline surrounding all of Fish Lake, shore angling opportunities are very limited. Only about 40 yards of shoreline are fished where Twin Creeks runs into the lake. Specifically the Management Plan suggests constructing a pier at Fish Lake to increase opportunities for shore angling. The Southern Region DWR, Fishlake National Forest, resort owners and many others all believe this would be an excellent addition to facilities at Fish Lake and would be very well used. It is expected that on summer time weekends and holidays there would not be enough room on the pier for everybody that wants to fish there. Several thousand shore angler days annually could be added to Fish Lake. The pier would be a permanent elevated structure extending past the weed beds to about 30' water depth, 100 feet long with a 100 feet T on the end and ADA accessible.

FY19 - Complete engineering design for the pier. Increase shore angling use at Fish Lake by at least 2,000 angler hours annually.

Pier is damaged by ice or vandalized.

Meets goals and objectives in Fish Lake Fishery Management Plan, 2014, by increasing shore angling opportunities. Satisfies DWR Resource goal of meeting management plan objectives and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities. Satisfies DWR Constituency goal to achieve broad-based support for division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah; and expand programs to recruit and retain young hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers. Meets recreational goals in the Fishlake National Forest Plan for meeting public recreation.

Not Applicacble

No change to water quality.

FY19 Update: The DWR is currently involved in completed NEPA to renovate all three marinas at Fish Lake. The Fish Lake pier and consturction will be included in this NEPA document. Jones & DeMille Engineering is writing the NEPA document and it has already gone out for public scoping. FS approval is expected to be finalized by September 1, 2018. Fish Lake National Forest will complete necessary NEPA work. - No longer applicable for FY19 proposal. DWR will secure ACOE permit before construction.

In FY17, DWR Habitat Council funded the Southern Region for $22,500.00 to hire an engineering firm to complete underwater sonar survey and a feasibility study and conceptual design for a fishing pier at Fish Lake including an estimated cost to construct the pier. Jones and DeMille Engineering located in Richfield, Utah was hired to complete the study, which has been delivered to the DWR. This project for FY19 is requesting funding so that we can move forward with hiring an engineering firm to complete final design and specifications for a fishing pier, parking area and other necessary infrastructure. In FY20 we plan to hire a construction company to build the pier. The engineering firm will supervise and oversee pier construction.

Annual monitoring of pier for damage. Periodic survey of angler use and quality of fishing.

Fishlake National Forest. Likely unnamed private donor.

Maintain and repair pier as needed. If pier is useful and operates well, build a second pier in the future.

Not applicable

07/01/2018

06/30/2019

2019

Jones & DeMille engineering in Richfield was hired to do the engineering and design work for the Fish Lake pier. It was soon apparent that we needed data and information on what material the lake bottom was composed of. Lake bottom drilling or another method needed to be completed to collect data on the lake bottom so engineering work could be completed. A budget increase was requested and approved through the DWR Salt lake office. ConTec company was hired by Jones & DeMille engineering to complete a geotechnical evaluation of the bottom composition at the pier location. The report is being finalized and Jones & DeMille is continuing to design the pier and parking area.

DFCM is the lead for the Fish Lake Angling Pier project and they pay all of the invoices for the project. DFCM completes a quarterly interagency transfer of funds from DWR to DFCM to cover incurred expenses. At the end of FY 19, all remaining funds were moved to DFCM Fish Lake Angling Pier project to pay for future work. They will be paying Jones & DeMille Engineering to complete engineering and design work.

Once engineering and design is complete, along with a cost estimate, the DWR Southern Region will seek funding to complete construction of the pier.