Andy Adams Reservoir covers 35 surface acres and has an average center depth of 21-feet deep. With such depths, the reservoir typically stratifies during the summer months and the result is a sizeable layer of water on the reservoir bottom that has no oxygen and provides no habitat for fish. Further, stocked trout that have not been caught by summer usually perish due to low oxygen levels in the reservoir's cooler bottom layer of water. Without aeration, this reservoir will not be able to hold and grow trout for anglers and will never provide adequate summer habitat for largemouth bass and bluegill. Fishing at this reservoir could be greatly enhanced with the addition of an aeration system.

The direct objective of this project is to improve fish production at this reservoir, which will then in turn improve catch rates for anglers. The indirect objective is to Install a comprehensive aeration system that allows fish to survive and utilize all depths of Andy Adams Reservoir in all seasons.

Thinking long-term, Andy Adams Reservoir is privately owned but opened to the public through a three way agreement between UDWR, Layton City, and Kays Creek Irrigation to manage the reservoir as a community fishery. While it is neither likely or consistent with the character of the owner of the reservoir to walk away from the agreement and close the reservoir open to the public, precautions would have to be put in place to protect any investment of public funds that benefit this fishery. Therefore, any funding awarded would be coupled with a grant agreement which ensures that the reservoir and fishery remain open to the public for the useful lifetime of the aeration system.

The proposed aeration system will help achieve the following three objectives: Objective C-1 increasing user recreational satisfaction; Goal C enhance wildlife recreational experiences, and Objective E-1 increasing support for DWR programs by a government entity (Layton City), and Goal E ensure broad-based public involvement in the management of ecosystems (Kays Creek Irrigation).

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This project is expected to improve water quality at the reservoir and also improve the quantity of water available to the fish. In particular, aerating the bottom layer of water in reservoir will remove anoxic conditions that are currently preventing fish from using this layer of water. It will also, mitigate the dissolution of metals like iron and manganese into the bottom layer of water, which is causing a rotten egg smell and discoloration when water is released from the reservoir for irrigation. In addition, iron loving bacteria can cause problems withe the reservoir's outlet plumbing, so helping the fish in this instance will also improve water quality and cut down on maintenance costs for the reservoir.

No archaeological surveys are required for previously disturbed ground like this reservoir. NEPA is not applicable.

If awarded funding, before any work begins, a grant agreement will be developed and entered into by Kays Creek Irrigation, DWR, and Layton City. This agreement will ensure that the reservoir remain open to the public for the useful lifetime of the aeration system. Scott Green of Kays Creek Irrigation will act as project manager. If awarded funding, purchase and installation of the aeration system will take place in July of of 2018. Aeration system will utilize an electric air compressor, tubing, and micropore airstones. Aeration system components will be purchased from a qualified vendor, while labor and installation of the system will be completed by cooperative work from Kays Creek Irrigation, DWR, and Layton City. The generator and compressor box will be located on the reservoir's south side and enclosed in a sound reduction cabinet within a shed that will protect the system from vandalism. Tubing will radiate out from the compressor station to 16 different locations spread evenly throughout the reservoir, ensuring an even distribution of aerated water.

Monitoring and maintenance of the aeration system will be done by Kays Creek Irrigation. Language will be written into the grant agreement requiring a semiannual inspection of the aeration system. Further language in the agreement will require immediate action on minor items that need repairs, while the DWR and Layton City will be notified about items that need more extensive repairs or action. DWR and Layton City will also act as partners that will help with maintenance as needs are identified. DWR will also conduct periodic inspections of the aeration system, ensuring that is being maintained for efficient for the public.

Kays Creek Irrigation and Layton City.

It is anticipated the installation and use of this aeration system will improve fishing at the reservoir and attract more visitation from anglers. Management of the fishery will be adjusted as needed to accommodate this increased use by anglers.

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10/01/2018

07/12/2019

2020

An aeration system consisting of two large bottom diffusion aerators was installed at the reservoir in July of 2019. Kays Creek Irrigation acted as project manager. In this role, they acquired the proper permitting, purchased the aerators and oversaw installment of the aeration system. The Division of Wildlife and Davis County Search and Rescue assisted with the installation of the aeration system. The project received some media attention and was featured on KSL Channel 5 and in a news article in the Standard Examiner.

The electrical hookup and shed to hold the air compressors was built in the fall of 2018. This compressor house was located on the north end of the reservoir. Aerators/mixers were ordered in the spring of 2019 and installed in July. The aeration system consisted of two GridBee AP7000 mixers that could push an air flow of 15-20 cubic feet of air per minute. Aerators were installed close to the dam in deep water where they could provide air and circulation to water closest to the outlet. Aerators were large and heavy (6' high with 60" legs coming off each corner), thus it took DWR's large work boat to assist with the install. Davis County Search and Rescue also helped with the effort and used SCUBA gear to dive and check for the correct placement of structures underwater. After structures were successfully placed and turned on, there was a smell of rotten eggs emanating from the bubbles coming to the surface of the water from the aerators. This was a good sign as it meant water from the bottom layer of the reservoir was being pushed to the surface. After about one month of operation of the aerators, the rotten eggs smell was no longer present, signifying that the aeration system was successfully aerating and mixing the bottom layer of water in the reservoir as projected. The smell of rotten eggs came from iron and manganese precipitating out of the water in the former low oxygen environment at the bottom of the reservoir.

A third aerator/mixer was purchased by Kays Creek Irrigation and is slated to be installed in late August or early September of 2019. While the clean smell of water bubbling up from the aerators is a good sign that the system is working, DWR biologists plan to follow up and take dissolved measurements in the bottom layer of reservoir water to verify that water is properly oxygenated and suitable for fish.