Sheep Creek Lake is a Utah Division of Wildlife (DWR) owned facility that serves as a wild broodstock source for two strains of Colorado River Cutthroat trout (CRCT). These two strains provide wild, native fish needs for the South Slope Uinta and North Slope Uinta Geographic Management Units. The Sheep Creek Lake fish trap, which is a concrete, raceway-type structure approximately 100 feet away from the lake, is over 50 years old and in need of a rebuild; concrete has begun to fail at several locations on the trap, allowing fish passage between containment areas as well as liklihood of future escapement if action is not taken soon. Minor improvements on the new structure will be made to increase efficiency. Wild broodstocks allow the DWR to maintain a relatively cheap option for egg production where a hatchery facility is not required to hold captive broodstock. Wild broodstocks are also ideal in that all fish are subject to natural, selective pressures, which allow individuals that are better adapted to a wild environment to survive and grow better than domesticated individuals. Fish demand from these broodstocks include 32,000 South Slope Uinta and up to 90,000 North Slope Uinta fish (once we have the ability to supply North Slope demand). [Total demand per year expect to be approximately 122,000 fish in the future] These fish are stocked throughout the High Uintas lakes and streams, ensuring native fish persist from conservation and sportfish perspectives into the future. The High Uintas Mountain area is a Blue Ribbon fishery area.

Replace the existing Sheep Creek Lake fish trap with a similar facility, with minor improvements based on experience operating the trap.

Improvements to the fish trap become an unforeseen nuisance. Threats and risks to wildlife that are mitigated include being able to mitigate or stock CRCT during negative population CRCT trends or our ability to introduce pure CRCT populations into vacant waters.

Use of wild, native Colorado River Cutthroat trout broodstocks are an integral part of the tri-state CRCT agreement and management plan, CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) names the CRCT as a sensitive species. Ensuring continued broodstock operations and maintaining our ability to rear these fish in the hatchery system is integral to future recovery and protection of the species.

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Project will not alter water quality or quantity.

No cultural resource inventory will be required since we are simply replacing a structure that currently exists with no additional footprint. Project discussed with state archeologist Monson Shaver in calendar year 2016. Function of the fish trap will be the same as has been. NEPA has been discussed with USFS District Ranger Rowdy Muir; written approval is already grated to complete work without needing NEPA since footprint will remain the same; this is categorically maintenance and replacement of existing structures. Maintenance and replacement conditions are already set forth in our special use permits that govern Sheep Creek Lake, Canal, and fish trap uses. A complete 3D imaging scan and set of documentation pictures has been recorded by the engineering firm that is designing the fish trap rebuild.

Engineering firm was hired in FY2017 to survey and redesign facilities. Fish trap is at a 85% complete stage and needs additional engineering funds to complete to 100% design phase. The DWR heavy equipment crew will be used for phases of the project to cut costs; heavy equipment crew has been notified of the potential project; site visit planned for 5/16/2017 to discuss. Engineering firm has experience with bidding and overseeing concrete structure project, and thus will be the first line of contact with hiring a contractor, who will be responsible for forming and constructing the new trap per the engineer's specifications. Substantial canal improvements that included lining leaky areas of the canal, dredging and leveling the canal base, constructing an emergency overflow/spill point on the canal, and demolishing/reconstructing the main headgate on the canal were all undertaken in FY18 as part of this project.

Will use the facility and modify/enhance as necessary through time with use. This structure is used for at least two weeks on an annual basis. Canal will continue to be monitored for damage at least 5 times a year. Beaver cause problems on sections of the canal, thus monitoring is already a large necessity.

Facility occurs on Ashley National Forest (ANF) (USFS) administered lands. Fish trap operations maintained using fisheries interns who are paid under Ashley National Forest CRCT budget. We will work with ANF through this stage of project to obtain mutual objectives. NEPA and cultural resources compliance already worked through. Raw resources (rock and gravel) have been supplied by the ANF for the purposes of the canal and trap replacement project.

This structure will be vital for future, ongoing efforts to recover, restore, propagate, and provide fisheries for Colorado River Cutthroat trout in the Uinta Mountain range. Area of interest to these fish includes sections of Northeast and Northern regions. Future management will be directed as needed for less or more intensive needs for fish production. Fish production needs will trend upward over the next 10 years as additional CRCT recovery efforts are completed in both Northeast and Northern regions.

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