The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Division) is leading a project to create a metapopulation of Colorado River Cutthroat trout (CRCT) on the North Slope Uinta Mountains. Phase I of this project has already been completed in the way of the Middle Fork Sheep Creek treatment and restoration (2012-2014). Additional phases of the project include treating the North Fork Sheep Creek, South Fork Sheep Creek, and the catchment from the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal, which captures water from the upper Carter Creek drainage and delivers it to Sheep Creek. Future planned phases of the restoration include upper Carter Creek (2019-2020), West Fork Carter/Beaver/Weyman (2021-2022), South Fork Sheep Creek (2023-2024), and North Fork/mainstem Sheep Creek (2025-2026). The Canal system both serves as a blessing and a curse in that it complicates the treatment, but eliminates other fish barrier problems and creates a larger-than-otherwise-possible metapopulation scenario. In order for the remainder of the upper Sheep Creek drainage to be secure to pursue future CRCT restoration, several fish barriers have to be pursued to isolate headwater reaches of the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal that tie it into the Carter Creek drainage on a seasonal (high water) basis. By isolating and treating this area, this project will create a metapopulation of >80 miles exclusive to CRCT. Barriers include: 1. Potter Lakes outlet. Three permanent, hand-constructed fish barriers will be built on Potter Lakes outlet to isolate the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal from the lower reaches of West Fork Carter Creek. Very limited perennial water and insufficient grade drop currently allow a few brook trout to survive near the canal; a fish barrier will isolate this threat. 2. West Fork Carter Creek. One permanent, equipment-constructed fish barrier will be built at the immediate downstream end confluence of the West Fork Carter Creek with the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal to enhance an already-existing drop to contain any threat of fish coming up from lower West Fork Carter Creek. A 5 foot high grade drop from the creation of the Canal already exists; canal outlet will simply be modified/enhanced to prevent potential fish migration. This portion of the stream is seasonal since the Canal completely captured all discharge at baseflow volumes. 3. Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal at Anson Diversion. One temporary, equipment-constructed fish barrier will be built immediately upstream of the confluence with North Fork Sheep Creek. A natural bedrock drop already exists on site, and will be modified to become a fish barrier. After CRCT restoration project is completed and all downstream threats are eliminated, this fish barrier will be removed to re-connect the fish population in order to meet metapopulation goals and criteria.

To prevent non-native fish passage to CRCT restoration areas, fish barriers need to be constructed. Simple objectives include: Use natural on site materials to create 3 permanent hand built barriers on Potter Lakes outlet Use natural on site materials to permanently enhance the spillway of West Fork Carter Creek with Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal Use natural on site materials to create a temporary fish barrier on the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal at Anson Diversion (immediately upstream of North Fork Sheep Creek confluence); remove barrier after project is completed (separate proposal for removal)

Project reduces/eliminates risk of non-native fish emigration to native Colorado River Cutthroat trout restoration area Project involves constructing fish barriers in order that future rotenone projects be undertaken to expand range of Colorado River Cutthroat trout. CRCT will be stocked after treatments are completed. A North Slope Uinta brood has been developed for this project Circumstances and habitats that would allow for metapopulations (interconnected habitat of >50 miles) of Colorado River Cutthroat trout are extremely difficult to achieve due to 1. lack of available water or habitat 2. resistance of public/anglers 3. possibility of eliminating non-native fish pressures and threats. This project has the makings of having enough interconnected water, remote enough to not offend many anglers, and particularly addresses fish barriers, thereby cutting off non-native fish introduction possibilities. The point of creating a metapopulation is to allow future species (in this case CRCT) persistence where the population as a whole is less likely to go extinct due to selective pressures, and thus allow immigration/emigration from other parts of the metapopulation, while allowing future genetic exchange and reducing the risk of inbreeding due to the extent of range and possibilities of population growth across this landscape.

Creating and maintaining metapopulations is crucial for species recovery. In the tri-state guiding document CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT, recovery goals are loosely laid out, however, the creation of metapopulations is the most concrete and commanding way to meet those goals. The strategy within the forthcoming UTAH'S COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT CONSERVATION STRATEGY has goals that are more quantitatively defined, and creating and defining metapopulations and what they mean for species recovery is laid out; this project will assist in meeting those objectives. 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.

N/A

N/A

The Ashley National Forest is currently reviewing this project under NEPA standards. Author will contact DWR state archaeologist if cultural resources inventory needs further investigation beyond NEPA process. A 404 permit/stream alteration permit will be filed and reviewed by ACOE and Utah Division of Water Rights. After discussions with Water Rights, the only barrier needing permitting will be the Potter Lakes outlet hand barriers, however, author feels it is prudent to include all barriers to gain scope of project. Other barriers are already covered under existing permits, and/or are not part of existing waters (i.e., the two equipment-created barriers exist within the canal, and outside of a natural stream channel

3 permanent fish barriers will be constructed of natural, on-site materials by hand (hand tools, physical labor, cables, winches, etc). Seasonal labor will be hired for several weeks to complete this part of the project. 1 permanent fish barrier will be constructed of natural, on-site materials via heavy equipment. An access road to the site is already in place. This barrier will be constructed under the Sheep Creek Irrigation Company's canal permit as maintenance, as this barrier will not only prevent fish passage, but will be shoring up/enhancing the canal's ability to function 1 temporary fish barrier will be constructed via heavy equipment using on-site raw materials. An access road already exists. Barrier will be removed following completion of restoration activities.

Project will be monitored annually during the duration of CRCT restoration project to ensure barriers are functioning. Restoration project will continue for the next 8 years. Any issues with barriers will be addressed immediately due to importance of function. Following restoration projects, barriers will be monitored semi-annually, pending no change to status of barriers during restoration activities.

Ashley National Forest is functioning as a project partner in terms of funding other parts of the CRCT restoration project, in terms of raw materials, and in terms of completing NEPA process.

Future management will focus on the continued existence of the metapopulation created by the CRCT restoration projects described within, and the fish barriers created by this project proposal. Future management will focus on maintaining the permanent fish barriers created, eliminating the temporary fish barrier created by this proposal, and ensuring complete habitat connectivity through project area in order that metapopulation conditions are met.

N/A

07/30/2018

10/31/2018

2019

Used natural materials with limited artificial materials to augment and/or create 3 fish barriers on the North Slope Uinta Mountains. Barriers were completed to isolate 90 miles of connected stream where treatments are in progress to eliminate brook trout and replace with a conservation population of Colorado River Cutthroat trout.

DWR and US Forest Service staff partnered in efforts to isolate the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal catchment First barrier was on West Fork Carter Creek at the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal. US Forest Service took the lead on this barrier's construction; DWR staff participated in construction and design. Drop off at canal dyke was fortified and enhanced to create a 5 ft vertical drop. Through most of the year, the Canal catches 100% of the West Fork Carter Creek runoff; barrier was completed to ensure 100% isolation from downstream brook trout populations that will not be eliminated. This barrier is designed to be permanent. The second fish barrier was completed by hand and is designed to be permanent. This barrier was constructed at a gully pinch point with sufficient drop to create a fish barrier - which is in a remote location and why it had to be constructed by hand. This gully plug barrier is constructed of large rock gabion, several layers of canal liner, and log cross beams to create a 5-ft vertical drop. Brook trout populations exist near to this barrier and the stream is not completely dewatered. Thus our fish barrier had to be effective to create a complete blockage from invasive species migration during low and high water events. The third barrier was a simple augmentation of permanent features already existing on the landscape. We enhanced several rock features to create additional vertical barrier insurance against upstream migration, which is already unlikely given the bedrock drop in the vicinity. This work is meant to be temporary to prevent upstream brook trout migration during our treatment phases, and may be removed once all treatments are complete on the North Slope.

Monitor fish barriers to insure effectiveness, particularly during high water events. Continue to monitor the fish barriers in perpetuity to ensure no erosion or barrier failure occurs. Once treatments/North Slope CRCT renovation project is complete, remove all temporary fish barriers.