BCT in Big Creek have been displaced by non-native Brook Trout and Brown Trout. The headwaters of Big Creek still have some BCT remaining, along with Randolph Creek - the largest tributary of Big Creek (about 7 miles). The UDWR desires to complete a piscicide removal of non-native trout and have only BCT present in about 23.5 miles of Big Creek and its tributaries. A permanent fish barrier is needed to prevent non-native trout reinvasion. Perimeter and internal barb wire fencing is needed to be replaced to improve cattle grazing management for private property.

1. Construct a permanent fish barrier. 2. Complete piscicide treatments of all non-native fish bearing water upstream of the fish barrier. 3. Reintroduce BCT. 4. Replace barb wire fence around and within private property.

Non-native trout outcompete and predate upon native BCT. Many BCT populations have been lost because of non-native trout invasion, competition, and predation. Big Creek has a pure BCT population along with Brook Trout and Brown Trout that have advanced upstream in recent years.

The UDWR and the USFWS completed a Utah Northern-region wide environmental assessment (2012) that covers the construction of fish barriers and conducting rotenone treatments, including on Big Creek. Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015 - 2025: Both BCT (N4) and Greater Sage Grouse (N3, breeding) are species of highest conservation concern. This project will address the threat of invasive species to BCT (high). It will also address riverine habitat and the threat of improper grazing - current (high). 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]. 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]. Rich County Long Range Management Plan- This project correlates to the improvement of water quality on an impaired waterbody. This plan also states that it intends to support the livestock and agriculture industry in the county which is done on the private lands involved. Rich County Conservation District- This project corresponds to its long-range management plan to improve habitat for sensitive species. Argyles Ranch Inc. Conservation Plan- This plan is influenced by the conservation plan for the ranch wrote by the NRCS for rangeland health.

Not applicable.

Big Creek is a water quality limited stream. Water quality should be improved with replacement of perimeter fencing and cross fencing. With improved grazing management of cattle, then bank trampling and hoof shear should then be reduced with a resultant reduction of streambank erosion. Infiltration of water by improved forage management and associated grazing practices will also benefit water quality and reduce erosion from overland flow.

Archaeologist survey will be completed in-house by DWR ($2,000 in-kind for cultural resource inventory). No NEPA wil be required for the fish barrier and fence replacement work on private property. The rotenone treatment is covered under the EA completed by the USFWS and UDWR in 2012.

The fish barrier will be constructed of metal sheet pile and concrete during August 2018. It will be built to withstand a 100-year flood event and be fish impassable up to a 50-year flood event. The fish barrier will be built to use the existing earthen dam across the valley bottom as side berms so that water will not flank around the fish barrier at high stream flows. UDWR will complete the first rotenone treatment of Big Creek and tributaries upstream of the the fish barrier in September 2018. All potential fish bearing water will be treated at the same time. This will require considerable planning and preparation. The implementation of the treatment will require about fifteen people over a 2 to 3 day period. UDWR will complete a second rotenone treatment in September 2019. BCT will then be reintroduced into the creek above the fish barrier. The perimeter fence will be replaced around the property and cross fencing will be installed within the property.

The fish barrier will be monitored for the first couple of years through spring runoff with an interval camera focused on the barrier. The pictures will be used to evaluate the creek stage and flows at the barrier and its impassability to fish. UDWR will electrofish Big Creek from the fish barrier upstream to the headwaters (23.5 miles) to assess the removal of non-native trout and the reestablishment of BCT. Fencing will annually be maintained. The implementation of the NRCS grazing plan will also be monitored.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Bureau of Land Management; Utah Grazing Improvement Program; Trout Unlimited; Randolph Land & Livestock; Argyles Ranch Inc.; Rich County Coordinated Resource Management group

Big Creek is currently managed for BCT by UDWR and will remain this way after piscicide treatments are conducted to remove non-native trout. Periodic fisheries surveys will be conducted to monitor the restored BCT population and evaluate management objectives. The NRCS grazing management plan that is a part of the ranch's conservation plan will continue to be implemented and evaluated.

Replacement of barb wire perimeter and cross fencing will improve cattle grazing management on private property. This property and its cattle are part of the Three Creeks Grazing Plan.

07/01/2018

06/30/2019

2019

A fish barrier was constructed and the first-year rotenone treatment by DWR was completed during September 2019. Perimeter fencing was removed by the landowner and new fencing installed. Fencing work was completed during spring 2019.

The project was successfully completed. Water was turned over the newly constructed fish barrier and the following day, the first-year rotenone treatment was completed on all fish bearing water upstream. The project is on it's way to achieving over 23 miles of Cutthroat Trout-only water upstream of the fish barrier. Grazing management on the property will be improved with the new fencing.

A second rotenone treatment of all water upstream of the fish barrier will occur during September 2019. Cutthroat Trout can then be restocked and the creek will then be managed for Cutthroat Trout by DWR. Additional fencing work on the Argyle property may occur as part of future phases of this project to improve grazing management and stream habitat conditions.