Brook Trout are present with BCT, NLC, and boreal toad in Deadman Creek. UDWR desires to remove the Brook Trout and have only native aquatic species present. A low dam and pond currently serves as a partial fish barrier and will be reconstructed to serve as a full fish barrier. In addition, the owners of the dam (Uintalands) desire to dredge the pond to improve the recreational fishery. The dam of the upper pond has eroded and a stable dam and spillway is desired.

1) Dewater and dredge the lower pond. 2) Install a riser outlet and auxiliary spillway on lower pond. 3) Construct a spillway on upper pond. 4) Complete renovation treatments to remove Brook Trout. 5) Return all native aquatic species back to creek.

Many cutthroat trout populations are lost because of Brook Trout expansion. If Brook Trout are not removed from places where they are present with BCT, then it's likely that the BCT population will be extirpated. Mill Creek and its tributary, Deadman Creek, are a genetically pure population of BCT. One of the main sources of Brook Trout in the drainage is Deadman Creek and this project will eradicate this source of Brook Trout above the constructed barrier. Brook Trout have similar effects on NLC; Deadman Creek is one of 3 extant populations remaining in Utah. In addition, one of six known Boreal Toad breeding locations in the Uinta Mountains exist in Deadman Creek; the eradication of this piscivorous fish would benefit this species. The willingness of Uintalands to allow the use of their dam as a full fish barrier is possible because they would like dredge the pond and improve the dam.

Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015: BCT and Boreal/Western Toad are both N4 species. Northern Leatherside Chub are an N3 species. All three species have listed as a High Threat: Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native. This restoration project on Deadman Creek will address the removal of the non-native species (Brook Trout) to benefit all three species. 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]. Management strategies for NLC include (2) "removal of nonnative fish species" and (3) "introduction into historical range" [page11]. 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]. 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. UDWR Rangewide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Northern leatherside chub: The goal of this effort is to (1) "ensure the long-term persistence of northern leatherside chub within its historic range" by implementing strategies including to (2) "restore populations at selected localities within the historic range" [page 1]. Achievement of this goal requires implementation of conservation elements such as (3) nonnative control and (4) range expansion [pages 5 -- 6], which are proposed for Deadman Creek. Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas boreas) Conservation Plan.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

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

The lower pond dam will be notched to drain the pond. The creek will be temporarily piped around or through the pond area. The pond will be dredged and deepened by UintaLands. They have a bulldozer, backhoe, and access to a D8 for the dredging and dirt work. Useable fill will be placed on top of the dam or the road adjacent the pond. This will increase the freeboard of the dam from the current 1 foot to about 3 feet to protect theses structures from times of high flows. Dam materials must be placed and compacted to meet specifications. A geotechnical contractor will test materials and compaction before and during the dam reconstruction process. Dredged fill not meeting specifications for the dam or road will be spread on adjacent vegetated areas. A riser outlet structure will be installed in about the center of the dam. A concrete foundation will be poured for the structure. The riser and outlet pipe from it will be about 30" diameter and capable of passing a 50-year flow. Low density concrete will be poured along the outlet pipe to prevent water movement from the pond along this route. A gangway will be installed for access to operate and maintain the riser structure. An auxiliary spillway structure consisting of a concrete weir and apron leading to rock rubble will be installed in the northeast corner of the pond. A concrete spillway structure will be constructed on the upper pond to prevent dam erosion and failure. The UDWR will conduct the rotenone treatment on about 3 miles of fish bearing water upstream of the lower pond. Following the treatment, the lower pond will be filled. A second treatment will occur in 2020.

Post-project: the UDWR will complete surveys of the ponds for Northern Leatherside Chubs (NLC) and Boreal Toads. Electrofishing of the stream length upstream of the ponds to the upstream extent of fish bearing water will also be completed to assess Brook Trout removal and BCT distribution. These surveys and monitoring efforts will be disseminated in UDWR's annual Northern Region aquatic monitoring reports. TU will monitor the fish barrier and outlets on the two ponds to assess passage of high stream flows and impassability to non-native fishes downstream.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, UintaLands, Trout Unlimited, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Deadman Creek is currently managed by UDWR and the UWC for native fishes and Boreal Toads and will continue as such with this project. Monitoring for all three species is part of UDWR's regular aquatic monitoring program. Adaptive management will be implemented dependent upon findings of surveys and monitoring efforts.

Not applicable.

07/01/2018

09/21/2020

2021

Project construction began on the dam rebuild and pond deepening during September 2019. The emergency spillway was completed during June 2020. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conducted a rotenone treatment to remove non-native brook trout during September 2020. The pond was refilled after the treatment.

The goal of the project was to remove the non-native trout above the lower dam and create a refuge for this unique combination of native aquatic species (Cutthroat Trout, Northern Leatherside Chub, and Boreal Toad). To facilitate the removal of the non-native Brook Trout, a fish barrier was required to prevent reinvasion of Brook Trout from downstream of the lower dam. The dam was rebuilt to be a full fish passage barrier to Brook Trout and also was improved to modern dam construction procedures. The pond was deepened and expanded to accommodate the consolidation of water rights from the upper pond to the lower pond. Uintalands will use the lower pond for recreational fishing for sterile rainbow trout and wild cutthroat trout.

At least one culvert upstream of the ponds is likely a fish passage barrier. This culvert should be replaced to facilitate fish movement throughout the three miles of stream above the lower pond. The upper pond has some fish passage of its dam and their may be opportunities to further improve fish passage.