The proposed fishing pier is just one part of a larger overall plan at Fish Lake to improve public facilities, add new facilities and amenities, attract additional anglers and improve the overall recreation experience for the public. Some improvements planned at Fish Lake have been completed; others are proceeding forward or planned for the near future. The Fish Lake Lodge Marina renovation is complete, the Lakeside Marina renovation work is about 85% completed and Bowery Haven Marina has a new, three times larger parking area and new restrooms. Continuing renovation and improvement work at Bowery Haven Marina planned for 2022 includes a larger marina, more parking, more boat slips, and a new boat ramp. A new boardwalk viewing area for kokanee salmon spawning along Twin Creeks is completed. The annual perch tournament will be held again on February 22, 2020. The Forest Service plans expansion of parking areas at Pelican Point and Doctor Creek, the resorts are expanding cabin rentals and RV spaces and a hiking/biking trail along the east shoreline is being planned by Sevier County. Fish Lake is one of the most popular and productive fisheries in southern Utah. It supports over 157,000 angler hours annually and there are three private resorts with public boat ramps located at the lake. The Forest Service operates several campgrounds, restrooms and parking areas along the lake shore. All of the Fish Lake basin is a very popular recreation area. In 2014 the Fish Lake Fishery Management Plan was written and approved, which outlined goals and objectives for the future management of the fishery and angling at Fish Lake. Goal # 3 is: Create additional shoreline fishing areas for anglers. Because there are dense weed beds along the shoreline surrounding all of Fish Lake, shore angling opportunities are very limited. Only about 40 yards of shoreline are fished where Twin Creeks runs into the lake. Specifically, the Management Plan recommends constructing a pier at Fish Lake to increase opportunities for shore angling. The DWR Southern Region, Fishlake National Forest, resort owners and many others, all believe this would be an excellent addition to facilities at Fish Lake and would be very well used. It is expected that on summer time weekends and holidays there would not be enough room on the pier for everybody that wants to fish there. Several thousand shore angler hours annually could be added at Fish Lake. Because of the number of people that will use the pier, an additional pit toilet will have to be installed in the parking lot. The parking lot will be expanded to handle the increased number of vehicles expected to utilize the pier. In FY17, DWR Habitat Council funded the Southern Region for $22,500.00 to hire an engineering firm to complete an underwater sonar survey and a feasibility study and conceptual design for a fishing pier at Fish Lake, including an estimated cost to construct the pier. Jones and DeMille Engineering located in Richfield, Utah was hired to complete the study, which has been delivered to the DWR, including a cost estimate for the pier. The recommended design of the pier would be a permanent elevated structure supported by steel and concrete pilings, extending past the weed beds to about 30' water depth, 100 feet long with a 100 feet "T" on the end and ADA accessible. It would be possible to extend the "T" on the end at a later time to increase fishing space. In FY19, DWR Blue Ribbon Fisheries and Habitat Council funded $50,000.00 to complete engineering design for the pier. Jones & DeMille Engineering firm has again been hired to complete the final engineering design and the design is about 80% complete, and will be completed shortly. Jones and DeMille Engineering will provide an updated cost estimate for the pier and parking lot expansion soon. We currently have an unnamed private donor wanting to contribute to the project and several others to be contacted. No specific amount has been determined, but $200,000.00 - $300,000.00 in donations is a reasonable estimate.

Construct a fishing pier at Fish Lake. Increase shore angling use at Fish Lake by at least 2,000 angler hours annually.

Pier is damaged by ice or vandalized.

Meets goals and objectives in the Fish Lake Fishery Management Plan, 2014, by increasing shore angling opportunities and increasing number of annual angler hours. Satisfies DWR Resource goal of meeting management plan objectives and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities. Satisfies DWR Constituency goal to achieve broad-based support for division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah; and expand programs to recruit and retain young hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers. Meets recreational goals in the Fishlake National Forest Plan to maintain and increase recreation use of fish and wildlife on the forest.

Not applicable

No change to water quality or quantity.

Forest Service NEPA for construction of the angling pier and expansion of the parking lot is completed. DWR will secure ACOE permit before construction.

In FY19 funds were approved to complete engineering design of the pier and improvements to the parking area. Engineering design is in progress and is 80% completed. Final drawings will be completed soon. Now that engineering design is completed the DWR Southern Region will contact and secure private funding donations for construction. This FY21 project is requesting DWR funding to match private funds and then we can move forward with construction in fall of 2020. The engineering firm will supervise and oversee pier construction. We currently have an unnamed private donor wanting to contribute to the project and several others to contact. No specific amount has been determined, but $200,000.00 - $300,000.00 is a reasonable estimate.

Annual monitoring and inspection of pier for damage. Periodic survey of angler use and quality of fishing will be conducted. Angler creel surveys are planned to be conducted about every 7 years at Fish Lake.

Fishlake National Forest. Unnamed private donors.

DWR will maintain and repair pier as needed. If pier is useful and operates well, build a second pier in the future. FS will maintain the restroom.

Not applicable, but the project would increase public recreation use and benefit of the fishery at Fish Lake.