Diversion of irrigation water at the East Fork Hilliard Canal currently requires water users to annually construct push-up dams of river bed and bank materials with large machinery in the East Fork Bear River. This practice degrades: 1) riverine habitat over about 600 feet of the river; and 2) water quality within and downstream of this area. In addition, the push-up dams create fish passage barriers and the canal entrains Cutthroat Trout and other native fishes. This project will fully reconnect over 20 miles of river habitat for migratory Cutthroat Trout from the Bear River that spawn in the East Fork Bear River. Also, the steep eroding hillside frequently slumps into the canal and impedes the flow of irrigation water down from the diversion.

To improve: 1) fish passage; 2) water quality and river habitat; and 3) water management and irrigation delivery for ranchland and livestock production.

Cutthroat Trout in the mainstem Bear River have declined considerably because of dams, irrigation diversions, dewatering, and impairments to water quality. Many of the tributaries to the Upper Bear River are inaccessible to spawning Cutthroat Trout and other fishes from the mainstem because of fish passage barriers. Connection to cold, clean water and spawning habitat is required for the continued persistence of Cutthroat Trout. As climate change decreases snowpack and alters runoff patterns, then conditions for fish in the Bear River will become further degraded. This will make the connection to tributary streams more urgent. If the Cutthroat Trout migratory life history were lost, then it would be very challenging to reestablish, if not impossible without reconnection efforts.

1) Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015: Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (N4) are a species of highest conservation concern. For this species, the project address two WAP high priority threats: a) 7.2.1 Presence of Diversions: impacts from the presence of a diversion and associated infrastructure, plus those related to its operation......habitat and population degradation, fragmentation, and loss, and direct fish mortality due to entrainment into irrigation systems, and; b) 7.2.5 Channelization / Bank Alteration (direct, intentional): refers to intentional diking, rip-rapping, dredging, etc operations. Impacts include accelerated loss of: sediment; stream connection to floodplain; backwater, wetland and riparian habitats; and elimination of riffle-pool-run sequences. 2) 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." 3)The Upper Bear River Drainage management plan (UDWR): identified migration barriers as important physical issues. 4) Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Conservation Agreement (signed by the States of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada), which identifies the East Fork of the Bear as a priority for conservation efforts. 5) National Fish Habitat Action Plan. Developed by multiple federal agencies "to protect, restore and enhance the nation's fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people," this strategic habitat conservation plan enables public/private partnerships at the regional level and encourages an integrated and landscape scale approach driven by sound science and data. The regional partnership implicated by this particular project is the Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI), a collaborative partnership that includes a long list of federal and state agencies, tribes, and NGOs including Trout Unlimited. Initiative goals, as reflected in WNTI's 2008 Action Plan, include (1) protecting native trout populations, (2) protecting intact watersheds and restoring habitats affected by human activities, (3) fostering collaborative approaches and partnerships, and (4) promoting effective public out each and education. WNTI is a partner on this project. 6) Summit County Resource Management Plan (2017): This project supports several SCRMP goals, objectives, and strategies: a) Fisheries Strategy 1.1.2: Support efforts to remove potential obstructions (diversion dams and associated canals) that may prevent fish from reaching spawning grounds; b) Floodplains and River Terraces Objective 1.1: Support and enhance natural river processes through active and passive management of river function; and c) maintain irrigation ditches and canals in accordance with water rights and irrigation needs. 7) The Nature Conservancy's Southwest Climate Change Initiative, which held an Adaptation Workshop in 2010 that identified Bonneville Cutthroat Trout as the sentinel species for the Bear River and developed a set of priorities that include restoring habitat and connectivity, expanding fish populations, and eliminating barriers. 8) Conservation Success Index (Trout Unlimited) developed in 2008, the Conservation Success Index ("CSI") informs other plans and helps identify and prioritize aquatic restoration projects like this one, both locally and across a broader landscape or species range. The CSI ranks the East Fork of the Bear River high for habitat integrity and future security, while it ranks the main-stem of the Bear River below the confluence as low for both, identifying "uncharacteristic wildfires" and "drought" as specific threats.

Catastrophic wildfires and resultant floods and debris flows have affected rivers and streams and resulted in the elimination of trout populations recently in many places throughout Utah. Although this project does not directly address the risk of fire and fuels, it does improve the resilience of aquatic species to handle fire effects. Reconnecting a tributary to a mainstem river for fish, specifically Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, will provide population resiliency in the event that a fire or catastrophic flood occurs in the Uintas.

Water quality will be improved with the project by eliminating the need for the canal company to annually construct push-up dams in the river to divert their irrigation water. Sediment is produced, and riverine habitat degraded, on over 600 feet of river from the push-up dams and annual alteration by large machinery. The project will be proposed for Utah Department of Environmental Quality non-point source funding because of its benefits to water quality. Water management and delivery is a primary objective for this project. This project will ensure that water users can divert the quantity of water that they have rights to without doing damage to river and riparian habitat, fish, and water quality. The replacement of the current wooden headgate, which cannot be shut off all the way, will also keep some water (about 1 to 3 cfs) in the river during the late summer when the canal it supposed to be entirely shut off.

The Forest Service will complete the archaeology clearance. NEPA is not required. A stream alteration permit will be applied for by Trout Unlimited.

Large-rock cross-vane structures will be installed as permanent solutions to the push-up dams that are currently used by the canal company to divert their irrigation water. Cross vanes will be engineered using hydraulic modeling so that boulders remain in place at high river flows and provide the required diversion elevation of water at low river flows. Cross vanes are designed to provide upstream fish passage and downstream bedload sediment movement. One cross-vane will be installed in the main channel to divert water to the side channel and second cross vane will be used to divert water from the side channel into the canal headgate, which will be replaced and moved upstream about 50 feet. A fish screen will be installed in the canal downstream of the headgate. The screen will be a horizontal flat plate designed by the Farmer's Conservation Alliance. The screen has no moving parts and will be a two-screen modular that keep fish out of the canal during all canal flows. Downstream of the fish screen a secondary water control structure will be installed where water will be regulated by the local water master. About 1,800 feet of corrugated metal pipe (42" diameter) will be installed in the canal in places where erosion and slumping is occurring along the steep hillside. The pipe will be installed after work is done at the headgate and as the construction equipment is on the way out. About a foot of soil will be place on top of the pipe to prevent damage from falling debris. The pipe will not be driven over. The pipe install will entail about a third of an acre of soil disturbance and will be seeded afterwards.

As-built engineering drawings and conservation practice certification will be completed with NRCS to meet implementation monitoring requirements. These documents will be uploaded to the WRI website. The rock cross vane structures will be visually inspected following spring runoff flows to assess any movement or displacement or the structures, and if so, any required repairs. The fish screen will be monitored at start up at the beginning of the irrigation season, throughout the season, and after the season to assess performance and any damage. The diversion rebuild and fish screen have to work properly in order for the canal company to continue to divert and deliver water to their ranches. It's not an option for it not to work well as ranchers livelihoods are directly affected. The canal company will be responsible for regular operation and maintenance of the fish screen. Visual inspection of seed germination and coverage over the top of the pipeline will take place. Post project photos will be uploaded to the WRI website. The UDWR has fisheries monitoring sites on the East Fork Bear River that are monitored every few years. Improved fish passage at the East Fork Hilliard Canal will connect migratory Cutthroat Trout to spawning habitat, eliminate fish loss to the canal, and should increase fish densities in the East Fork Bear River.

*Natural Resources Conservation Service will be providing project oversight, engineering review, and funding through their Environmental Quality Incentive Program. *Western Native Trout Initiative is providing project funding focused on the removal of fish passage barriers, elimination of fish loss to the canal, and the improvement in habitat and water quality. This partner is also involved in outreach and education about the project. *U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing funding through their National Fish Passage Program for project design and implementation. They have been on the ground to assess project conditions and approve of preliminary design. *Utah Department of Environmental Quality will be providing project guidance and funding through their non-point source program. *Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is providing the archaeological clearance and maintenance clearance for the diversion rebuild through their special use process. *Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is providing oversight and input on the project design and implementation process with their regional aquatic habitat biologist. *Trout Unlimited is coordinating the project, including design, permitting, and all funding sources. *East Fork Hilliard Canal Company is working with TU on the diversion rebuild to meet their irrigation needs while improving conditions for fish and the river. If terms of the project crossing jurisdictional boundaries, a multi-year attempt was made to consolidate this canal into downriver canals on private property on the mainstem Bear River. However, this was not an agreeable option with water users on either of two other canals. The project now is fully contained within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

The project will fully reconnect the East Fork Bear River and support continued management for Cutthroat Trout and other native fishes. This is the second, and last, irrigation diversion to be improved on the East Fork Bear River. After the project is completed, the canal company will be able to more effectively divert their water and eliminates the need for push-up dams and river dredging in the future. The diversion rebuild and fish screen have to work properly in the future in order for the canal company to continue to divert and deliver water to their ranches. It's not an option for it not to work well as rancher's livelihoods are directly affected. Trout Unlimited will work with the canal company on training for fish screen operation and maintenance. Trout Unlimited will also be responsible for larger fish screens repairs or replacement parts that may be needed in the future. However, one of the benefits of a fish screen with no moving parts is the long-term durability and reliability of its operation. The diversion and canal support hundreds of acres of ranchland that is used for cattle grazing and hay production. This project supports future livestock production by effectively providing irrigation water when it's needed most during the early growing season.

The project is intended to provide sustainable use of the irrigation water for ranchland and livestock production. It will do so by minimizing the effects of water diversion and delivery on fish, river habitat, and water quality. The project will sustain recreational fishing for wild trout in an area that has high public use with developed and dispersed campgrounds on National Forest lands.

04/13/2020

06/30/2021

2021

Two large rock cross vane structures were constructed in the East Fork Bear River to replace push-up dams that were previously used. A new headgate and horizontal flat plate fish screen were installed in the East Fork Hilliard Canal. Construction work was completed during November 2020. The fish screen was operated during the month of June during the irrigation season.

Diversion of irrigation water at the East Fork Hilliard Canal previously required water users to annually construct push-up dams of river bed and bank materials with large machinery in the East Fork Bear River. This practice degraded: 1) riverine habitat over about 600 feet of the river; 2) water quality within and downstream of this area; and fish passage, The canal also entrained Cutthroat Trout and other native fishes. The completion of this project fully reconnects over 22 miles of river habitat for migratory Cutthroat Trout from the Bear River that spawn in the East Fork Bear River, improved riverine habitat and water quality. Project was carried over to FY22 to be able to pay a late invoice from TU. All on the ground work was completed in FY21.

A second phase of the project is planned for install of about 1,900 feet of pipe in the canal along the steep eroding hillside that frequently slumps into the canal and impedes the flow of irrigation water down from the diversion. We are waiting on funding to be received by the U.S. Forest Service. Construction is planned for 2021.