The Bonneville (BCT) is covered under a Conservation Agreement to help protect and expand their populations and habitats to help keep the species from becoming listed. The DWR, in cooperation with the Dixie National Forest, have identified the upper East Fork Sevier River and tributaries above Tropic Reservoir as an area where a conservation population of BCT can be re-established. This would add approximately 30-35 miles of stream supporting BCT and other native fish species. This restoration effort will be another significant step forward in preserving and expanding BCT populations in Southern Utah. In order to re-establish BCT, non-native fishes are removed by chemical treatments and pure strain native cutthroats and other native species are stocked back into the stream. Manpower, time, costs and other factors limit the length of stream that can be chemically treated at one time. Streams in the upper East Fork Sevier River drainage need to be broken up into smaller, manageable sections for treatments. Fish barriers are constructed to prevent non-native fishes from moving back upstream into sections already treated to remove non-native fish. We need to construct one temporary barrier on the upper East Fork Sevier River to prevent brown and brook trout from moving back upstream after treatments above the barrier. After two treatments we can re-establish a population of BCT above the barrier. This population would become a source of BCT that can be used to re-establish BCT throughout the rest of the streams in the upper East Fork Sevier drainage. Sometime in the next several years we will construct the final permanent main barrier on the East Fork Sevier River a short distance above Tropic Reservoir. At some time in the future (7-10 years) this barrier, along with several other temporary barriers, would be removed to create a meta-population of BCT so fish could move between streams on the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Southern leatherside are also covered under a Conservation Agreement. There are historical records of southern leatherside (SLS) occurring above Tropic Reservoir. SLS currently occur about 12 miles downstream from Tropic Reservoir, but in recent times have not able to move back upstream to re-colonize the East Fork Sevier River above Tropic Reservoir. The Tropic Reservoir dam and intermittent stream flows below the dam prevent fish movements upstream. SLS will be stocked back into the upper East Fork Sevier River above Tropic Reservoir once treatments are completed. It is uncertain how far above Tropic Reservoir SLS can be established.

- Construct a fish barrier that prevents non-native fish species from moving upstream into areas treated for re-establishment of native Bonneville cutthroat trout. - Establish a new conservation population of native BCT and other native species including southern leatherside.

Barriers could fail and wash out permitting invasion by non-native trout. Non-native trout can cross breed with native cutthroat and we loose the genetic purity of the native cutthroat. Also other trout species out compete CT for space and food resources, which can reduce CT numbers. By not expanding potential conservation populations or loss of conservation populations of BCT could be a factor to listing the species under the ESA. Expanding the range of southern leatherside will also help keep them from being listed.

Meets objectives of BCT Conservation Agreement by expanding genetically healthy populations, creating metapopulations, and improving, restoring and protecting existing and potential cutthroat trout habitat. Meets objectives of Southern Leatherside Conservation Agreement by expanding genetically healthy populations, creating metapopulations, and improving, restoring and protecting existing and potential habitat. Meets UDWR Goals and Objectives to "conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed..."

Not applicable

There will be a short term increase in stream sedimentation during construction, which will quickly dissipate and not travel very far downstream. After construction there will be no change in water quality or quantity.

The Dixie National Forest has already completed NEPA and the location has been approved. A Stream Channel Alteration permit will be secured before construction begins.

The DWR Heavy Equipment crew would be used to construct the fish barrier. The barrier will be constructed with 2'x4'x2' and 2'x4'x4' concrete blocks. The blocks will be purchased from a private company and hauled to the site by trucks. An excavator will be used to place the blocks across the stream to create a 5' high barrier with side walls. A dirt berm may need to be constructed on one bank to direct high stream flows over the barrier. Rubber pond liner material is placed on the upstream side of blocks to keep water from leaking through. The top blocks are cabled back upstream to deadman anchors to prevent them from being washed off by high flows. Regional DWR personnel will pour a concrete splash pad below the structure to prevent a pool from forming. The UDWR crew will also haul 4 dump truck loads of rock to the site, which will be used to help prevent erosion around the barrier. A front-end loader is needed to move blocks and rock down to the stream from the access road. All disturbed areas will smoothed out, blended to contours and reseeded. It should take the DWR Heavy Equipment crew 6 days to complete the work.

Barriers are visually inspected annually to be sure they are functioning properly and are not deteriorating or have problems. Maintenance work on barriers is completed as necessary. Periodically the fishery above barriers will be sampled to be sure non-native fishes do not occur.

Dixie National Forest

The upper East Fork Sevier River will be managed as a Conservation Population of Bonneville cutthroat trout. At some point in the future temporary barriers will be removed. Maintenance work on barriers is completed as necessary. Periodically the fishery above barriers will be sampled to be sure non-native fishes do not occur.

Not applicable. Project will not impact any other uses of resources in the area.