The Weber River Restoration project is needed to improve the stream health in approximately two miles of the Weber River, which has been degraded due to previous channel alteration and habitat simplification. This reach of the Weber River is currently listed on the Utah 303(d) list of impaired waters for not meeting the biological standard for cold water fish and their aquatic food chain. Additionally, this reach is one of the most urbanized rivers along the Wasatch Front. The Lower Weber River from the mouth of Weber Canyon to the confluence with the Ogden River is being studied to determine how improvements will benefit aquatic life. State fish biologists have hypothesized that there is a recruitment bottleneck in this location for juvenile Bluehead Sucker and studies are currently being conducted to identify key habitats in the area. The specific need that this funding request will address is the fish passage at the 24th Street Kayak Park, which is assumed to be a fish passage barrier due to vertical plunging water with high water velocities.

The objectives of the project are to: 1) improve aquatic habitat and connectivity in the river; 2) improve riparian habitats adjacent to the river; and 3) improve recreation access and community support for river stewardship. Specific actions related to these objectives are to improve the longitudinal connectivity and aquatic habitat in the river for juvenile Bluehead Sucker by creating backwaters and pools that will provide refugia during low water periods and reducing the hydraulic drop at the Kayak Park. Other specific actions include improving riparian habitat by increasing the cover and diversity of native riparian trees, shrubs, grasses, and forbs and reducing the amount of noxious and invasive species present. Other funding sources are being sought to improve the recreational features in the river such as angler access and the existing kayak park at 24th Street. Secondary objectives are to improve aquatic and riparian habitats for the benefit of Bonneville Cutthroat trout and brown trout through removal of barriers and habitat enhanements. This will be accomplished by improving the overhanging riparian cover in some areas, which has the potential to provide better habitat for insects, an important food for trout. This will also potentially decrease the temperatures in the river by increasing shade. While it will be difficult to simultaneously improve habitats for trout and Blueheads, this will be accomplished by increasing the diversity of physical structure in the backwaters by careful placement of boulders, anchored woody debris, and thick native emergent vegetation. The riparian enhancements also have the potential to improve the contiguous riparian habitats adjacent to the river, thus improving yellow-billed cuckoo habitats and hence, habitats for other neotropical migratory birds. While we do not expect to see yellow-billed cuckoos nesting in this area, it is possible that seasonal migratory use of the area will occur. Additionally, increasing the cover of cottonwoods and willows in this reach will benefit a variety of species that use riparian habitats in Utah.

The project is focused on reducing the risk of ESA listing for the Bluehead Sucker, which is currently a species of special concern for Utah. The main threats to Bluehead Suckers in the Weber River include lack of good spawning habitat and juvenile rearing habitats and lack of longitudinal connectivity along the corridor. To abate these threats, the project will focus on creating and enhancing the aquatic and riparian habitats in and adjacent to the river with a specific focus on improving the juvenile rearing habitats and making it easier for Blueheads to move up and down the river. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan has identified many threats to high interest game and fish species and the species of greatest conservation need. The proposed project will reduce these threats by giving the river more room to function naturally and by increasing the buffering capacity of riparian areas and wetlands to filter runoff and connect floodplain areas. Additionally, the fish passage channel will improve longitudinal connectivity for fish in the Weber River. Threats to sport fishes and other aquatic life will benefit due to improvements in overall stream health and reduction of fine sediments coming off of adjacent impervious areas. The threat of channelization will be reduced by purposeful removal of riprap and other existing features that impinge upon the channel. Threats to riparian birds and waterfowl will also be reduced from proposed improvements in riparian areas within a 300 foot buffer adjacent to the river in this heavily urbanized area. Currently the riparian area has some decent stands of cottonwoods, but natural recruitment has been diminished and invasive species have taken over many areas. The plans to install and maintain native multi-story riparian canopies and diversify native plant communities will increase the number of native seeds and propagules available for sustaining native riparian ecosystems. This will reduce the threat of expansion of invasive and noxious plant species establishment in the future. Invasive species of plants are also a threat to riparian and aquatic ecosystems in the Weber River. The proposed project will address these threats by implementing both short- and long-term vegetation management actions to reduce the cover of noxious and invasive species and improve the cover and diversity of riparian and floodplain ecosystems.

The Utah State and Western Weber County Resource Management Plans have identified the preservation and enhancement of rivers and floodplains as important objectives to consider when planning projects. Additionally, wetlands and riparian areas have been identified as key resources to provide both environmental and economic benefits to Utah communities. Recreation has also been called out as essential to Utah ecological and economic vitality into the future. This project addresses these RMP objectives and also will help to bring the community together around this rare resource, the River. The Weber River is listed on the Utah 303(d) list for impairment of the cold water fishery and has been identified as a degraded reach. The Weber River Watershed Plan (USU 2014) identified Habitat Restoration as a key strategy to improve the river function and the City of Ogden developed a specific watershed plan to detail opportunities for habitat improvement and community engagement along this reach and this plan is included as a document in the WRI database. Lowland Riparian areas including Aquatic-Forested, Aquatic-Scrub/Shrub, Emergent, and Riverine Habitat types were identified as a Key Habitats in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2016). Many species rely on these habitat types for all or parts of their life cycles. The proposed project will improve all of these habitat types and will also increase the effectiveness of the vegetative buffer by removal of material and enhancement of riparian areas and floodplains adjacent to the river. Restoring the Weber River, which is in a moderately densely populated area will help the UDWR achieve Resource Objective 2 (Increase fish and game populations to meet management plan objectives, and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities) and Constituency Objective 1 (Increase public awareness of wildlife as a quality-of-life issue in order to expand our support base and achieve stable funding). A map and narrative of priority reaches on the Weber River is included in the attached documents. In addition, restoring the Weber River will meet city master plan objectives.

While there is some threat of fire in the existing riparian forest and a few fires have occurred along both the Weber and the Ogden River in the Ogden City limits, the focus on the project is not on fire or fuels. The area does exist in a Wildland Urban Interface and focusing access to certain locations will reduce the risk of human caused fires.

One of the primary objectives of the proposed project is to increase the habitat quality in the Weber River to address degradation of water quality. The source of water quality degradation has not been scientifically proven, but the most likely causes are channelization, lack of floodplain connectivity, and lack of quality riparian vegetation buffers. Our project will address these hydromodifications. Additionally, storm water runoff has been found to be an issue in many urban areas across the state and nation. We will address stormwater by enhancement of the treatment of urban runoff by installation of bioswales and other "Green Infrastructure".

The City of Ogden is planning to conduct cultural resource inventories and delineation of Waters of the U.S. to comply with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Utah Stream Alteration Permit needs. A Utah Stream Alteration Permit and all needed resource information, including that needed to comply with ESA, USACE, and NHPA regulations will be secured before project implementation. An Environmental Assessment on the project has been completed by FEMA and the ROD was published in 2018.

The proposed project consists of various habitat features to restore aquatic and geomorphic functions of the Weber River. Riparian and wetland enhancement is also proposed to buffer urban nonpoint source pollution, reduce in-channel water temperatures, and provide food sources for aquatic organisms. Stormwater return areas and best management practices are proposed to minimize water quality impacts from urban runoff. Project features include: delineating the riparian corridor, modifying the channel geometry, installing in-stream habitat features for improved geomorphic and habitat functions, creating interior floodplains, enhancing the riparian vegetation, removing invasive plant species, bio-stabilizing the banks, installing stormwater finishing areas, removing extensive concrete and litter and installing appropriately concentrated recreational access.

There have been several efforts in recent years to characterize the habitats and water quality in this reach of the Weber River. These include riparian vegetation surveys, water quality sampling, and fish surveys. An assessment of riparian areas was conducted in 2015 and 2017. The Utah Division of Water Quality conducted a targeted sampling for water quality at site #4920220 in 2015 and this will be repeated on a 6 year cycle. The Weber Basin Water Conservancy District conducts regular sampling of chemical water quality parameters at the kayak park and will continue to sample in the future. A Bluehead Sucker recruitment bottleneck study was conducted by Utah State University in 2014-2016 and the final report is expected in 2017. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conducts population monitoring for Bluehead Sucker in the Weber River on a three year rotating basis with the next survey planned for 2018. Additionally, we are working with Utah Water Watch at USU to develop a citizen science monitoring program and working to include students and professors from Weber State University.

The City of Ogden - project lead role completing the design and implementation of the project. Trout Unlimited - technical advice U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - technical advice Utah State University - Water Watch Program - monitoring. Weber State University - classroom groups learning in the field. Weber Pathways - local trail group working on access and trail connectivity. Weber Waterways - local boaters group - site stewardship. Utah Division of Natural Resources - technical advice. Utah Division of Water Quality - funding and technical advice. National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program - stakeholder development. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District - water quality monitoring. Weber Partnership - numerous members - stakeholder engagement and education.

The City of Ogden will continue to work to improve the river and riparian areas along the Weber River and will maintain improvements in the future. Focused restoration and establishment monitoring of the aquatic and riparian habitat improvements will be conducted for 3-5 years post-construction. Then the City of Ogden will continue to manage invasive species and river ecosystems as part of their regular maintenance. Follow up treatments for noxious and invasive species will be part of a long-term adaptive management strategy used in the river corridor.

The project will benefit the sustainable use of the Weber River as a recreation resource for anglers, wildlife watchers, and boaters. Allowing safe downstream access for boaters and upstream access for fish are key aspects of the project.