Recently the ownership of the Olmsted Power Plant changed and a complete renovation of the power plant was completed. Upon completion of this renovation existing water rights where water flows from the Olmsted Diversion approximately 3 miles upstream of the Murdock Diversion directly into the power plant through a pipeline. These flows combined with the water diverted at the Murdock Diversion result in insufficient flows to maintain fish and wildlife habitat and fish populations in the stretch between the Murdock Diversion and the Olmsted Power Plant for approximately 90 days during the summer irrigation period. In order to maintain the aquatic populations, habitats and recreational opportunities in this stretch of the Lower Provo River addition water in needed. The Lower Provo River supports approximately 28,000 angling hours per mile and is fished by an estimated 6,957 anglers per mile per year. Each angling hour conservatively generates $10.50 per hour (BRFAC study estimates $84/8 hour day) yeilding an economic impact of $294,000 annually per mile of river. This river is very heavily used and has a great economic impact for the state. The modifications to power generation at the mouth of Provo Canyon jeopardizes the angling use of over a mile of river without securing water flows between the Murdock Diversion and the Timp Diversion. This proposal is requesting funds to pay for the loss of power generation allowing water to flow through this stretch of river rather than flowing through the power plant while still meeting the water right demands further downstream below the Olmsted power plant.

Purchase power generation loss fees ($23.50/acre-foot of water) on approximately 20 acre-feet of water. This would result in approximately 10 cfs flow of water in the Lower Provo River between Murdock Diversion at Canyon Glen Park and the mouth of Provo Canyon at the Olmsted Power Plant.These flows would be combined with the 8 cfs Bonneville Environmental Foundation is contributing for the same reach of river to total the needed 25 cfs in this 1.19 mile reach of river.

This reach between Murdock and Timp Diversions has a history of altered and impacted instream flows. Recent changes to water management and power generation has reduce summer flow allocations to just six cfs. In 2018, due to the limited snowpack the water allocation was cut by 50% resulting a flow requirement of just three cfs. More instream flows are necessary to maintain existing fish habitat and prevent the loss of sportfish and native fish populations on the Lower Provo River.

The goals tasks identified will aid in partial fulfillment of the goals identified in the Lower Provo River Ecosystem Flow Recommendations Report (Stamp, Olsen, and Allred 2008). The study utilized multiple methodologies to determine flows needed to sustain a healthy and naturally functioning riverine ecosystem. Primarily the study focused on flows needed to maintain minimum water temperature, limit terrestrial vegetation encroachment, maintain aquatic habitat, flush sediment from spawning gravel, and several other metrics. The flow recommendations are as follows for summer (Jul-Sep) base flows for dry year 57cfs, moderate year 86 cfs, wet year 113 cfs. Our initial goal of a total of 25 cfs instream flow is a modest initial goal that only obtains 44% of the lowest recommended flow. The Division and its partners will pursue options to secure additional flows and to further evaluate target flow needs. This project addresses the Division's Strategic Plan including the following: Resource Goals: Conserve, enhance and actively manage Utah's protected wildlife populations.Objective R1: Increase, decrease or maintain wildlife populations, as needed, to meet the objectives in our management plans. Objective R2: Maintain existing wildlife habitat and increase the quality of critical habitats and watersheds. Objective R4: Decrease risks to species and their habitats through integrated implementation of the Wildlife Action Plan, species recovery plans, conservation agreements and other management plans (species, AIS, disease, etc.). Constituency Goals: Strengthen support for wildlife management by demonstrating the value and importance of wildlife to all Utahns. Objective C1: Increase participation in fishing, hunting and other wildlife-related activities. Objective C4: Increase understanding of our customers and potential customers and take reasonable steps to address their needs, wishes and priorities. Objective C6: Create a culture of respect, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness within the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Agency Goals: Create a culture of respect, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness within the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Objective A6: Create a culture of respect, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness within the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

N/A

This project will ensure that there is first water in the river to maintain viable fish habitat for fish and allow fish to survive within the reach of river. Without this water in the river obviously fish will not survive. Water is the most critical habitat need for fish.

This is in response to anglers coming to UDWR and other agencies asking for our help to obtain water to secure angling opportunities in the heavily used Lower Provo River. Some fish loss and mortality was observed in this stretch of river with the recent changes to water management and power generation.

Purchase water through paying for the interference fees for the loss of power generation in one lump sum to cover the 10 cfs instream flows for a 10 year period similar to what the other funding partner Bonneville Environmental Foundation is doing. During that 10 year period other funding sources and opportunities will be pursed to find additional water that is needed to maintain a healthy and naturally functioning riverine ecosystem below Murdock Diversion in the Lower Provo River.

Additional monitoring along this lower stretch of the Provo River through anglers and population monitoring will be needed and conducted in the future to solidify the amount of instream flows needed to maintain fish populations and angling demands.

* Central Utah Water Conservancy District * Bureau of Reclamation * Trout Unlimited * Bonneville Environmental Foundation * Utah Anglers Coalition * Department of Interior CUPCA office * Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission * Utah Division of Wildlife Resources * Utah Valley Visitor's Bureau * Utah County

UDWR will continue to include this stretch of the Lower Provo River as a Blue Ribbon Fishery and promote it as such. We will continue to encourage angler use here for Brown trout, White fish and some Rainbow and Bonneville Cutthroat trout.

The proposed project to increase flow in this reach of the Lower Provo river by an additional 10 cfs while offsetting the associated power generation loss (interference costs) helps meet the demands on the Provo River water users while also recognizing the biological and recreational values of the river. These additional flows will allow continued angling opportunities along this portion of the Lower Provo River.

07/01/2019

06/30/2020

2020

Purchase interference cost for water flows to be placed in the Lower Provo River near the Mouth of Provo Canyon. This will allow for a minimum of approximately 25 cfs to be flowing at critical times of the year to maintain fish and other aquatic habitats and species to persist in this very heavily used resource.

During very hot and low flow periods of the year a portion of the Lower Provo River was virtually going dry. This was pointed out to UDWR in 2018 by angling organization leaders. UDWR invited agency and origination leaders to get together to collaborated and find ways to remedy this situation. Funds were secured to purchase power interference cost to allow water to flow through critical habitats during critical times of the year for the next 10 years. This is one of Utah's most heavily used rivers and attracts user from both instate and out-of-state having a large economic impact to the state, especially Central Utah.

Annual plan, set and monitor the best times of the year to utilize these flows for the fishery and other aquatic habitats through 2030. Also research will continue to find more permanent sources of water to maintain this very important resource.