In late June 2012, dry lightning started a fire on Seeley Mountain in Emery County. The fire burned through July impacting over 47,000 acres of land, including the Huntington Canyon area. Heavy rain events following the fire led to severe flash flooding and landslides. Several slides drastically changed the flow of the creek. The immediate influx of ash and sediment post fire resulted in the total loss of fish within our lower long term monitoring site. The upper reaches of the canyon below Electric Lake dam did not burn, therefore, the fishery in this reach remained intact. Colorado Cutthroat have been stocked at various locations since 2014. This project is focused on creating pools and fish holding cover in areas impacted by the fire. Continued fish stocking and habitat restoration is needed to reestablish a viable sport fishery throughout the canyon. Toe wood structures will be used to stabilize areas where erosion is creating problems.

1) Improve fish habitat near access points along SR 31 2) Increase distribution of fish throughout Huntington Creek 3) Decrease erosion at strategic locations 4) Improve riparian vegetation 5) Increase recreation in Huntington Canyon 6) Rehabilitate stream function in Nuck Woodward post Seeley fire

The Huntington Creek drainage contains several small isolated populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout. Native cutthroat are found in Tie Fork, Crandall, and Scad Valley Creeks. These native cutthroat trout populations play a critical role for in the UDWR Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Conservation and Management Strategy. A population of Colorado River cutthroat trout in Nuck Woodward Creek was extirpated by the Seely Fire and its after effects. Maintaining or improving fish habitat within the mainstem will provide, refuge and security for long term persistence of fish populations when fires, droughts, and habitat changes displace fish. If sufficient connectivity is not maintained within a watershed between mainstem and tributary habitats the threat of extirpation increases.

(1) Huntington Creek Watershed Coordinated Resource Management Plan, March 2016 The goals of this plan are to develop a set of recommendations that will (a) improve stream habitat (b) improve recreational opportunities (c) help local stakeholders achieve water quality objectives in the Huntington Creek TMDL Some of the BMP's identified in this plan for reducing TML's identified in this plan include stabilizing streambanks with log abutments, cribs, rock diversion structures to reduce streambank erosion. It also identifies restoring/revegetating failing streambank areas. (2) The lower portion of Huntington Creek was included on the Utah 2000 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies for exceeding the total dissolved solids (TDS) water quality standard, impairing its agricultural beneficial use for irrigation and stock watering. As a result of that listing, a TMDL study was completed by DWQ and approved by EPA in 2004. The TMDL identified other potential anthropogenic (human caused) sources of TDS to Huntington Creek including irrigation return flows, streambank erosion resulting from season-long grazing in riparian areas, forestry related activities, urban runoff, overland and gully erosion from disturbed areas, stock pond seepage and recreational activities. Several management activities applicable to this project are recommended in the TMDL, including: * Re-vegetate stream banks with soil holding species, * Use rock structures to divert flow from banks * Re-slope steep streambanks to allow for vegetation establishment (3) Conservation Strategy for Colorado River Cutthroat Trout, June 2006 Project meets objectives in the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Conservation Agreements with the USFWS by improving, restoring and protecting existing and potential cutthroat trout habitat. The goal of the plan is to assure long-term viability of CRCT throughout their historic range. This project helps to meet the following objectives by improving habitat in increasing numbers. *Objective 1: Identify and characterize all CRCT core and conservation populations Identify all waters with CRCT populations and monitor known populations to detect changes. Complete genetic analyses on known or potential CRCT populations. *Objective 3: Restore populations Increase the number of populations by restoring CRCT within their native range. Local restoration goals and approaches will be developed to meet this objective. *Objective 4: Secure and enhance watershed conditions Strive to improve watershed conditions for CRCT, including development of protocols for monitoring *Strategy 1: Characterize CRCT populations. Monitor CRCT populations to detect changes Continue monitoring CRCT populations, with emphasis on accurate assessment of total adult cutthroat population size and relative abundance of native non-game species. *Strategy 2: Secure CRCT conservation populations. Regulate angling and enforce regulations Use special regulations to promote persistence of CRCT populations, and provide a concerted law enforcement presence to ensure compliance. *Strategy 3: Restore or enhance CRCT populations. *Strategy 7: Improve habitat conditions for CRCT. Manage the entire watershed Impacts outside the riparian zone should be considered as part of CRCT management. Land management agencies should work to mitigate adverse impacts of watershed activities on water quality, instream habitat, channel morphology, riparian areas, and population stability. Improve lake and stream habitat Habitat improvement techniques will be used where appropriate to provide missing habitat components or improve existing ones. Examples of these techniques include building instream structures to improve pool to riffle ratios, stream bank stabilization, riparian management, instream cover, pool or spawning gravel enhancement, and provision of fish passageways. (4) Strategic Plan at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources , May 2019 Meets UDWR goals and objectives to conserve, enhance and manage Utah's protected wildlife populations by: - maintaining and increasing critical habitats and watersheds - decrease risk to species and habitats - Manage sensitive species populations to prevent them from being federally listed *Resource goal. Conserve, enhance and actively manage Utah's protected wildlife populations. *Objective T1 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 throughout the state. *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.). *Objective R5 Manage sensitive species populations to prevent them from being federally listed as threatened or endangered, and work to delist those species that are currently listed. (5) Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 This project proposes to increase the amount and/or improve the condition of two Wildlife Action Plan species: Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Threats-habitat shifting and alteration (H), other ecosystem modifications (H) * Need cool, well-oxygenated water. * Occur in streams and high lakes in the Colorado River Basin. * Populations have become isolated and fragmented. Bluehead Sucker Threats-habitat shifting and alteration (M), fire and fire suppression (H) * Occurs in mainstem and tributary locations. This project also addresses threats to open water, a key habitats identified in the WAP. The threat addressed best by this project to this key habitat is sediment transport imbalance (m). The strategy identified in the plan to address this threat include promoting policies that maintain or restore natural water and sediment flow regimes. This project will help to maintain and restore water and sediment flows through the creation of additional structure in the stream and creation of diverse habitats and pools. (6) State of Utah Resource Management Plan This plan specifically talks about maintaining fisheries and riparian areas. This project will help to achieve the following objectives * The State will seek to protect, conserve, and improve Utah's fish and aquatic wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. *The State will seek to provide for the varied demands of fish and aquatic wildlife recreationists. *The State supports ensuring the persistence of the diversity of native fish and aquatic wildlife in Utah while at the same time providing excellent opportunities for anglers and other recreationists. *Encourage the use of flood structures, dams, catch basins, gully plugs, and reseeding of grass ways to help reduce erosion during and after storm events. *The State supports implementing active management and restoration projects on federal lands to restore sinuosity, vegetation, and floodplain function which mimic the natural hydrologic system in suitable areas *Encourage Federal agencies to re-seed/revegetate burn areas as soon as possible post-fire to mitigate sedimentation in streams and riparian areas *Active management should be used to improve and enhance riparian resources to provide for appropriate physical, biological, and chemical function. *Prioritize and manage riparian areas to attain desired future conditions for riparian related resources (e.g. fishery habitat, water quality, wildlife and livestock forage, and soil stability). *The State supports the use of structural and non-structural improvements in unstable water courses to restore riparian areas properly functioning/desired future conditions. *The State will engage with federal land manage agencies to support active management of healthy riparian areas on federal land. *Work with stakeholders and partners to continue to implement recommendations from the Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015--2025 to conserve sensitive species and their habitat. *Identify and minimize the threats to sensitive or federally listed species to ensure healthy and robust populations of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species can exist in Utah. *Cooperate in the protection, restoration, enhancement and management of water resources in the State of Utah to the extent of each agency's authority, expertise, and resources. (7) Emery County Resource Management Plan *Pursue multiple use of public forest resources to provide sustainable and continuous yield of timber, forage, firewood, wildlife, fisheries, recreation, and water. *The County encourages the Agencies to develop biological resources management plans that provide for the enhancement of native fish, game and nongame species, promote fishing and hunting on public lands, and provide a private property compensation program for certain damages created by wildlife. *Fish-stocking of streams and lakes should be continued and encouraged unless scientifically valid, peer reviewed studies show a direct correlation between fish stocking, predation on Threatened and Endangered species, and increasing user visits that create a negative impact on the Wilderness experience as defined by Congress (above).

Riparian areas can act as a fuel break. Since riparian areas are green and have high fuel moisture throughout the whole growing season unlike the uplands which can be very dry and flammable at time of the year. The uplands in the project area were burned in 2012 which reduced the severity potential of future fires in the area but the riparian areas need to enhanced to create suitable fire breaks for any future fires in the area. The upland areas within the project area map as moderate to moderate/high in the Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands Wildfire Risk Portal. This project would create/improve over a mile of fire break to the uplands.

The Seeley fire resulted in portions of Huntington Creek downcutting, the result of this erosion is large pulses of sediment being transported downstream. As a tributary to the San Rafael, sediment flows during flooding are carried through to the main river channel. The San Rafael River is currently 303(D) listed as an impaired waterbody with a Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Reduction in erosion and trapping sediment to agrade the streambed will effectively reduce the amount of both suspended and dissolved solids. Adding complexity and roughness to a stream through large woody debris (log structures) has been shown to trap sediment and promote healthy sediment transport. Aggrading the streambed through these activities will reduce the salt loading and TDS in lower Huntington Creek and the San Rafael River.

A stream alteration permit with Utah Division of Water Rights will be applied for during the winter of 2020. All proposed sites are on USFS land, USFS will complete all needed NEPA compliance. DWR is consulting with the Manti- La Sal National Forest on permitting. DWR archaeologist will coordinate with the FS archaeologist for all needed archaeological compliance.

Dead trees located on site will be used for construction of log structures including, J-hooks, cross vane and log roller structures. Angular / flat rock will be delivered to each site and used along with rock already present to construct rock weirs, boulder cross vanes, and converging rock clusters. Sod mats and willow clumps will be transplanted from off channel locations to the structures as needed. Work on Huntington Creek will be completed by DWR personnel and project partners. BDAs will be constructed in Nuck Woodward by driving 6 foot non-treated posts into the channel with a hydraulic post pounder. The posts create a foundation for weaving and tie the structure to the stream bed. Materiel for weaving will be juniper bows collected from nearby lop and scatter projects. Labor for BDA implementation will be contracted out using equipment and materials provided by DWR.

Yearly fish population surveys have been competed on Huntington Creek since 2002 (See report in document section). According to the DWR Southeast Region Strategic Sampling Plan, the Huntington Creek drainage is scheduled to be surveyed in 2020. This will allow biologists to collect pre-project fish population data. A drainage wide fish population survey is scheduled again in 2026, allowing biologists to collect post-project fish population data. Additional electrofishing sites will be added to estimate fish densities and metrics of fish health before and after project implementation. Other monitoring data collected will include a summary of macro-invertebrates, and channel monitoring including cross sections and longitudinal profiles. Channel monitoring will occur before and after construction and after flooding events.

Manti-La Sal Forest is the land manager within the project area and are supportive of improved angling opportunities and improving ecological conditions in the project area. Trout Unlimited has been involved with this project from the beginning and is supportive of improved trout habitat and angling opportunities. UDWR has developed this project and would like to see improved fish habitat, additional angling opportunities and overall healthy ecological conditions.

More phases are planned to continue fish habitat improvement further up right hand fork. Also options to restore habitat in Nuck Woodward Creek and other tributaries where Colorado River cutthroat trout were extirpated are being considered. All three sections of Huntington Creek (mainstem, Left Fork, Right Fork) are considered as potential Blue Ribbon Waters. The artificial fly section of Right Fork of Huntington Creek will be surveyed by Blue Ribbon Council members in 2020 for full Blue Ribbon Fishery status. This project will help the mainstem and Left Fork of Huntington Creek regain full Blue Ribbon Fishery status in the near future. Huntington creek is a water source for the power plant below. This project will not impact plant operations.

Fishing has historically been a primary recreational activity in the canyon, improving fish habitat and holding more fish near access areas will boost recreation. This project is restoring fish habitat lost due to post fire impacts, including addressing extirpation of some of the most genetically intact strains of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT) found anywhere. Restoration of a resilient population of CRCT in Huntington Creek is dependent on the success of restoring aquatic functional tributaries. Additionally, Brown Trout populations that frequently exceeded 2,000 fish per mile were essentially wiped out below the fire scar. Fish densities and distribution must be significantly increased to restore a sustainable fishery in Huntington Creek. Areas near FS campgrounds will be provided additional angling and stream recreational opportunities for the public with improvements to the stream and riparian areas. Huntington canyon is an open allotment, livestock is found within the canyon. There will be no changes for the permittee.

09/28/2020

11/06/2020

2021

Fish habitat structures were built at three locations (Upper and Lower Little Bear Campground, Left Hand Fork) along Huntington Creek. Structures included J-hooks, W-weirs, cross vanes, and boulder clusters. We used dead and "leaning" live trees located on site for construction of log structures including J-hooks and toe wood. Angular / flat rock was delivered to each site and used along with rock already present to construct rock weirs, boulder cross vanes, and converging rock clusters (before and after pics attached). Heavy equipment staging areas and access points were rehabilitated and broadcast seeded and raked by hand. Sod mats and willow clumps were transplanted from off channel locations to the structures as needed. Work on Huntington Creek was completed by DWR / SER personnel and Trout Unlimited. UDWR operated two excavators on Huntington Creek spending twelve project days installing habitat structures between 15 Oct and 6 Nov 2020). A contractor (Good Fellers) was hired to install BDA's along Nuck Woodward Creek. BDAs were constructed in Nuck Woodward by driving 6 foot non-treated posts into the channel with a hydraulic post pounder. The posts create a foundation for weaving and tie the structure to the stream bed. Material found on site, including evergreen trees were used for weaving. Materials for project implementation including post pounder, trailers, and posts were provided by DWR. A total of 57 BDA's were built between 28 Sep and 15 Oct 2020.

In late June 2012, dry lightning started a fire on Seeley Mountain in Emery County. The fire burned through July impacting over 47,000 acres of land, including the Huntington Canyon area. Heavy rain events following the fire led to severe flash flooding and landslides. Several slides drastically changed the flow of the creek. The immediate influx of ash and sediment post fire resulted in the total loss of fish within our lower long term monitoring site. The upper reaches of the canyon below Electric Lake dam did not burn, therefore, the fishery in this reach remained intact. Colorado Cutthroat have been stocked at various locations since 2014. This project focused on creating pools and fish holding cover in areas impacted by the fire. Continued fish stocking and habitat restoration is needed to reestablish a viable sport fishery throughout the canyon. Toe wood structures and rock were used to stabilize areas where erosion is creating problems. The goals of the two projects are as follows: 1) Improve fish habitat near access points along SR 31 2) Increase distribution of fish throughout Huntington Creek 3) Decrease erosion at strategic locations 4) Improve riparian vegetation 5) Increase recreation in Huntington Canyon 6) Rehabilitate stream function in Nuck Woodward post Seeley fire

During FY22 UDWR will continue to contract BDA construction in Nuck Woodward to facilitate rehabilitation of fisheries, stream function, and riparian areas. The focus will be on maintaining BDA structures built in FY21 and expanding up stream to increase miles of potential cutthroat habitat. The work in Huntington Creek focused on creating pools and holding cover in areas impacted by the fire. Continued fish stocking and habitat restoration is needed to reestablish a viable sport fishery throughout the canyon. Use of toe wood structures should continue to stabilize areas where erosion is creating problems.