Originally constructed in the early 2000's Joes Valley east boat launch provided access to the reservoir during low water periods and did not have sediment loading issues like the ramp on the west side of the reservoir. This launch has provided better year round access for anglers in varying conditions such as fluctuating water levels and ice fishing. Originally constructed in the early 2000's Joes Valley east boat launch provided access to the reservoir during low water periods and did not have sediment loading issues like the ramp on the west side of the reservoir. This launch has provided better year round access for anglers in varying conditions such as fluctuating water levels and ice fishing access. As the years went by it only access for launching watercraft on the reservoir. In 2013 due to extremely low water levels boats were unable to launch and the ramp was closed by the local irrigation company to protect the reservoir thus establishing the need to enhance the site for protection of natural resources during these conditions. Based on a 2000 creel survey, approximately 22,400 angler hours were spent at Joes Valley Reservoir by Utah anglers. This included 6,171 boat hours, which is equivalent to approximately 800 fishing trips involving Utah boaters. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, anglers in the southeastern United States average 16 angling trips a year, spending $1,200 annually on angling. Equating to $75 per angling trip, and assuming an average of two anglers per boat angling trip at Joes Valley Reservoir, boat angling contributes roughly $120,000 to the local economy every year. A formalized creel survey has not occurred on Joes Valley Reservoir since 2000. However, after the new ramp was built in 2004, boat launches at the reservoir went up significantly. Data from the DWR's Aquatic Invasive Species Program indicates that from 2009 to 2012 boat launches at Joes Valley Reservoir increased 16% over the course of the boating year. Similarly, from 2011 to 2013, weekend boat launches increased 35%, likely due to the increased interest and quality of the tiger muskullenge fishery. This project includes expanding amenities at the Joes Valley boat launch and beach area to better facilitate the needs of the recreating public, UDWR's AIS program and protect against natural resource damage. Utah DWR, law enforcement and search and rescue will benefit for a dependable boat dock will at this location as it makes for the loading and unloading of equipment and supplies to be much easier especially during choppy seas. Due to unexpected contracting costs parts of this project had to be unfunded in order to proceed with implementation. We are seeking to find alternative funding sources to complete this project. This ramp is a non-fee site meaning the operation, upkeep and improvements relies upon the agency and partners is generally completed with appropriated non-fee dollars.

At the completion of this project you will see a new aquatic check/decontamination area with a separate drain field, parking lot runoff collector, removal of infrastructure from the shoreline to be relocated on the more sustainable concrete surface(dock replacement), boat ramp extension to prevent reservoir bed disturbance in low waters, increased parking capacity to prevent users from creating their own parking solutions, and the replacement of an aging single walled plastic vault toilet system with a double walled vault toilet. The entirety of this project focuses on reversing negative effects to the watershed and natural resources whether they are currently occurring or if its be proactively addressed. The goal is providing sustainable access by mitigating the impacts from the ever-changing demands and needs triggered by site's use patterns. The project timeline and readiness: Boat Launch Parking Area * Expand the boat launch parking area by 1.15 acres to add 15 additional paved parking spots. -- In Process * Replace the aging boat dock. -- Ready For Implementation * Maintain the existing paved surfaces. -- In Process * Expand the length of the boat ramp when water levels allow. -- Completed FY19 * Installation of an invasive species boat wash and checkpoint station. -- In Process * Replace the existing vault toilet facility. -- Relocated Existing FY19 Beach Access Parking Area * Expand the parking area by .30 acres. - Ready For Implementation * The parking area and access road will be paved. - Ready For Implementation * Replace the existing vault toilet facility. - Ready For Implementation .

This project would discourage motor vehicle traffic from seeking other unauthorized parking sites when the parking lots are full, and would offer protection for sage grouse in the area by discouraging expansion into undisturbed sage brush fields. Replacement of the poorly performing floating boat dock and the boat ramp extension protect the water quality by not causing unnecessary stirring sediment on the reservoir bed. Prior to the extension being in place, boat trailers would back onto the unprotected reservoir bed during low water periods. Another issue surrounding the reservoir bed is the floating boat dock cannot withstand the wind causing it to blow into the shoreline causing disturbance while putting it back in place and encouraging boats to shore their watercraft instead of using the boat dock. The new dock design would keep it on the concrete ramp thus eliminating disturbance to the non-hardened reservoir bed.

The proposed action has been reviewed for compliance with the Forest Plan (Manti-La Sal National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 1986, with amendments)). Proposed activities meet the goals and management direction provided by the Forest Plan. The following management direction, as well as others not listed, applies: Under Forest-wide Direction, the proposed action would conform to: * Develop appropriate facilities where the present facilities are not meeting the demand and where it meets the highest net public benefit. * Design facilities and access to provide sites protection, efficient maintenance, and user convenience. Design and develop sites to ensure that developed capacity meets the anticipated demand. * Construct, reconstruct and maintain developed sites in accordance with the established Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classification for the management unit. * Manage recreational activities so they do not conflict with wildlife use of habitat. * Maintain developed sites in accordance with regionally acceptable work standards.

Construction of this boat ramp will provide an excellent drafting location along the eastern shore of Joes Valley Reservoir. All sized engines and water tenders will be able to directly access the reservoir, furthermore crews could utilize the new dock to place drafting hoses further from the shoreline reducing the disturbance of sediment on the reservoir floor. This will be beneficial for protecting water quality as well as helping to prevent damage to firefighting equipment by eliminating debris that could be drafted by this equipment.

Part of the design criteria of this project is to install a parking lot oil and debris collector, a boat decontamination pad, a boat ramp extension, and increased capacity for parking to prevent disturbance to the forest and reservoir floors. In this phase of implementation we are seeking to replace an aging floating boat dock that is having issues given the high winds the dock receives. Currently the winds cause the current dock to blow into shore. When this occurs the dock stirs sedimentation and is unusable for the public which causes most to shore their watercraft. We are looking to replace it with a dock that will remain on the concrete boat ramp and will be adjusted from the ramp. With moving to this different dock style we expect to reduce impact to the reservoir floor and reduce stirring sedimentation in the reservoir.

The NEPA work for this project was completed during the spring of 2018, and the project is now ready for implementation.

Engineering has been completed or approved by the Forest Service engineers, and the project is ready to go. The expansion of the boat ramp parking area and installation of the vault toilet will be completed by a contractor but expansion of the fisherman parking lot will be completed with in house labor. In house equipment(truck, dozer, bobcat, trailers) will be used to complete in the house portions of this project. We are seeking for WRI to help us fund the following supplies/equipment. They include; Boat Dock, New Vault Toilet, Regulatory/Site Signing, and structural road base for parking lot.

UDWR and USFS will oversee and monitor all phases of the construction to make sure that the end product will be usable and a benefit to the angling and public. USFS will also take the lead on daily operations that the newly remodeled site is maintained in good, clean working order.

Partners for this project include the UDWR(Utah Division of Wildlife Resources), DPR(Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation), USFS(Forest Service), and Emery County. All of the parties involved met regarding the issue of the current site going over capacity and the impacts to the resources. The meeting resulting in the development of the site plans and long term plan of this site. UDWR has provided $579,040 in funding towards the project, DPR has contributed $144,760, Emery County has taken responsibility for administering the contract for the boat trailer parking expansion along with the boat ramp extension and the USFS provided NEPA clearance and will soon start the expansion of the fishermen parking lot.

UDWR will take the lead in insuring that lot maintenance will be performed along with the emptying of oil and decontamination water. The Forest Service will ensuring that the restroom will be maintained along with the placement/adjustment of the boat ramp.

This projects promotes sustainable use of natural resources and the lands used to access them. By adjusting sites to meet use patterns we curtail the need for visitors to make the facilities meet their needs. Ultimately we will eliminate the need to create their own parking opportunities, provide additional ramp to eliminate the need for boat trailers to leave pavement while launching, procure a boat dock that is better designed for the environment it will be sitting in, provide better decontamination areas to prevent the spread of invasive species to the Joes Valley fishery and providing infrastructure to collect oil and debris from the parking area before it reaches the water.

07/01/2020

06/30/2021

2021

Spring 2020 -- Boat launch parking lot expansion completed. May 19, 2020 -- Habitat Council and DWR staff fast tracked FY21 funds to project to complete a portion of the tasks in FY21. May 21, 2020 -- Forest Service road crews expanded fishermen/angler access parking lot. May 28, 2020 -- Installation of CXT restroom at angler parking lot. Restroom cost was $21,117; region contributed $1,117 to project. May 28, 2020 -- Forest Service began trail construction from new angler parking lot to beach. August 3, 2020 -- Joe's Valley boat dock requisition was submitted for DWR signatures and to purchasing. August 7, 2020 -- DWR and dedicated hunters finish installing treated wood posts and angling regulation signs at angler access points. August 19, 2020 -- Chip seal and painting finished at boat launch parking lot. August 19, 2020 -- DWR installed kiosk in boat launch parking lot for angling and AIS regulations. August 31, 2020 -- Joe's Valley boat dock requisition awarded to Silverline. December 12, 2020 -- Boat dock was delivered and placed in parking lot. Boat dock cost was $14,116.95. April 14, 2021 -- Forest Service removed old floating dock and installed new boat dock. May 13, 2021 -- Angler access signs were ordered from UCI for Joe's Valley Reservoir. June 23, 2021 -- Materials to protect boat ramp (concrete curb stops and roof bolts) were delivered to Joe's Valley. Installation will take place in fall 2021 when water levels are the lowest. June 23, 2021 -- Joe's Valley Reservoir angler access signs were installed by Forest Service at 4 locations.

The Joe's Valley Reservoir boater access improvement project has been a high priority for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Emery County, U.S. Forest Service, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation for a number of years. This project was completed due to the collaborative effort between these groups and many more. DWR obtained Motorboat Access funds (~$600,000) to begin expanding the boat ramp and the boat launch parking lot. In the summer of 2018, the reservoir level dropped below the existing concrete boat ramp. A few months later construction began to extend the boat ramp an additional 50 feet. By Christmas 2018, all the concrete had been poured and the ramp was finished. Crews excavated the new boat launch parking lot during the summer of 2019. Construction continued through the winter and the parking lot was completed with a new chip seal and paint in August 2020. Work began on other angler access points during 2020. The angler/beach parking lot was expanded by the Forest Service in preparation for a new CXT restroom. It was installed in May 2020. A new non-floating boat dock was constructed and delivered in late 2020. The new dock was installed in spring 2021. Installation of angling regulation signs and Forest Service angling access signs were completed in spring of 2021. Concrete curb stops and roof bolts were purchased to be installed along the northern edge of the boat ramp. These concrete curb stops will help protect the boat ramp and keep it from being eroded. Due to unexpected contracting costs parts of this project had to be unfunded in order to proceed with implementation. The completed project included a new aquatic check/decontamination area with a separate drain field, parking lot runoff collector, removal of infrastructure from the shoreline to be relocated on the more sustainable concrete surface (dock replacement), boat ramp extension to prevent reservoir bed disturbance in low water, increased parking capacity to prevent users from creating their own parking solutions, replace aging vault toilet with new CXT restroom, and install signage for current angling regulations and access. Overall this project was an incredible success with help from so many groups and people. Anglers at Joe's Valley Reservoir will be rewarded with the improvements that were accomplished.

UDWR will take lead in insuring that lot maintenance will be performed along with the emptying of oil and decontamination water. The Forest Service will ensure that the restroom will be maintained along with the placement/adjustment of the boat ramp.