Pineview Reservoir offers various forms of recreation that include, wakeboarding, water skiing, and fishing. Roughly 14,000 boats, utilize the reservoir for various activities. Some of these watercraft travel to waters that are currently infested with dreissenid mussels that can severely complicate water-related resources. Watercraft that have attached mussels or are carrying water from infested waters bring with them the ability to transport the invasive species to Pineview Reservoir where it currently has not been detected. An introduction of dreissenid species would introduce new challenges to water resource management. An introduction of this species has the ability to drive the cost of managing a reservoir up by several millions of dollars per year.

Install hanging fish habitat under three floating dock structures to increase the presence of panfish species that have been shown to feed on invasive mollusks.

Invasive mollusk species have the potential to deteriorate water quality, fish assemblage, and recreational value of a waterbody. The current method of protection is implemented through UDWR's Aquatic Invasive Species Program. Currently, there is no secondary plan or protection if a boat enters the reservoir with attached adults or water containing veliger mussels.

UDWR constituency goals

n/a

Invasive dreissenid mussels have the potential to disrupt ecosystems and reduce flow rates through water diversion structures. Decaying dreissenid structures can potentially reduce dissolved oxygen in the reservoir, uptake vital nutrients in the water, and decreases the life of metals used to filter water diversion systems. Further, the smell can aesthetically reduce entirety of shoreline surrounding the waterbody.

n/a; Work will be completed under an MOU signed with Pineview Reservoir concessionaire who own the dock structures.

Various recycled commercially constructed PVC structures will be suspended roughly 15-25 feet below dock structures. These structures will be attached to docks via metal cable. The structures will be suspended directly below docks and not pose a threat to watercraft utilizing the dock structures for loading and unloading passengers and equipment.

Monitoring will consist of video documentation to verify use of centrarchid species. Structures will be inspected by divers at least two times per year to verify the stability of structures and identify species currently using structures.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources USDI Bureau of Reclamation Pineview Reservoir Concessionaire

Pineview Reservoir is currently listed as a Blue Ribbon Fishery. To continue managing this waterbody as such, several measures need to be taken to ensure Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inoculations are prevented. These structures have a lifespan and structures will need to be replaced on an as-needed basis.

Increasing aquatic fish habitat could potentially increase the total available panfish accessible to anglers. Angling from docks is currently prohibited at Pineview Reservoir.

02/23/2022

09/26/2022

2023

DWR ordered habitat structures from Mossback. These structures have been installed in several reservoirs in the region. They provide cover in areas devoid of other natural habitats. DWR received these structures last fiscal year but was not able to install them until FY23.

Pineview Reservoir has four (4) main boat launches around its shoreline. We were interested in installing some centrarchid habitat underneath boat docks at the ramp locations. Those locations are Port Ramp, Cemetery Point, Anderson Cove, and the Yacht Club. Port Ramp recently received a new section of docks and was chosen for the installation of the structures. Water elevations also prevented DWR from installing at the other locations this fall. All of these locations have the possibility of being a vector point for an illegal introduction of Quagga or Zebra Mussels. Bluegill and Black Crappie will use the habitat for cover. Hopefully, by providing habitat at the boat ramps they will forage on any microscopic life stages of Quagga or Zebra Mussels that could be introduced by a dirty boat. Research has indicated that these species will feed on these stages of mussels. DWR ordered these structures from Mossback habitat structures. When DWR received them the reservoir was still frozen and then had to wait for new docks to be installed which just happened at the end of the summer boating season. DWR opted to install only four structures due to very low water conditions and the chance that water would continue to be very low. DWR assembled the structures on the dock at Port Ramp on September 26, 2022. Each habitat kit comes with all the pieces to create three structures. These parts include a 4" tube with holes in them to slide horizontal pieces through them. DWR placed the tube on the dock and pushed the horizontal parts through the tube until all the holes were filled. A bolt, cable, chain, and quick link are provided to wrap around a part on a dock to hang these structures. DWR used the cable and chain included in the habitat to hang the structures at the end and the first joint in the dock. As the dock section is raised and lowered with water elevations, they will continue to hang underneath the docks. They are easily removed by removing the quick link when removing the docks is necessary for the winter. They also hang far enough in the water that boat propellers cannot hit them.

DWR will continue to add additional structures as more dock sections are installed next spring. DWR will also visually inspect them for centrarchid use. DWR may also be able to use underwater cameras to inspect the structures too. AIS personnel could inspect the habitats for mussels too.