The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Division) is leading a project to create a metapopulation of Colorado River Cutthroat trout (CRCT) on the North Slope Uinta Mountains. Phase I of this project has already been completed in the way of the Middle Fork Sheep Creek treatment and restoration (2012-2014). Phase II of this project is nearly complete (2019-2020) with limited treatment to occur in August 2021, and includes the East Fork Carter Creek (of interest in this WRI project). Additional phases of the project further downstream include treating the North Fork Sheep Creek, South Fork Sheep Creek, West Fork Carter Creek, and the remaining catchment from the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal, which captures water from the upper Carter Creek drainage and delivers water via interbasin transfer to Sheep Creek. Future planned phases of the restoration include West Fork Carter/Beaver/Weyman (2021-2022), South Fork Sheep Creek (2023-2024), and North Fork/mainstem Sheep Creek (2025-2026). The Canal system both serves as a blessing and a curse in that it complicates the treatment, but eliminates other fish barrier problems and creates a larger-than-otherwise-possible metapopulation scenario. In order for the remainder of the upper Sheep Creek drainage to be secure to pursue future CRCT restoration, several fish barriers have to be pursued to isolate headwater reaches of the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal that tie it into the Carter Creek drainage on a seasonal (high water) basis. By isolating and treating this area, this project will create a metapopulation of approximately 100 miles of linear, connected stream in addition to over a dozen high mountain lakes with natural reproduction potential. A similar project was funded and successfully completed in 2018 (WRI project #4462) to isolate the treatment area from potential reinvasion threats existing on lower West Fork Carter Creek. At the time, we identified these areas as the only threats to reinvasion. During the 2020 treatment of East Fork Carter Creek, additional staff field-truthed the fish barrier preventing fish migration from lower East Fork Carter Creek from the treatment area. Numerous staff (myself included) discussed that we would feel more comfortable with this area being a barrier if we put an additional vertical drop structure at the top end of the high gradient confinement zone. The group judged the area below the point feature identified in the map of this project to typically be a fish barrier during most discharge events, but were concerned that during 10-20 year events, such as the 2011 runoff, there may still be connectivity for fish to migrate upstream. This project is intended to address this potential threat by eliminating any potential of fish passage up into the treatment zone. It is also important to note that this area of East Fork Carter Creek exists at the very top of the 100 mile treatment zone. If a fish invasion were to occur in this area, it would have the potential to endanger the entire treatment zone, hence why we are proceeding with the most conservative route in the form of building a fish barrier to fortify against our concerns. This fish barrier will mostly be constructed of rock materials found on site. Additional materials such as logs may be used. We will purchase and lay foundation fabric (thick, durable geotextile canal liner) behind the rock barrier to further fortify it from any leaking potential.

To prevent non-native fish passage to CRCT restoration areas, fish barriers need to be constructed. In this case, the primary invasive fish species is brook trout. Simple objectives include: Use natural on-site materials in addition to supplemental artificial materials to be imported in to project site in order to create one permanent equipment-constructed barrier on East Fork Carter Creek.

The Utah Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) identifies the CRCT as an encumbered species. Ensuring continued broodstock operations and maintaining our ability to rear these fish in the hatchery system is integral to future recovery and protection of the species. Project reduces/eliminates risk of non-native fish emigration to native Colorado River Cutthroat trout restoration area Project involves constructing fish barriers in order that future rotenone projects be undertaken to expand range of Colorado River Cutthroat trout. CRCT will be stocked after treatments are completed. A North Slope Uinta brood has been developed for this project Circumstances and habitats that would allow for metapopulations (interconnected habitat of >50 miles) of Colorado River Cutthroat trout are extremely difficult to achieve due to 1. lack of available water or habitat 2. resistance of public/anglers 3. possibility of eliminating non-native fish pressures and threats. This project has the makings of having enough interconnected water, remote enough to not offend anglers, and particularly addresses fish barriers, thereby cutting off non-native fish introduction possibilities. The point of creating a metapopulation is to allow future species (in this case CRCT) persistence where the population as a whole is less likely to go extinct due to selective pressures, and thus allow immigration/emigration from other parts of the metapopulation, while allowing future genetic exchange and reducing the risk of inbreeding due to the extent of range and possibilities of population growth across this landscape.

Creating and maintaining metapopulations is crucial for species recovery. In the tri-state guiding document CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT, recovery goals are loosely laid out, however, the creation of metapopulations is the most concrete and commanding way to meet those goals. The strategy within the forthcoming UTAH'S COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT CONSERVATION STRATEGY has goals that are more quantitatively defined, and creating and defining metapopulations and what they mean for species recovery is laid out; this project will assist in meeting those objectives.

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This project will not have any adverse impacts to water quantity - no water will be retained, redirected, or lost behind the fish barrier. No changes will occur with regard to evaporation loss. Additionally, this project site is dewatered by a complete water withdrawal from the Sheep Creek Irrigation Company for approximately 8 months per year. Water quality should not be impacted - construction will occur when the stream is dry, and no sediments will be released as a result of project. From a water quality perspective, the fish barrier will not expose additional sediments. Small sediment deposit may occur behind the barrier from upstream typical sediment transport sources.

The Ashley National Forest is currently reviewing this project for NEPA compliance and has the measurements and data needed for review. As such and because this project occurs on USFS administered lands, archaeological concerns will be reviewed under the NEPA process. A 404 permit/stream alteration permit will be filed and reviewed by ACOE and the Utah Division of Water Rights in spring 2021. I have personally spoke with Andrew Dutson with Utah Division of Water Rights about the project to give him a verbal notification of the project and to see if he could see any obstacles in the way toward gaining the permit. He suggested a typical joint 404 permit application should be sufficient.

One permanent fish barrier will be constructed mostly of locally reclaimed rock. Abundant rock exists around the project site. Abundant timber exists around the project site if needed for additional supporting structure. We will plan to rent a 306/307 class mini excavator and walk it up to the project site. Most of the distance to the location is accessible via the Sheep Creek Irrigation Canal dyke, however, we will have to access approximately 1/4 mile through forest. Luckily, almost the entirety of this 1/4 mile distance can be covered on an existing hiking trail where we may have to eliminate a few small trees to get through, but we can make additional improvements to the trail and reclaim any damage on the way out. Overall the hiking trail is overly wide through most of the affected corridor. The excavator will be used to key in rock material and build up a vertical fish barrier of a height of approximately 6 feet. Below and immediately adjacent to the barrier we will construct a splash pad primarily of local rock, but will utilize cement to help strengthen the structure as well as pass water. Geotextile fabric will be placed behind and sandwiched into the fish barrier with additional rock in order to prevent erosion issues around the barrier or allow water to get through that fish may utilize to pass through the barrier. We expect the construction to take approximately 1 week, with several additional days allotted for transporting/walking the machine to and from the project site. Natural rock already exists on each side of the bank, allowing for a relatively easy project for keying the structure into the banks. This barrier is meant to be complimentary to additional high gradient features immediately downstream of the construction location.

Project will be monitored annually during the duration of CRCT restoration project to ensure barriers are functioning and no problems are developing structurally. Restoration project will continue for the next 6 years. Any issues with barriers will be addressed immediately due to importance of function. Following restoration projects, barriers will be monitored semi-annually, pending no change to status of barriers during restoration activities. Barriers that we constructed in 2018 have been monitored several times in the past two years, and have been "rock solid" with no problems detected so far. We expect a similar result for this barrier. This barrier will be built with an excavator rather than by hand because (1) it is moderately accessible compared to other barrier locations we did in 2018 (2) East Fork Carter Creek is a larger stream during high discharge events than the others we constructed barriers on in the adjoining areas; (3) most of the rocks in the project area are very large and would be difficult to utilize by hand

Ashley National Forest is a partner with this project - the Forest continues to support the program and this overall project with funding for internship program that will be used on project. ANF will conduct the NEPA compliance documentation for project to move forward, the property site is managed by the Forest Service and all natural materials are property of the US government, and last, ANF staff will assist directly with the implementation phase of barrier construction and design as well as permit review.

Future management will focus on the continued existence of the metapopulation created by the CRCT restoration projects described within, and the fish barriers created by this project proposal. Future management will focus on maintaining the permanent fish barriers created, eliminating the temporary fish barrier created by this proposal, and ensuring complete habitat connectivity through project area in order that metapopulation conditions are met.

Sustainable uses are limited in scope for this project: 1. The overall CRCT reintroduction project will provide a native trout fishery for all future generations to enjoy 2. Barriers allow us to flexibly manage surrounding waters for native and non native fishing opportunities 3. We will be conducting some considerable hiking trail maintenance and improvements through the section that we will be accessing.

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

Due to supply chain issues, we were not able to complete this project in FY22. Essentially, rental equipment (a 305/306 class excavator) was unavailable for several months during which the project was possible to complete. We finally received a call that our equipment was ready after about 4 ft of snow was at the project area. Additionally, we discovered that some supply expenses were increasing substantially over the course of the FY. We requested and received permission to spend a portion of the funding on geotextile for use on this fish barrier in FY23 and additional geotextile for a couple other upcoming projects at Lake Canyon and Timber Canyon Creek fish barrier. Some funds remained unexpended; a new proposal was drafted in FY23 to include funding for the Carter Creek barrier and included an additional fish barrier at Timber Canyon Creek.

Due to supply chain shortcomings, we were unable to complete the actual project during FY22. Resubmitted for FY23 with an additional fish barrier project. Used some funds in FY22 to purchase materials necessary to complete the project.

Implement the construction phases of the Carter Creek fish barrier and Timber Canyon during fall and spring of FY23.