This project is important as key populations of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieiri; YCT) and Bluehead Sucker (Catostomis discobolis, BHS) are concentrated in fragmented sections of South Fork Junction Creek. Both species have migratory habits within their life history and can not function fully as isolated populations. Additionally reconnecting this portion of stream increases resiliency of the current populations to stochastic events such as fires and low water periods.

Phase 1) Engineering of 5 structures to make them fish passable and screen irrigation canals. (WRI 5339) Phase 2) (WRI 5718) Remove and replace priority 1 Diversion (Labeled as Phase 1 on Map attached in Images/Documents). This diversion is problematic for the landowner and without our involvement he is planning to "fix" it under his budget constraints. This would likely result in a similar diversion with the same fish passage problems. Phase 3) - Remove and replace 2 diversions and 1 Culvert Barrier. (Labeled as Phase 2 on attached map) Phase 4) - Chemically treat 27 miles of stream via rotenone, then remove and replace final diversion. (Labeled as Phase 3 on attached map) Largest population of Invasive brown trout occurs below this diversion. Ultimate objective: Remove 5 barriers to fish passage while removing non-native brown trout. Creating an approximate 27 miles of connected habitat for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Bluehead Sucker.

Populations of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Bluehead Suckers are currently isolated above and among fish passage barriers such as dams, irrigation diversions, and culverts. This fragmentation leads to smaller effective population sizes and increases the likelihood of localized extirpations for fishes. Connection amongst habitat for different phases of a fishes' life history is required for the continued persistence of species. As climate change decreases snowpack and alters runoff patterns, connectivity to different habitats will become even more critical. If populations are lost, reestablishing them becomes more costly and would require the reestablishment of connectivity to be sustainable.

Actions related to dams and diversions will focus on correcting barriers to fish movement and other mechanisms of habitat and population fragmentation. - Utah Wildlife Action Plan Enhance and maintain habitat for roundtail chub, bluehead sucker, and flannelmouth sucker. - 3 Species concervation agreement strategy - Conservation actions The overarching goal of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Conservation and Management of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout is to "ensure the persistence of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout subspecies within its historic range" (page 2). Specific objectives agreed to by the states and other involved parties that address these threats are also identified in the MOA, including securing and enhancing existing conservation populations and restoring populations through such actions habitat restoration (page 3) - both objectives of this proposed project. The UDWR Raft River Drainage Management Plan (Hydrologic Unit 17040210) identifies "working cooperatively with [federal agencies] and private landowners to maintain or enhance habitat". This project will work with a private landowner/water user to improve fish passage to other private lands. The project area lies within the boundaries of Watershed Restoration Initiative Focus Areas and within Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy priority areas. According to the UDWR Strategic Plan, this project will also help the UDWR meet its Resource Goal, which is to "Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. This project will specifically address objectives 2 and 3 of the UDWR Resource Goal, which are to "increase fish and game populations to meet management plan objectives, and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities," and "conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered."

Catastrophic wildfires and resultant floods and debris flows have eliminated fish populations in many places recently in Utah. Although this project does not directly address the risk of fire and fuels, it does improve the resilience of aquatic species to handle fire effects. Reconnecting streams to allow for fish movement and migration will provides for the resiliency of fish populations in the event that a fire or catastrophic flood occurs.

Water management and delivery is an objective of this project. This project will ensure that the water user can divert the quantity of water that they have rights to while providing fish passage.

We plan to apply for a stream alteration permit during the appropriate phases of this project. NEPA and Archaeological clearances are not necessary for the current phase.

We plan on completing this project in four phases: Phase 1 WRI 5339) Engineer removal and replacement of dilapidated diversions and culvert blocking up-stream passage of YCT and BHS. Phase 2 WRI 5718) Remove and replace priority 1 Diversion (Labeled as Phase 1 on Map attached in Images/Documents). This diversion is problematic for the landowner and without our involvement he is planning to "fix" it under his budget constraints. This will likely result in a similar diversion with the same fish passage problems. Phase 3) - Remove and replace 2 diversions and 1 Culvert Barrier. These Structures are in close proximity to one another and will be easiest to combine into one larger effort. Phase 4) - Chemically treat 27 miles of stream via rotenone, then remove and replace final diversion. Largest population of Invasive brown trout occurs below this diversion.

The rock cross vanes will be visually inspected following spring runoff flows to assess any movement or displacement or the structures, and if so, any required repairs. The fish screens will be monitored at start up at the beginning of the irrigation season, throughout the season, and after the season to assess performance and any damage. The diversion rebuild and fish screen have to work properly in order for the water user to continue to divert and deliver water. The water user will be responsible for regular operation and maintenance of the fish screen. Plans to monitor the success of the project will be to tag Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Bluehead sucker above and below the barriers using a visual implant elastomer tag (VIE) using different colors above and below the barrier prior to barrier removal and evaluate fish movement through post removal surveys . Assuming the barrier is remedied mixtures of fish tagged above and below the structure will be found throughout the entire stretch of reopened stream. Improved fish passage at these barriers will reconnect fish populations on South Fork Junction creek. In addition, the fish screen will eliminate fish loss to the canals, and we should then see increased fish densities at the UDWR fisheries monitoring sites on South Fork Junction Creek and Raft River.

*Trout Unlimited is in support of this project and will provide assistance of in kind time for project development. *UDWR will work with the water user and TU to implement the project. UDWR will manage all other grants funding the construction work. *Bureau of Land Management has been involved in the fish passage inventory that led to the identification of this project. *West Box Elder CRM: this project has been discussed and vetted through this group. *Jason Tracy (owner of water right being diverted): working with the partners on the design and implementation of the project.

The project will reconnect over nine miles of South Fork Junction Creek to an already connected 19 miles of SF junction, Junction creek, and Mainstem Raft River and support continued management of native fishes, including Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Bluehead Suckers. After the project is completed, the water user will be able to more effectively divert their water. The diversions supports over a hundred acres of irrigation used for cattle grazing/forage and hay production. This project supports future livestock production by effectively providing irrigation water.

The project is intended to provide sustainable use of irrigation water for ranchland and livestock production. It will do so by minimizing the effects of water diversion and delivery on fish passage. The project will also sustain recreational fishing for wild trout.

03/28/2022

04/29/2022

2022

The hired contractor completed the work in April of 2022: The contractor was tasked with procuring the screen to the specifications outlined by the engineer in the plans. The contractor completed installation of the screen and head gate as well as earth moving work. The engineer who staked the construction site before construction and made several site visits during construction oversaw the contractors work.

The contractor was able to divert the stream into a prefabricated paddle wheel powered rotary drum screen. From the screen, the water is diverted into two irrigation ditches. One moves the water to the east where it can be applied to a pasture in that direction. The other moves the water to the west where it is piped back under the stream to an irrigation ditch on the west side of South fork Junction Creek where it can be applied to a pasture in that direction. The rotary drum screen is designed to function with a small amount of water being diverted back to the stream, and not being sent into either ditch. This water is used to transport entrained fish back to the stream and may also be used to flush fine sediment and small (less than 8 inches) debris out of the screen and back to the stream. The point of diversion was moved upstream 140 ft. to make enough room for the screen and to maintain enough elevation fall to run the screen properly. The old diversion structure was left in place until the new diversion structure was installed. This was due to the fact that Brown Trout, which are non-native and the target of the future chemical treatment of the stream had navigated past the barrier located immediately downstream of the current project. The order of removal was important to not allow Brown Trout access further upstream. Additionally, going forward the diversion structure from this phase will be operated with dam boards installed until the lower portion of the stream can be treated to remove the Brown trout. This structure will effectively become the lower barrier protecting upstream movement of brown trout.

In future phases of this project, diversions both upstream and downstream will be screened and made fish passable. Additionally, a culvert that is currently a fish barrier will be removed and replaced with a fish passable design. Bluehead Sucker will be moved upstream of this diversion to allow for recolonization of the stream above before the chemical treatment of the stream below. This will allow us a population nearby that can be used to recolonize the treated segment of stream.