When Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area was constructed in the late 1930's the State of Utah was Granted a Right of way. The right of way was to construct the State Canal which is used to deliver water from the lower Jordan River to Farmington Bay WMA. As Part of this right of way agreement the State agreed to several things, including installing and maintaining the necessary water control structures. The water control structure that is currently being used to divert water between Farmington Bay and Newstate duck club was likely constructed some time shortly after 1939. Time has taken a toll on the structure, it is dangerous and ineffective. Specifically, to manage stoplogs on the structure an individual has to jump from pillar to pillar, which is very dangerous. Water has eroded the banks away on both sides of the structure, making the structure ineffective. Last fiscal year we asked for monies to hire and engineer in order to design a new structure and provide a cost estimate for replacement of the state canal structure. An engineer is currently working and this project design.

The 1st objective of this project is hire a construction company who can follow the engineered plans to replace the structure on the state canal. The second objective of this project is to incorporate stream gauge monitoring into this project. Farmington Bay WMA mangers believe the best way to achieve this objective is to work with the USGS, who are already experts in stream gauge monitoring. In talking with the USGS they have suggested that DWR install the data collection and transmission equipment down channel from the new Water Control Structure a minimum of 5 channel depths to avoid eddies and flow disruptions from the structure (assuming the channel is about 5 feet deep we need to be a minimum of 25 feet down channel). The USGS has also recommended that DWR install 2 identical concrete walls (both sides of the channel) that provide a vertical flat face that is a minimum of 3 feet wide that extends from the bottom of the channel to about 24" above the top of the bank. The north bank concrete wall will support a horizontal beam acoustic transponder that will be mounted to the face of the wall on an I beam that will allow for vertical adjustment and/or movement depending on the water depth. The USGS requested that on the opposite side of the channel (south bank) that the concrete wall (identical to the north bank structure) be installed to provide a fixed connection for a steel cable that provides a fixed path for the calibration equipment to travel back and forth along the same route every time that the gauge is calibrated (every 4 to 6 weeks). Using the same path will increase the accuracy of the data collected. The State of Utah can purchase, install, operate and maintain our own equipment or we can enter into an agreement with the USGS to provide a turn-key service that will provide all the equipment, installation, operation and future maintenance. Of course there will be a yearly fee for the USGS to provide this service (currently quoted around $17,000). Farmington Bay Managers suggest and recommend that a dialogue is opened between the State of Utah (DNR) and USGS related to option 2 as this option in my professional opinion would be the most economical and provide the best service going into the future.

In order effectively manage habitats and invasive species at Farmington Bay WMA, managers need water delivery systems that are functional. In addition, Farmington Bay managers have realized during Utah's extended period of drought that we should be able to monitor the amount of water being delivered to the WMA. Stream gauging is also being worked into this project.

Maintaining the infrastructure at a waterfowl management area allows managers to effectively manage habitats and invasive species. Maintaining infrastructure, reducing invasive species, and creating wildlife habitat are central components of our management plan. In addition, the State of Utah agreed to maintain this structure as part of a right of way agreement to build the state canal on private property.

Not Applicable

Effective water control structures are directly related to water quality and quantity. In addition, this project has a stream gauging component important to monitoring water quantity.

Not Applicable

Managers will follow State Purchasing guidelines to hire a contractor to construct this water control structure. Managers are currently working with the USGS on the stream gauging component of this project.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Once managers have engineered drawings and monies to construct the project we will work with state purchasing to hire a contractor for the project. The structure will be continually monitored going into the future in order to make water adjustments or to check for maintenance issues.

Not Applicable