This project is important as key populations of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieiri) and Bluehead Sucker (Catostomis discobolis) are concentrated in fragmented sections of South Fork Junction Creek. Both species have migratory habits within their life history and cannot 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 four structures to make fish passable and screen irrigation canals (WRI 5339) Phase 2) Remove and replace the middle diversion (WRI 5718) Phase 3) Remove dilapidated diversion and modify creek to allow a gradual elevation transition that also prevents additional head cutting from occurring at the site, replace existing culvert with oversized squashed culvert, and finalize engineer drawings for the lowest diversion (WRI 6074). Final Phase) Remove and replace the final diversion. Ultimate objective: Remove five barriers preventing fish passage which will ultimately connect an approximate 27 miles of 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 of fishes. Connection amongst habitat for different phases of a fishes' life history is required for the continued persistence of a species. As climate change decreases snowpack and alters runoff patterns, connectivity to different habitats will become additionally critical, and if populations are lost, re-establishing them becomes more costly.

Utah Wildlife Action Plan: actions related to dams and diversions will focus on correcting barriers to fish movement and other mechanisms of habitat and population fragmentation. 3-Species Conservation Agreement and Strategy, Conservation Actions: enhance and maintain habitat for roundtail chub, bluehead sucker, and flannelmouth sucker. 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." 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. 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 provide a level of resiliency for 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.

Phase 1) Engineering of four structures to make fish passable and screen irrigation canals (WRI 5339) Phase 2) Remove and replace the middle diversion (WRI 5718) Phase 3) Remove dilapidated diversion and modify creek to allow a gradual elevation transition that also prevents additional head cutting from occurring at the site, replace existing culvert with oversized squashed culvert, and finalize engineer drawings for the lowest diversion (WRI 6074). Final Phase) Remove and replace the final diversions.

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 barriers preventing fish passage are remedied, mixtures of fish tagged above and below the structure will be found throughout the entire stretch of 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 users 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 supports this project. Jason Tracy (owner of land on which one diversion and culverts reside); working with the partners on the design and implementation of the project. Zach Darrington (owner of water rights being diverted and land on which one diversion sits); 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 South Fork 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 in this project 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.