Virgin River Gorge Fish Barrier Repair
Project ID: 7155
Status: Current
Fiscal Year: 2025
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Steve Meismer
PM Agency: Virgin River Program
PM Office: St. George
Lead: Virgin River Program
WRI Region: Southern
Description:
The Virgin River Gorge Fish Barrier was constructed in 2009 to prevent the upstream movement of red shiner and other nonnative fishes from Lake Mead into the Utah portion of the Virgin River to protect native and endangered fishes. Due to the flashy and sediment laden waters, this structure requires extensive maintenance approximately every ten years. The water year of 2023 was significant in damaging the structure, ripping off protective steel plates and eroding concrete.
Location:
The Virgin River Gorge Fish barrier is located at approximately mile marker 14.5 along northbound I-15 from the Nevada/Arizona line.
Project Need
Need For Project:
The barrier was constructed in 2009 to serve as the lynchpin to removing red shiner from the Virgin River in Utah. Although built in Arizona, the siting was the only location outside of wilderness where construction was possible.
Objectives:
"Remove red shiner from the Virgin River in Utah and prevent their reestablishment -Maintain the ability to keep red shiner from moving upstream -Insure the long term structural integrity of the barrier"
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
The fish barrier was damaged by high flows in 2023 and those flows and storage in reservoirs and average spring runoff in 2024 have created conditions that would not allow repair until now. Preparations are underway to complete construction during Utah State FY 2025
Relation To Management Plan:
"- Virgin River Fishes Recovery plan (USFWS) - Virgin Spinedace Conservation Agreement and Strategy (UDWR) - Virgin River Watershed Plan (WCWCD) - Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan (USFWS) - BLM St. George RMP (BLM) - Zion National Park General Management Plan (NPS) - Utah Wildlife Action Plan"
Fire / Fuels:
No impact
Water Quality/Quantity:
The barrier was designed to insure that sediment transport along the Virgin River was not impacted by its installation. The fact that the amount of damage was sustained indicates that the barrier is acting properly and not building sediment upstream of the structure.
Compliance:
"Since the construction in 2009, the Virgin River Program has obtained and maintained all compliance documents that relate to the fish barrier. These include USACOE 404 permit Consultation with USFWS on Endangered Species BLM management plans AZDOT regulations for construction and maintenance Federal Highways regulations due to proximity to I-15 The Program complies with all applicable laws, including the federal Endangered Species Act, state water laws, river laws and interstate water compacts."
Methods:
As with previous modifications and repairs, engineers will be consulted to evaluate issues associated with the current existing structure. The engineers in concert with fish biologists will determine what repairs need to occur to hopefully insure the stability of the structure into the future. It is likely that replacement of damaged concrete and removed steel plating will occur. Due to the location of the structure in a narrow section of the river, the river will be dry dammed to allow construction on one side of the river, before shifting to the other. Fish clearances will occur before all work in the active channel.
Monitoring:
The Virgin River Program and UDWR have been monitoring both above and below the barrier for over ten years and will continue this monitoring as long as necessary based on agreements with our partners. Monitoring includes both evaluating populations of native fish species as well as monitoring for the presence or absence of all nonnative species.
Partners:
"Program partners include: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Washington County Water Conservancy District Utah Department of Natural Resources U.S. Bureau of Land Management U.S. National Park Service The Nature Conservancy Private Landowners U.S. Forest Service Dixie Conservation District Washington County Farm Bureau Additional cooperators include: City of St. George City of Santa Clara La Verkin City, City of Hurricane Springdale Town Washington City Washington County Washington County Flood Control Authority Shivwits Band of Paiutes
Future Management:
It is the sincere hope of the Virgin River Program Partners that ultimately another fish barrier will be installed above Lake Mead and below the Virgin River Gorge Fish barrier and that the states of Arizona and Nevada will eradicate red shiner from the river in their states. However until that occurs the best efforts will be made to insure that Utah remains free of red shiner in the Virgin River.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$100,000.00 $200,000.00 $300,000.00 $75,000.00 $375,000.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Contractual Services Construction effort to repair barrier with concrete and steel following damage from high spring runoff. $100,000.00 $200,000.00 $75,000.00 2025
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$200,000.00 $100,000.00 $300,000.00 $75,000.00 $375,000.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
Species Protection Account WRI project 7142 was cancelled and the $100K was moved here (WCWCD Amendment #6). $100,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2025
Species Protection Account E201 original FY25 ESMF funding $100,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2025
Washington Co. Water Conservancy District $0.00 $0.00 $75,000.00 2025
BLM IRA $0.00 $100,000.00 $0.00 2025
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Agricultural / Municipal / Industrial Water Usage Very High
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Dam / Reservoir Operation Medium
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Droughts Very High
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Increasing Stream Temperatures Very High
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native Very High
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Natural Rarity Medium
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Presence of Diversions High
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Storms and Flooding Very High
Desert Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Unintentional Spread of Non-native Species Low
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Agricultural / Municipal / Industrial Water Usage Very High
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Dam / Reservoir Operation High
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Droughts Very High
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Increasing Stream Temperatures Medium
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native Very High
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Presence of Diversions Very High
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Problematic Animal Species – Native Low
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Storms and Flooding Medium
Flannelmouth Sucker N3
Threat Impact
Unauthorized Species Introductions Low
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Channelization / Bank Alteration (direct, intentional) High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Dam / Reservoir Operation Very High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Disease – Alien Organisms Low
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Increasing Stream Temperatures Very High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native Very High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Natural Rarity High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Presence of Diversions High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Sediment Transport Imbalance High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Storms and Flooding Very High
Virgin Chub N1
Threat Impact
Unintentional Spread of Non-native Species Low
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Agricultural / Municipal / Industrial Water Usage Very High
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Dam / Reservoir Operation Medium
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Droughts Very High
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Increasing Stream Temperatures Very High
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native Very High
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Natural Rarity Medium
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Storms and Flooding Very High
Virgin Spinedace N2
Threat Impact
Unintentional Spread of Non-native Species Low
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Channelization / Bank Alteration (direct, intentional) High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Dam / Reservoir Operation Very High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Droughts Very High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Increasing Stream Temperatures Very High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native Very High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Natural Rarity High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Presence of Diversions High
Woundfin N1
Threat Impact
Storms and Flooding Very High
Habitats
Habitat
Riverine
Threat Impact
Channel Downcutting (indirect, unintentional) High
Riverine
Threat Impact
Droughts High
Riverine
Threat Impact
Increasing Stream Temperatures Unknown
Riverine
Threat Impact
Presence of Diversions Very High
Riverine
Threat Impact
Temperature Extremes Unknown
Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
N/A