1. A plant, the Fish Lake naiad, creates a critical habitat for multiple sensitive listed fish species, sensitive listed water bird species, and creates a healthy ecosystem that improves water quality and benefits multiple levels of species at Fish Lake. 2. Although the Fish Lake naiad is listed as a sensitive plant species, it has not been identified by botanists in many years, was not located in a search by Utah Rare Plant program botanists in 2019 and is suspected to be extirpated. 3. Every year that passes further away from 2019 allows the possibility for Fish Lake naiad to go extinct while nothing is done. 4. Unidentified surviving plants are vulnerable to being killed or dying. 5. Viable seeds from old seasons could start decaying or be eaten. 6. The survival of this plant species, its positive impact on fish and bird habitat, and its broader affect for cleaner water hinge on this project.

1. Exhaustive search of 1' or less water depths of water tributaries, shoreline, bays, and all other inferred bodies of water associated with Fish Lake for live Najas flexilis (Fish Lake naiad) during July and August 2024 (bloom time) or its seed in the sediment of previously known habitats the following year. 2. Grow out populations of naiad in aquarium. 3. Transplant naiad into suitable habitats during late May through early September. Place a physical yet permeable barrier, grey landscape fabric, out a foot from the naiad, between the naiad and the deeper lake portion containing milfoil, and stake it down using long 11" landscape edging staples. 4. Geotag transplant locations and monitor monthly until 2028.

The urgent need for this project to occur this summer starting in July and August, while the Fish Lake naiad is in bloom, is the last opportunity to find any survivors of the plant species in Fish Lake, Widgeon Bay, and any tributaries. Botanists from Utah's Rare Plant program surveyed some sections of Fish Lake in 2019 and were unsuccessful finding any live Fish Lake naiad plants. The plant species is on the verge of being listed as extirpated. However, recognizing the importance of this plant on the Fish Lake ecosystem, its critical role in the habitat for the top two activities at Fish Lake, fishing and bird watching, we need to propose this project to conduct a thorough-exhaustive search for live plants everywhere around the lake and its tributaries for live plants. If no live plant species are found, locations where the naiad were last seen living will have the lake sediment hand excavated into buckets where the contents will be screened and sieved on shore to find any black obelisk shaped naiad seeds to then propagate live plants to be transplanted back into Fish Lake to start establishing healthy habitats for sensitive species like cutthroat trout, Northern goshawk water birds, habitats and ecosystems once again. Many years have passed since 2019. By chance a 2024 forest project's NEPA review brought the status of the naiad into question. Once it was learned of the unsuccessful 2019 search, we knew we were on borrowed time if we had any chance to find live naiad plant specimens. If this project does not go forth at this time, the extinction of the Fish Lake naiad, its critical habitat, and its healthy ecosystem will be lost forever.

In Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Chapter IV, pages3-4, heading Wildlife and Fish it reads, "Protect aquatic habitats which are in good or excellent condition and improve habitats where ecological conditions are below biological potential". Current ecological conditions are below biological potential due to the overgrowth of the invasive European milfoil. The restoration of the Fish Lake naiad would vastly improve the habitat for fish, water birds, and even mammals like the muskrat. Further down, it reads, "Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plants and animals". The Fish Lake naiad, many fish species including the Bonneville and Colorado River cutthroat trout and the Southern Leatherside Chub, the Boreal Toad, and the Northern goshawk water bird are sensitive listed species that along with the endangered Razorback sucker are species that would benefit from finding, recovering, and restoring the Fish Lake naiad.

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Water quality will be improved due to a healthier ecosystem particularly with healthier fish swimming more freely about in a preferred habitat that comes complete with their food growing alongside them. Stagnant fish and stagnant water are never associated with water quality.

This project would be subject to the appropriate ESA resource checklists within the NEPA process. All applicable laws, requirements, cultural resource, and regulations would be followed. At this time, both the Fish Lake naiad, the Northern goshawk, and multiple fish species in Fish Lake are all listed as sensitive species. No management indicator species or habitat occur in the project area and species trends at the Forest scale are not expected to be influenced..

During typical full bloom time of Najas flexilis, which is during July and August, Teri, Jim, and other proposal participants will search each tributary, then Widgeon Bay, and around the entire shoreline of the shallow portions (less than 1 foot) carefully scanning for Fish Lake naiad. If live plant specimen are found, they will take these in a shallow aquarium, to Fishlake NF headquarters, to be futher increased. Should no live plants be found, hand shoveling will be engaged to scoop up shallow portions of lake and Widgeon Bay and dump into plastic buckets to later be screened and sieved to find black obelisk naiad seeds to grow out into viable plants. Viable plants will be transplanted in groups of 5 into predetermined locations with GPS coordinates noted. Around transplanted clusters there will be placed a physical yet permeable barrier, grey landscape fabric, out a foot from the naiad, between the naiad and the deeper lake portion containing milfoil, and stake it down using long 11" landscape edging staples.

Monthly, during May-September, each cluster will be monitored for diameter, height, and relative health. This montitoring will continue until September of 2026 at which time reports will be compiled to plan next steps.

USDA-FS

After data and reports are reviewed in fall of 2026, future action will be determined based on the data. It is hope that future transplantation will continue to occur until all of Fish Lake is restored fully.

This proposed action has the potential to greatly improve habitats which improve ecosystems which improve recreation at Fish Lake in two ways: 1. It brings back the legendary fishing at Fish Lake, including the lost shore fishing 2. bird watching opportunities.