New sampling equipment is needed to address the unique physical and chemical conditions that exist in the newly created Provo River Delta Project in 2023. The delta was conceived and designed to provide wetland habitats believed to be crucial to survival of juvenile June suckers, but which have been lost due to human-related habitat impacts. It represents the largest single investment into June sucker recovery at an estimated $50 million. Reaching recovery (i.e., delisting) is contingent upon achieving a sufficient level of recruitment so that the population becomes self-sustaining. Efficient fisheries sampling equipment is vital to monitoring multiple life stages of June sucker and the other, potential deleterious species residing in the delta (i.e. carp, pike, desirable sportfish species).

1) Use new specialized OS Systems stream count dry suits to document June suckers in the Provo River Delta under a range of seasons. 2) Use a specialized Siamese-style fish trawl to capture juvenile suckers in deeper habitats. 3) Upgrade an existing 19-foot electrofishing boat with the Apex system which allows for much more effective sampling under the range of conductivities that occur in the new delta. 4) Replace an antiquated, unreliable backpack electrofishing unit with a new unit with more advanced output voltage controls.

The recently constructed Provo River Delta Project first began receiving water in March 2023. The first field season demonstrated that deeper habitats cannot be sampled using techniques where wading is necessary, requiring different types of surveying gear which we currently do not possess. More effective and appropriate sampling techniques need to be investigated so that a standardized monitoring sampling program can be established. One emphasis from the outset of the delta project has been to adapt new and more effective monitoring methods regularly as needed such that project success can be thoroughly and properly evaluated.

June Sucker Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Listed actions to achieve recovery include monitoring status and trends in the June sucker population. The June Sucker Recovery Program has established conservation and recovery action priorities that include population monitoring and acquiring funding for and implementing numerous research projects into June sucker life history. Utah Lake Fisheries Management Plan Efficient monitoring of multiple June Sucker life history stages in the Provo Delta and other locations in Utah Lake supports multiple objectives in the FISH goal of the draft UL plan. Efficient monitoring/capture/removal of Common Carp and Northern Pike in the Provo Delta and other Utah Lake habitats supports multiple objectives in the FISH and HABITAT goals of the draft UL plan. Goal 1. Manage the Utah Lake fishery to promote diverse fishing opportunities and support June sucker recovery. (FISH) Goal 2. Improve lentic and lotic fisheries habitat and water quality within the Utah Lake system. (HABITAT). Utah Lake Authority Plan Goal2: Restore and support existing robust and resilient fisheries in addition to populations of native fish and wildlife to Utah Lake. Objective 2: Support the lead agencies' (JSRIP and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources [DWR]) efforts on the coordination of the working groups focused on efforts to study, pilot, and implement programs around restoring healthy and resilient populations of native fish and wildlife to Utah Lake.

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1) Underwater Diving Scuba diving will allow certified personnel to conduct visual underwater surveys of deeper habitats where current gear does not reach. It will also enable surveyors to obtain underwater images and video of threatened June sucker for educational and public outreach purposes. Dry suits are needed to perform this work, which we currently lack. Our research indicates that specialized OS Systems stream counting dry suits are the best option and do not require special certification to use for diving. Two suits are being requested so that two surveyors can work in tandem, moving downstream through the deeper outflow channels and into deeper pools to estimate the abundance and document the distribution of juvenile suckers. These habitats are deep enough (6-8 feet) such that snorkeling will not be suitable for viewing fish. These types of suits cannot be rented, and wetsuits will not provide the needed thermal protection. 2) Trawling Conventional seines are unable to be used to sample the deeper habitats which comprise much of the delta because they require wading. We have conducted extensive research which suggests that a "Siamese"-style trawl is considered to be the best and most effective option currently in the industry for our purposes. The trawl can be tailor-built to our specifications, with certain modifications to improve effectiveness and longevity. However, because large, potentially woody debris is widespread in the delta, we recommend securing two of these trawls in the event one is irreparably damaged so that the effort can proceed. The trawl will be affixed to the stern of one of our Crestliner boats and towed upstream along predetermined timed transects. Multiple transects will be performed in different areas of the delta within the deeper outflow channel and delta ponds. The mesh will be fine enough so that juvenile fish can be retained. After each tow, site location will be verified using GPS units. Each species will be counted, and length and weight measurements recorded for a subset of each species. 3) Boat Electrofishing For monitoring communities in the delta channels and ponds which occur along the channels, the boat will meander through the delta and its course tracked using GPS. The intent will be to systematically survey the entire delta where depths are sufficient. Final shock time will be recorded so that catch per effort can be assessed and compared to other such efforts. The plan is to survey at a minimum during the spring and summer. Summer sampling has been shown to be most effective in other such efforts due largely to the greater activity in many species during that time of year. Spring sampling is also very important in the delta due to the presence of Northern pike, a recently introduced top predator, which threatens the suckers. The Apex unit, which we would like to retrofit to our existing boat electrofisher, has been used by UDWR personnel in another region and shown to be more effective at the range of conductivities that may occur in the delta depending on lake level. High lake levels can result in much of the delta being under lake influence, resulting in conductivities in excess of 1,000 uS/cm in many areas. Conductivity can also be very low in areas more influenced by the Provo River. Conventional units are typically less effective in these situations. It is critical to have appropriate equipment in the delta because electrofishing remains the best option to survey fish by active means. 4) Backpack Electrofishing Backpack electrofishing has proven to be fairly effective at sampling smaller bodied fish in the delta like juvenile suckers, particular in areas of greater cover (i.e. woody debris and rooted aquatic plants). However, our existing Smith-Root 20B unit is aging, less reliable in that it frequently overloads or malfunctions, and lacks the capability to sample as effectively in areas of the delta with higher conductivity. A new Apex unit should have that capability and would also be much more reliable. It is a crucial piece of sampling equipment, not just in the delta, but also for fish sampling in many other systems. Surveyors use GPS tracking to monitor their course and record shocking time, number of species, and length and weight measurements. June suckers are also marked using various means if they are of sufficient size to track recruitment into the adult population.

Sampling gear will be monitored for efficiency and where applicable compared to previous methodologies (i.e. CPUE). Some of the proposed equipment purchases will pioneer methodologies in the delta habitat and cannot be compared to previous efforts. Sampling/monitoring data will be summarized annually in JSRIP SOW reports.

This need for new sampling equipment, and therefore this proposal, is supported by the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program which includes the following agencies: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Utah Department of Natural Resources Central Utah Water Conservancy District U.S. Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Department of Interior Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission Provo River Water Users Association Provo Reservoir Water Users Company Utah Division of Water Quality

The request for new sampling equipment is consistent with the goals of the monitoring program for the delta, which is to remain adaptable to employing new methods and equipment to most effectively document use of the delta by early life stages of June suckers. Poor survival of June sucker young are believed to be the key reason behind low recruitment. It is crucial, therefore, to document as thoroughly and effectively as possible their presence, abundance and distribution in this newly created habitat.

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