The Lower Price River provides year-round habitat for Flannelmouth Sucker and Bluehead Sucker. Roundtail Chub were formerly common in the Price River but they have not been detected in over 30 years. In addition, the lower Price River seasonally provides habitat for the federally listed Colorado Pikeminnow, Razorback Sucker, Humpback Chub, and Bonytail Chub. Approximately 70% of the flow in the lower Price River is diverted for agricultural purposes. Reduced flows in the river have impacted the native fish species. Increased flows would improve habitat quality in the Price River system which would assist in the recovery of federally listed or state SGCN species that live in the Price River. The Olsen Reservoir project is one project that has been identified that can help improve flows in the lower Price River. The intent of the project is to deliver additional water to the reservoir through infrastructure improvements that reduce evaporative loss from the canal that flows into the reservoir. Additional water conservation will occur through improved water conveyance from the reservoir to downstream users. Finally, the reservoir would be expanded to store the water captured during these water conservation efforts. The goal of these actions is to generate enough water savings to provide an additional 5 cfs of flow through the lower Price River, below Woodside. This increased flow can be significant during drought years when flows in the Price River are often 15-35 cfs. The Olsen Reservoir project is a large project with completion costs expected to exceed $1 million. The United States Bureau of Reclamation currently has a funding opportunity through the Environmental, Ecosystem, and Habitat Restoration Grant. The Olsen Reservoir project should be competitive for this funding and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources along with partner organizations would like to apply for this funding. The intent is to have Jones and DeMille Engineering fill out the funding proposal. We are proposing this because Jones and DeMille has already completed the engineering designs for the project and has the technical expertise required to complete the engineering portions of the proposal. We are requesting $8,000 in ESMF dollars to pay Jones and DeMille for the completion of the Grant proposal. The awarded, the Grant would fully fund the Olsen Reservoir project.

Contract with Jones and DeMille Engineering to complete the application for a United States Bureau of Reclamation Environmental, Ecosystem, and Habitat Restoration Grant.

Olsen Reservoir was selected for this project because it is situated in a location where it can provide water to supplement flows in the lower Price River. In addition, various partners such as water users are interested in collaborating on improvements to the reservoir and its water conveyance system. We are applying for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Environmental, Ecosystem, and Habitat Restoration Grant at this time because the funding is currently available. This grant is provided through the Infrastructure Reduction Act and it is not likely that this grant will be available in the future.

The Olsen Reservoir project is either mentioned within or directly addresses goals within the following plans: 1) Three Species Rangewide Conservation Agreement 2) Utah Three Species Plan 3) Utah Wildlife Action Plan 4) Price River Watershed Restoration Plan

N/A

The lower Price River is considered as impaired by the Utah DWQ for exceeding the total dissolved solids water quality standard. In addition water conditions (flow and temperatures) are limiting for fish that live in the river.

The UDWR and NRCS are nearing the completion of an EA for the project.

Jones and DeMille Engineering would be contracted to complete the proposal for a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Environmental, Ecosystem, and Habitat Restoration Grant.

This project would be deemed a success if a Environmental, Ecosystem, and Habitat Restoration Grant is awarded to the UDWR by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Carbon Canal Company, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and Utah Division of Water Rights

Successful completion of this project would help assist with the management of native fishes in the lower Price River.

Water stored in Olsen Reservoir could enhance recreational opportunities on the reservoir (e.g., paddleboarding, waterfowl hunting, etc.).

07/01/2024

06/30/2025

2025

A contract was created with Jones and DeMille for the completion of the Environmental, Ecosystem, and Habitat Restoration Grant proposal. Weekly coordination meetings were held while the proposal was developed and the proposal has been submitted for funding.

See final methods above.

Continue to work towards completing the Olsen Reservoir project. If funded, the proposal developed as part of this WRI project will allow for the completion of the Olsen Reservoir project. If funding is not provided, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will have to seek other funding opportunities for the completion of the project.