The Utah Lakeshore Wetlands: Enhancing Watershed Health project aims to restore 24 acres of critical wetland habitat along the western shores of Utah Lake, addressing ecological degradation caused by human activities and invasive species. Wetlands are vital for maintaining watershed health, water quality, and biological diversity. By reestablishing hydrological connectivity, managing invasive species, and restoring native wetland ecosystems, this project will contribute significantly to regional environmental goals and align with the Utah Lake Master Plan's vision for ecological restoration. In 1934, the construction of an irrigation canal severed the natural hydrological link between Utah Lake and adjacent wetlands, disrupting water flow and degrading ecological processes. This disconnection has diminished the wetlands' ability to support native species and stabilize the surrounding ecosystem. Mitigation efforts will involve the removal of invasive vegetation such as common reed (Phragmites australis), Tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), and Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermidum) understory, which have overrun the area. These will be replaced with flora native to palustrine emergent marshes and wet meadows, which play a critical role in wetland health. The thick root systems of these plants stabilize soil, promote anaerobic conditions, and enhance nutrient cycling, leading to improved wetland soil structure and reducing soil erosion. The project is also closely tied to the development of two key segments of the Utah Lakeshore Trail, the Amanda Lane and Hot Pots segments. These trail segments are already designed and fully funded and will be integral parts of a larger envisioned shoreline-focused trail system encircling Utah Lake. This future multimodal trail will provide crucial transportation and recreational opportunities, supporting the region's growing need for sustainable access to the lake. As part of the restoration effort, these trail segments not only enhance public access to the natural beauty of the wetlands but also promote ecological awareness and community engagement with the restoration process.

The Utah Lake Wetland Mitigation Project is guided by measurable objectives to evaluate the ecological success of the site, benchmarked against the Shoreline Park wetlands Reference Site. These objectives align with five performance standards: Physical, Hydrology, Fauna, Flora, and Recreation, ensuring a high expectation for self-sustainability. The effectiveness of this plan is supported by the success of invasive species removal initiatives already implemented at other Utah Lake locations. Physical Performance Standards: By year five, the site aims to achieve 80% native hydrophytic vegetation cover and functional site protection measures to prevent trespassing or adverse impacts. The mitigation area will replicate at least 90% of the structural patch types found in the reference site, enhancing depressional wetland functions. Grading and planting inspections will ensure satisfactory establishment within a 90-day period, with regrading or replanting as needed. Hydrology Performance Standards: The hydrological objectives include achieving wetland areas with USDA NRCS hydric soil characteristics. The site must maintain saturation or inundation to a depth within 10% of the reference site range for at least two months annually, with groundwater depth reflecting reference wetland conditions. These measures aim to support consistent wetland functionality and water regulation. Faunal Performance Standards: To encourage biodiversity, the site will achieve a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index score of at least 80% compared to the reference site. This standard focuses on fostering a thriving community of riparian and aquatic species within the mitigation boundaries, promoting habitat restoration for species like the June Sucker. Flora Performance Standards: Vegetative goals include achieving 75% total cover by native wetland species and limiting invasive vegetation to less than 5% of total coverage by year five. Large patches of invasive species must not exceed 20% coverage in any quarter-acre area. This standard ensures the dominance of native flora while minimizing the spread of nuisance plants. Recreation Performance Standards: The recreation objective focuses on implementing two multi-use public trail segments with a 10-foot-wide paved surface and 2-foot shoulders. The northern segment will begin near the Hotpots (natural hot springs) and extend 4,500 feet south, while the southern segment will start near Eagle Park and continue 3,600 feet south, generally parallel to Amanda Lane. These trails will provide sustainable access for pedestrians and cyclists, integrating recreation with the site's ecological goals.

The USACE and EPA Mitigation Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) highlights restoration as a priority for wetland mitigation projects, emphasizing that restoration efforts have a higher likelihood of success and help preserve the integrity of native soils while avoiding unnecessary grading that could harm natural below-ground processes or encourage invasive species. Guided by these principles, the site for this project was chosen for its favorable conditions, ensuring alignment with the MOA's objectives for effective and sustainable mitigation. This location was selected due to its existing wetlands, reliable hydrology from Utah Lake, and the opportunity to restore and enhance critical ecological functions. The presence of intact native soils and proximity to a consistent water source significantly increase the probability of a self-sustaining wetland system. Additionally, the site offers the necessary conditions for restoring palustrine emergent marshes and wet meadows, which are highly productive and integral to improving water quality and habitat diversity. The timing for creating this mitigation site is critical as it fulfills permittee-responsible mitigation requirements tied to the construction of the adjacent Utah Lakeshore Trail segments as well as other Saratoga Springs City lakeshore initiatives. The construction of these trails has unavoidable environmental impacts, making the restoration of this site essential to offset those effects and ensure compliance with regulatory obligations. This mitigation effort is not only a requirement but also an opportunity to enhance the ecological health of the area in tandem with trail development. Accessing the site poses significant challenges due to its unique location. The mitigation area is bordered by a private neighborhood to the west and Utah Lake to the east, with fluctuating water levels further complicating site conditions. These factors limit accessibility and make restoration efforts more complex. Undertaking this work now, concurrent with construction of the trail segments ensures that necessary machinery and restoration activities can proceed without the added logistical difficulties of working around a completed trail system. Delaying this project would make it exponentially more difficult to restore the wetlands. Once the trail is in place, heavy equipment access will be restricted, and the site's sensitive location between private land and Utah lake will further hinder effective restoration.

Although the Utah Lake Management Plan (2024) does not explicitly call for wetland creation and restoration, these efforts align with several of its overarching goals. Restoring and creating wetlands directly support objectives related to reducing turbidity and managing nutrient inputs in Utah Lake. Wetlands act as natural filters, capturing sediments and absorbing excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. By mitigating nutrient loading, the project contributes to reducing conditions that lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs), which are a primary focus of the lake's management strategies. The restoration of palustrine emergent marshes and wet meadows ties into HAB management practices. Healthy wetlands improve overall water quality by enhancing natural filtration processes and creating buffer zones that reduce direct runoff into the lake. These ecosystem services align with the plan's emphasis on improving water clarity and ecological health. In addition to its water quality benefits, the project supports funding opportunities and the ongoing expansion of the Utah Lakeshore Trail system. Restoration efforts adjacent to existing and planned trail segments enhance recreational access while promoting environmental stewardship. This dual benefit aligns with the plan's vision for integrating ecological improvements with sustainable recreational opportunities around Utah Lake.

The removal of invasive species, particularly Phragmites, is critical in mitigating fire risk in and around the Utah Lake Wetland Mitigation/Restoration Site. Every late summer and fall, Phragmites reeds dry out, transforming into a highly flammable fuel source that can ignite and spread fires rapidly. Once ignited, these fires can be difficult to contain due to the dense and expansive growth patterns of Phragmites, posing a severe risk to the ecological health of the wetland and any adjacent areas. The fire risk extends beyond the mitigation site, threatening neighboring communities, parks, and recreational areas. The site is bordered on the west by residential neighborhoods, a golf course, and public parks, all of which are highly vulnerable to wildfires originating from the dry Phragmites. A single spark could quickly engulf these densely populated and frequently visited areas, endangering lives, damaging property, and impacting air quality. Removing invasive species from the mitigation site will not only protect the restored wetland but also create a safer buffer zone for these surrounding communities, enhancing overall fire resilience and public safety.

The restoration of wetlands by removing invasive species is crucial for improving both water quality and ecosystem health. By reintroducing native plants that are better suited for stabilizing soil and filtering nutrients, the project will help reduce erosion and improve water infiltration. Additionally, these plants support the natural processes of nutrient cycling, leading to a healthier, more balanced wetland system. This improvement in wetland function will enhance water quality by reducing nutrient loading and promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms, which are vital for sustaining the biodiversity and health of Utah Lake, including supporting species like the endangered June sucker. The habitat of the endangered June sucker is heavily impacted by invasive species and habitat degradation. These fish rely on clean, well-oxygenated water and stable wetlands for spawning and early life stages. Invasive plants like Phragmites and Tamarisk outcompete native vegetation, leading to habitat fragmentation and loss of crucial spawning areas.

The project involves coordination with the USACE to establish a 24-acre compensatory wetland mitigation site, ensuring compliance with standards for unavoidable impacts to WOTUS from the Lakeshore Trail Project. The site is designated for wetland mitigation in perpetuity, with ecological performance standards and maintenance and monitoring plans to guarantee long-term compliance. Financial assurances have been provided to support the site's success, and BMPs, including erosion control measures and a SWPPP, have been implemented to mitigate construction impacts.

The construction of the Utah Lake Wetland Restoration site will proceed through several phases, beginning with clearing and grubbing. This phase will involve using heavy machinery such as bulldozers and excavators to remove invasive vegetation like Phragmites and Tamarisk, as well as any debris and non-native plants. The area will then be prepped for grading, where graders will be employed to adjust the land's slope and ensure proper hydrology for the wetland system. Erosion control will be a key focus, especially since this is a permittee-responsible mitigation project. The project will adhere to Best Management Practices (BMPs) outlined in the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), which includes the installation of fiber rolls along the slopes to prevent soil erosion and sediment runoff into Utah Lake. These measures will be monitored regularly throughout the construction phase to maintain compliance and prevent negative impacts on water quality. Once the site is graded, seeding will commence using specialized seed spreaders to ensure the proper growth of native species, essential for reestablishing the wetland ecosystem. Finally, signage will be installed along the western edge of the mitigation site to discourage unauthorized access and protect the area from human disturbance. These signs will be spaced approximately every 300 feet, reinforcing the importance of preserving the restoration area.

The mitigation site will undergo comprehensive monitoring for five years after construction to evaluate vegetation composition, noxious weed cover, hydrology, and soil features, ensuring adherence to performance standards. If the site meets success criteria within this timeframe, it will be monitored for an additional three years without human intervention to confirm long-term sustainability. If standards are unmet, the monitoring period will be extended as necessary. Vegetation composition will be evaluated annually by producing a vegetation map. Using aerial photography and ground truthing, the mitigation site would be delineated into vegetation communities and composition (percent cover of native versus non-native species) data would be collected. The vegetation map would serve as a comparative tool to assess the changing vegetation community boundaries and composition throughout the five-year monitoring period. Ground truthing would be required for each monitoring visit to assess the vegetative composition and record findings on the vegetation map. Permanent soil pit locations would be established and recorded (by GPS) in the first year of monitoring, with one location from each wetland ecotype (emergent marsh and wet meadow). A soil pit will be dug annually to assess the hydrology indicators. Soil characteristics would be documented and photographed. The overall condition of the mitigation site would be documented by the establishment of permanent photo point locations. Four separate photo points would be established and recorded by GPS throughout the mitigation site at representative locations. Monitoring would occur during the active growing season and be visited in June, July, and August for monthly monitoring every calendar year of the monitoring period. In the circumstance that monitoring does not address conditions adequately the permittee would re-evaluate mitigation strategies. This could include minor re-grading, re-evaluation of new seeding methods, as needed, invasive species removal methods, and continued monitoring.

Consor Engineers, City of Saratoga Springs, Utah Lake Authority, Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Utah Department of Transportation

Once performance standards are met, the permittee would continue to maintain the site to ensure its long-term sustainability. Long-term maintenance would be the responsibility of the City and would be inspected every year after the monitoring period at the beginning of the growing season (June). This would evaluate the status of vegetative cover, new growth of invasive species, sediment shifting after re-grading, and other management issues. The signing would remain intact and be repaired as needed. The property associated with the mitigation site would remain in FFSL's ownership. Agriculture, grazing and commercial use of any kind would be prohibited on the site. The City would provide all financial support for the continued sustainability of the mitigation site.

The Utah Lakeshore Mitigation Site represents a significant effort to restore and preserve the delicate wetland ecosystems along the western shores of Utah Lake. While the restoration site itself is strictly off-limits to recreation, with clear signage posted to ensure the protection of its ecological integrity, the surrounding trails, such as Amanda Lane and the Hot Pots trail, provide an exceptional opportunity for multimodal transportation and recreation. These trails, accessible to walkers, cyclists, and other non-motorized users, allow visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake while respecting the boundaries necessary for the restoration's success. These trails are part of a broader vision to establish a continuous multimodal pathway encircling Utah Lake, connecting communities and promoting sustainable recreation. By positioning trails near the lake, the initiative highlights the lake's unique value, drawing greater public attention and fostering a deeper appreciation for this vital natural resource. This visibility generates increased support and funding, ensuring ongoing conservation and enhancement efforts.