The goals of the JSRIP are to: 1) recover the June sucker so that it no longer requires protection under the ESA; and, 2) allow continued operation of existing water facilities and future development of water resources for human use in the Utah Lake drainage. To achieve these goals the JSRIP is taking an ecosystem level approach using adaptive management techniques wherein biological information is gathered, reviewed and incorporated in JSRIP planning on an annual basis. The effectiveness of individual projects are monitored through separate monitoring efforts to provide feedback for future projects and recovery actions.

The JSRIP has identified 5 areas to improve to minimize or eliminate the threats/risks to the June sucker and its recovery. 1. Nonnative and Sportfish Management - common carp is one of the most well known invasive species that threatens the recovery of the June sucker and as such, since 2012 the JSRIP has worked to reduce the overall biomass of cap by 75-80%. Northern pike were also introduced into the lake and the JSRIP recently completed a telemetry project and is working to develop future control methods to eliminate/reduce the risks to June sucker recovery. 2. Habitat Development and Maintenance - Lack of spawning and nursery habitat for June sucker has been a major hurdle and on Hobble Creek, JSRIP has restored part of that delta as the Hobble Creek WMA. Currently JSRIP and URMCC completed the restoration of the Provo River Delta, a 200+ acre delta that will fill in the gap and lack of nursery habitat on the Provo River and provide an area where larval June sucker can survive until they need to move into the lake. 3. Water Management and Protection - Spawning runs and water to maintain nursery habitat were a major hurdle at the beginning of the Program but through cooperation with partners, water has been secured and delivered to maintain spawning habitat and spawning runs for the June sucker 4. Genetic Research and Augmentation - with low numbers of surviving fish (less than 300 in 1997), a hatchery was established and genetic work was done and is currently being conducted to maintain the genetic diversity of the population as well as augmenting the current wild population with up to 25,000 fish from the hatchery. 5. Research, Monitoring and Data Management - June sucker is dependent on Utah Lake and its ecosystem. JSRIP has been conducting research in various aspects of the ecosystem and monitoring responses to the ecosystem from projects that it has conducted over the years.

June Sucker Recovery Plan (USFWS 1999) -- project allows implementation of recovery actions CUP Utah Lake System EIS (CUWCD 2004) -- project provides legal compliance and fulfills environmental commitments necessary to allow completion and operation of CUP. Utah Lake Master Plan (Utah Lake Commission and FFSL 2010) -- plan identifies need to recover the June sucker.

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Water resources is one of the areas that the JSRIP is dealing with. Between obtaining permanent water for spawning and post spawning flows on the Provo River and Hobble Creek as well as reducing carp population/biomass levels to help macrophytes to reestablish in Utah Lake, have led to better water quality in these areas as well as more water.

Because the JSRIP has federal partners and federal funds are contributed annually to the program, an Environmental Assessment was completed for federal participation in the program. Additional NEPA compliance may be necessary and will be conducted on an as-needed basis for specific projects implemented under the JSRIP. Past projects that have required NEPA compliance include the removal of carp from Utah Lake, habitat restoration on Hobble Creek, rehabilitation of Red Butte Reservoir, the augmentation of flows in Hobble Creek, and the Provo River Delta Restoration Project.

JSRIP recovery elements group recovery actions identified in the June Sucker Recovery Plan by the threats that they are intended to address. Recovery elements include: 1) Nonnative and Sportfish Management, 2) Habitat Development and Maintenance, 3) Water Management and Protection, 4) Genetic Integrity and Augmentation, 5) Research, Monitoring and Data Management, and 6) Information and Education. The purpose of recovery elements is to ensure a diversified and balanced approach to recovery whereby funding and effort can be applied at the appropriate level for each recovery element. In FY26, general activities that will be conducted through the JSRIP include: continuing efforts to maintain a reduced carp population in Utah Lake; planning for and implementing habitat enhancement projects on the Provo River and Hobble Creek to benefit June sucker recovery (including the Provo River Delta Restoration Project); providing supplemental water to augment flows in the Provo River and Hobble Creek; maintaining captive populations and augmenting the wild population in Utah Lake; conducting monitoring and research to track the effectiveness of recovery efforts, and conducting proactive public outreach and media relations to support June sucker recovery actions.

The recovery of June sucker is being addressed by research designed to clearly understand and develop approaches to managing threats and applied activities designed to address specific threats. Each activity conducted to benefit June sucker will be monitored and evaluated to gain information that can be applied to future efforts. The June sucker population is monitored annually during its spawning run in the Provo River and other tributaries. An increasing, self recruiting population in Utah Lake will be the long-term indication that threats are being successfully managed to allow for delisting.

The JSRIP administers contributions from the JSRIP partners. The projects listed in this application have been approved by the JSRIP Administration Committee and will be administered by the Program Director's Office at DNR and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD). The JSRIP is a collaborative program among state, federal and local entities including DNR and its divisions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission (URMCC), the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD), the Provo River Water Users Association (PRWUA), the Provo Reservoir Water Users Company (represented by Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District), the Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) and an outdoor and environmental interests representative. On an annual basis each partner contributes funding and/or in-kind services commensurate with their respective role in the recovery effort.

An ecosystem-level approach towards recovery results in the implementation of actions that will benefit a broad array of species. The JSRIP Director's Office actively promotes coordination with the other management plans on Utah Lake and in the surrounding area. The Utah Lake Commission (now Authority) worked with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to develop a master plan for the lake and its surrounding area. Objectives of that plan include the reduction of the lake's carp population and recovery of the June sucker. The June Sucker Recovery Plan (USFWS 1999) is the guiding document for activities implemented under the JSRIP. Annual status reports are required for all projects approved for funding under the JSRIP. The Technical and Administration Committees meet on a regular basis to remain current on potential new threats and the status of JSIRP projects. These meetings are part of an adaptive management process that leads to timely adjustments to recovery strategies and ensures effective coordination of recovery activities. The USFWS, under their ESA authority, determines if sufficient progress toward recovery is being made to allow for the JSRIP to serve as ESA compliance for federal water projects. The USFWS provided a memo to the JSRIP in January 2024 indicating that sufficient progress towards recovery of the June sucker has been occurring.

One of the biggest impacts this program has is on the sustainability of the Provo River in the lower reaches as well as on Hobble Creek. Without this program and it's projects, both of these rivers/creeks would be very dry on drought years. The carp removal has also positively impacted the composition of fish in Utah Lake and it's ecosystem.