The Division is currently trying to conclude its active efforts to conserve the Colorado River cutthroat trout with a few final rotenone treatments before we move to "maintenance mode." The few remaining rotenone treatments, however, will require a great deal of planning, resources, and person-power to complete. Over the years, the TU biologist has been tasked with planning the Oweep rotenone treatments and will soon begin planning the Garfield basin treatment. This position has helped with scouting and prepping for all high Uintas treatments thus far and has also assisted with cutthroat spawning operation, cutthroat surveys, and the north slope cutthroat treatments. For TU, this position has focused on increasing water in the region's trout streams and is currently moving forward on numerous stream restoration projects. Both activities are extremely important for restoring the health of rivers like the Duchesne and Strawberry, which are impacted by both people and their actions in addition to more natural impacts like wildfire. In FY26, DWR will fund less of the biologist's time so that we can hire a seasonal technician, as much of the need is for additional boots on the ground during spawning, sampling, and renovation activities. As a result, TU will fund more of the biologist's position and that person will be tasked more with habitat restoration and trying to acquire water for fish, also an extremely important component of the need for this funding.

In providing this funding, the Division's goal is to move Colorado River cutthroat trout restoration closer to the finish line (maintenance mode).

These positions are based out of Vernal and work in the Division's northeastern region. The work has been funded for a number of years already and will continue to be funded as long as both the Division and TU feel it is mutually beneficial and both agency's goals are being met.

Ninety percent of this position's tasks that are funded by the Division are found in the Colorado River cutthroat trout state plan. These include rotenone projects (most of the time on these is actually spent in planning), spawning operations, monitoring and population surveys.

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These positions a TU staff members and include a biologist and a technician. They are funded partially by TU and partially by the Division. The two agencies sign a contract every two years to maintain the positions. At the end of each contracting cycle, the agencies discuss the progress made by the biologist and the need to continue the efforts funded by this partnership.

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The Division and TU partner to fund this position completely.

These positions will likely continue to be funded as long as the need for cutthroat restoration, riverine habitat restoration, and increased water for fish exists in the state of Utah. The need will be re-evaluated at the end of each two-year contract period.

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