Matt Warner Reservoir is valuable mid-elevation fishery as well as WMA on Diamond Mountain. Each summer and fall land owners around the Matt Warner WMA bring in cattle to graze the fields. Each year we maintain the fences to protect the intermediate and interior areas of the WMA and Reservoir. Every single year for the past decade, cattle break through the post and barbed wire fences to get to the feed and water at the lake. Matt Warner already suffers from elevated TMDL and is phosphorous rich. Each year the reservoir experiences a HAB that has not subsided until late fall. Cattle destroy the shorelines, eat down fall and winter feed for deer and elk, and contribute to further nutrient loading within the lake. We have identified 3 key areas that need immediate attention and fence replacement to reduce trespass cattle and protect the fishery. Phase I of this project is critical to future management of this WMA. In addition, a 500ft section of road that crosses a wash is prone to erosion from rain events and washboarding from the high number of vehicles traveling to/from the boat launch area. The road was surfaced with crushed rock in 2015, but due to the wash-outs, a bend in the road, and vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed, the material gets pushed off the road. Maintenance is difficult and short-term. We'd like to add 4-inches of roadbase to this section of the road, to minimize annual maintenance and smooth it for vehicle accessing the reservoir.

1) Replace post and wire fence high problem areas with steel pipe and sucker rod fencing. Do this in phases to stagger costs throughout the years. 2) Replace a problematic gate on the eastern fence line pasture. 3) Continue to apply for future phases of pipe fence until approximately 1 mile of post and barbed wire fence is replaced. 4) Add 4-inches of roadbase to 500ft of interior road.

We would start the fence project in July of 2026 and try to have critical locations replaced by September of 2026 when cattle begin to return to the adjacent pastures. We needed this type of fence a decade ago, we are trying to phase it out now to a more reasonable cost. Noted causes of nutrient loading impairment include: Upland soil erosion, internal loading, animal waste and stream bank erosion. This is just one part of reducing nutrient loading and bank erosion. Since its a highly utilized road, accessing a very popular fishery, repair the road in late summer of 2026, when vehicle traffic is reduced.

Matt Warner WMA management Plan, Pot Creek Watershed Plan 2022 (DEQ)

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Keeping cattle off the shoreline of the lake protects critical riparian areas, reduced phosphorous loads as nutrients wash down into the lake via rain events and when water rises from run off each spring. Matt Warner and Calder Reservoirs are listed as impaired for total phosphorus in Utah's Combined 2018/2020 Integrated Report (2018/2020 Integrated Report) (UDWQ 2020). Total phosphorus is identified as a pollution indicator in UAC R317-2 with a threshold of 0.05 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for rivers and streams and 0.025 mg/L for lakes and reservoirs. Matt Warner and Calder Reservoirs were first listed as impaired for phosphorus in 1998 (UDWQ 2020). The TMDL study developed for both reservoirs in 2007 (UDWQ 2007) identified a loading capacity of 201 kg/yr and 145 kg/yr for Matt Warner Reservoir and Calder Reservoir, respectively.

Replacing already existing fence line, prior ARCH clearances were likely already done but will verify.

Utilize in house resources as much as possible to help offset costs. We have some stockpiled metal for railing along with some donations of pipe from Dedicated Hunters. We would like to hire out the installation of the fence, especially on eastern edge behind the lake and along the rock ledges. Other locations, we could possibly use UDWR staff to install posts and then hire out welders to finish up the rails and sucker rods. There is a section that goes down to the waters edge that is steep and will require a professional builder to install. For the road repairs, approximately 120 tons of roadbase will be hauled by a company from Vernal and UDWR Habitat staff will rent a box blade and roller to lay and pack the material. Any other significant road repairs will be completed while staff are mobilized.

Continue monitoring operations utilizing NER WMA Maintenance technicians.

UDWR Aquatics section and Habitat sections

Continue to utilize the Matt Warner WMA management plan as well as the Pot Creek watershed plan to find and implement meaningful projects throughout this drainage. Continue to pursue funds to complete future phases of this fence replacement project and fully protect the WMA. Maintain the roads on an annual basis.

These projects will continue to protect the UDWR's long term investment in the Matt Warner MWA and protect this important local fishery. The fishery can grow some amazing trout and is highly utilized by not only local anglers, but out of town destination anglers as well. This area and this property are worth protecting and enhancing!