Bluehead Sucker & Native Species Conservation Work

archived

The overall objectives for this award are to: 1) Acquire knowledge regarding the Bluehead Sucker and other native aquatic species in the Weber River; 2) Assess limiting factors to the Bluehead Sucker’s survival and long term persistence, i.e. connectivity and quality of habitat; 3) Implement solutions in a collaborative and adaptive management framework to conserve the species and meet the water demands downstream. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will: 1) Develop a preliminary design fish passage structure, permitting movement and future restoration of habitat connectivity along the Weber River; 2) Reconstruct a main stem irrigation diversion on the Weber River near the City of Morgan to ensure Bluehead sucker and Bonneville cutthroat trout passage, vertically stabilize the river channel in proximity to a sewer line crossing under the Weber River and to reduce the maintenance requirements for the water users; 3) Construct a 385 foot long vertical slot fish ladder within a box culvert on Strawberry Creek to pass spawning Bonneville cutthroat trout upstream to approximately 2 miles of spawning habitat; 4) Identify, map, and quantify Bluehead sucker spawning locations and associated habitat characteristics. Characterize their use of backwater rearing habitat and assess its availability; and 5) Develop a brood stock of Bluehead sucker for the Weber River.

High