During previous stream restoration efforts on Lake Canyon, fish habitat structures were created. Many of these structures are now in need of repair due to livestock trampling that occurred between 2006-2010. 100 year flood events realized during summer 2021 also damaged limited reaches. Additional habitat structures will continue to be placed as appropriate during this project. The upper portion of Lake Canyon Creek houses a conservation population of Colorado River Cutthroat trout, however the middle and lower sections of the stream currently lack necessary fish cover, spawning habitat, and sufficient water depth. We will build / rebuild structures that fish will later colonize on their own. There are currently trout in most reaches but at extremely low densities due to insufficient habitat. The Phase I part of this project (WRI 4798) fixed the majority of upper stream issues causing stream health problems. The Phase II part of this project focused on adding spawning habitat, overhead cover, and depth to about a mile of the lower and middle sections of the project area. Fish were immediately observed utilizing much of this habitat to spawn and utilize for cover. This project will continue and focus restoration efforts further upstream as we finish areas that will join work completed in Phases I, II and III. We expect to finish the overall project with Phase IV unless unanticipated issues arise. The upland component of this project will tackle undesirable terrestrial and riparian plant communities. The current vegetation community includes an undesirable mix of monocultures of great basin ryegrass, cheatgrass, mustard, musk thistle, russian arrowleaf, and greasewood. These areas have been treated before. As the shrubs re-grow, we find it necessary to re-treat them. We regularly observe bighorn sheep and deer utilizing new, better vegetation types as a result of this work.

Project will be accomplished by: 1. Creating grade control structures using Rosgen Natural Channel Design and other accepted methods. This will be achieved by constructing/re-constructing or enhancing existing riffles. We will increase structural integrity of existing structure with additional rock and provide additional hydraulic control with run and glide features. Additional methods such as log checks and rock checks will be used in higher gradient areas. All of these structures provide additional habitat for trout forage as well. All of these structures have been used very successfully in the Phase I, II and III components of this project. 2. Enhance glide features with sorted, cleaned rock (1"). This helps both the structural integrity of riffles and provides MUCH NEEDED spawning habitat for Colorado River Cutthroat trout. This habitat type is almost non-existent in much of the treatment reach. In many areas, glides have not been constructed in the past and we will be creating them from scratch. During Phases 1-3 of this project, fish were observed immediately spawning in newly placed gravels. 3. Provide juvenile and adult fish overhead cover. This will be accomplished by fixing, re-installing/replacing, or creating new fish hotels. These log structures provide refuge from sunlight and predators and is a necessary habitat to enhance fish survival. Structures also provide additional stable surface for forage organisms to colonize. 4. Eliminate nuisance in-stream vegetation. Certain undesirable vegetation that is currently clogging and blocking fish passage in the channel may be eliminated as appropriate using water-organism safe herbicides. We also commonly tackle this problem by deepening parts of the channel, which does not allow enough light penetration. This has additional benefits of assisting stabilizing stream temperature due to an increase in channel depth that is not exposed to sunlight and surface air temperature. 5. Riparian vegetation: We will continue to establish riparian vegetation in the enclosures that were built in Phase I of the project. We have had some success each time we have attempted planting. We will continue this practice during this project. 6. Repair upland meadow habitats - this will be completed with wet mowing of overgrown rabbitbrush, sagebrush, and greasewood that has choked out vegetation palatable to terrestrial species. After wet mowing we will reseed appropriate treatment areas with the attached seed mix.

This is a Phase IV project - it is important to both our agency and the resource to continue and finish our restoration efforts. This is expected to be the final phase of this project. --Temperature limitations for CRCT: Lake Canyon Creek does not have the cold spring water discharge to keep water temperatures cool enough for trout habitation thru a large reach. The stream exists at a moderate low elevation in an arid, shade-less environment. Considering climate change modeling as well as our own observations about what drought has done to this system, in-stream cover and additional channel depth are necessary requirements to keep water temperatures in check. Predation: Instream cover and a deeper channel will also provide refugia for trout against terrestrial predators, which account for a significant amount of the fish mortality in this system. Channel degradation and downcutting: Areas above the perennial stream have incised channels that are eroding and slowly head cutting. This lowers the water table and leaves the adjacent areas as perched terraces. The vegetation community continues to advance from grassland habitat to arid environments dominated by sagebrush and greasewood. This project will stop head cutting and work to aggrade the channel to elevate the water table once again. Otherwise, the sites will continue to trend to dry vegetation types. Adding spawning habitat: Colorado River Cutthroat trout may disappear from part or all of the stream. Gravel spawning habitat is a life history habitat requirement that is currently lacking in Lake Canyon. Fish passage: Required feature for fish to colonize, spawn, or feed. Stream connectivity is lacking through much of this treatment reach and is contributing to suppressed trout populations. This project will yield more standing water via channel checks, thereby providing additional habitat availability for migratory waterfowl and bats that are obligate of the water for water and food resources. This project addresses several threats to key habitats as identified in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan (see Habitats tab). Wet mowing areas: DWR biologist have observed that deer heavily utilize areas previous treatment areas during the spring. They appear to be feeding of the young, green, vegetation in the meadows. The meadows to be treated in this project are in the crucial mule deer habitat restoration priority areas identified in Figure 6 of the new Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan. While not well represented in Wildlife Tracker (only 6 deer and 2 bighorn sheep) the datapoints show that Lake Canyon is heavily used by both mule deer and bighorn sheep. (See attached documents). Mule deer generally seem to winter below lake canyon lake and utilize the meadows in Lake Canyon during the spring green-up.

CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT. Objective 4 -- Secure and enhance watershed conditions. Strategy 7 -- Improve habitat conditions for CRCT (utilizing habitat improvement techniques including stream bank stabilization, and riparian management) WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN (WAP): This project addresses threats identified in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan to several aquatic and upland habitats, as well as multiple species that use those habitats. See the Species and Habitats tabs for more. DUCHESNE COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN -- "Support bighorn sheep populations for hunting, viewing, and ecosystem support." -- "Projects that will protect water quality during periods of flash flooding shall be encouraged and supported. Such projects include installation of flood control structures, dams, retention basins, gully plugs and seeding of drainage ways." -- "Encourage the use of flood structures, dams, catch basins, gully plugs, and reseeding of grass ways to help reduce erosion during and after storm events. -- "Support the treatment of invasive species, e.g., Phragmites, tamarisk, and Russian olive, which can degrade habitat value and impact groundwater levels. --"Manage access of livestock, wild horses, and native ungulates to sensitive riparian areas using exclosures when appropriate...." --"Increase cover and extent of native riparian vegetation." --"Maintain, enhance, and expand sport fishing opportunities." --"Protect and preserve water quality and fish habitat...." --"Manage vegetation, specifically forage, to benefit livestock and wildlife and to contribute to the recreation and tourism industry." STATE OF UTAH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN. --The State will seek to protect, conserve, and improve Utah's fish and aquatic wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. --The State supports ensuring the persistence of the diversity of native fish and aquatic wildlife in Utah while at the same time providing excellent opportunities for anglers and other recreationists. --Managing for self-sustaining fisheries in Utah streams should be a priority. --The State supports implementing active management and restoration projects on federal lands to restore sinuosity, vegetation, and floodplain function which mimic the natural hydrologic system in suitable areas --Improve vegetative health on public and private lands through range improvements, prescribed fire, vegetation treatments, and active management of invasive plants and noxious weeds. --Active management should be used to improve and enhance riparian resources to provide for appropriate physical, biological, and chemical function. --Prioritize and manage riparian areas to attain desired future conditions for riparian- related resources --The State supports the use of structural and non-structural improvements in unstable water courses to restore riparian areas properly functioning/desired future conditions. --Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. --Conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. --Produce and maintain the desired vegetation for wildlife and domestic livestock forage on public and private lands. The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan has the following applicable objectives and strategies: Habitat Objective 1, Strategy B, a -- Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and actively manage and protect crucial mule deer habitats including summer (especially fawning), winter, and migration areas Habitat Objective 2, Strategy A, a. -- Utilize WRI as a tool to improve deer habitat with all partners across the state Habitat Objective 2, Strategy A, c. -- Work with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional WRI teams working groups to identify and prioritize mule deer habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration (Figure 6). Emphasis should be placed on crucial habitats which include summer range habitats such as improving aspen, winter ranges sagebrush habitats, and improving riparian areas. Habitat Objective 2, Strategy A, e -- Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve and restore mule deer habitat.... The Deer Herd Unit Management Plan for the Wasatch Mountains, Avintaquin unit contains the following relevant habitat management objectives and strategies: --Maintain and protect existing critical deer ranges sufficient to support the population objectives. --Seek cooperative projects to improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat. The Utah Bighorn Sheep Statewide Management Plan has the following applicable objectives and strategies: -- Initiate vegetative treatment projects to improve bighorn habitat lost to natural succession or human impacts. The Bighorn Sheep Unit Management Plan for the Wasatch Mountains, Avintaquin unit contains the following relevant habitat management objectives and strategies: --Maintain or improve sufficient bighorn sheep habitat to achieve population objectives. --Initiate vegetative treatment projects to improve bighorn habitat lost to natural succession or human impacts. --Identify specific habitat restoration projects to immediately benefit bighorn sheep. Lake Canyon is specifically identified as a priority area. The Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan lists the following relevant objectives and strategies: --Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. The Elk Herd Unit Management Plan for the Wasatch Mountains unit contains the following relevant objectives and strategies: --Enhance elk habitat through direct range improvements to maintain population management objectives. --Implement habitat enhancement & watershed initiative projects whenever opportunities arise. The TMDL for the Duchesne River Watershed suggests the following potential control options for reducing soil and streambank erosion, which the plan anticipates will reduce TDS loading: --Promote proper grazing management on uplands and riparian areas to maintain sufficient plant cover to protect the soil. * Improve condition of riparian areas through plantings, grazing management, and development of off stream watering sites. * Improve streambank stability through establishing deep-rooted woody vegetation and sloping vertical streambanks to allow vegetation to establish.

The Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal shows the project area has a moderate Wildfire Hazard Potential and a low to moderate burn probability. However, if a fire starts in the canyon bottom in the fine to moderate fuels (particularly along the road), this could lead to a fire to running uphill and into higher risk fuel types (e.g., pinyon-juniper, Douglas fir), as occurred on the Strawberry River bottom in 2018 before the Dollar Ridge fire. There are a number of structures to the east of the project area, including a number of oil and gas wells. Limiting the dry fuels by creating healthy riparian areas as this project accomplishes in the canyon bottom will reduce the likelihood of a fire starting there and running uphill while providing a potential small fire break. Wet mowing of dry, overgrown sagebrush and greasewood complexes also helps reduce fuel loads and similarly reduces fire risk across the valley bottom.

Quality: Riparian plantings and overhead fish structures will provide shade to the stream which will help reduce water temperature. Riparian plantings also provide rooted vegetation mass which prevents erosion. Gully plugs/beaver dam analogs maintain or improve water quality as they prevent damage to restored stream reaches and prevent excess sedimentation into the stream and lake. Beaver dam analogs capture and assimilate sediments. Lake Canyon is in the Duchesne River Watershed, which has an approved TMDL for total dissolved solids. Quantity: Beaver dam analogs have proven to store pulsed water and debris from high runoff events, creating a more stable discharge scenario. These features capture water and debris from pulse floods and spring runoff and store that water discharge, which creates a more prolongated hydrograph by storing and then releasing water from the ground.

A stream alteration permit secured for project 5619 covers this project. Cultural resource surveys were completed for this area during WRI project 4798 by M. Shaver October 2019. No eligible historic sites were found near the project area during the surveys, and staff will be conscientious of any cultural sites if found during project implementation.

Gully plugs: various structures may be used but will primarily consist of beaver dam analogs. We will also incorporate rock check dams and log vanes as stream hydrology control structures. These structures will be used to prevent additional head cutting and aggrade the incised channel where appropriate. Brush and woody material may be placed in the drainages above the structures to aid in sediment deposition while enhancing or maximizing available fish habitat. Fish structure maintenance: the DWR heavy equipment crew and DWR NER aquatics staff will use an excavator to perform channel maintenance and fish hotel improvements. Seasonal employees will also assist in the maintenance of the stream project. Structures including fish hotels and overhead log structures will be placed to maximize overhead fish cover and stream shading, and typically placed in deepened areas to provide the best cover areas. Overhead structures are typically placed near added spawning gravel areas/glides to provide easy refuge for spawning fish. Added plant container stock and willow cuttings will be done with an auger and hand planting with seasonal employees. Phragmites will be sprayed in late summer with a Rodeo ground spray. Wet Mow areas will be treated with a tractor mounted mower that applies herbicide while cutting the plant material. Seeding will take place on disturbed areas. This primarily involves the areas surrounding the stream restoration project since these are heavily impacted by ground disturbance and heavy machinery and could impact water quality. However, seeding may also take place post-wet mowing as needed to ensure forbaceous colonization after the nuisance, thick overhead vegetation is removed.

We plan to monitor habitat improvements annually via visual inspection. DWR staff are on site every year for cutthroat trout spawning from the Lake Canyon brood and monitoring typically happens then. Photo points were established throughout the project area in 2002. These photo points will serve as a great way to look at the transition of the project area before and after the project is completed. Photos will be uploaded to this project page as they are available. Colorado River cutthroat trout are monitored on a 5-7 year rotation using backpack stream electrofishing. Tree plantings and survival success are annually monitored by DWR staff. We expect to receive a degree of tree mortality and will replant as necessary. The tree planting component of this project is a retreatment of existing enclosure structures. Mowing of nuisance greasewood and phragmites is monitored annually to determine if follow-up treatments or spot treatments are necessary.

The entire project is on state-owned property managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Personnel from multiple sections have worked together to identify priorities and develop plans to the appropriate management actions. The US Forest service has been a partner in the Lake Canyon area because Lake Canyon Lake serves as a brood source for the North Tavaputs strain of Colorado River Cutthroat trout. Eggs collected from the lake are used to stock streams throughout the Tavaputs Plateau. The USFS has been a partner in this effort through funding and personnel assistance. A large portion of the North Tavaputs sub-GMU exists on BLM managed lands. BLM continues to assist with monitoring and habitat work on streams within this sub-GMU for the benefit of Colorado River Cutthroat trout. The Uintah Basin has a Trout Unlimited biologist position - this person will continue to assist with project implementation. Additionally, the USFS has submitted a separate project proposal (WRI 5940) claiming benefits to the CRCT population that this project specifically addresses.

The project area is a high priority to DWR because of its connection to one of our native Colorado River cutthroat trout brood sources. We continue to monitor and improve these habitats as such. We have developed proactive actions to work with the cattle owner as well as fencing improvements in recent years to reduce illegal grazing risks. We continue to devise innovative solutions to emerging threats - including wildfire and flood events. Future management of this area is focused on continuing to improve the stream health for the native CRCT population for conservation purposes, with peripheral benefits for anglers who have been able to key in on several of the pond features holding abundant fish numbers. Our goal is to have a resilient system that needs few intervention actions from us - a naturally reproducing fish population, healthy stream habitat, healthy upland habitat, and a healthy level of public use.

Lake Canyon has become a popular fishery and receives visitors on a daily basis. By protecting and enhancing the habitats, Lake Canyon will continue to provide a popular recreational fishery, in part because of the contributions from the inlet stream. Additional recreation in the surrounding vicinity that benefits users include wildlife viewing, hunting and camping, which will all hopefully be benefited or enhanced with the future management of this project. In 2020, I had a record number of interest from the public (at least 8 different people inquiring) about fishing in the inlet stream. This project benefits these anglers through acquiring and retaining improved stream fisheries in the area. Often, people like to come to the stream to fish because it is small but challenging, and the fish are relatively large (15-18 inches); additionally, Lake Canyon Creek is accessible in early spring and latter fall when most trout streams are inaccessible. The Lake Canyon valley bottom also functions as a popular hunting spot for deer and elk hunters. Encouraging forbaceous growth encourages big game species to occupy these habitats and make the area better hunting grounds. Lake Canyon is also a popular camping spot due to close proximity of quality hunting and fishing recreation. Our continued improvements improve the quality of use of these resources in this area and further encourages camping and use of the area.