[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6627219,"mediaKeyId","2729735-0441b521db8867b46f1677869c2a3c01","parentId",2729735,"title","Council hears $39,500 outfitter ask and helicopter support requests for remote trout restoration projects","audioSeconds",861,"startMs",4275000,"endMs",5136000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729735-0441b521db8867b46f1677869c2a3c01&start=4275&end=5136","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729735-0441b521db8867b46f1677869c2a3c01/thumbnail_4275000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6627219/Utah/Council-hears-39500-outfitter-ask-and-helicopter-support-requests-for-remote-trout-restoration-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627219-be25f8273ecf22063a39fceb5809c5de/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131625&Signature=WwMwly7rmx~RSQYegBXAU~GT2cPMPeYzBPquT3vCgte6Ib8sn5m4df5LpR9ixUrYI4I-r6gmYwYPIJYiKN1EEbu6qD6-IgijkZoDzKANY25sDaM1PG1R0EMVZINF4rRZFPg6Ycq1e9ORMku5yET-xqVvkSUz-gp-w-cyuz4QTFdF7ZgPJOeYphhaJIvUt2cSjuxY-Ov90xu9eaRPv~SzbfBu8yL3R7kF7C91d~63VFZLgJgD8J1qhSdrQbFxRm8IRUn2Us1p3yZ9VMoAiyY8kTx6xZq62uUlCr6HwOsdxOPtMS1mAVMdj~kkH5skCsV2QEvLvGydVKYXi0-64oMq5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-21T09:15:05Z","article","Several Uinta Mountain trout‑restoration projects and related funding requests were presented to the Great Salt Lake Blue Ribbon Council, which heard details about logistics, costs and conservation goals.

Why it matters: state fisheries staff said the projects aim to remove nonnative brook trout and reestablish Colorado River cutthroat trout across remote headwater streams and lakes. Restoring and expanding conservation populations is part of the Division of Wildlife Resources’ strategy to prevent listing of the cutthroat as a threatened or endangered species.

Fall Creek rotenone treatment and outfitter request: DWR staff summarized a Fall Creek project in the Rock Creek drainage that was reshaped following a wildfire roughly five years ago. After on‑the‑ground reconnaissance and electrofishing surveys, staff said the current treatment scope is about 6–7 miles of stream and roughly 24 surface acres across several lakes and reconnecting tributaries. Mike Slater and other staff told the council the scope narrowed after field surveys showed many upper reaches no longer contained fish.

DWR requested Blue Ribbon funding to hire an outfitter to support pack and camp logistics necessary to get equipment and personnel into remote treatment areas. Staff said the outfitter is already under a multiyear contract and has bid $39,000 (DWR asked for $39,500) to support the second year of the operation. DWR listed total project in‑kind and personnel contributions of roughly $84,000 when all costs and staff time are included, with the Blue Ribbon ask covering the contracted outfitter component. Staff described the treatment as planned for early August, with the objective of achieving a full kill in the treated lakes and streams and then restocking with cutthroat trout.

Helicopter support and Oweep/South Fork projects: another DWR presenter described the need for helicopter support on two separate Uinta projects: the South Fork Sheep Creek final‑year rotenone treatment and restocking in the Oweep drainage. Staff said helicopter support reduces the field time and improves safety and fish health when moving boats and personnel to lakes that are 10–20 miles backcountry and would otherwise require days of horseback transport. The combined ask presented to the council was $42,000 in contracted helicopter support: roughly $27,000 to complete the South Fork Sheep Creek Year‑3 treatment and $15,000 to accomplish the Oweep drainage stocking in a single day.

Swan Creek egg trap lease request: staff also presented on the Swan Creek spawning trap that supplies eggs for Bear Lake cutthroat production. DWR staff said the trap collects roughly 230,000–240,000 eggs per year that are used to stock multiple fisheries (including Strawberry Reservoir and Bear Lake) and to support broodstock and predator‑control efforts. The division requested a one‑time Blue Ribbon contribution of $36,000 (spread as an ask covering a 10‑year lease period) to secure site access and related lease costs for the trapping facility and parking/operational access on adjacent private property.

Logistics, safety and conservation rationale: presenters emphasized the complexity of backcountry rotenone treatments — heavy equipment, boats, dozens of personnel, neutralizing chemicals (potassium permanganate) and the need for experienced outfitters or helicopter support. Staff argued that contractor support both speeds work and improves safety and effectiveness, allowing biologists to focus on technical tasks rather than logistics. DWR framed the projects as preventive conservation: by expanding the number of miles and surface acres occupied by Colorado River cutthroat trout, the division aims to reduce the species' risk of being listed as threatened.

Budget and contracting notes: presenters said the outfitter is under contract from previous procurement and that the council's contribution would pay for an already‑bid line item. They also noted the possibility a second follow‑up treatment year could be required; staff said that would be a smaller ask because much equipment and some operations would remain in place.

What was not decided: the council did not take a formal funding vote during the meeting. Staff asked the council to consider the requests; no formal appropriation or contract award was approved in the session recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: staff invited questions and said they would provide budget detail and project pages on the council’s Google site. DWR also offered to schedule field visits and provide more detailed timelines for the August treatment window and helicopter operations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council 3/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Division staff described multiple remote restoration projects — Fall Creek rotenone treatment, South Fork Sheep Creek and Oweep helicopter support and Swan Creek egg‑trap leases — and requested Blue Ribbon funding to cover contractors and logistics for work aimed at restoring Colorado River cutthroat trout.","taxTitle","Great Salt Lake, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",77344,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6627223,"DWR presents Utah Lake catfish and white bass data as council considers lake for Blue Ribbon status",427,2222000,2649000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729735-0441b521db8867b46f1677869c2a3c01&start=2222&end=2649","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729735-0441b521db8867b46f1677869c2a3c01/thumbnail_2222000.jpg","/articles/6627223/Utah/DWR-presents-Utah-Lake-catfish-and-white-bass-data-as-council-considers-lake-for-Blue-Ribbon-status","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627223-2f7742aa70c2a4addd6a708d19d7729b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131625&Signature=R0FdkToYYnvlvmXWttfkBTGgftmlwWzCjqjjk72tbmrSbMSPttZNpbBT2N09H3~ABhHriEzHt2Q9ipEsEQbCmr7xKB2fqGdN3ydniNmHynRDgN5psX9NP3ZfsJ951~l3agy9rqgU7Q9PbnzaIqAvdFdl-eYf6WWTeqN8WNnb~GZjtCc6R1vWEOtL9qMwJntAsdo1gcVwhXVLzn7PRjKUmDqHULu4eRQvdAsic0x50pZZ0uzMlsHqOoc1Ud4unvGG01lwKzYrhJH8lRzGABQffQjfG6HBUZntjgF5Iz3QPsOox0Pc~gquUb7CtvWRu0TzD3~IkjMZBVQOviTtLRXHmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Division of Wildlife Resources staff presented length‑frequency data, catch rates and angler guidance for channel catfish and white bass in Utah Lake as the Great Salt Lake Blue Ribbon Council reviews the lake as a potential Blue Ribbon waterbody.

Why it matters: Blue Ribbon designation can affect outreach, monitoring and volunteer priorities. DWR staff argued Utah Lake supports a large, fishable population of channel catfish and a sizeable white bass fishery; both support high angler activity and stewardship opportunities.

Chris Crockett, regional aquatic manager in the Springville office, led the Utah Lake presentation and described the lake’s catfish population as substantial and broadly distributed. Crockett and other staff showed length‑frequency data from netting that indicated a large proportion of channel catfish between roughly 15 and 24 inches, with many fish in the \"quality\" to \"memorable\" size classes. \"When we look at our netting, we've got a huge proportion of fish that are 15 to about 24 inches,\" Crockett said, and DWR staff told the council that many anglers report average catches in the 7–8‑pound range for fish that are commonly encountered.

Staff described seasonal patterns: spring (mid‑April through May) can be a prime period for pre‑spawn and spawning behavior; anglers also target males during spawning in mid‑summer. Crockett recommended mid‑May through June as a strong window for general angling success. For white bass, staff identified Provo River channels, the Delta and inshore structures as productive springtime locations. DWR staff encouraged reviewers and volunteers to consider both species’ seasonal dynamics when judging Utah Lake for Blue Ribbon status.

Techniques and guidance: presenters walked through common rigs and tactics for catfishing (slip‑sinkers/Carolina rigs, Santee Cooper rigs, trolling rigs, heavy leaders and circle hooks), and discussed common baits — chunked white bass and carp, chicken breast, shrimp, nightcrawlers — that staff said consistently produce fish. Crockett and sport fish staff also described a successful trolling approach and emphasized leaders of heavier mono (e.g., 20‑lb leaders) to reduce lost fish due to abrasion on catfish mouths.

Health advisory: DWR staff noted there is a fish‑consumption advisory on Utah Lake catfish that is targeted mainly at pregnant and nursing women; white bass currently carry no consumption advisory. Crockett encouraged anglers to consult the Utah Fish Advisories page for details before eating lake catfish.

Use and outreach: staff said the lake supports both shore and boat angling and can be especially productive for introducing children and new anglers to fishing because of the consistent action. Crockett offered contact information for anglers seeking current, localized advice: he provided a staff contact that was shared during the meeting ((801) 234‑9639).

What was not decided: the council did not take a formal vote on Utah Lake’s Blue Ribbon status during the meeting. Staff requested reviewers include Utah Lake in their assessments and consider volunteer opportunities and outreach if the lake is ranked for further attention.

Next steps: DWR staff offered to provide more targeted data to council members on request and to host outings for reviewers and volunteers to observe catfish and white bass sampling and angling conditions.","State fisheries staff showed catch and survey data for Utah Lake channel catfish and white bass, described angling methods and seasonal peaks, and noted a fish‑consumption advisory for catfish while suggesting the lake merits consideration as a Blue Ribbon waterbody.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6627229,"DWR staff urge Blue Ribbon reviewers to consider access, easements when scoring Provo River",305,1579000,1884000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2729735-0441b521db8867b46f1677869c2a3c01&start=1579&end=1884","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2729735-0441b521db8867b46f1677869c2a3c01/thumbnail_1579000.jpg","/articles/6627229/Utah/DWR-staff-urge-Blue-Ribbon-reviewers-to-consider-access-easements-when-scoring-Provo-River","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627229-4ef8f3d24173af6d22a0ae9198612d83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131625&Signature=imDLnNdeioydYuJVoJNnWaKachWZOFzs9k~6cz5tbSA58TR7bMisaubg1W941QzEu9at6xAJUuxKDQNBv5S7O~QgJtK4XX12rSzEC0~ym0Zvt-Aib3Lp1wj8AxnnTZaNBvYkfq9uFjoGOMx3B0shsbY93A7yM8x56a7Fv9oNnpyAHphjrw7OeS2KXIge8COdI4Hm2HIpSu-pw4aPy29FQ8SCPrOcb2suFvBFHnjIEhNmxL-wl09nbXDyQA39DadmN9ru6tEJA4kby4G2IQk5OFoLov0mLQpQZnQol~d22gQvldIrpfLbde98kRHVYtIlEPlvuks9I7TjawDfU8XvOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Division of Wildlife Resources staff told the Great Salt Lake Blue Ribbon Council that the Lower Provo River remains a productive trout fishery but that access and seasonal flow patterns should factor into this year’s Blue Ribbon waterbody assessments.

Why it matters: the council ranks waters for Blue Ribbon designation, and designations inform outreach, monitoring and funding priorities. DWR staff said access limitations and a pending landowner dispute make it important for reviewers to visit multiple reaches before final scoring.

DWR sport-fish staff described the days and places when anglers are most likely to encounter major hatches and fish activity on the portion of the Provo River between the trestle and Deer Creek State Park. Staff recommended reviewers sample the river in mid- to late April for spring hatches — particularly the blue‑winged olive hatch — and in afternoon hours when hatches historically intensify. \"You can have some really good days fishing on the Lower Provo River,\" Mike Slater, sport fish project leader in the Springville office, told the council.

Slater and regional colleagues emphasized that timing matters: typical spring flows can rise substantially in mid‑April when snowmelt increases discharge. Staff said flows commonly climb from roughly 75 cubic feet per second (cfs) to several hundred cfs (they mentioned a typical jump to 200–400 cfs in spring), which changes where and how anglers fish. Slater advised reviewers to consider both low‑flow and higher‑flow conditions when scoring habitat and angling opportunity.

Access and easements: presenters walked the council through a DWR map showing private parcels and public sections on the river. DWR staff said parts of the river between the trestle and the Deer Creek campground are surrounded by multiple private landowners, creating confusion about where anglers can legally reach the water. Slater said earlier public messaging that \"about 4 miles of river are locked up\" overstated the contiguous length; staff later narrowed the estimate to roughly 1.7 miles of river where access is constrained between the trestle and the bottom of the campground, while noting additional privately held reaches nearby.

On the specific question of legal access, Slater said the division \"believes we have an easement\" for a contested stretch of river but that a landowner disputes that claim. \"Anglers can fish in this stretch. However, the landowner disputes that,\" Slater said; he characterized the division's current public guidance as a cautious stance — neither telling anglers to avoid the reach nor encouraging unfettered access while litigation is pending.

Other details: presenters identified a number of public parking and put‑in areas that the division counts as reliable access (for example, Pine Run, the Sundance turnoff and the county‑line parking area). They noted some high‑quality dry‑fly sections and deeper, more bouldery reaches that are underfished but productive. Staff also invited council members to accompanying field visits and to participate in a planned electrofishing sampling effort: DWR said it is considering sampling the Lower Provo this coming fall (mid‑October), with final scheduling not yet decided (staff said the sampling could occur in either 2025 or 2026).

What was not decided: the council did not vote or otherwise change formal access policy during the meeting; the easement dispute remains unresolved and will be handled through DWR legal and land‑management channels. Staff repeatedly stressed that the access issues are separate from the biological question of whether the reach still merits Blue Ribbon status and encouraged reviewers to assess fish abundance and angling opportunity across multiple reaches and flow conditions.

Next steps: reviewers were asked to finish their waterbody scores by April 4 and to contact DWR staff to arrange field visits. Slater offered to lead or co‑host site visits and practical orientation for council members who want to see representative reaches before final scoring.","State fisheries staff walked the Great Salt Lake Blue Ribbon Council through angling conditions and access constraints on the Lower Provo River, noting private landholdings, an ongoing easement dispute and seasonal flow changes that affect when fish are available.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears $39,500 outfitter ask and helicopter support requests for remote trout restoration projects

DWR presents Utah Lake catfish and white bass data as council considers lake for Blue Ribbon status

DWR staff urge Blue Ribbon reviewers to consider access, easements when scoring Provo River