[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6496106,"mediaKeyId","5782289-2e1b8cd9d71903256ed1839a893d824d","parentId",5782289,"title","Blue Ribbon survey names top 10 Utah destination waters; agency to present plan revisions statewide","audioSeconds",1926,"startMs",1152000,"endMs",3078000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782289-2e1b8cd9d71903256ed1839a893d824d&start=1152&end=3078","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782289-2e1b8cd9d71903256ed1839a893d824d/thumbnail_1152000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6496106/Utah/Blue-Ribbon-survey-names-top-10-Utah-destination-waters-agency-to-present-plan-revisions-statewide","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496106-4da93688637b3b4b2a87bb90e7b81ba5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866946&Signature=c2VcXNovRhlFNEbQ9rhmEufYraFlPw26HbZD8j3laDR9MemspTsG~FN4ZqyIN1tnlu24tzwB8XIrKtlxnEq4wCNgtt3tWGOvY9aZIGzN7M~-wGD4N6Hw4yFzCr5-ej1Wa2kiODF075BeUTEgjkBmPzYp0WrRghOE-MoPDKyeJtPSexHHGnAlxE1xwc0rpVO7~YCeUd4OuL9C7kBy5YTUy378luwdiYvOkT4IKOVsm4Sj63GfnWiB2mavBTjdUjT5BF57EkYHM93t2VKPbZtlTZBuSBh5xm5jbcISc5RaVNzkddwwBlTfhjc6X7z4O-1zbeUVbSyFsapLCu7caJfAsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah Division of Wildlife Resources","date","2025-09-19T05:07:55Z","article","State fisheries staff told the Utah Wildlife Board on Sept. 18 that the Blue Ribbon economic survey — used to measure economic value of fisheries — produced a top-10 list of “destination waters” whose management-plan revisions will be shared statewide as informational items.

Trina Hedrick, cold-water sport fishing coordinator, said the division selected the top 10 waters from the most recent Blue Ribbon economic survey because those waters provide outsized recreational and economic benefits to the state, particularly in rural communities. She listed the top 10 as Strawberry Reservoir, Deer Creek Reservoir, Flaming Gorge, Jordanelle, Green River, Provo River, Fishlake, Willard Bay, East Canyon Reservoir and Bear Lake.

Hedrick said management-plan changes for waters on that list will be presented to all regional advisory councils (RACs) and to the wildlife board as informational items; plan revisions for other waters will go only to the local RACs. She said the intent is to let more RACs and board members see proposals affecting waters with broad public interest, while retaining action items and formal decision-making at the appropriate local level.

Board members asked whether Lake Powell was on the list; Hedrick said Lake Powell fell from a prior top-10 position to number 22 on the most recent survey and was excluded from the top 10. She attributed that decline to lower water levels and concerns such as invasive mussels, and said the list will be updated following future Blue Ribbon surveys (typically every five years).

Panel members discussed whether the top-10 list favors northern waters because of population centers; Hedrick said the survey asked anglers about the last Blue Ribbon water they fished and that use patterns can shift over time. The division said it could update the list after future surveys and could bring the list back anytime the board or RACs request it.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wildlife Board Meeting 9/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","DWR staff said the Blue Ribbon economic survey identified the state’s top 10 destination waters and recommended those waters be presented as informational items to all regional advisory councils and the wildlife board when their management plans are revised.","taxTitle","Wildlife Resources, Utah Environment, State Agencies, Organizations, Utah Executive Branch, Utah","taxId",66005,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6496111,"Division pilots spearfishing reporting app to measure harvest and habitat use",402,1480000,1882000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782289-2e1b8cd9d71903256ed1839a893d824d&start=1480&end=1882","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782289-2e1b8cd9d71903256ed1839a893d824d/thumbnail_1480000.jpg","/articles/6496111/Utah/Division-pilots-spearfishing-reporting-app-to-measure-harvest-and-habitat-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496111-c64a4cc00a3207b44ab20be4af4219ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866946&Signature=njdbMJ6HWKpEEd4ALwOIT00zjxZEyVORLrzO8f4n-ghrDxQaF3SBSv--E~QN0u0acSZsWY5EIwYrdbD2foMsbyDUm8oWSzFCBZmOQpKJXC7YKa3LoT894PrWvKJ4JxKg70L9LGinRwvd9ULtOQuBVF0L6emR7SsTV~tsGE-GUexCo8ZDI8vvHrXx~VsYGwRSxU9FP0e3oQvnF560s2REtUAdAv5GiMNzFnrHDq1oCVlTKHdYA5PvI2YI8KDS2nKAcs63f8WMXAmZxSQwiMk9NGlh9FHQDufWsgmcB9UjNaMtHFYrNLCy5zi27CpSvvyZlID2ZinaJsrTrmD3eTaYGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) demonstrated a voluntary reporting app for spearfishing on Sept. 18, saying the tool will let participants log trips, sightings and harvest to help the agency assess spearfishing impacts.

Craig Walker, who led the presentation as a DWR fisheries staffer, said the division has been working with a subset of spearfishers for six months to design the tool, and that beta testing will finish at the end of September with an anticipated public roll-out on Oct. 1.

Walker said the app lets users create an account, record whether they were spearfishing on a trip, note the number and species of fish seen, and log harvest. “One of the concerns is that what they’re harvesting is actually the top tier predators … the biggest fish, trophy fish,” Walker said. To address that, the app will allow users to log lengths for the four largest fish of each species they take. The data will be shared with the division and used to evaluate harvest impacts and use patterns; Walker told the board DWR plans to present aggregated results to the wildlife board next year.

Trina Hedrick, cold-water sport fishing coordinator, said the division will accept both sightings and harvest information because “not everything you see is something you’re going to shoot” and sighting data will help DWR measure use of habitat installations and reservoir areas. Walker added that reports will go into a geospatial database so the division can map use “water by water” and roll findings up to statewide summaries.

Board members asked procedural questions about data upload and privacy; Walker said account information is visible to the division but not other app users, and entries will automatically upload when the user’s device reconnects. DWR will incorporate beta testers’ workflow feedback before the public launch.

The division framed the app as an evidence-based response to earlier board concerns about potential harvest impacts from spearfishing; the tool is voluntary and DWR said it will use the results to inform future regulatory decisions.","Utah Division of Wildlife Resources showcased a beta app developed with spearfishing community input to collect voluntary trip, sightings and harvest data; staff will present aggregated results next year and roll the app out Oct. 1.","actionData","errors"]

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Blue Ribbon survey names top 10 Utah destination waters; agency to present plan revisions statewide

Division pilots spearfishing reporting app to measure harvest and habitat use