Danny Summers, the Central Region supervisor for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, presented a regional update covering wildlife, aquatic, habitat and outreach work, and described drought impacts on pronghorn recruitment and a mix of work underway to support fisheries and habitat.

Summers told the RAC that archery seasons recently opened, preseason classifications show pronghorn recruitment reduced in some areas because of drought while elk populations appear healthy, and chukar monitoring in the West Desert found lower chick production though adult numbers remain stable. In the aquatic program Summers listed fall stream monitoring on Diamond Fork, Eagle Creek, Battle Creek and Grove Creek; work with the Utah Lake Authority on fishing access; and restoration planning on Lower Diamond Fork with the URMCC. He said emergency regulations were in place on some waters (9 Mile and Vernon Reservoirs) because of drought and water loss.

On habitat and outreach Summers noted new guzzlers built on Dry Mountain with partners including the Wild Sheep Foundation and Dallas Safari Club, efforts to finalize the Manistee/LaSalle management plan, and noxious‑weed treatments wrapping up on wildlife management areas. Outreach work includes a state‑fair fishing pond (calling for volunteers), a kokanee mural at the visitor center, an underwater kokanee livestream on YouTube, and a kokanee viewing event at Strawberry Reservoir on Sept. 20.

Law‑enforcement mention: Summers described the division’s law enforcement assistance during a busy fire season and an incident where an officer (referred to as Officer Anderson) responded to a call where a family attempted to care for a coyote; Summers used the anecdote to remind the public to leave wildlife alone.

Outcome: the update was informational; the RAC had no formal vote on the update. Summers said some motorable access projects are delayed due to federal funding issues but are hoped to resume next year.

Discussion vs. decision: the update was informational; where regulatory or operational actions were mentioned (emergency regulations, project funding delays), Summers clarified status and dependencies.