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DWR northern region reports fish surveys, stocking, wetland work and bighorn transplants; losses to bluetongue noted
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Summary
Regional staff reported ongoing aquatic and habitat work, fish stocking at Pine View Reservoir, botulism research at the Great Salt Lake, Phragmites treatment, guzzler maintenance, pronghorn/elk classification and a recent bighorn sheep transplant with some losses to bluetongue virus.
DWR regional staff provided an overview of summer field work during the Northern RAC meeting, reporting continued fish population surveys, stocking, wetland management and wildlife translocations in the northern region.
Blair, the region’s presenter, said staff conducted cutthroat trout surveys on Chalk Creek, Echo and the North Fork of the Ogden River and used hydroacoustics at Bear Lake to monitor Bonneville cisco. The division stocked about 2,000 small tiger muskies in Pine View Reservoir in July. Native aquatics crews surveyed for pearl snail shells and wing‑floater mussels in high‑elevation streams, and staff discovered two previously unrecorded crayfish populations in western Box Elder County and on the Weber River.
On wetland and water projects, Blair reported a major dike and berm rebuild at Farrington Bay on the State Canal and water‑management work at Ogden Bay, and a month‑long Phragmites control effort scheduled to begin soon. A new water guzzler was installed on a cold‑water WMA in Box Elder County, and the division partnered with the Trucker and Wildlife Foundation on guzzler maintenance in the West Desert.
Blair said the region is conducting pronghorn and elk classifications and continuing pelican capture and trapping on the Great Salt Lake. Staff have responded to increased nuisance‑bear reports attributable to dry conditions and scarce natural forage this year. The region also translocated 38 bighorn sheep from Nevada about a month ago and reported several losses attributed to bluetongue virus; Blair described bluetongue as a known seasonal disease for sheep when animals congregate at water sources.
Outreach highlights: the division posted social media stories — one on fish‑habitat structures at Pine View Reservoir that reached more than 200,000 views and a bighorn release event with strong public interest. Blair also promoted upcoming mule‑deer open‑house meetings in the northern region to solicit public input.
Ending: Blair invited questions and answered follow‑up items. No formal actions or votes were taken on the regional update.
