ARRA4-Big Springs Tribal Fish Hatchery $5,500,000
Funds are being used to construct the Big Springs Tribal Fish Hatchery [click here for more info about the Hatchery], a coldwater fish hatchery located on Tribal Trust lands. Majority of the construction will be complete by December 2009, with any remaining items finished in summer 2010. Upon completion the hatchery will produce up to 16,000 pounds of fish annually, which will be used to stock fishing waters on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation and to augment native cutthroat trout populations in the region. The hatchery will be owned and operated by the Ute Indian Tribe and meets the commitment to the Ute Tribe in accordance with the Fish Hatchery Production Plan.

News: Construction was initiated in June 2009. The Ute Tribe has placed a hatchery information kiosk at the Big Springs Campground area. A water supply intake pipeline was installed from the hatchery site (the head tank) to a manhole about 150' from the creek. Installation of a diversion structure needed to supply water to the hatchery began February 22, 2009 and was completed and back filled by February 26, 2009. Hatchery Building plumbing and electrical are complete. Hatchery building exterior lighting is connected. Electrical installation is complete. Onsite final grading is complete. The buildings are being cleaned for occupancey. A startup meeting was held November 17-18. Expecting delivery of over 30,000 brown trout eggs from the Ennis Natl Fish Hatchery. See photos. This project is nearly complete.
Click here to read a Uintah Basin Standard June 16, 2009 news article

-Click here to download the Agreement between the Mitigation Commission and the Ute Indian Tribe for ARRA Construction of the Big Springs Tribal Hatchery
-Click here to download the MOA among the Mitigation Commission, U.S. Department of the Interior and Ute Indian Tribe for Hatchery Construction

ARRA5-Fisheries Development and Enhancement $1,886,553
This project includes constructing covers over outdoor raceways at the Whiterocks State Fish Hatchery [click here for more info about this Hatchery], modifying or replacing two major diversion structures that impair fish migration and stream function on the Duchesne River, and completing parking areas and related facilities to provide public access to many miles of stream acquired for mitigiation on the Strawberry, Duchesne and middle Provo Rivers. Implementation supports fish production, angling opportunities and provides needed mitigation for Central Utah Project (CUP) construction activities.
[Click here for more information about our angler access and diversion dam modification programs along the Strawberry and Duchesne Rivers]
[Click here for more info about our angler access program along the restored middle Provo River (PRRP)]

News: The contract for the Whiterocks job was awarded on August 6, 2009. Site excavation began in October, 2009. The project was completed and a final inspection held April 20, 2010. See photos. A change order to install soffits around the perimeter of the raceway building's roof was submitted in May 2010. Soffits are important for disease prevention to keep birds from gaining access to the building from under the eaves. Installation of soffit on the building eaves began June 7 and the project is now complete. A project to replace two major Duchesne River diversions, "Tabby" and "Jasper Pike", is complete and closed-out. Final inspection was conducted April 8, 2010. See photos. Contracts for angler access enhancements and Duchesne River streambank improvements were awarded the last week in September 2009 and all that work is also complete and closed out. Stone monuments were constructed for the Provo River Restoration Project (see photos), and construction on three angler parking areas has been completed and closed out [click here to download the Final Inspection Report for two parking areas near Starvation Reservoir]. All expenditures have been recorded under ARRA 5.

-Click here to download the Agreement between the Mitigation Commission and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for ARRA Raceway Cover Construction at Whiterocks State Fish Hatchery
-Click here to download the ARRA Construction Agreement between the Mitigation Commission and the Duchesne Water Conservancy District for the Rehabilitation and/or Replacement of Two Diversion Structures on the Duchesne River, Utah

ARRA6-June Sucker Recovery $500,000
Funds will be used for improvements and rehabilitation of existing June sucker fish culture facilities. An agreement to design and construct improvements to June sucker facilities located at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Fisheries Experiment Station in Logan, Utah, has been signed. A recirculating system, among other things, is needed to allow better management of water quality and temperature within the hatchery, which will substantially improve growth and health of June sucker raised at the complex. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources assumed responsibility to rehabilitate/repair/replace several facility items with their own funding, so that ARRA funds will be used exclusively for a recirculation system. This project's implementation will assist in recovery of the endangered June sucker by improving the propagation, production and care of the June sucker for reintroduction into Utah Lake.
[Click here for more information about our cooperation in the June Sucker Recovery Plan]
[Click here for more information about our proposed warm water sportfish and native aquatic species hatchery]

News: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is responsible for design and construction oversight. The bid opening was February 17, 2010. Bailey Construction of Logan, Utah was awarded the contract. A preconstruction meeting was held March 11, 2010. Construction began the week of April 5. See photos. Work is complete and a final walk-through held August 5. Water flowed through the new recirculating system for three weeks without any problems. On August 20, two lots of fish were placed into the system trough and on August 25, two more lots were placed. So far, so good and fish appear to be eating well. There are now 7000 fish in the new system. The project is considered complete and final expenditure information will close out the project.

-Click here to download the Agreement between the Mitigation Commission and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for ARRA June Sucker Facility Improvements - Fisheries Experiment Station

ARRA7-Wetlands Conservation and Mitigation $516,430
This project will include wetland rehabilitation and facility construction, including completion of solar panels, a viewing/interpretive trail, a boardwalk, and a wetland education center. Funds will also be used to restore native vegetation and for noxious weed control on the Provo River Restoration Project. A maintenance/storage building will also be constructed for the Utah Lake Wetlands Preserve, which consists of acquired, conserved and restored wetlands near the shores of Utah Lake, a central hub of CUP's water distribution netowork.
[Click here for more information about our wetlands education programs and the Utah Botanical Center ]
[Click here to link to our Utah Lake Wetlands Preserve project page]

News: An agreement to develop "Wetland Discovery Point" at Utah State University's Utah Botanical Center [click here to download poster] was signed and this project is complete as per authorized funding. The building was officially certified 'Leed Platinum' by the U.S. Green Building Council. An additional $100,000 was obligated so that USU can procure two more solar panel arrays, which will allow demonstration of a completely solar-powered visitor center. The solar trackers and solar street lights are in place and on-line. See photos. A modification was made to the agreement to purchase and install interpretive and regulatory signs for the nature center. Final payment has been received for the Utah Botanical Center. Construction of a maintenance /storage building at the Utah Lake Wetlands Preserve is complete. See photos. The project to help with weed control at the Provo River Restoration Project has been completed.

-Click here to download the ARRA Agreement between the Utah Botanical Center/Utah State University and the Mitigation Commission for Developing the Utah Botanical Center's Wetland Discovery Point

ARRA8-Lower Duchesne Wetlands $100,000
CUP's Strawberry Aqueduct and Collection System (SACS) develops water supplies in the western portion of the Duchesne River drainage for delivery to populated areas along Utah's Wasatch Front. SACS construction and operation caused wetland losses along the Duchesne River. Affected lands along the Duchesne River are largely owned by the United States and held in trust for the Ute Indian Tribe or individual Tribal members. The Lower Duchesne River Wetlands Mitigation Project (LDWP) provides mitigation of the wetland losses caused by SACS and also fulfills other commitments made to the Ute Indian Tribe for contributing a portion of their water supply to the CUP. LDWP includes wetland enhancement and creation within proposed management areas. Recovery Act funding will be used to purchase equipment used at the LDWP for weed control. Removal and control of Russian olive is a major componenet of the Project. [Click here for more information about the Lower Duchesne River Wetlands Project ]

News: An agreement has been finalized with the Ute Indian Tribe to use Recovery Act funds on these aspects of the Lower Duchesne River Wetlands Mitigation project. Equipment, including a John Deere tracked skidsteer and a Marshall tree saw, were purchased (see photo) and the Ute Tribe trained with Bureau of Indian Affairs on how to safely and efficiently operate the equipment. A modification to this agreement was signed so the Ute Tribe could purchase a 1-ton truck for hauling the equipment. This project is complete.

-Click here to download the ARRA Agreement between the Ute Indian Tribe and the Mitigation Commission for Control of Noxious Weeds on the Lower Duchesne River Wetlands Mitigation Project