Otter Creek Reconnect and Reintroduction Project

Goals

TU eliminated over 14 fish passage barriers in this tributary to the Bear River, replacing existing culverts and diversion dams with bottomless arch culverts and instream rock structures. Phase II of the project involves working with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to build a barrier to prevent non-native trout from moving upstream and reintroducing an inter-connected population of native Bonneville cutthroat trout some of which should move downstream to support at risk populations on the Bear River.

Tactics

Removing excessively narrow road culverts and replacing outdated headgates and push up dams with with rock cross veins, step pools, and new headgates; building a barrier and reintroducing native fish in cooperation with local landowners.

Victories

 

Staff Contact

Jim DeRito, project manager

jderito@tu.org

 

Author of this Page

Tim Hawkes, director, TU Utah Water Project

Places: 
Otter Creek
Bear River
Rich County
Species: 

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout

Issues: 
Agriculture
Climate Change
Dams
Solutions: 
Reconnect
Restore