Fisheries

The term “fisheries” implies resource use and management actions, such as harvest and/or stocking, to meet specific management objectives for a given waterbody. Fisheries in the SEUALG region of Utah are predominantly managed for sportfish (e.g., trout, bass). Utah’s fisheries are managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) under Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code of Utah.

Important components that affect management and use of fisheries are:

• sportfishing
• the presence of exotic and invasive aquatic species,
• diseases that have a negative effect on target organisms, and
• threatened, endangered, and sensitive species.

Following are fish species in this area that are on the Utah Sensitive Species List [1].

Federally endangered species

• Bonytail Chub Gila elegans (see data for habitat location)
• Humpback Chub Gila cypha
• Colorado Pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius
• Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus (see data for habitat location)

Conservation agreement species

• Bluehead Sucker S3 Catostomus discobolus
• Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarki utah
• Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus
• Flannelmouth Sucker Catostomus latipinnis
• Roundtail Chub Gila robusta

Sport Fisheries

Issues to consider include stocking a body of water with fish, biological and habitat monitoring, stream rehabilitation, natural recruitment, and game fish spawning activities. Here is an example of a fishery management plan for three fish species in SEUALG.

The UDWR is responsible for managing fisheries in Utah with a primary resource goal of providing quality recreational fishing opportunities [2].  Assisting the UDWR in decision making and establishing management priorities are five Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) who provide local input on fisheries-related issues. Each RAC consists of a diverse group of people representing various interests, including agriculture, sportsmen, federal land agencies, general public, and elected officials [3]. Meeting schedules and agendas can be found on the RAC website.

A fisheries-related topic of interest to communities of the Wasatch Front Region is that of Blue Ribbon Fisheries (BRF). Rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that provide exceptional angling experiences are given BRF status. Most BRFs are coldwater trout fisheries [4]. Criteria for BRF status include the waterbody’s capacity to support recreational fishing pressure (high catch rates, opportunities to catch large fish), sufficient water quality and quantity to support a viable fishery, and sufficient legal angler access. BRF designation is conferred by the State Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council.

“To identify, enhance, and protect those Utah waters and their watersheds that provide, or have the potential to provide, Blue Ribbon quality public angling experiences for the purpose of preserving and enhancing these economically valuable natural resources.”
Mission Statement, Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council

BRF status is a designation that local communities can work toward by improving accessibility to local waterbodies, as well as taking steps to improve habitat for fish. Both of these steps can be accomplished through land use ordinances and by working with state and federal partners to improve habitat and water quality. Locally designated BRF waterbodies within SEUALG include:

• Lower Fish Creek
• Huntington Creek
• West Willow Creek

Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), also referred to as Aquatic Nuisance Species, are defined by the UDWR as nonnative species of aquatic plants and animals that cause harm to natural systems and/or human infrastructure. Not all nonnative fish species are considered AIS, such as those that are desirable for sport fishing. These may include nonnative Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides, and catfish.

The primary AIS threats in Utah are related to invasive mussels, Dreissenid spp., such as Quagga D. bugensis and Zebra mussels D. polymorpha, and Dark False Mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata. Dreissenid spp. have been detected in several waterbodies of southern Utah including Electric Lake and Lake Powell.

Invasive mussels in Utah waters have have no natural competitors, so once they are established, they spread quickly, colonizing nearly any and all underwater surfaces. They are currently impossible to remove from contaminated waterbodies and are easily spread to nearby waterbodies via rivers and flooding. They are also inadvertently traand accidental transporting, such as on boats [5]. The mussels can clog water transmission and power generation infrastructure, harm water-based recreational equipment, and outcompete both native and nonnative game species for nutrients. All these impacts can have profound impacts on sportfish populations. Other AIS include the New Zealand Mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Eurasian Watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum.

Several parasites and diseases are also considered invasive because of their effects on local fisheries. Each malady has a unique lifecycle, which in turn have management implications, including transmission from hatcheries, sportsman, and natural sources. These include whirling disease and spawning syndrome.

Preventing the spread of AIS is currently the most effective management action. The UDWR has a statewide system of boat cleaning/decontamination stations (see the Quagga Decon Stations data), inspection check-points, and angler education efforts.

AIS BMPs and planning resources:

• Utah Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan UDWR (2009)
• Equipment Cleaning Guide US Bureau of Reclamation (2012)
• Watercraft Decontamination Forms Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
• Clean, Drain, Dry Utah Division of Wildlife Resource

In 2011 a typical angler spent $84 on a fishing trip in Utah. This included the cost of equipment and multipliers like lodging, retail purchases, and dining in restaurants. Fishing relies on good water quality and hydrology [6].

Fishing and supporting activities have a positive economic impact on local communities. According to a report by the economic consulting firm Southwick and Associates, anglers spent $489.8 million while fishing in Utah during 2011 [7].

A 2012 study of outdoor recreation found that $1.2 billion was spent for water related activities including fishing in Utah [8].

Sport Fishing and Blue Ribbon Fisheries (BRF)
BRF designation is important for two reasons. First the designation is a prime attraction for both local and out-of-state anglers. Second, BRF designation opens up a waterbody to substantial grant opportunities from the Council, which allocates about $450,000 towards restoration, access, acquisition and other fisheries related needs. This fund is created from a $1 fee added to every fishing license sold in the state.

Aquatic Invasive Species
As previously stated, invasive mussels can impair water-transmission and power-generation infrastructure, and they can damage water-based recreational equipment. Statewide management for AIS is already nearly $1.4 million [6]. Future control cost of the mussels throughout Utah could prove to be expensive, with UDWR estimates exceeding $15 million per year [9].

In addition to direct economic costs, the presence of mussels in local waters may direct recreational anglers to other destinations outside the region. This will affect communities and businesses that depend on recreational fishing.

Finally, AIS can cause significant harm to native fisheries through degradation of habitat and competition for resources, especially to imperiled species that could face additional threats from AIS resulting in future listing under the Endangered Species Act [6].