The Provo River Delta Plans are finalized.

[doggonefishin]

I got a letter a couple days ago from the Utah Reclamation Mitigation & Conservation Commission. This is the commission that oversees the June Sucker recovery program. As some of you may have been following this, I thought I would post the highlights. It should be interesting to see what the end result becomes. I'm sure a few of you have strong opinions on the matter. No timetable was provided in the letter.



"The Mitigation Commission and Interior both selected Alternative B as described in the final EIS, with the opportunity to increase the size of the project area beyond Alternative B, but only if additional land is offered for sale on a willing-seller basis. The Mitigation Commission and Interior also selected to implement Option 2 for the treatment of the existing Provo River channel."

"The majority or the rivers flow will be directed into the Alternative B property acquisition area, where braided channels and oxbow wetland features will be created to provide the needed aquatic habitat. The flow will continue into Utah Lake to the North of Utah Sate Park."

"Under Option 2, the existing Provo River channel will remain in place as a recreational feature (approximately the last 2 miles of the river before it enters Utah Lake). A portion of the river's flow will be supplied to the channel and a small dam will be constructed at the downstream end of the channel, near Utah Lake State Park. The dam will serve to maintain a relatively constant water elevation into the channel year round. An aeration system will also be installed in this channel to improve water quality compared to what currently occurs, particularly in summer months. New trails will be incorporated into the project as well."

More information is available on the project website at www.provoriverdelta.us.
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[LOAH]

Interesting. The last 2 miles? Are they going to remove the ropes course place (please)?

Sounds like my lunch break spot will have be more of a community fishery when this is all said and done.
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[Therapist]

The ropes course is private property, so they have no control over it. What this will do is dewater the last two miles of the river, except for the reduced flow that will be allowed. The river will be diverted just below the new bridge over the river at the big bend, where all the houses are being built. The diversion will flow north into the pasture land north of the river. It will basically close the river road from the bridge to the lake. Not sure if they have purchased the land along the river from there down and how much they have purchased on the north side of the river drive. The plan is to have the river meander, very similar to what has been done at Hobble Creek, so go look at that to get an idea of what this will look like !!

[doggonefishin]

[quote LOAH]Interesting. The last 2 miles? Are they going to remove the ropes course place (please)?

Sounds like my lunch break spot will have be more of a community fishery when this is all said and done.[/quote]


Yeah, the ropes course will remain. There will be trails though on the North side of the creek however. There hopefully will be some access trails going into the main river delta too. It may also be fun to take a canoe or other shallow draft boat into there as well.

I'm sure the project will have the effect of taking away a few current fishing spots and will also add different new ones in their place.
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