The Provo River historically provided abundant fish and wildlife habitat. That habitat was significantly altered with European settlement. The lower Provo River was altered to serve as a transportation channel for municipal, irrigation and industrial water. The river was also impacted in many areas by irrigation diversions, highways, railroads, reservoirs and urban encroachment. Impacts to the lower river section, along with changes in Utah Lake, contributed to significant decline of the endangered June sucker. Middle Provo River wildlife resources were impacted by the 1950s diking and straightening of the river as part of the Provo River Project, the 1993 inundation of five river miles due to filling Jordanelle Reservoir, and dewatering due to irrigation diversions. Portions of the upper Provo were also channelized and many natural lake basins dammed in the early 1900s to provide water storage.

The Mitigation Commission’s program for this watershed is designed to mitigate for these impacts and provide for a more healthy future. An ecosystem approach is utilized to develop a comprehensive program for fish, wildlife and recreation mitigation and conservation. To facilitate planning for this program, the basin is subdivided into four units, which are highly interrelated from a management and ecosystem perspective. The four areas are:

• Lower Provo River (Utah Lake to Deer Creek Dam)
• Middle Provo River (Deer Creek Reservoir to Jordanelle Dam)
• Upper Provo River (Jordanelle Reservoir to headwaters)
• Utah Lake and Connected Wetland Environments

Lower Provo River program elements consist of: Acquisition of instream flows and Provo River flow study; June sucker recovery and Stream restoration; Diversion dam modification; Public access and facilities development; and Water quality improvements. In March 2008 a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact was made on a final Environmental Assessment that analyzed impacts of reconstructing the Fort Field diversion structure located approximately 3.8 miles upstream of Utah Lake on the lower Provo River. Reconstruction will provide unimpaired fish passage during low flow conditions and accurate, real-time bypass and measurement of instream flows, while maintinaing the ability to meet diversion requirements for canal companies and legal water users who divert water at the Fort Field diversion structure.[Click here to view the Decision Notice and FONSI][Click here to download the Environmental Assessment.]

Middle Provo River program elements consist of the Wasatch County Water Efficiency Project (WCWEP) with Daniels replacement pipeline (DRP), and the Provo River Restoration Project.

Upper Provo River program elements consist of Upper Provo River reservoir stabilization; Highway-related deer mortality reduction; and Washington Lake Campground construction.

Utah Lake program elements consist of: Utah Lake fish management; the Utah Lake Wetland Preserve; Utah Lake Interpretation; and Utah Lake Drainage Basin Water Delivery System (ULS) mitigation commitments.

A full description of the background and status of all program elements within this watershed is contained in our Mitigation and Conservation Plan and Annual Report.