Aquatic species populations in utah face a wide variety of threats to their shortandlongterm conservation

This $606,153.85 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service's State Wildlife Grants (CFDA 15.634) program supports the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) in implementing priority actions to reduce threats to aquatic species and their habitats across the state. The key objectives of this two-year project are to: 1) inventory, monitor, and manage species of greatest conservation need; 2) implement available conservation plans; 3) enhance and maintain populations of sensitive aquatic species; and 4) develop habitat management guidelines. This funding enables UDWR's regional biologists to leverage their expertise to identify threats, formulate conservation actions, and work with partners to prevent the need for future Endangered Species Act listings in Utah. The grant aims to improve statewide sensitive species information and fill data gaps identified in Utah's Wildlife Action Plan.

Threats affecting many species identified in the 2015 utah wildlife action plan WAP include urban development water use fire and invasive species. Other threats may affect only a single species yet need remediation to ensure the species persistence. We need basic information on the ecology of species and status of populations to address any threats. Additionally we need dedicated biologists with knowledge of both the species and the habitats on which they depend. Regional native aquatic species biologists are core personnel in the implementation of the WAP. They are species experts respected voices on planning teams and have invaluable on theground knowledge of the landscapes and aquatic habitats of utah. They identify threats and formulate actions. With that expertise we can successfully identify opportunities and work with willing partners to achieve our conservation goals. This project funds these staff so they can conduct important work to reduce threats to aquatic species at risk in utah. The goal of this project is to ensure the future of native fish amphibiansreptiles and mollusks in utah by reducing threats to the species and their habitats thereby preventing the need for future species listings under the endangered species act. This project will improve statewide sensitive species information and fill data gaps identified in the utah WAP. These goals will be achieved through the following objectives:1. Implement priority actions identified in the WAP or other management plans to reduce threats to species andtheir HABITATS2. Inventory monitor and manage sgcn SPECIES3. Implement available conservation plans as they pertain to sgcn SPECIES4. Enhance and maintain populations of regional sgcn species.5. Develop habitat management guidelines as needed for key species based on existing literature ongoing udwrstudies and project monitoring results.6. Maintain enhance and use regional sensitive species databases.