This grant provides funding to the utah division of wildlife resources (udwr) for the completion of sportfish work across the state

The work is divided across six projects. The first project covers the monitoring of utahs fish populations and habitat. The udwr uses grant funding to sample fish populations using various methods such as netting and electrofishing. Additional biological data that is collected includes the monitoring of invertebrates and fish species that provide forage for sportfish. Efforts to monitor angler success and preferences through creel, reward tag, and online surveys is also included as part of this project. The udwr also uses grant funds to monitor fish habitat through actions such as collecting temperature, oxygen, and other abiotic information (e.g., substrate size, stream width, etc.). In addition, the grant covers the monitoring of aquatic invasive species populations. The program has historically focused on dreissinid mussel population monitoring but is expanding to cover the monitoring of other aquatic invasive species. The second project covers actions that directly manipulate fish populations. Actions include collecting fish for spawning programs and transport of fish to remote locations for stocking. As a note, utahs fish hatchery program itself is covered by a separate grant. As a result, this grant covers spawning and stocking efforts that are not under the hatchery grant. Other actions covered under this project include the chemical and mechanical removal of non-native or invasive fish species. The third project covers DAM, habitat, and angler access improvements and maintenance. Construction projects in these areas are covered under separate grants. This grant is used to cover the staff time required to monitor dams, habitat, and angler access areas and to design and oversee projects in these areas. Additional post-construction monitoring work is also covered by this grant. The fourth project involves efforts to educate the public about fishing and utahs aquatic resources. Generally, educational and outreach programs are identified and designed by the udwr outreach department under a separate grant. Aquatics staff involvement under this grant is generally limited to providing aquatics staff expertise at events (e.g., answering questions at booths). The aquatics staff also regularly does interviews with the media. Staffing of the utah state fair and the creation of deliverable materials such as signs and brochures is also covered under this project. The fifth project covers stakeholder involvement. Actions under this project include holding meetings with other stakeholders and assisting stakeholders by reviewing permit applications. The intent of this project is to foster good relationships with these stakeholders and to assist them with their work. The sixth project involves providing technical support. Actions under this project include the investigation of fish kills and inspecting privately owned fish ponds to ensure that these ponds have minimal risk to public fisheries. Additionally, this project includes the review of internally and externally developed project proposals.