Aquatic species populations in utah face a wide variety of threats to their short and long term conservation

The State of Utah, Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) received a $753,058.46 formula grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the State Wildlife Grants Program (CFDA 15.634) effective July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. The award funds regional native aquatic species biologists and associated conservation work to address threats to Utah's aquatic species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) identified in the 2015 Utah Wildlife Action Plan. Key threats targeted include urban development, water use, fire, and invasive species. The biologists serve as species experts and provide on-the-ground knowledge to identify threats, formulate conservation actions, and work with partners to achieve conservation goals for native fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mollusks.

The funded work focuses on implementing six primary objectives: executing priority actions from the Wildlife Action Plan and other management plans; conducting inventory, monitoring, and management of SGCN species; implementing conservation plans for SGCN species; enhancing and maintaining regional SGCN populations; developing habitat management guidelines based on existing literature and monitoring results; and maintaining and enhancing sensitive species information. The project aims to prevent future endangered species listings by proactively reducing threats to species and their habitats while improving statewide data on sensitive aquatic species. As part of the award, UDWR established a sub-award with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game completed February 6, 2026, focused on management and conservation of Bear Lake Sculpin, including sampling techniques, population ecology, and food web dynamics research.

Threats affecting many species identified in the 2015 utah wildlife action plan 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. 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 the ground 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 amphibians reptiles 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 and their habitats. 2.inventory monitor and manage sgcn species. 3.implement available conservation plans as they pertain to sgcn species. 4.enhance and maintain populations of regional sgcn species. 5.develop habitat management guidelines as needed for key species based on existing literature ongoing udwr studies and project monitoring results. 6.maintain enhance and use regional sensitive species databases.