Utah Fisheries and Aquatics
The primary objective of the BLM Utah Fisheries program is to provide suitable habitat for fish, amphibians, and other aquatic species found in wetlands, lakes, streams on BLM-managed lands. In Utah, the BLM manages approximately 3,390 stream miles of fish habitat and approximately 15,230 acres of lakes and reservoirs. The health of these lands is critical for the survival of six federally endangered fish species and one federally threatened species.
- Four endangered species (Humpback Chub, Bonytail, Colorado Pikeminnow, and Razorback Sucker) are Colorado River species
- Two endangered species (Virgin River Chub and Woundfin) are Virgin River species
- The one threatened species (Lahontan Cutthroat Trout) is not native to Utah BLM but rearing is considered so critical to its survival from 2 streams and a series of ponds, that this isolated portion of Utah BLM land is protected in its recovery document.
Utah BLM is heavily involved with management of 11 sensitive aquatic species.
- Two sport fishes (Bonneville Cutthroat and Colorado River Cutthroat Trout)
- One non-game fish in the Virgin River (Virgin Spindace)
- Three chub species (Least Chub, Northern Leatherside and Southern Leatherside Chub)
- One toad and one frog located in isolated ponds and wetlands primarily in the Bonneville basin (Boreal Toad and Columbia Spotted Frog)
- Three species in the Colorado River Basin (Roundtail Chub, Bluehead Sucker, and Flannelmouth Sucker)
The BLM Utah Fisheries Program works with the National Aquatic Monitoring Center to implement an aquatic monitoring strategy (AIM) for BLM Utah waters. This includes inventory and monitoring a suite of biological and physical attributes, processes and functions of riparian and aquatic systems to determine if they are being degraded, maintained, or restored as a result of land management activities. Recently collected aquatic AIM data will be analyzed to address the condition of and recommended management of BLM Utah aquatic systems.
