The Weber River was nominated as a "Legacy Project" which is a project that has made a significant impact on fish habitat conservation. This project was selected from previous years Waters to Watch projects and helps to highlight the National Fish Habitat Partnership as it celebrates its 10-year Anniversary in 2016.
The Weber River project was funded to protect native fish species and improve water use efficiency for water companies in the Weber River drainage, Utah. It re-connects 17.5 river miles and allows native Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) and Bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus) to pass one mainstem diversion and two culvert barriers that had fragmented mainstem and spawning habitats in two tributaries.
Both fish species have experienced extensive population declines and range contraction. In the Weber River, Bluehead sucker occur in three remaining fragmented reaches with the strongest population in the Weber River confined below the diversion structure. Allowing passage around this diversion provides Bluehead sucker access to canyon habitat. Full project profile: bit.ly/1UzGjYU