A $48000 Drainage System Could Save The Fish At Panguitch Lake

Panguitch Lake, one of southern Utah's most popular fishing destinations, is receiving nearly $49,000 in improvements through Utah's Blue Ribbon Fisheries program as part of a statewide effort to preserve the state's highest-quality fishing waters.

According to a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources press release, Panguitch Lake will receive $48,775 to install a hypolimnetic siphon, a specialized drainage system designed to improve water quality by removing oxygen-depleted water from the lake's deepest levels. The project is expected to reduce the likelihood of future fish kills while creating healthier conditions for trout and other fish species. The Blue Ribbon funding is part of a larger collaborative effort that also includes support from the Utah Division of Water Quality, the Utah Division of Water Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Habitat Council.

13 Projects Will Help Fisheries Statewide

The Panguitch Lake project is one of 13 initiatives that will share more than $446,000 during the 2026-27 fiscal year through Utah's Blue Ribbon Fisheries program. The program directs a portion of annual fishing license sales toward habitat improvements, better public access and other enhancements that help maintain exceptional fishing opportunities across the state.

man in black jacket holding fish

Established in 2001 by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt and formally created through an executive order signed by then-Gov. Jon Huntsman in 2005, the Blue Ribbon Fisheries program recognizes Utah's premier fishing destinations while providing funding to keep them thriving. Today, 41 rivers, streams and lakes, along with the fisheries of the Uinta Mountains and Boulder Mountain, have earned Blue Ribbon status.

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Other major projects receiving funding this year include riverbank restoration along the Duchesne River to improve fish habitat and angler safety, installation of fish habitat structures at Jordanelle Reservoir, and improvements to fishing access and habitat near Freedom Bridge at Starvation Reservoir.

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To qualify as a Blue Ribbon Fishery, a waterbody must provide exceptional fishing success, quality fish habitat and an outstanding recreational experience for a wide range of anglers. The program also identifies promising waters that could one day achieve Blue Ribbon status, helping ensure Utah's reputation as one of the nation's premier fishing destinations continues well into the future.