The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has been awarded up to $37.2 million in federal grants to support habitat improvement projects for fish and wildlife in southeastern Utah. These grants, part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Upper Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation Program through the Inflation Reduction Act, were announced last Friday as part of the program’s first round of funded projects. Of the 10 Utah projects selected, five were awarded to the DWR.

“We are so excited that these important projects were selected for funding through this program,” said DWR Habitat Conservation Coordinator Daniel Eddington in a press release. He emphasized the importance of habitat maintenance and improvement for Utah’s fish and wildlife, expressing gratitude to partners like Trout Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Canva
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Canva
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Key projects awarded to the DWR include:

  • Scofield Tributaries Drought Resiliency and Restoration: Allocated up to $2.8 million, this project will reduce erosion and sediment in Scofield Reservoir, enhancing fish and wildlife habitats while improving downstream water quality.
  • Huntington Creek Drought Resiliency and Restoration: With $2.6 million in funding, this initiative will use low-tech restoration to support native species such as the Colorado River cutthroat trout.
  • Willow Creek Subbasin Restoration in the Green River Basin: Awarded $2.3 million, this project will remove invasive plant species to improve stream habitats and water quality for native fish.
  • Voluntary Water Leasing on the Price River: Funded with $1.4 million, this three-year project will support instream flows, benefiting watershed health, rural economies, and native fish species.
  • Lower Price River Environmental Drought Mitigation: The largest allocation at $28.1 million will construct a dam, create a reservoir, and replace irrigation diversions to aid endangered fish species.

Additional projects involving the DWR as a partner include the Matheson Wetland enhancement ($21 million), Moab wetlands revitalization ($6.5 million), and Price River restoration ($4.8 million).

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“These federal investments are providing critical funding to help Western states manage long-term drought and build resilience to hotter, drier conditions,” said Sara Porterfield of Trout Unlimited in a press release.

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Sue Bellagamba of The Nature Conservancy highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, “We now have the chance to exponentially increase our impact for the benefit of Utah’s wildlife and our rural communities.”

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