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Red Butte Reservoir

The purpose of this project is to prepare a long-term management plan for Red Butte Reservoir and implement crayfish control. This project is included under the JSRIP recovery element Genetic Integrity and Augmentation. A major purpose of the refuge population at Red Butte Reservoir is to serve as a “back-up” population for reintroduction should some catastrophic event extirpate June sucker from Utah Lake. In this regard, the Red Butte Reservoir population should have, to the extent possible, genetic diversity similar to the wild population of Utah Lake.

Red Butte Reservoir was built in 1930 as a water supply of Fort Douglas at the base of Red Butte Canyon 1.5 miles east of the University of Utah. After 55 years, the fort switched to municipal water supply from Salt Lake City (Southworth 2002). Until recently, the reservoir was in federal ownership and was managed by the United States Forest Service as part of a protected research natural area. In 2004, the ownership and management responsibility for the reservoir was transferred to the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD). The reservoir, which covers about 10 acres, is fed by Red Butte Creek. Under current management, the reservoir’s maximum depth is 10.5m but fluctuates throughout the year between 9.5m and 12m.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 authorized limited funding, not to exceed $6 million, for the purposes of the improvement of Red Butte Dam and Reservoir to meet the standards applicable to the dam and reservoir under the laws of the State of Utah. In addition, the conveyance of Red Butte Dam and Reservoir to the CUWCD was authorized.

As stated in the Environmental Assessment for the Property Transfer and Improvements of Red Butte Dam and Reservoir, operation and management will focus on providing a long-term refuge for June sucker. Opportunities for assisting in the conservation of Bonneville cutthroat trout will be coordinated through the JSRIP with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, as they have management authority for the species.

Click here to download the entire Scope of Work in PDF format