Ute Tribe Fish and Wildlife Department

P.O. Box 190,F

Fort Duchesne UT 84026

Phone: 435.722.5511

Fax: 435.722.2677

uitfwd@utetribe.com

The Ute Tribe Fish and Wildlife Department cooperatively manages over 4 million acres of natural resources in the Uintah Basin. In addition to conservation of native species, endangered species, game species and preservation of habitat the Fish and Wildlife Department offers various sporting opportunities to both tribal and non-tribal members.

Each year, the Fish and Wildlife Department makes available big game, waterfowl, upland game, fishing, camping and boating permits to non-tribal members throughout the reservation.

Non-member fishing and camping permits are available through the Fish and Wildlife Division Fisheries Department and at the Ute Plaza Grocery Store, located at 7750 E. US HWY 40, Ft. Duchesne, Utah 84026. (435) 722-3282.

Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program

To help protect the habitat for the federally listed endangered fish species that occur on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Ute Tribe Fisheries Department has coordinated conservation projects with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The primary project is non-native fish removal of the Duchesne River. Fish species that have been introduced into the upper Colorado River watershed have contributed, through predation and competition, to the decline of native fish populations. By removing and/or relocating non-native species, habitat for the endangered species on the Uintah and Ouray may be conserved, and may ensure successful spawning, rearing, and persistence of these species.

On the Uintah and Ouray reservation, two endangered species occur. Populations of Colorado Pikeminnow, and Razorback Sucker have been observed in the Green, White, and Duchesne Rivers. The Ute Tribe F&WD will continue to contribute to the recovery of these species and is scheduled for recovery projects in the field year 2006.

3 Species of Utah Conservation Program

Three declining fish species that are native to the Upper Green River Drainage and occupy the Uintah and Ouray Reservation are Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub. The State of Utah has designated these fish as Species of Special Concern in the State of Utah. The Ute Tribe F&WD has and will continue to coordinate monitoring and conservation projects in conjunction with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) to manage these vulnerable fish species.

The Ute Tribe Fish and Wildlife Department participates with the UDWR in Monitoring and Population Assessments on the Upper Duchesne River and it's associated tributaries. The F&WD will continue involvement in the effort to conserve the "Three Fish Species of Utah".

Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Project

The UIT F&WD has developed a Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT) conservation project for the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. CRCT are endemic to the upper Green River watershed, and are the only cutthroat trout species native to the Uintah and Ouray reservation. The F&WD has identified six candidate sites for CRCT rehabilitation. Preliminary habitat and population assessments have been conducted at each location to identify feasible locations for implementing the project. Two sites have been selected for active management, and in field year 2006 prescriptions and habitat enhancement will begin.

In support of this project the F&WD is developing a hatchery project with the Utah Reclamation, Mitigation, and Conservation Commission (URMCC). A percentage of the hatchery production will be dedicated to raising tribal Colorado River Cutthroat Trout for tribal fisheries.

Education and Outreach

The Ute Tribe F&WD has obtained an endangered species permit to exhibit the endangered fish, Colorado Pikeminnow and Razorback Sucker. These fish will be housed at the tribal F&WD offices, and used in conjunction with an interpretive program that will be developed for the tribal high school. Uintah River High School biology students will help in raising these fish to stocking size; at which point, students will help to release the fish into their native habitat. This activity will be accompanied by learning workshops which will educate the students on the importance of the endangered fish, biological diversity, and ecosystem management.

In addition, similar interpretive programs will also be developed for the students on Colorado River Cutthroat Trout, and the tribal hatchery that is in development to support the CRCT project. This educational outreach will be a continually developing program for native fish species that will be supported by the evolution of all the conservation projects of the Ute Tribe, Fish and Wildlife Department.