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Watershed Planning and Restoration Program

Ecosystem Stewardship

Brook Trout (Kathlyn Collins)

 

Channelization, dewatering, hardening, and dredging have all had significant impacts on aquatic and terrestrial habitat in the Salt Lake Countywide Watershed.

Channelization can reduce aquatic habitat by limiting pools, riffles and homogenizing the stream bed. Dewatering streams limits aquatic habitat. Riparian vegetation, which provides cover for fish species and moderates water temperatures, has been reduced in many areas due to encroachment and channel alterations. Dredging can reduce habitat by removing large woody debris that is often a significant component of aquatic habitat.

As part of an ongoing water quality planning effort, Salt Lake County seeks to encourage preservation and enhancement of aquatic and terrestrial riparian habitat while accommodating flood control and conveyance needs.

Several studies have been conducted that examine fish species and abundance and diversity in the Salt Lake Countywide Watershed. If there are additional studies that should be included in this list, please let us know.

List of Fish in the Jordan River (Potts, 2008)
Mill Creek Fish Studies (Cowley, 2005)
R1/R4 Northern Intermountain Regions Fish and Habitat Inventory (Overton, 1997)
Big Cottonwood Creek Fish Survey (Cowley, 1997)
Fishery Investigations of the Lower Jordan River (BioWest, 1989)
Jordan River Fisheries Evaluation (Wilson, 1987)
Fishery and Macroinvertebrate Studies of the Jordan River (Holden, 1987) Fisheries and Macroinvertebrate Studies of the Jordan River (BioWest, 1987)
Jordan River Fishery (Way, 1980)

 

Fishery Habitat (1963)
Estuaries in the upstream portions of the Jordan River provide essential spawning areas for the majority of species found in this River.  In 1963, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) conducted a study of the Jordan River. The results of this study are summarized in the table below.

STATION
SPECIES
STATUS

Cudahy Lane

Carp

Rare


2100 South to 3300 South

Carp

Utah Sucker

Redside Shiner

Green Sunfish

Predominant

Common

Rare

Rare


3300 South to Bullion St.

Utah Sucker

Carp

Pontosteus Sp.

Rainbow Trout

Shiner

Very Common

Common

Rare

Less than 20

About 50 Individuals


Bullion Street to 6400 South

Utah Sucker

Carp

Pantosteus Sp.

Rainbow Trout

Very Abundant

Common

Rare

About 30 Individuals


6400 South to 7800 South

Utah Sucker

Carp

Utah Chub

Rainbow Trout

Very Abundant

Common

Rare

Uncommon (15-20)


12400 South

Carp

Speckled Dace

Pantosteus Sp.

Redside Shiner

Utah Sucker

Utah Chub

Brown Trout

Rainbow Trout

Common

Common

Common

Common

Common

Rare

Rare

Rare


14600 South

Carp

Pantosteus Sp.

Speckled Dace

Utah Sucker

Brown Trout

Common

Common

Common

Uncommon

Uncommon


Lehi, near Narrows

Channel Catfish

White Bass

Walleye

Green Sunfish

Carp

Utah Sucker

Utah Chub

Brown Trout

Abundant

Abundant

Abundant

Abundant

Common

Uncommon

Uncommon

Rare