LOCAL NEWS

A new effort to restore the native ‘June Sucker’ is underway

Apr 26, 2022, 10:56 AM | Updated: Jun 20, 2022, 1:58 pm

UTAH COUNTY – A major step in recovering Utah’s threatened June Suckers to Utah Lake is about to begin. Starting in May the historic Skipper Bay dike will be lowered as part of the 260 acre Provo River Delta Restoration Project, a multi-agency effort to restore the fish to its native habitat.

“It only lives in Utah Lake, it’s the only place in the whole world,” says Melissa Stamp, Projects Manager for Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission. “And it is only one of two native fish species left in Utah Lake because so many non-native species have been introduced over the years.”

Thanks to two decades of restoration efforts in Utah, the June Sucker has been downgraded from endangered to threatened, meaning it was no longer in danger of extinction, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but now the fish needs a safe habitat where it can spawn and thrive on its own.

“We’re hoping this is one of the last habitat puzzle pieces that needs to be fixed to allow this fish to once again recruiting in the wild without needing to stock fish into the lake, which is how the population has rebounded thus far,” Stamp said.

By lowering the dike and reconnecting the flood plain with the Provo River the area will be restored to a wetland habitat for the young fish.

“A lot of what gets provided when you reconnect a flood plain and reconnect a lake is a lot of eco system services, it’s a sponge that absorbs flood waters, and the vegetation in these wetlands, it uptakes nutrients and pollutants and creates healthier water conditions,” Stamp said.

Utah Lake and the Provo River should be connected through the delta area between November 2022 and January of 2023. Wildlife experts who toured the area as part of the Network Van Tour say they’re excited by the progress of the project.

“What we’re seeing here is Utah taking back control of something that was put in place a long time ago when we really didn’t understand the way ecosystems and species interacted and bringing it back to a condition where nature can thrive,” Sean O’Brien, CEO and President of NatureServe said. NatureServe is a non-profit organization that provides wildlife conversation-related data for projects like the Provo River Delta Restoration Project.

Currently a hatchery in Logan produces tens of thousands of June Suckers that are stocked in Utah Lake each year but the hope is that when the restoration project is finished in 2024 the fish will thrive on its own.

“80% of the June suckers in Utah Lake go up the Provo River on a given year, so this is really the stream were hoping to tie things together and allow them to recruit on their own, reproduce on their own and eventually allow the June Sucker Recovery team to show they don’t need protection under the endangered species act anymore,” Paul Thompson, Division of Wildlife Resources said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

4 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

5 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

6 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

7 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

8 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

9 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

A new effort to restore the native ‘June Sucker’ is underway