Evanston Dam Project
Bear River Watershed 2
Overview
The Bear River watershed, located in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, meanders through picturesque mountains and valleys, agricultural lands, and federal and state public holdings. Trout Unlimited has been working on habitat restoration efforts in the Bear River Watershed for nearly two decades. The entire watershed comprises approximately 7,500 square miles and crosses state boundaries five times on its journey to the Great Salt Lake, providing clean, cold water for communities, farmers and ranchers, and Bonneville cutthroat trout, and other native aquatic species. Given the prolonged Western drought, our work in the Bear River watershed is increasingly important. Habitat fragmentation, dams, development, increased water use, and climate change have threatened the watershed. TU works with local landowners, federal and state agencies, and local partners to reconnect streams and restore native trout habitat.
Bonneville Cutthroat Recovery
Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, Fishlake National Forest
The Bear River, home to the Bonneville cutthroat trout, has been fragmented by irrigation structures, dams, and other barriers that prevent fish passage. These barriers, along with overfishing, caused populations to crash, and by 1978, only six populations of Bonneville cutthroat were known to exist in Utah. TU and our partners are implementing projects across the watershed that remove barriers to fish migration, improve water quality, upgrade aging infrastructure, and enhance Bonneville Cutthroat trout habitat.
Evanston Dam Project
Evanston dam (Trout Unlimited)
One of the first infrastructure projects completed with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding nationally, the dam realignment in Evanston, Wyo., increased river stability, water flow, and fish passage by realigning (and burying) the dam rather than fully removing it. The project, completed in 2022, improved fish passage for all aquatic species, eliminated a safety hazard and structural liability for the city, and provided new water sources for five nearby residences. Robust partnerships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the City of Evanston, private landowners, water rights holders, and local construction contractors helped make the project possible.
East Fork Hilliard Canal
With this project, we reconnected over 15 miles of stream, reduced operation and maintenance costs for a canal company, and improved stream habitat and passage across about 800 feet of river.