Utah’s Blue Ribbon Fisheries

An overview

Craig Walker

Special Projects Coordinator

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Topics

3) What is Blue Ribbon

4) Projects

5) Economic Value

1) History

6) Marketing

2) The Council

History

Protection of Utah’s Fisheries

-Then Governor Mike Leavitt created the Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council in 2002

-Council tasked to advise UDWR on the identification and protection of fisheries that provided key economic benefits to rural communities in Utah

                           

Governor Leavitt’s Executive Order

Specifically the Council was tasked to advising UDWR on:

-Identification of Blue Ribbon waters in Utah

-Actions to enhance and protect these fisheries

-Promotion of angling at Blue Ribbon waters

The Council

Council Membership

-Two coldwater representatives

-One commercial member

-Two warmwater representatives

-Five regional members

-Three At-large members

-One UDWR representative

Council Activities

-Members meet monthly to review issues and projects related to Blue Ribbon waters

-Council provides written recommendations to UDWR Director

-Interaction with UDWR personnel fosters partnership development

What is Blue Ribbon?

Criteria Established

-Quality of fishing

-Habitat Quality

-Quality of the outdoor experience

-Economic benefits

Use of Criteria

-High scoring waters identified as Blue Ribbon

-Currently 28 lakes (251,000 surface acres) and 28 streams (303 miles) are categorized as Blue Ribbon Fisheries

-Proposed Blue Ribbon waters scored and compared by category

Projects

                                                                                                            

Project Funding

-UDWR provides $450,000 to the Council annually

-Restricted dollars

Eligible Projects

-Blue Ribbon or potential Blue Ribbon waters based on scoring

-Access

-Partnering

-Enhancement or protection of fish populations, fish habitat, and water quality

Proposal Review

- Council reviews project proposals

-Proposals scored based on review criteria

-Council advises UDWR Director on use of funds for eligible, high ranking, Blue Ribbon projects

Projects to date

-Over $4 million invested since 2003

-Nearly $1 million used to restore more than 250 acres of riparian habitat and over 2,000 acres of reservoir habitat

-$1.1 million used to secure angler access to over 7 miles of stream corridor and 6,000 acres of reservoir fishing

Projects (continued)

-Training of 20 UDWR biologists in stream restoration techniques

Economic Value

Two-year Study

-Utah State University

-State and local revenues derived by angler use of Blue Ribbon Fisheries exceed $470 million annually

-These expenditures create 5,720 jobs annually

-Figures also developed at the county scale

Marketing

Harnessing Economic Data

-UDWR Outreach Section

-Statewide packet with county-level inserts

-Gain support of local and county officials and partners to protect and enhance Blue Ribbon waters

Enhancing Use

-Branding

-Web portal for access points at Blue Ribbon Waters

-Radio, TV, and social media to drive web traffic

-Track web traffic after targeted releases

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