The Strawberry River watershed drains approximately 1,155 square miles of the Uintah Basin in northeastern Utah. It originates in the Wasatch Mountains at elevations of nearly 10,000 feet, and ultimately drains to the Duchesne River at an elevation of 5,500 feet

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Watershed Description:   The Strawberry River watershed drains approximately 1,155 square miles of the     Uintah Basin in northeastern Utah.  It originates in the Wasatch Moun-tains at elevations of nearly 10,000 feet, and ultimately drains to the Duchesne River at an     elevation of 5,500 feet.   The river enters Strawberry Reservoir about 17 miles from its head-waters. Strawberry Reservoir and the river below tare considered Utah’s premier trout fishery in terms of total angler hours and the number of fish  produced.  More than 2 million people visit Strawberry Reservoir each year.   Below Strawberry Reservoir the river travels for about 28 miles to Starvation Reservoir.  It enters the Duchesne River about 5 miles below Starvation Reservoir.   River flows in the Uintah Basin are dominated by spring runoff and brief, intense storms that occur in late summer.  Several large reservoirs have altered the natural   hydrology of the Strawberry River by  reducing spring peak flows and providing higher minimum flows during summer and winter months. Several nonpoint source water quality problems have been   identified in the Straw-berry River   watershed.  These include excess sediment and phosphorus loads which are degrading water quality in the river, its tributaries and the reservoirs.   Loss of ri-parian vegetation along the river reduces interception of pollutants in runoff and also contributes to eroding stream banks.   Additionally, water development for agriculture and livestock is causing re-duced stream flows, frag-mented streams, and stream    habitat loss.  Improving Utah’s Water Quality Strawberry River Watershed  L OCAL  CONTACT :     Duchesne Conservation District  Uintah Basin Watershed Coordinator  240 West Highway 40  Roosevelt, UT 84006  435-722-4621 ext 129    MAJOR  WATERBODIES   Strawberry River Strawberry Reservoir MAJOR  C ITIES    Fruitland MAJOR  LAND  USES    Forest  Recreation  Agriculture L OCAL  WATER  QUALITY  I SSUES    Elevated phosphorus  Low dissolved oxygen     High temperatures  Bank erosion extension.usu.edu/waterquality Published June 2014 NR/WQ/2014-02prProject Description:   Strawberry Reservoir was listed on Utah’s 303(d) List of Impaired Waters in 2004 for not meeting its designated use as a cold water fishery.  High total phosphorus, low dissolved oxygen concentrations and high temperatures were identified as stressors of concern.  Additionally, degraded in-stream and riparian habitats in the Strawberry River were identified as leading causes for reduced water quality and fish recruitment.  Since 2002 the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, U.S. Forest Service, Utah Divi-sion of Water Quality, and other partners have worked to improve the river and restore its naturally functioning state by:  Installing 3 miles of fencing to decrease grazing pressure on the upper Straw-berry River;  Developing a grazing management plan to increase vegetative cover and mini-mize hill slope erosion;  Removing invasive plant species and replacing them with native vegetation, stabilizing banks with erosion fabric, and connecting the river with the flood-plain along approximately 12 miles of the upper Strawberry River;  Constructing in-stream structures to mitigate erosion and planting willows in riparian zones along a 5.5 mile reach of river below Starvation Reservoir; and  Implementing outreach and educational initiatives for healthy riparian zones. These projects were implemented to improve habitat quality for all life stages of cutthroat trout, increase vegetative cover and reduce bank erosion, and minimize nutrient and sediment input from nonpoint sources. Strawberry River Water Quality Improvement Related Pro jects   Soil Testing and Training Kokanee Festival Stream Restoration Water Quality Monitoring Wildlife Habitat Improvement Rangeland Management Grazing Management and Pasture Planting Outreach and Education Events References  UDEQ 2007.  Strawberry Reservoir TMDL http://www.waterquality .utah.govTMDL/approvedtmdls.htm Par tners   Utah State University Extension Utah Division of Water Resources Utah Division of Water Quality Utah Division of Wildlife Resources U.S. Forest Service Friends of Strawberry Valley Wasatch County U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Utah Habitat Council Blue Ribbon Advisory Council Trout Unlimited Spring Creek Native Nursery Strawberry Anglers Association Utah Angler Coalition Salt Lake County Fish and Game Association Boy Scouts of America The Oakley Academy UDWR Dedicated Hunter Program Watershed Restoration Initiative Utah Conservation Corps Duchesne Conservation District Funding  Upper Strawberry Fencing    $113,200 Upper Strawberry Streambank        Restoration                    $1,200,000 Lower Strawberry Invasive Removal                                      $44,000    To learn how you can participate or lend your support to Utah community water quality projects, please contact your local conservation district or county agent.   P r o d u c e d  b y  U S U  W a t e r  Q u a l i t y  E x t e n s i o n ,  U t a h  W a t e r s h e d  C o o r d i n a t i n g  C o u n c i l ,  U t a h    A s s o c i a t i o n  o f  C o n s e r v a t i o n  D i s t r i c t s ,  a n d  U t a h  D i v i s i o n  o f  W a t e r  Q u a l i t y .  U t a h  S t a t e  U n i v e r s i t y  i s  a n  a f f i r m a t i v e  a c t i o n / e q u a l  o p p o r t u n i t y  i n s t i t u t i o n .  Before After 

Watershed Fact Sheet: Improving Utah\u27s Water Quality, Strawberry River Watershed

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Watershed Fact Sheet: Improving Utah\u27s Water Quality, Strawberry River Watershed

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