The Middle and Lower Sevier watershed includes all of the basins of the Middle and Lower Sevier River, and is located in all or parts of Piute, Sevier, Sanpete, Juab, Millard, Tooele and Beaver counties

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The Middle Bear River watershed includes all of the waterways within the Cache Valley, starting from the Idaho-Utah border and extending to the south boundary of Cache County

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Watershed Description: The Middle Bear River watershed includes all of the waterways within the Cache Valley, starting from the Idaho-Utah border and extending to the south boundary of Cache County. The Middle Bear River watershed encompasses the drainage areas of several major tributaries of the Bear River, which flow from the east into the shallow waters of Cutler Reser-voir.  The Middle Bear River watershed has a drainage area of 888 square miles. The annual average flow into the Bear River increases from 1,095 cubic feet per second to 1,519 cubic feet per second as it enters Cutler Reservoir. The Logan, Blacksmith Fork, and Little Bear rivers are primarily responsible for this increase as all three converge and enter the reservoir.  Cache County’s population is approximately 100,000.  Cache Valley is expected to see the highest rate of growth of all municipal areas in the Bear River Basin. With increased population, large emphasis has been placed on waste-water treatment and storm-water management.  Improving Utah’s Water Quality Middle Bear River Watershed    LOCAL CONTACT:    Middle Bear River Watershed Coordinator  (435) 753-6029 ext. 21   MAJOR WATERBODIES  Bear River  Cutler Reservoir  Logan River  Blacksmith Fork River  Little Bear River   MAJOR CITIES  Logan  Hyrum  Providence  Wellsville   MAJOR LAND USES  Urban  Agriculture  Recreation   LOCAL WATER QUALITY ISSUES  Phosphorus  Sediment  Bank Erosion  Loss of Riparian Vegetation and Aquatic Habitat  Animal Feeding Operations extension.usu.edu/waterquality Revised November 2012 Project Description:   Water Quality implementation projects have been occurring in the Middle Bear River watershed since the early 1990s with great success. With the cooperation of local wa-tershed groups, landowners, and various governmental agencies, several water quality projects have been implemented ranging from stream bank restoration to sprinkler irrigation systems. Several educational campaigns have also been initiated to help raise public awareness of water quality issues throughout the valley. These education cam-paigns include youth educational field days, storm water education, and pharmaceuti-cal disposal programs.  The Middle Bear River watershed has a large number of dairy producers. Recently,  efforts have helped many producers comply with state water quality standards. Vari-ous agencies have helped dairy producers implement best management practices to help contain water rich in nutrients and organic matter on their property.  Many pro-ducers have also developed nutrient management plans. These plans identify when and where to apply manure.  Containment practices and nutrient management plans help prevent excess nutrients from entering local water bodies. Before After NR/WQ/2011-2 Middle Bear River Water Quality Improvement Related Projects  Irrigation systems Range and pasture planning Soil testing and training Bear River Celebration & Free Fishing Day 4th grade Natural Resources Field Days Stream restoration Animal feeding operation inventory Animal feeding operation improvements Wildlife habitat improvements Upland improvements Water quality outreach and education Par tners  North Cache Conservation District Blacksmith Fork Conservation District EPA Utah Division of Water Quality Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Natural Resources Conservation Service Utah Association of Conservation    Districts Local Landowners Local Irrigation Companies Utah Watershed Coordinating Council  Cutler Reservoir Advisory Committee Utah State University Extension  Funding  EPA 319 funding Utah State Nonpoint source funds NRCS Environmental Quality Incen-tive Program (EQIP) NRCS Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) Local Landowners    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 .  Utah State University is committed to providing an environment free from harassment and other forms of illegal discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 and older), disability, and veteran’s status. USU’s policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and academic related practices and decisions. Utah State University employees and students cannot, because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status, refuse to hire; discharge; promote; demote; terminate; discriminate in compensation; or discriminate regarding terms, privileges, or conditions of employment, against any person otherwise qualified. Employees and students also cannot discriminate in the classroom, residence halls, or in on/off campus, USU-sponsored events and activities. This publication is issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Noelle E. Cockett, Vice President for Extension and Agriculture, Utah State University. Feedlot abandonment and restoration.  Streambank restoration.  Before After 

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

Watershed Description:   The Middle and Lower Sevier watershed includes all of the basins of the Middle and Lower Sevier River, and is located in all or parts of Piute, Sevier, Sanpete, Juab, Millard, Tooele and Beaver counties. This watershed includes drainage to the Sevier River and the Pahvant Valley.  The Sevier River originates in the mountains of Kane County in south-ern Utah. It follows a sinuous path of over 380 river miles ending in Sevier Lake, one of the major terminal lakes in the Great Basin. The Sevier River drains over 9,900 square miles, larger than the state of Vermont.  The water-shed ranges in elevation from almost 12,000 feet to less than 4,540 feet above sea level.  The Sevier River watershed was settled in the 1800s by pioneers who established an eco-nomic base built on agriculture. The communities have diversified since then, but the ma-jority of the land is still tied to agriculture. These land uses have sustained the community, however, combined with the naturally erosive and high saline characteristics of the soil they have inadvertently resulted in nonpoint source water pollution to the Sevier River.  This has led to non-support of its designated beneficial uses.     Improving Utah’s Water Quality Middle and Lower Sevier River Watershed   LOCAL CONTACT:    Lynn M. Koyle  Watershed Coordinator  (435) 896-6441 x104  Lynn.koyle@ut.nacdnet.net    MAJOR WATERBODIES Sevier River Piute Reservoir Otter Creek Reservoir Yuba Reservoir  MAJOR CITIES  Richfield  Monroe  Salina  Delta  Fillmore  Scipio   MAJOR LAND USES  Agriculture  Public range & grazing  Recreation   LOCAL WATER  QUALITY ISSUES  Salinity  Sediment  Phosphorus  Poor aquatic habitat Revised November 2012 extension.usu.edu/waterquality Project Description:   The Sevier River Watershed project was launched in the fall of 2005 with the formation of a steering committee to help with the organization and development of the “Sevier River Watershed Water Quality Management Plan.”  The data was gathered and sup-plied to Cirrus Ecological Solutions, LC who organized and completed the Management Plan in the fall of 2010. To date, one Animal Feeding Operation (AFO) and three river restoration projects have been completed totaling 3,500 feet of stream bank restoration.  Another AFO and 4,700 feet of stream bank restoration are scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011. The stream bank restoration projects include: bank shaping, rock riprap, rock barbs, planting riparian vegetation, and fencing. In addition, the land own-ers along the Sevier River have installed many other conservation projects that help control erosion and reduce sediment and nutrient runoff.Before NR/WQ/2010-4 Middle & Lower Sevier Water Quality Improvement Related Projects  Streambank Restoration Range and Pasture Planting  Irrigation Systems Water Quality Monitoring Many other best management practices Par tners  Piute, Sevier, and Millard Conservation Districts Natural Resource Conservation Service Utah State University Extension  Utah Association of Conservation Districts Fishlake National Forest  U.S. Bureau of Land Management  Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Utah Department of Environmental Quality  USDA Farm Service Utah Department of Agriculture and Foods Funding  EPA Local landowners Utah Division of Water Quality       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 .  Utah State University is committed to providing an environment free from harassment and other forms of illegal discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 and older), disability, and veteran’s status. USU’s policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and academic related practices and decisions. Utah State University employees and students cannot, because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status, refuse to hire; discharge; promote; demote; terminate; discriminate in compensation; or discriminate regarding terms, privileges, or conditions of employment, against any person otherwise qualified. Employees and students also cannot discriminate in the classroom, residence halls, or in on/off campus, USU-sponsored events and activities. This publication is issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Noelle E. Cockett, Vice President for Extension and Agriculture, Utah State University. After 

Watershed Fact Sheet: Improving Utah\u27s Water Quality, Middle and Lower Sevier Watershed

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Watershed Fact Sheet: Improving Utah\u27s Water Quality, Middle and Lower Sevier Watershed

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