East Fork Bear River (UT) Fish Screen

The East Fork of the Bear River (UT) is a classic high-elevation freestone trout stream.  Flowing north from 13,000-foot peaks of the Uinta Mountains, the East Fork represents one of the largest headwater streams to the Bear River and provides excellent spawning and rearing habitat for resident as well as migratory Bonneville cutthroat trout.  The stream has two irrigation diversions in its lower reaches that entrain large numbers of juvenile and adult fish and both have been identified as priority restoration projects.

Trout Unlimited, the US Forest Service and other project partners have initiated an effort to screen these two diversions using a new low maintenance fish screening technology known as a flat plate fish screen.  Completion of this project will reduce population mortality rates and boost cutthroat trout numbers in the upper Bear River watershed.  Expected project completion is Autumn 2009.