June Sucker Recovery Implementation

A Cooperative and Collaborative Effort

The June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program, a multi-agency effort, represents a successful working model, engaging local stakeholders — residents, business owners, policy makers, civic leaders, and scientists — in a multi-faceted effort to balance water resource needs for humans with species-recovery efforts in Utah Lake.

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Saving the June Sucker

Saving the June sucker is about developing and maintaining the health of Utah Lake for all those who use it. In an ever-increasingly crowded valley, Utah Lake has emerged as a prized asset for local residents who enjoy many recreational activities on the lake, including fishing, birding, boating, beautiful trail systems, and nature viewing activities. The JSRIP’s efforts include the three following major initiatives.

Managing Non-Native Fish

The June sucker is one of Utah Lake’s original 13 native fish, but only three remain — the June sucker, the Utah sucker, and Utah chub. Non-native fish, including carp, white bass, and walleye, have successfully established self-sustaining populations, crowding out native fish populations and negatively impacting the overall ecosystem of the lake. When these fish were introduced by people as a potential food source, the extent to which they could shift the balance of the lake ecosystem was not well understood.

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Augmenting the Population & Monitoring

After the June sucker was listed as endangered, artificial spawning and stocking efforts were the logical steps to augmenting the wild population in Utah Lake. The next step was to monitor and measure the impact through research projects. These projects also enabled the JSRIP to learn more about June sucker biology, as well as the environmental conditions needed to help June sucker achieve a self-sustaining population.

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Developing & Maintaining an Ideal Habitat

Along with non-native fish, human impact on Utah Lake has significantly altered the conditions under which June sucker can thrive. Diverting water from tributaries for irrigation by altering channels and eliminating floodplains was commonplace to support the human population in Utah Valley, but the impact was devastating to June sucker. Restoration projects and supplementing stream flows aim to ensure that June sucker spawn naturally in tributaries.

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Latest Updates

Podcast: Helping Endangered Species

In this episode, DWR Assistant Habitat Chief Paul Thompson and June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program Assistant Program Director Russ Franklin with the Central Utah Water Conservancy District tal

June Sucker featured on Fish of the Week podcast

Head to the former "greatest sucker pond in the universe" where old timey ichthyologist David Starr Jordan once got his boat stuck on a shoal of suckers. Russ Franklin with the June Sucker Recovery Im

A June Sucker History

The June sucker story is one about a lake, generations of people, and an
evolving understanding of how we can preserve natural resources.

The Scene: Utah Valley Hundreds of Years Ago

Over 1000 years ago, Native Fremont people live near the lake and depend on its native fish for food. In 1776, Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante arrives to the valley, meets the local Ute tribe, and is considered to be the first European to see the lake.

The Scene: Utah Lake in the 1880s-1920s

In 1872, a dam is constructed at Jordan River turning Utah Lake into Utah’s first water storage reservoir. From the 1890s-1920s, Utah Lake becomes popular for entertainment as resorts are built on its shores with boating and other activities developing. Agriculture develops around the lake and various tributaries are moved, altered, or destroyed for irrigation needs, including the Provo River Delta and Hobble Creek.

Key Fact: Severe drought comes in the 1930s

In the 1930s, Utah Lake, along with many other areas of the country, is plagued by a severe drought. Residents describe being able to walk on the dry lake bed from American Fork to the area where Saratoga Springs is today. In 1934, the Lehi Sun newspaper reported that the depth of the lake ranged from 7 to 14 inches.

Key Dates: Clean Water Act & Endangered Species Acts

Passed in 1972 by the United States Congress, the Clean Water Act was designed to protect, restore, and maintain water quality. Utah Lake’s water quality had been in question for many years as local communities had used the lake to dump raw sewage and local industry like Geneva Steel also dumped waste product. In 1973, the Congress passes the Endangered Species Act, mandating that communities act to conserve and recover species in danger of extinction. Many people credit the Act as saving countless species while also protecting and maintaining wildlife habitats including forest, beaches, and wetlands, while others see it as government control with negative impacts to economic activity.

Key Fact: Provo River managers become accountable for June sucker

In 1993, the US Fish and Wildlife Service issues a jeopardy opinion to the Bureau of Reclamation stating that continued operation of the Provo River Project (Deer Creek Reservoir and associated pipelines) would impact survival of the June sucker. This opinion changed everything for water managers on the Provo River as they would have to account for June sucker needs moving forward. The opinion was issued after water diversions left the Provo River dry, resulting in the death of adult June sucker that had entered the river to spawn.

Turning Point: Nine organizations join to save June sucker

In 1999, per an agreement between nine organizations, an implementation program was initiated to recover the endangered fish. The nine participants in the project are: Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Utah Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Provo River Water Users Association, Provo Reservoir Water Users Company, and Outdoor and Environmental Interest.

Key Fact: Refuge populations seem to reproduce in 1998

In the mid-1990s, it is estimated that there are fewer than 500 adult June sucker in Utah Lake. With the construction of the first “June sucker hatchery,” there is an increase in June sucker production capacity. In 1998, monitoring shows that June sucker are reproducing in refuge populations located at Red Butte Reservoir and Camp Creek Reservoir. Some June sucker from these populations are transported to Utah Lake to supplement wild population.

Key Fact: Research informs hatchery efforts

June sucker first raised in hatcheries suffered from deformities, eroded fins, and poor growth, all of which likely meant very few survived when released into the lake. In 2000 to 2007, research into proper June sucker rearing methods results in identifying dietary needs, ideal rearing temperatures, and refined spawning methods. Tens of thousands of fish are stocked into Utah Lake through the 2000s.

Key Fact: PIT tags show more spawning adults

In 2012, an analysis of PIT tag data shows spawning June sucker adults at 1,750. In 2013, a three year study begins conducted by Marsh & Associates from Tempe, Arizona, to measure the survival of the hatchery-raised June sucker using acoustic telemetry tags and passive integrated transponders (PIT). Early results of short term survival show a range of results (as high as 58% and as low as 20%) but fish mobility throughout the lake is encouraging. In 2016, after a study shows poor long-term survival of stocked fish due to timing of stocking events and impacts from avian predators, rearing techniques are adjusted to produce larger June sucker but fewer in number. Early research shows a 10-fold increase in survival of the larger fish compared to smaller stocked fish. In 2017, an analysis of June sucker PIT tag data shows continued increases in the June sucker population with over 2,300 spawning adults.

Key Fact: Reclassification and status change

In December 2019, JSRIP submitted a proposal to reclassify June sucker from endangered to threatened as population estimates are in the thousands thanks to the joint agency efforts and partnerships. Only three other endangered fish in the United States have been downlisted; all three were eventually delisted and removed from the Endangered Species List. With sustainable protocols and studies in place and with overwhelming success and participation from all stakeholders, the June sucker was officially moved from "endangered" to the lower "threatened" status on February 3, 2021 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Local residents and business owners all can continue to reap the benefits of the June sucker story with a restored and more balanced Utah Lake ecosystem.
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Report a Sighting

As you enjoy Utah Lake’s unique beauty, size, and amenities, we enlist you to let us know when you spot a June sucker! We use this information as further evidence that recovery efforts are having an impact in creating a more enjoyable and sustainable Utah Lake.

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@june_sucker

The June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program (JSRIP) is a multi-agency effort designed to coordinate and implement recovery activities for the formerly endangered (now downlisted to "threatened") June sucker, a fish found only in Utah Lake and lower reaches of its tributaries. The program works to balance water resource requirements for humans with species-recovery efforts. The program recognizes the need to continue operation and development of water development projects to meet the Wasatch Front’s growing water demands.

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