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DESERT FISHES COUNCIL 1978 Report of Fisheries Activities Within the Bonneville Basin* Bonneville Basin Coordinator, Don Duff Salt Lake City, Utah Fisheries activities remain much the same as reported within the Bonneville Basin to the Council in 1977. During 1978 however, the following agencies were involved in major fisheries activities within the various segments of the basin. Southern Bonneville Basin The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources(DWR), Bureau of Land Manage- ment(BLM), and the Forest Service(FS) continue studies and manage- ment of the Birch Creek Utah cutthroat population. The creek remained Perennial in 1978 and experienced no fish mortality due to low flows. The aquatic-riparian habitat still remains in poor condition because of livestock use along the stream on BLM and FS land. The BLM•s Hot Desert Grazing Environmental Statement provides for the management protection of several perennial streams in the Washington County, Utah area from livestock grazing. These streams could become refuges for the native Colorado River cutthroat if reintroduction of this species is contemplated in the future. The endangered woundfin minnow in the Virgin River is still being discussed and cussed by the opponents and proponents of the Allen Warner Valley Power Project. A biological opinion has been issued to the BLM by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(M) calling for a seasonal committment of instream flows to protect the woundfin. The project can still be built with the proposed flows but the proponents are unwilling to accept them based on states rights issues. The ELM has yet to make a decision on the flows and in all probability will seek a decision from the Secretary of the Interior. A court case over the woundfin appears a probability in the future. Central Bonneville Basin The Utah DWR is winding up a 2 year study, funded by ELM, to inventory the Deep Creek Mountain,3uab County. The fisheries inventory is complete now and no new populations of the Utah cutthroat(Snake Valley strain) has been discovered on the mountain. Birch Creek was treated in October to eradicate exotic fishes and DWR plans to transplant Trout Creek fish into the creek in November. Other streams on the mountains east slope will be treated and transplants put into them in 1979• The ELM continues to study the Deep Creek Mountains in preparation for submission of a report to Congress in May 1980 as to whether or not the area of critical environmental concern should be open or closed to future mineral exploration and development. 65 *For the Annual Meeting November 16-18,19789 Las Cruces, New Mexico