Contact Us

Phone Number: 435-722-5511
Fax Number: 435-722-2677

Admin

Robert Johnson
F&W Director
rjohnson@utetribe.com

Law Enforcement

Terrance Cuch
Law Enforcement Manager
terrc@utetribe.com

Fisheries & Wetlands

Brook Watts
Fisheries Biologist
brookw@utetribe.com

Kellie Cambridge
Fisheries Enhancement Coordinator
kellyc@utetribe.com

Roland McCook Jr.
Wetlands Manager
rolandmjr@utetribe.com

Big Game

Julian Shavanaux
Bison Manager
julians@utetribe.com

Parks & Outdoor Facilities

Cheryl Stevenson
Parks & Recreation Manager
cheryls@utetribe.com

Reservation Location and Information

The Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation is located in northeastern Utah and is a part of the Green River sub-basin of the Upper Colorado River drainage. The reservation is the second largest in the United States, and covers over 4.5 million acres. Within the reservation the Fisheries Department manages all water bodies that contain fish, including eight large reservoirs (Bottle Hollow, Cedarview, Clay Basin, Gulf Pond, Midview, Towave, Twin Pots, and Weaver), four ponds/complexes (Big Springs, Lake Fork, Elders, and Red Rock), eight major rivers (Duchesne, Green, Lake Fork, Strawberry, Uinta, White, Whiterocks, and Yellowstone), six large creeks (Chandler, Dry Gulch, Florence, Hill Creek, Pole Creek, Rock Creek, and Willow Creek), and multiple smaller streams and canals.

Fish Management

The Ute Indian Tribe Fisheries Department is a crucial part of the Fish and Wildlife Department, and is focused on managing and preserving aquatic resources within the Ute Indian Tribe ancestral lands. The department oversees the management of fisheries resources, which involves monitoring the size and health of fish populations, raising and stocking fish, implementing conservation measures, and restoring degraded habitats.

Recreational Management

When fishing permits are available to the public, the Ute Indian Tribe Reservation provides diverse opportunities for anglers to experience the rich aquatic ecosystems of the region. The reservation encompasses various lakes, rivers, and streams that contain a variety of fish species. Anglers can target species such as trout, bass, catfish, perch, walleye, and more, depending on the specific water bodies within the reservation. In addition, the reservation possesses some of Utah’s most secluded, beautiful, and productive fly fishing locations, including Rock Creek and the upper Uinta River. Many fishing locations within the reservation offer breathtaking scenery, and provide a serene and tranquil setting for anglers to enjoy their outdoor pursuits.

The Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program endeavors to recover three endangered fish species: The Colorado Pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and bonytail. These species inhabit various rivers within the Ute Indian Tribe Reservation, including the Green River, the Duchesne River, and the White River. The introduction of non-native fish species into the Upper Colorado River watershed, such as smallmouth bass, catfish, and walleye, has contributed to the decline of these endangered fish through predation and competition. Moreover, alterations in hydrology and habitat loss and degradation have further exacerbated the decline of these populations. To facilitate the recovery of these species, ongoing monitoring and adaptive management practices are essential. The Ute Indian Tribe Fisheries Department plays an important role in this effort by conducting fish population monitoring and implementing non-native species removal projects within tribal boundaries.

The state of Utah has identified three native fish species, the flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, and roundtail chub, as Species of Special Concern. To prevent these species from being listed as endangered, a comprehensive multi-agency management plan was developed and put into action, delineating goals, objectives, and strategies for range-wide conservation efforts. The Ute Indian Tribe is a signatory to this management plan and plays an important role in its implementation. The Tribe’s Fisheries Department regularly monitors and manages these vulnerable fish species within tribal boundaries, and actively contributes to their preservation and recovery.

The Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT) is a native trout that historically ranged across the reservation. In 2006, a multi-agency CRCT Conservation Agreement was established to accelerate the implementation of conservation measures for CRCT across its native range. The Ute Indian Tribe is a signatory to this agreement, and actively participates in projects aimed at managing and promoting CRCT conservation. These annual projects encompass various activities, including population monitoring in creeks, gill netting within reservoirs, and non-native species removal efforts. Moreover, the Tribe’s Fisheries Department is engaged in the development of stream restoration plans at multiple locations within the reservation. Additionally, the Fisheries Department assists the state each year with CRCT egg collection projects, and has successfully reared CRCT at the Big Springs Tribal Fish Hatchery for the past two years.

To enhance water collection capacity and raise water levels at Cedarview Reservoir, plans were made to install a pipeline designed to efficiently channel the majority of spring runoff to the reservoir. Pre-planning and preparations for the project began in 2020. Over the span of several years, permits were secured, an engineer was appointed. A construction company was contracted, NEPA procedures were completed, and cultural clearances were obtained. The pipeline construction was completed in the fall of 2023. It is anticipated that, with sufficient snowfall and spring runoff annually, water levels at Cedarview Reservoir will see a noticeable increase, potentially restoring it to full capacity.

An extensive distribution sampling project is presently underway to document the occurrence of fish species within the reservation. This initiative aims to assess current distribution and range of fish across the reservation. The project’s duration is estimated to be five years, and data collected will be used to establish a current baseline of fish distribution. This baseline will serve as a valuable resource for monitoring changes in fish populations over time.

Sport fish management involves strategic planning, regulation, and conservation efforts aimed at promoting sustainable recreational fishing opportunities while ensuring the long-term health and viability of fish populations and their habitats. This multifaceted approach includes stocking, implementing catch limits and size restrictions, and continued monitoring of fish populations. To ensure high-quality recreational fishing experiences, the Fisheries Department undertakes fish stocking operations in reservoirs, ponds, and rivers throughout the reservation during spring and fall. These stocked fish populations undergo biannual monitoring through gill net sampling efforts. Furthermore, ongoing carp removal efforts are carried out in Midview and Bottle Hollow reservoirs to reduce competition, predation, and habitat degradation.

Established in the late 1990s, the Big Springs Tribal Fish Hatchery (hatchery) plays a pivotal role in supporting tribal fisheries and enhancing fish populations within tribal waters. Located in Uintah Canyon, the hatchery is dedicated to raising various trout species, including the native Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT), to fortify tribal fisheries and supplement natural populations. With a target annual production of 16,000 lbs. of fish, the hatchery consistently exceeds expectations. Gravity-fed and supplied by water piped directly from the nearby Big Springs natural spring, the hatchery maintains a steady water temperature of 46 degrees year-round. Although the cooler temperature slows fish growth, it reduces the risk of fish disease. By minimizing crowding and extending the fish rearing period, the hatchery ensures the production of larger, healthier, and more visually stunning fish. These fish are released across the reservation in both spring and fall. In recent years, the hatchery has prioritized raising CRCT to a larger size, aiming to bolster survival rates upon stocking into tribal waters. Overall, the Ute Tribe Fish Hatchery stands as a vital resource in the Ute Tribe’s continuous endeavor to provide exceptional fishing experiences on the reservation.

In 2006 the Ute Indian Tribe established the Parks and Outdoor Facilities Department within the F&WD. The Mission for the Parks and Outdoor Facilities Department is to Develop and Enhance the outdoor recreation sites and their facilities, reservation wide.

The Bottle Hollow Recreation Area has made some dramatic enhancements within the past few years that include picnic shelters with tables and swim platforms. Two new permanent vaulted restrooms were installed with more improvements to come.

Some other improvements that have been made at Bottle Hollow are a walking/jogging park, family/group barbeque shelter and a new RV Park. The RV Park will be done in phase’s which will give time to train and educate tribal members for future job opportunities.

Other goals and projects will be carried out reservation wide to areas including, Big Springs, Midview Reservoir, Rock Creek and Twin Potts Reservoir, as well as other tribal recreation sites.

This department has ambitious goals that will be accomplished with positive input from tribal members, for the betterment of the Ute Indian Tribe.

Bottle Hollow Recreation Area

The Ute Tribe F&WD holds membership in the non-profit organization, Inter Tribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC), a cooperative of 19 midwest and western tribes.  The ITBC was created to reestablish buffalo herds on Indian lands in a manner that promotes cultural enhancement, spiritual revitalization, ecological restoration, and economic development. ITBC is governed by a Board of Directors, which is comprised of one tribal representative from each member tribe.

The role of the ITBC, as established by its membership, is to act as a facilitator in coordinating education and training programs, developing marketing strategies, coordinating the transfer of surplus buffalo from national parks to tribal lands, and providing technical assistance to its membership in developing sound management plans that will help each tribal herd become a successful and self-sufficient operation.