Provo River Delta reopens to the public after 4-year restoration project

The Provo RIver Delta Photo: Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission.

PROVO, Utah — The Provo River Delta has officially reopened to the public following a 250-acre restoration project that commenced in March 2020. The project restored a functioning river delta between the Lower Provo River and Utah Lake. A primary reason for the restoration project was to aid the recovery process of June suckers, a threatened fish that is found only in this specific area.

In January 2021, June suckers were downgraded from endangered to threatened, largely due to the Provo River Delta restoration project. “The Provo River Delta Restoration Project provided the unique opportunity for us to partner with several entities on a project to not only benefit recovery of a threatened species, but also provide diverse recreational opportunities for surrounding communities well into the future,” Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission Executive Director Michael Mills said. “The new delta provides habitat previously missing from the interface of the river and Utah Lake, which will benefit all those that use the area and will contribute to the survival of millions of June suckers spawned in the Provo River each year.”

Since 2020, approximately 23,050 linear feet of new channels have been built, and Skipper Bay Dike has been lowered to allow Utah Lake to connect with the delta at higher lake levels. All delta channels and ponds are now complete, with over 150,000 native plants and 58 acres of seeded habitat established. An irrigation well was installed to support new vegetation, and invasive plants like phragmites have been managed throughout the site.

Additionally, the original Provo River near Lakeview Parkway was reduced in size, and berms were built along the delta’s southern edge. A dam near Utah Lake State Park is under construction to stabilize water levels in the Lower Provo River channel and control fish movement. New amenities have also been added to enhance the area.

The area officially opened to the public on October 26, which included the opening of recreational activities such as hiking and fishing.

The Utah Wildlife Board recently approved fishing regulations for the Provo River Delta area for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025. The new rules for the area include:

• There are no limits on white bass and northern pike, though all northern pike caught must be killed.
• Anglers can catch up to eight channel catfish, four trout, six bass (combined), 24 bullhead, and 50 crappie or sunfish (combined).
• Walleye must be released from March 1 through early May; otherwise, the limit is 10, with only one fish over 24 inches.
• Nighttime bow fishing is banned from May to mid-July.
• Spearfishing is prohibited in the Provo River or Delta.

“We are hopeful that with this area opening to fishing, anglers can help reduce the number of predators that are impacting June suckers,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Recovery Program Director Sarah Seegert said. “In addition to the wetland vegetation in the delta providing young June suckers a place to hide from predators, we are also excited about the new fishing opportunities that this area will provide.”