October 24, 2006
For Immediate Release
For an interview:
Jason Carlton
Vanguard Media Group
(801) 531-0244
A Day in the Life of Utah Lake
Local historians, ecologists, agency representatives, and fish and wildlife specialists will discuss the rich history of Utah Lake, the changes that have brought it to its present state and future plans for the lake at the Utah Lake Symposium at UVSC Oct. 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Faculty Seminar Room, LC 243.
UVSC Center for Environmental Studies is sponsoring the Symposium in partnership with the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program (JSRIP) and the Utah Humanities Council. JSRIP works on recovery actions for the endangered June sucker, a fish endemic to Utah Lake, named for its annual June spawning run. Although 13 species of fish are native to the lake, only the June sucker and Utah sucker remain, together constituting less than one percent of the biomass.
“We are excited to be part of the second annual Utah Lake Symposium,” said Chris Keleher, assistant director of JSRIP. “The goal of the symposium is to educate residents of Utah County about the important role Utah Lake plays in the health and quality of life in the county and to provide up-to-date information on issues associated with the lake ecosystem.”
The Utah Lake Symposium will address topics such as commercial fishing on Utah Lake, the economic development around the lake, research of the ecosystem, potential uses for the common carp, the ecological effects of PCBs, and the proposed formation of a Utah Lake Commission. Some of the presenters include historian Robert Carter, retired commercial fisherman Bill Loy, Sr., BYU professor Dr. Richard Kellems and Mayor Lewis Billings of Provo City.
The June sucker was placed on the Endangered Species list in 1986 as natural populations in Utah Lake were well below 1,000. JSRIP was formed with two goals in mind: First, to recover the June sucker so it no longer requires federal protection, and second, allow for continued operation of existing water facilities and future water development of water resources for human use.
“The Utah Lake Symposium will not only offer many educational presentations to residents of Utah County, but during the lunch break there will be an open microphone,” Keleher said. “This will be a great opportunity for the audience to share their memories, opinions or concerns about Utah Lake.”
The Utah Lake Symposium is free and open to the public. For additional information about the Utah Lake Symposium, contact Chris Keleher at (801) 538-5216. A complete schedule for the Symposium is listed below:
2nd Annual Utah Lake Symposium
Utah Valley State College
Faculty Seminar Room (LC 243)
October 27, 2006
Welcome and Introductions
8:30 – 9:00
Welcome: Karl Worthington, Vice President for Academic Affairs, UVSC
Introductions: Kathryn French, Faculty, Environmental Studies Program,UVSC
Sam Rushforth, Dean, School of Science and Health, UVSC
Reed Harris, Director, June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program, Utah Department of Natural Resources
History Session
9:00 – 9:30 Something to Carp About
D. Robert Carter, Local Historian
9:30 – 10:00 History of Commercial Fishing on Utah Lake
Bill Loy, Sr., Retired Commercial Fisherman
Break
10:00 – 10:20
Shoreline Session
10:20 – 10:40 Status of Boundary Settlement, Public Access and Utah Lake Sovereign Land Issues
Dick Buehler, Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands
10:40 – 11:00 Public Trail System Planning
Clyde Naylor, Utah County
11:00 – 11:20 Economic Development Advantages of a Healthier Utah Lake
Tim Watkins, Envision Utah
Lake Session
11:20 – 11:40 June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program – Status of Recovery Efforts
Chris Keleher, Utah Department of Natural Resources, June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program
11:40 – 12:00 An Overview of Research towards Recovering the Endangered June Sucker and the Ecosystem Upon Which It Depends
Dr. Todd A. Crowl, Utah State University
Lunch Break and Open Microphone
12:00 – 12:10 Distribute lunches
12:10 – 1:00 Open microphone – opportunity for audience members to share memories, opinions and thoughts on Utah Lake (5 minute time limit)
Lake Session (cont.)
1:00 – 1:20 Systematic Approach to Controlling Common Carp in Utah Lake: a Status Report
Kris Buelow, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program
1:20 – 1:40 Status of Investigations of Potential Uses and Markets for Common Carp Removed from Utah Lake
Dr. Richard Kellems, Brigham Young University
1:40 – 2:00 PCBs in Utah Lake: Ecological Implications
Chris Cline, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2:00 – 2:20 Environmental Study of PCBs in Utah Lake
Jodi Gardberg, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality
Break
2:20 – 2:40
Planning Session
2:40 – 3:00 Tracking Resource Condition, Trends, and Response to Management Actions in Utah Lake: Considerations for a Standardized Ecosystem-Level Monitoring Plan
Richard A. Valdez, Ph.D., SWCA, Environmental Consultants, Inc.
3:00 – 4:00 Utah Lake Commission: Status, Objectives, and Future
Local Perspective: Mayor Lewis Billings, Provo City
State Perspective: Michael Styler, Executive Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources
4:00 - Open Discussion
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Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Rodney Hansen
(801) 863-7205
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