PROVO — Several federal and state agencies are involved in the June sucker recovery program with the goal of making Provo River and Utah Lake safe for the endangered fish.

Reed Harris, of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, told mayors attending the Utah County Council of Governments meeting March 1 that Utah Lake is the only place in the country where the endangered June sucker is found.

“The critical habitat is the lower portion of the Provo River and the lake,” Harris said, noting that the fish has been designated endangered because of the non-native fish that have been introduced into the lake — carp, walleyes and others. Also affecting the sucker population are poor water quality and low river flows. “The goal is to have a river flow of 75 second feet, but I don’t know if we will ever accomplish that,” he said.

Harris said the lake was once inhabited by the June sucker and the native cutthroat trout.

Harris said the suckers are being reared in Red Butte reservoir, at Utah State University and other places where there are no predators.

He estimated that there are about 300 June suckers left in Utah Lake, but some are old and not reproducing. The fish can live to be 40 years old. He emphasized that restoring the June sucker will benefit everyone, and said that Utah Lake is one of the county’s finest resources.

Possible solutions to the problem could include changing Provo River to provide a better spawning atmosphere, poisoning all of Utah Lake to get rid of the non-native species and improving the water quality. Information and education are also a part of the recovery program.

Agencies involved in the recovery program are the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, Bureau of Reclamation, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Provo River Water Users, Provo Reservoir Water Users and outdoor interests.

A five-year draft plan of recovery implementation is being prepared, Harris said. The draft plan outlines two goals:

* Recover the June sucker so that it no longer requires protection under the Endangered Species Act.

* Allow continued operation of existing water facilities and future development of water resources for human use in the Utah Lake Drainage Basin.

Harris said the plan calls for formation of a technical committee, which has not yet been accomplished.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A11.