Updated Timeline for Small Dam Construction
Delta features planned for completion this fall on Provo River’s original channel have encountered further delays, specifically the downstream dam near Utah Lake State Park and three fishing platforms along the channel. Here's a status update and adjusted timelines:
Downstream Dam Completion
The delta project construction crew has faced challenges in acquiring necessary precast materials for the downstream dam. The team has been working for months to secure these materials, but a prolonged review process delayed the order approval and the supplier is now 3 to 4 weeks out from delivering the materials.
New Timeline:
Start Date: Prep work has begun; a larger crew will arrive July 29 to fully prepare the site so ordered materials can be installed when delivered.
Material Arrival: Mid-August
Final construction of the downstream dam will include a portage path to allow kayakers, paddleboarders, and others to move around the dam and facilitate boating access to Utah Lake. After dam construction is complete, the site will be returned to pre-construction conditions: crews will reinstall the fence, replace the landscaping around the site, and return nearby pavilions and picnic tables to their original locations. They will then move on to installing two non-motorized boat launches – one at Alligator Park and the other at the West Trailhead.
Fishing Platforms Installation
Similarly, the bid package for three fishing platforms to be constructed between the two boat launches is moving through a prolonged review process. We remain optimistic the award will be made soon, allowing for installation of the platforms in November. Platform installation needs to be completed prior to Utah County repaving the trail.
New Timeline:
Award Approval: Pending Governmental review
Installation: November
Our team is committed to pushing forward and getting these approvals as soon as possible to minimize further delays. Stay tuned for more updates as we progress with these last remaining features of the Provo River Delta Restoration Project.
Delta Project Funds Additional Mosquito Monitoring
Utah County Mosquito Abatement District drone performing mosquito treatment
Mosquitoes are a natural part of wetland ecosystems, and the delta near Utah Lake is no exception. To help protect public health and outdoor recreation, the Utah County Health Department’s Mosquito Abatement District monitors and manages mosquito activity throughout the area. Crews monitor weekly trap counts, inspect breeding areas, and use drones to apply biological larvicides like Bti to standing water. This proactive approach targets mosquitoes before they become adults. If population levels exceed treatment thresholds, ultra-low volume fogging and evening aerial spraying may be used.
Since 2018, the Delta project has funded two mosquito monitoring sites at the north and south ends of the delta. In 2025, a third site was added along the original channel of the Provo River upstream from Utah Lake State Park. This site will allow more comprehensive monitoring of the area’s mosquito population and more focused treatment efforts.
While recent high lake levels have required treatment in nearby flooded areas, the delta itself has not required treatment. Natural predation by fish likely helps control mosquito larvae in these waters.
Monitoring will continue through summer and fall. Residents can support control efforts by emptying standing water around their homes, using EPA-approved repellents, and repairing window screens to keep mosquitos out of the home.
For more information and updates, visit: health.utahcounty.gov/mosquito-abatement
June sucker in spawning coloration. Photo by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
June Sucker Spawning Success
Have you seen groups of fish in the delta and lower Provo River and wondered what they were up to? This spring, June sucker once again exhibited their well-known migratory behavior by moving up the lower Provo River to spawn.
Starting in early March, detections of PIT-tagged June sucker were recorded on newly installed fixed antennas in each of the four delta outflow channels. Over the remainder of March, June sucker continued to move from Utah Lake to stage in the Delta prior to spawning. In mid-April, June sucker spawning detections were recorded upstream in the flowing portion of the Provo River with activities likely peaking in early-to-mid May. In total, 6,689 tagged June sucker were detected in the delta and lower Provo River. Because only a small portion of June sucker are tagged, this number represents tens of thousands of June sucker that participated in this year’s spawning event. In early June, biologists began seeing the results of these activities as small numbers of larval June sucker were observed in the delta. These young-of-the-year continued to increase in number through June as they established themselves within the delta’s aquatic vegetation, which provides food for growth and protective cover to evade predators. Biologists will continue monitoring these young fish through the summer to see how they fare in their new delta home.
Activities at the Delta…do you need a permit?
Since the delta restoration project opened to the public in the fall of 2024, it has become a popular location to access Utah Lake and enjoy the scenery and abundant wildlife. As the delta’s popularity has increased, so has the number of groups wanting to use the delta for special events. To ensure the delta meets it purposes for supporting June sucker and allowing compatible recreational use, a permit is necessary for any large, organized group activity or commercial activity at the delta. Generally, if your group is larger than 12 participants or you are charging a participation fee, a permit will be required. As a reminder, no motorized watercraft are ever permitted in the delta. Please complete the form on the Contact Us page of our website as you begin planning your event or if you have any other inquiries.
How Did We Get Here?
Review past years of project construction and see how far we’ve come!