CH2M HILL MEMORANDUM
TO: Stan Nuffer
Interdisciplinary Team File
FROM: Mark Hill
DATE: December 19, 1986
SUBJECT: Resource Value of Logan River
PROJECT: B21163.FO
At the last Interdisciplinary Team meeting a question was
raised concerning the perceived "value" of the Logan River.
It is a generally accepted public, state, and federal agency
view that the Logan River is a sensjtjve and valuable natural
resource. This viewpoint has evolved over time and is_derived
'from three separate perspectives: 1. recreational value 2. economic
value, and 3. biological value. The river can be examined from
each of these perspectives in order to understand the value,
sensitivity, and importance credited to it.
RECREATIONAL VALUE
The Logan River has been cl~ssified by the Utah Division of
Wildlife Resources as a Class II - High Priority Stream and
has been placed on this agency's Unique Stream List. These
actions by the UDWR reflect the Logan River's unique fishery
and aquatic habitat as well as the stream's ability to sustain
high quality, wild populations of salmonids. At the
present time the Logan River above the impoundments is managed
as a wild trout fishery. A self-sustaining trout
fishery has numerous and relatively narrow habitat requirements
at various life stages; consequently, the fishery is
sensitive to any degradation or alteration of water quality
and stream morphology. Fishing pressure is also a key factor
in maintaining a wild trout population, and angling must
be managed appropriately.
Throughout the state of Utah there are a limited number of
stream miles classified as Class I or II fisheries. The
Logan River is also unique in that it is both a high priority
and an urban fishery. Nowhere else in Utah is a wild trout
fishery located so close to a majoy metrpolitan area. Consequently,
the recreational value of the Logan River is substantial.
MEMORANDUM to Stan Nuffer
Page 2
December 19, 1986
B21163.FO
The intensive recreational use of Logan River is shown in
Figure 1 as the estimated past, present, and future number
of fishing days. The generally steady rise in fishing days
reflects the population increase in Cache County and metropolitan
Logan City over the last 35 years.
In addition to the river's accessibility to a large number
of anglers, it serves as a natural laboratory for Utah State
University. The Logan River is used to train students in
fish and wildlife, hydrology, forestry, archaeology, geology,
engineering, and environmental field techniques. Numerous
studies, theses, and dissertations have been carried out
using the river's environmental features.
ECONOMIC VALUE
Although fishing pressure is heavy on Logan River, excellent
catches have been made (such as brown trout weighing up to
36 pounds). The mystique of "big trout" combined with the
opportunity to catch the bag limit make the Logan River a
preferred fishery for anglers. As such, the river generates
a substantial amount of spending by anglers and is a valuable
economic asset both to the state of Utah and Cache Valley
Table 1 shows the past, present, and future amount of money
spent annually to fish the Logan River. In 1970 the river
become a million-dollar fishery. During the 40-year period
shown in Table 1, over $68 million dollars will be spent by
Logan River anglers. Based on the river's length of 30 miles,
about $30,000 was expended in 1985 for each mile of stream.
Historical creel census data indicates that over 47 percent
of the fish harvested are taken bet\veen DeWitt Spring and
the mouth of Beaver Creek
Another economic factor is the investment value by the state
of Utah. The UDWR, from 1960 through 1980, annually stocked
the Logan River with brown and rainbow trout. An average of
36,612 trout were stocked each year at an estimated investment
of $732,000 (based on an average cost of $l/fish over
20 years). Additional investment value has been made by the
UDWR and the Forest Service as labor and expenses for management
and study programs.
BIOLOGICAL VALUE
The Logan River supports four salmonid species: brown trout,
cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish. The
relative abundance and distribution of these species varies
by stream reach. In general, however, the river above Right
Fork has a smaller brown trout and whitefish population with
a larger cutthroat and rainbow population than does the area
below.
Table 2 shows some historical data that indicates the general
quality and health of the Logan River fishery over time.
From 1948 to 1982 the catch rate and total numbers of fish
caught has remained remarkably similar. This also indicates
that management efforts have been generally successful.
MEMORANDUM to Stan Nuffer
Page 5
December 19, 1986
B21163.FO
K-factors or coefficient of condition are a measure of fish
health or condition. It is also a measure of energy transfer
through trophic levels and K-factors ~ 1.0 for trout po ulations
indicate that fish e ' ot_ sxres ed by a lack f
food base . In the case of Logan River, K-factors for three
sizes of trout have remained relatively constant over a
20-year period. Taken as a whole, these data indicate stable
and suitable habitat conditions.
Fundamentally, highly valuable features of trout habitat are
the overhanging banks and the fish pools associated with
streambanks and bank vegetation. A Logan River habitat
inventory showed that in 1962 these conditions did exist
along Logan River segments that have not had channel
encroachment. Along river segments encroached up to
30 years ago, no valuable streambank-associated fish pools
and cover were found. Following on-site encroachment impact
30 years ago, the substitution of "junk" pools for the valuable
bank- and vegetation-associated pools and cover occurred.
Today one of the major limiting factors in the physical environment
is the lack of good quality pools.
Table 3 shows the results of a Forest Service habitat study
performed on Logan River in 1966. The percent of optimum
habitat (based on pool, substrate, bank conditions, and other
environmental factors) is shown in comparison to other,
regional streams. Compared to other streams, the Logan River
exhibits high biological value for a salmonid fishery.
MEMORANDUM to Stan Nuffer
Page 6
December 19, 1986
B21163.FO
SUMMARY
The data, information, and statements presented in this memorandum
must be taken as general comments, subject to revision
when a more detailed analysis is performed. Nevertheless,
this discussion does validate the position that the Logan
River is a valuable resource when viewed from recreational,
economic, and biological perspectives.
BOT538/011
