Go on a guided bird-viewing walk in the wetlands before the Eccles Wildlife Education Center grand-opening ceremony
What: The new Eccles Wildlife Education Center is a gateway to the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake. From its nature trails, you can spot great blue herons, pelicans, hawks, cormorants, ducks and many other migratory bird species. You’ll have the chance to see some of those birds up close if you visit the education center on Sept. 5. The center’s director will be taking visitors on a guided bird-viewing walk in the morning, before the grand-opening ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
When: Sept. 5 — The bird-viewing walk is at 9:30 a.m. and the grand-opening ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
Where: The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center in Farmington. It’s located at 1157 S. Waterfowl Way. To get there, travel to Glovers Lane in Farmington. Continue west on Glovers Lane past 1325 W to 1700 W. You will see a small parking lot and a gate on your left. Drive through the gate and follow the road to the education center parking lot.
Stocking hundreds of large catfish in Mantua Reservoir
What: Next Wednesday afternoon, DWR fish-stocking personnel will have a special delivery for Mantua Reservoir. Approximately 380 large catfish — some in the 8- to 10-pound range — will be placed in the reservoir after a journey from southern Utah’s Wahweap fish hatchery. These fish, which were used to breed catfish in the fish hatchery, will help more firmly establish the catfish population at Mantua.
What: It sounds painful, but electrofishing is actually a safe, effective way to survey fish populations. Next week, DWR biologists will use a low-level electric current to stun fish in the Green River. Hundreds of large, temporarily immobilized fish will float to the surface. Then, more than 20 DWR employees and volunteers will quickly net the fish, weigh and measure them, record data, insert tracking tags and clip the fishes’ fins. After they collect the information they need, the biologists will release the unharmed fish back into the river. This annual survey allows biologists to collect valuable data and identify changes in the river’s fish populations.
