Desert Bighorn
Desert Bighorn

Virgin River Program Overview

The Virgin River Program is a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal partners to balance human interests along the Virgin River while conserving this unique ecosystem for future generations. The Program ensures local compliance with the Endangered Species Act through various activities, including species recovery, water management, floodplain protection, restoration, and community outreach. The goals of the Program are to:

  • Implement actions to recover, conserve, enhance and protect native species in the Virgin River Basin.
  • Enhance the ability to provide adequate water supplies for sustaining human needs.

Virgin River Program activities include:

  • Enhancement and protection of floodplain and wildlife habitat
  • Guiding proactive water development strategies to allow continued economic growth and recovery of fish and wildlife habitat
  • Fish population monitoring and stocking
  • Non-native fish control
  • Providing water releases to enhance fish survival during low flow periods
  • Installing fish screens and providing fish passage on diversion structures
  • Education outreach in local schools and communities
  • Assisting with watershed planning measures and developing master plans for the basin to guide floodplain management, flood damage restoration, revegetation, and infrastructure protection
Virgin River Program
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The Virgin River Program pioneered cooperative conservation efforts that allow both humans and wildlife to thrive in one of the fastest growing communities in the U.S.

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Program Signatories

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WCWCD logo
USFWS logo
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DIXIE-SWCD-Logo
BLM logo
USFS logo
Shivwits Paiute logo
NPS logo
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