The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, a crucial haven for over a quarter of a million birds, is undergoing significant upgrades to its water management system. According to Great Salt Lake News, the restoration involves replacing outdated 1950s and '60s structures with modernized technology designed for efficient control and distribution of water sourced from the Bear River.
Mike Dunphy, Deputy Project Leader, shared that with water becoming increasingly scarce, the refuge's role in supporting migratory birds has become even more vital. Dunphy revealed that 13 gate structures will be updated, seven are set to be replaced this year, and six more in 2026. "Being able to direct the water to areas that are important for those birds, I think, is an advantage that we have," Dunphy told Great Salt Lake News. "And with the mechanical structures, we’re able to do that more nimbly and more effectively."
Traditional "stop log" gates required labor-intensive adjustments, often taking an hour and two workers to manage. The new gates, however, can be mechanically controlled by a single person in just minutes. The quick adaptability of the new system plays a crucial role during unexpected surges of water down the river, necessitating adjustments to provide suitable habitat in the refuge. "Sometimes we get a large pulse of water that comes down the river that we need to make adjustments to be able to put it into different areas of the refuge, to provide habitat," Dunphy explained in the interview with Great Salt Lake News.
