In 1999, the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission began the Provo River Restoration Project (PRRP) between Jordanelle Dam and Deer Creek Reservoir to restore the middle Provo River's pattern and ecological function to a more natural condition. Project construction was completed in 2008.

The PRRP is restoring a straightened river channel to a meandering channel mimicking historic conditions, reconnecting the river to existing remnants of historic secondary channels, and constructing small side channels to recreate aquatic features. The project provides a protected 800 to 2,200-foot-wide corridor the length of the middle Provo River for angler access and wildlife habitat. Existing levees have been set back to create a near natural flood plain and to allow the river to change course naturally. Created side channels and ponds are improving fish habitat and providing habitat for wetland dependent wildlife. Continued planting and fostering of streamside vegetation is providing the environment necessary for a healthy fishery. Baseline monitoring of riparian habitat, physical features, sensitive species, neotropical migratory birds and related studies is ongoing. Specifically, these entail: monitoring native and game fish populations; monitoring macroinvertebrate (stoneflies, mayflies, midges, etc.) populations; conducting bird, including Bald Eagles, and bird habitat studies and surveys; surveying for spotted frogs, which are on Utah’s Sensitive Species List; assessing native riparian and wetland areas and monitoring revegetated areas; and, monitoring hydrological conditions and conducting flow and river mechanics studies.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation construction crews helped initiate the Project by carving new meanders, side channels and wetland ponds in a pilot project along approximately 1.5 miles of river corridor near the new Highway 40 river crossing. In 2000, about 1.3 miles of river reconstruction was completed starting beneath the bridge over Highway 40 and ending at River Road in Midway. In 2001, work began on a 2-mile reach that was completed the spring of 2002. In December 2002, crews completed reconstructing about 0.9 miles of river immediately upstream from the pilot project to below Jordanelle Dam. Much farther downstream, below Midway Lane in Midway, reconstruction of two additional miles began in 2003, with work continuing in the area through 2004. In 2005 and 2006, the 2-mile reach from River Road south was restored. Major construction of the remaining reaches was completed by fall, 2007. A number of smaller items to finish the work were carried out in 2008. [Click here to view a project map][Click here to link to fact sheets describing each year of reconstruction]

Public access is available along about 12 miles of river via seven designated angler-access parking areas, all of which have been constructed; the last site is scheduled for landscaping and fencing in 2009. The sites include restrooms, trash pickup and information displays. Two or three sites include accessible fishing platforms.

Aquisition and construction phases are mostly complete, so progress is directed toward developing management agreements for the corridor and securing the property against trespass, especially by ATVs and other motorized vehicles, and other prohibited activities. As part of President Obama's plan to help stimulate the lagging economy, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed in February, 2009. Recovery Act funds provided to the Mitigation Commission accelerate the opportunity to perform needed maintenance and repair parking areas and related facilities along the PRRP. Other funded activities will include repairing fencing and weed control at constructed parking areas and along restored river reaches. [Click here for info about access to and management of the Middle Provo River.]