Completion Form

2019

The sage-grouse population in the Sheeprocks SGMA is struggling to survive and particularly needs this project to help benefit chick production and survival.  Population numbers have dropped so low that if action is not taken the population could be extirpated. This year the UDWR translocated more birds to the area to augment the population, but the root causes of the population decline need to be addressed in order to ensure the future of this population. One of the likely causes for their decline is habitat loss and degradation. One of the most important habitat types for sage-grouse is wet meadow habitat (Forbs, Green Grasses, and Wetland Vegetation).  This habitat type provides high nutrient vegetation and insects which are crucial, especially for young chick development.  Because sage-grouse have high mortality rates and are not long-lived birds, it is important to recruit as many new individuals to the population every year to maintain population numbers. 
Vernon Creek, Little Valley Creek, Bennion Creek, and Harker Canyon Creek are located within prime brood-rearing habitat.  All of these creeks have been degraded and channelized in spots from human causes, livestock damage, and erosion. This channel incision results in steep and deep banks that are dangerous for livestock and wildlife and make it difficult for animals to drink. It also causes more water to be lost from the system and less vegetation to grow along the banks that could be used by livestock and wildlife.  The creeks in this area  historically likely had beavers that would dam the stream and slow the water so it would not erode as heavily and cut as deep into the ground. These beaver dams would also create meanders, and flooding the stream banks which would water more plants. This flooding would increase soil moisture across a larger area and produce more wet meadow vegetation along the banks.  This natural meanders also helped to reduce channel incision and erosion which results in a loss of habitat. The loss of this habitat has likely attributed to the decline in sage-grouse. Beaver re-introduction in some areas is not always plausible politically or biologically. This area is one such area that may not be a good candidate for re-introduction. Instead we plan to build man made beaver dams called beaver dam analogues or BDAs to replace the lost ecological function that would exist if beavers were in the system and to repair damage that has been caused by other means.  This action will greatly enhance the habitat for sage-grouse and many other wildlife species and livestock.  We  installed additional beaver dam analogue structures (See Attached Documents for More Info on BDAs) in the Vernon and Little Valley Creeks to improve the habitat for wildlife. See photos for what these BDAs looked like. These BDAs will help improve the habitat for sage-grouse and other wildlife and livestock.  We will continue to build BDAs for multiple years until we have completely restored teh health of these systems.

Robert Edgel

08/19/2019 08:54:17