Completion Form

2020

Methods used matched what was expected,except that Team Rubicon did not come to Moab with a large work force in March 2020 due to Covid-19.  Six of the planned fire breaks were not able to be cut in FY 2020 as they were designed to use this 100+ person labor force in multiple locations.  Instead one significant 7 acre break was made along Pack Creek (where three had been planned) and several cleared areas along Mill Creek were expanded.  Many of new breaks will be cut in the next year or two by MVFD, FFSL and land owners.  Land owners have been contacted and are cooperating with fire fuels reduction and revegetation efforts.

The Team Rubicon work was canceled approximately March 13 (project dates were expected to be late March).  However, the extensive planning efforts to prepare for Team Rubicon's assistance did not go unused.  FFSL and BLM's Fire and Fuels staff worked with UCC crews during the time initially scheduled for the Team Rubicon event, and managed to clear approximately 3.45 acres in the area immediately upstream of the Cinema Courts Fire.  FFSL continues to be a solid partnering organization, and the BLM assistance ensured good success in these areas.

In 2019 RRR mapped the entire creek corridor (both Mill and Pack creeks) to include overstory trees, ladder fuels, weed species and other vegetation in the area mapped as "affected acres".  These maps have been used in developing priority areas to work and to track progress in regenerating native plant materials in locations where non native trees have been removed.

New breaks extending approximately 1 1/2 of a mile and clearing ladder and crown fuels from 7.05 acres were established in an area adjacent to over 50 homes, with over 200 homes within 1500 feet of the area.  Existing breaks were expanded by approximately 3 acres in another dense residential area.

In addition, all areas cleared over the past 10 years were revisited and over 200 saplings (olive, elm, tamarisk, tree of heaven and locust) were removed, and at least 100 resprouts appropriately treated.  Ravenna grass in the lower parts of the watershed was contained and reduced during this work.

Vegetation monitoring was completed at all 14 transect locations in June 2020.

Finally, plants were installed at two locations: the Cinema Courts Fire area and in Anonymous Park.

While the potential for a large workforce to assist with fire fuels mitigation along Mill and Pack creeks through efforts of Team Rubicon are in some question while Covid-19 continues, the collaboration between MVFD, FFSL, City of Moab, Grand County, and private land owners continues to expand.

In addition, RRR has  partnered with a few land owners, NRCS and DWQ on a 319 project focused in the Cinema Courts area to reduce downcutting and restore connectivity of the floodplain with the creek in that area.  This project should cover a full creek mile that was recently cleared of Russian olives.  Land owners are interested in revegetation and bank stabilization activities in this zone and in other areas along the creeks.  Future work will focus on regenerating native plant communities in cleared areas where that is not occuring.

FFSL has proven to be a solid partner in this work -- both to assist with Team Rubicon and also to increase capacity through the use of their chipper and staff.

The Grand Conservation District acquired a chipper through funds from the Utah Conservation Commission and Grand County.  The machine is now housed by the MVFD and owned by Grand Conservation District for use to assist with fire fuels mitigation work in the area.  RRR is involved in logistics for scheduling and using this added capacity in our region.

Finally, the City of Moab provided funding for Rim to Rim to continue working with landowners, the City, County and School District to build more fire resiliency and regenerate native plants throughout the riparian corridor of the City.  Rim to Rim continues to work with the City to continue these efforts.

Kara Dohrenwend

08/30/2020 18:13:28