Completion Form

2020

This project was located in the north and northeastern portion of the Sheeprock Mountains just south of Vernon, UT.  The design of this project by the USFS was to perform maintenance on 7,939 acres of previously treated sagebrush habitat where pinyon and juniper were beginning to encroach.  
The purpose of this project was to enter phase 1 juniper encroachment and set it back ecologically to a preferred state and transition ecological state (Sagebrush community).  This was an SGI (Sage Grouse Initiative) project with the NRCS to expand sage grouse habitat for the grouse in this Sage Grouse Management Area.  The lop and scatter was contracted through Green Tree Services out of Sacramento, CA, between 20 May and 19 August 2019.  This type of treatment extends the sagebrush ecosystem for many years before encroachment begins again.  If left untreated the juniper trees would crowd out the sagebrush community under-story and the trees would take over the ecosystem.  This is a low cost method to keep the juniper trees at bay.  Historically fire would have removed the juniper trees and rejuvenated the ecosystem.

Boyd White

08/25/2020 18:58:46