Completion Form

2021

The Meadow Creek Fire started in the fall of 2019 due to a lighting strike that occurred on the Pahvant Ensign Ranch properties.  This fire then moved northeast onto BLM and Forest Service property.  Once the fire was contained it had devastated over 4,200 acres of critical wildlife habitat, burned existing fences, and caused extensive flooding to the town of Meadow, Utah.  This fire rehab effort was critical, not only for the amount of habitat that was lost but for the fear of flooding the town of Meadow. It was critical that we bring together the right partnerships to make this project a success. The UDWR, USFS FIllmore Office and the BLM Fillmore Office along with the Pahvant Ensign Ranches worked in conjunction with each other to make sure this project was a success.  Through WRI, funding was secured and the work was to take place in the fall of 2019. The USFS was able to provide BAER Funding with the BLM providing ESR Funding for this project.  Culture resources surveys where completed in house by the BLM and USFS personnel, the private portion was already complete from a previous survey.  The first step in the restoration efforts was to reseed the fire with a broad diverse mix of grasses, forb and shrubs along with some sterile wheat that would be used on the steeper slopes of the burn scar.  UDWR contracted with Hammond Helicopters to apply all of the initial seed mix for this fire rehab project.  Application on USFS portion is as follows: 604 acres of sterile Winter Wheat, 590 acres of grass and forb mix.  BLM portion is 1,434 acres of grass and forb mix, while on the private we applied 850 acres of the grass and forb seed mix.   Once the primary seeding had taken place UDWR contracted the single chaining application with Mike Kesler, who provided two D-8 Dozers and the labor to single chain over 1,924 acres of private, BLM and USFS properties.  This single chaining portion of the project allowed for the primary seed to be covered and created the necessary seed bed and contact for better seed establishment.  The secondary seed flight is to apply forbs and shrubs on the Private, BLM and Forest Service Properties, this was done again by contracting with Hammond Helicopters to apply the seed on over 2,776 acres of the treatment area. The BLM Fillmore Field Office provided ESR funding towards this project, portions of the funding went to the overall seeding and chaining efforts.  Other portions of the ESR funding went to providing fence materials and installation of a new boundary fence between the BLM and Forest Service.  UDWR along with the BLM Fillmore Office, in the fall of 2020, contracted with Taylor Made Fencing to complete over 4.42 miles of boundary fence.  This fence consisted of four strand barbwire with corner wood posts and easy braces.  Also in the fall of 2020, UDWR contracted with Hammond Helicopters, to apply 6oz/acre of Plateau Herbicide on 731 acres of private land to help control the cheatgrass invasion, this was done after one growing season had past.  This was a great project to be part of, and through the cooperation of our Federal, State and Private Landowners and the funding from WRI, ESR and BAER dollars this project was a great success.  With additional rain and snow the seeding should take hold and provide additional forage for wildlife and livestock for many years to come.   A special thanks to the Fillmore FS Office and the Fillmore BLM Office for all the help they gave UDWR in completing this project.

The future of the Meadow Creek Fire Rehab will be defined as to the amount of forage that has returned to the burn scar and treatment areas.  With each federal agency overseeing their particular portion of the fire rehab efforts, and the private landowner overseeing their portion as well. The BLM and Forest Service have deferred grazing for up to two growing seasons within the allotments to allow for improved establishment of the seeded grass, forbs and shrub species.  The private portion of this project which is managed by the Pahvant Ensign Ranches, have entered into a cooperative agreement to defer grazing as well for two growing seasons. UDWR will continue to monitor the treatment areas especially the private portion due to the potential of cheatgrass invasion.  Pahvant Ensign Ranches have completed several miles of new fence in conjunction with the BLM in hopes of keeping livestock within the allotted grazing boundaries.  Much needed moisture within the area will pay dividends in making this fire rehab a success, working with all the great partnerships, private and federal agencies was critical to making this project a success.

Kendall Bagley

08/26/2021 15:57:11