Completion Form

2024

Forest Health Management
1. This project included the cut, pile, and burning of dead or dying conifer in strategic areas that have been impacted by infestation and disease, by targeting species in areas of high use or travel corridors. We started this cut and pile work in the fall of 2022 and had to finish in the spring of 2023 because of early snow. We completed 158 acres of cut and pile in Lambs and Mill Creek canyons (See map). 
2. Snyderville Basin Recreation District completed some pile burning from previous years' work above Summit Park during the winter of 2022-2023. 
3. DWR/USFS/and SLC Utilities worked together to plan and contract mastication work of oakbrush along I-80 in Parley's Canyon. This was a very visible project to the public and we worked hard to provide outreach by doing media events and placing informational signs up along the highway and at parking lots. We ended up masticating the oak brush in a mosaic pattern to create a shading effect to hopefully slow the re-growth. We also sprayed a combination of roundup and ammonium nitrate on freshly cut oak brush stumps on several areas on SLC properties to suppress and help reduce the re-growth of oak brush.  Mastication began in October of 2022 and was shut down for snow in late November. Work started back up in May of 2023 and was completed by early June of 2023. We masticated a total of 654 acres. 390 acres on SLC-owned lands and 264 acres on USFS lands. 
FFSL, USFS, and contractors completed a cut and chip along the access road in Lambs Canyon and within the neighborhood of Summit Park. In the Snyderville Basin recreation area (above Summit Park), work has continued from previous years to cut, pile, and chip the remaining acres with contractors. 
4. In April and May of 2023 we contracted a spray crew to spray 138 acres of myrtle spurge. We used a mixture of 6 oz per gallon of roundup pro, .1 oz of telar, and .1 oz per gallon of LI 700 surfactant. We found that with the higher rate of 6 oz of roundup that we were being more effective at killing the myrtle spurge. 
5. In the fall of 2022 we built BDAs in Mcleod Creek and in upper Parley's Creek. (See map for areas where we built BDAs)
6. Amphibian surveys and other monitoring of stream health was completed by Kayleigh Mullen at Hogle Zoo and Mary Pendergast at the Sageland Collaborative. No boreal toads have been detected at our restoration sites. We hope to conitnue to monitor in the future as we continue to improve the riparian habitat and hopefully we will see more amphibian species.  (See documents for reports)
7. The Pinebrook HOA contracted work to be done to burn 14 acres of old piles and they used the Lone Peak Hot shot crew to cut and chip 62 acres in Spring of 2023. 
8. Snyderville basin burned old piles on 131 acres surrounding Summit Park community in the winter of 2022.

The project goal was to improve the overall health of the Parley's Canyon watershed including riparian, stream, wetlands, and upland sites. To accomplish our landscape-scale goal, we relied on coordination and planning between many stakeholders including landowners, government entities, and non-profit organizations.
For over 100 years, the watershed has been degraded due to wildfire suppression, diseases and insect infestations, livestock overgrazing, and noxious weed promulgation. Restoration work was needed to return the watershed to a resilient ecological function. In addition to improving watershed health, the project area serves as an important destination for recreation in the region (e.g., skiing, hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting). A large part of the area's economy is driven by recreation and protecting this watershed will help preserve those sustainable uses.
One hundred years of successful fire suppression has resulted in an accumulation of dead fuels on the ground, raising the likelihood that in the instance of a wildfire, the effects would be of a catastrophic level. This is concerning for people who live in Lambs Canyon, Summit Park, Jeremy Ranch, Park City, and Mount Aire. The cost associated with property damage could be extreme, not to mention the potential risk to the lives of residents and firefighters. Additionally, the long-term effects from a catastrophic wildfire would have downstream consequences to water users in the Salt Lake Valley, as well as the associated infrastructure costs to reduce erosion, maintain potable water, and make the area safe again for recreators could be prohibitive. This project minimized threats by reducing the fuel loads, building fire breaks, and creating defensible space.
Insect infestations from beetles and the non-native insect balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae) in the conifers are of great concern, and the older age class of the watershed makes it more susceptible to these infestations. By removing mature and dying trees, this improved the forest's resilience to insect infestations, while also mitigating wildfire risk. The aspen in this watershed are also beginning to die from disease, insect infestations, and are being outcompeted by conifer trees. The completion of this project imroved the health of aspen components by thinning conifers stands, thereby improving wildlife habitat.

Robert Edgel

08/29/2023 16:34:38