Completion Form

2024

EMMA PARK:

Wet Meadows
An experienced contractor was hired through state purchasing to construct low-tech rock structures on some major head-cutting through an important wet meadow on private land. They brought in rock from a local quarry and used hand tools and small machinery. Contract was supervised by Clint Wirick, Evan Rees, and TJ Cook.  Project was started and completed October-November 2022.

Conifer Removal
A contractor used chainsaws and hand equipment to remove 3,831 acres of Pinyon pine and juniper on BLM and private land in Emma Park in Oct. - Nov. 2023.

MUD CREEK/SCOFIELD:
A combination of traditional restoration structures built with heavy machinery (log rollers, step pools, cross vanes) as well as process-based structures (BDA's) were used to stabilize the stream channel. Rock and log structures structures were used to stabilize the the larger bank cuts.  Willow waddles, addition of topsoil, and coir fabric were used around rock structures to ensure vegetation establishment and long term stability. Using natural process as a guide, machinery was used to precisely arrange and bury logs in the channel to maximize benefits to the stream. These structures provide grade control, add flow resistance to dissipate energy, and decreases near bank stress by directing flow to the center of the channel.  
Structures were installed late summer and fall of 2022.

Watershed Planning
TU staff worked with a qualified environmental consultant to evaluate the tributaries to Scofield Reservoir and develop a report that will outline best management practices to use in future phases of restoration.  The tributaries evaluated will include Fish Creek, Eccles Creek, Pontown Creek, Gooseberry Creek, and Clear Creek.

Scofield Dam Modifications
A low flow bypass gate was installed in the air shaft of Scofield Dam during the winter months of 2022-2023.

LOWER FISH CREEK:

196 acres of pile burning was done during the fall of 2022 when there is snow on the ground using FFSL staff. Larger old logging slash piles that were burned during this project needed alumigel bags to get the old bone piles lit. Otherwise it was a straightforward pile burn project.

EMMA PARK:
Wet Meadows
The wet meadows in Emma Park are a very important habitat component for a wide variety of wildlife as well as livestock. They collect and hold water throughout the year and provide a diverse and robust herbaceous plant community. Sage grouse lek on this meadow and use the abundant forbs and insects that live there for brood rearing. These areas are also an important source of forage for livestock. Over time head cuts have formed on the edge of this meadow and are eroding the soil and creating a channel that is lowering the water table. If left untreated this would turn this lush meadow into a deep gulley with brush on the rims. We used low-tech rock structures, or Zeedyk structures, to prevent further erosion in the meadows and to slow water and accumulate sediment to promote it's ability to function naturally.

Conifer Removal
This treatment will help to maintain the understory vegetation; forbs, grasses and sagebrush by removing encroaching PJ. This will also reduce and minimize the hazardous fuels to diminish the potential for a larger fire event.

MUD CREEK/SCOFIELD:
Scofield Reservoir is listed as impaired by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a cold water fishery and the parameters of concern are total phosphorous concentrations and low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations. It was determined that Fish Creek and Mud Creek accounted for most of the nutrient input to Scofield Reservoir. Streambank restoration and grazing practice modification have been identified as the primary ways to reduce TP input into Scofield Reservoir.  This phase focused on stabilizing banks and adjusting grazing practices along 1 mile of Mud Creek, 1/2 mile of Winter Quarters Creek, and developing a project plan for the next phase at Fish Creek and other tributaries.

Scofield Dam Modifications and Lower Fish Creek Instream Flows
In 2018, Carbon Canal Company approached Trout Unlimited with the opportunity to lease water right 91-766 for instream flow in Lower Fish Creek throughout the winter.  Low winter flows have been identified by biologists as a limiting factor for sustaining it as a Blue-Ribbon Trout Fishery. Currently, the Carbon Water Conservancy District and Price River Water Users Association close the gates at Scofield Dam after irrigation season and cut flows to near zero during the winter months.  With the addition of a low flow gate modification to the dam water will be able to be delivered without causing cavitation damage to the existing infrastructure.  Fish affected by low winter flows include Bear Lake cutthroat trout, Colorado River cutthroat trout, brown trout, and bluehead sucker.

LOWER FISH CREEK:
There has been significant Douglas fir encroachment into sage areas with documented sage grouse populations. Downstream, wildfire impacts have been a large concern to the Carbon County Council since the Seeley fire and all of its associated post fire impacts and now the 2021 Bear Fire. A fairly long response time to any wildfire in this project area coupled with critical infrastructure (Helper City spring development, rail line, and downstream highway) has made this area a priority for wildfire mitigation work. In the case of a catastrophic wildfire, downstream impacts on the Price River and adjacent downstream infrastructure could be significant. Post-fire effects from the Seeley fire were devastating to in stream fish habitat, and potential negative effects to fish habitat would be significant in this area due to Lower Fish Creek's designation as a Blue Ribbon fishery.

Most north-facing timber stands are in Fire Regime Condition Class 3 with significant Douglas-fir beetle mortality from recent years and significant deadfall in the units. Given the steepness of some of these forest stands (some stands average 54%) there likely could be significant mass erosion in the case of wildfire, impacting mid slope spring developments, bottom slope spring developments, and permanently damaging existing forest ecosystems and habitat. Some shaded fuel breaks have been implemented via a Catfire grant over the last four years but more work is needed to connect and complete fuel breaks at Lower Fish Creek. Priority in this project has been given to protecting Helper City's spring development along the river and then to parallel fuel breaks on ridge tops to allow firefighters to make a stand should there be a fire.

EMMA PARK:
Private landowner in Emma Park has a 10-year agreement with USFWS Partner Program.  During this period the landowner commits to keep restored habitat in place and USFWS will communicate and do site visits throughout the 10 years.  This landowner has partnered with USFWS PFW on several projects and it is expected more project work will continue.

MUD CREEK/SCOFIELD:
Carbon Water Conservancy District has already fenced cattle grazing out of the immediate riparian corridor.  The Utah Grazing Improvement Program has committed to helping the landowner develop an appropriate low duration/high intensity grazing rotation to keep field healthy and reduce any effluent runoff from cattle.  The restoration areas will be continuously monitored and maintained as necessary.  Carbon County will monitor the area for weeds and spray them as necessary each year.

Watershed Management Plan
Fish creek and other tributaries will be parts of future phases of the restoration of the Upper Price River Watershed.  The development of a management plan will guide fundraising and project planning for the next several years.

Scofield Dam modifications.
TU will continue to call for and monitor winter instream flows. The new low flow gate will be monitored and maintained to ensure proper function and minimal future maintenance needs.

LOWER FISH CREEK:
This project occurs on DWR-owned lands and will be protected and managed for long-term habitat health for the benefit of wildlife and the public. Lands are managed by state-code, a habitat management plan, forest stewardship plan, and rules set forth through the Pittman-Robertson act. Forest-management will continue being evaluated on the property. The use of prescribed fire has been discussed as an additional phase of this project and possibly as a long-term maintenance tool for certain units within the WMA.  The property will be visited annually as part of regular DWR maintenance activities to address weed concerns that may arise through time and as a result of bare-ground created from pile burning.

Evan Rees

08/30/2024 14:34:44