Completion Form

2024

Mule Deer Foundation continues to partner with multiple organizations and land-management agencies to improve mule deer and other wildlife habitat in Utah. Planning projects and establishing administrative frameworks or agreements to accomplish them has taken the bulk of the time this FY.  The season's planning and implementation included agreement mods, prioritizing funding needs, WRI project submittal and partner coordination. Active project management achieved through WRI support and Supplemental Project Agreement #23-PA-11046000-055 with Region 4 and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF utilized mechanical and hand crew treatments for timber harvest, thinning (pre-commercial & riparian) and conifer removal from important aspen, mountain shrub and wet meadow habitats on the North Slope of the Uintas. MDF/USFS shared project manager position continued to assist planning on North Slope Uintas project areas (Burnt-Beaver, Bear River Resiliency, Anadarko, Bourbon, Borderlands) and accomplish project management duties on 4 total WRI projects, 3,647 acres.

Supplemental Project Agreements were negotiated for Intermountain Region, UWC and Ashley NF for implementation and project management capacity. 3,300 target acres identified in first iteration of ANF agreement, supporting North and South Slope mule deer herd migration, crucial summer range and Vernal municipal watershed health.

DeHamer pursued partnership contacts in each region, including attending WRI planning, ranking and field tours and statewide meeting. Much effort directed toward establishing framework for Keystone Agreement enactment. Participant in Cinnamon Creek WMA and Parowan Front WMA habitat management planning. Participant in UT Wildlife Connectivity WG. Provided input and/or letters of support for multiple grant applications and environmental assessments around the state, including NRCS South Area Mule Deer Crucial Habitat SFP (w/ Stan Gurley & Jamie Nogle). Cross-border (UT/ID) habitat project development, data sharing and advocacy to support deer herds using public & private land and inform WVC mitigation strategies. 11 miles of fence removed and rebuilt to wildlife-friendly specs near Snowville, UT on crucial winter range.

Co-led MDF team for disbursement of Cons. Expo tag monies, 57 projects, $2.2M. 
NGO rep on Northern and Northeastern Region WRI Scoring committees. 
Renewed funding agreements with UTDWR to support below projects.
Burnt-Beaver 2025 project, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF
Bear River Resilience, UWC NF, Project Oversight by Meservy:
Phase 3 -  On USFS land, 480 acres of handcrew cut/pile and lop/scatter complete and 279 acres of mechanical mastication completed. Up to 150 acres of timber-stand improvement contracted on adjacent private land, ongoing.
Phase 4 - On USFS land, 184 acres of mastication, 76 acres cut/skid/deck, 341 ac handcrew cut/pile complete and 1106 ac lop/scatter contracted. Additional 17 acres hand cut/pile contracted on adjacent private.
Anadarko 2025 UWC NF, Project Oversight by Meservy:
111 acres of mastication, 65 acres cut/skid/deck, 323 acres of handcrew cut/pile, 1448 acres of lop/scatter contracted
Non-WRI projects
Red Cloud Loop and ANF-TSI 2024, Ashley NF:
231 acres mastication and 1,554 ac lop/scatter contracted; Work to begin in Fall '24.

Evan DeHamer

09/04/2024 19:40:17