Project Details

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

The project would address General Conservation Actions listed in the Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy:
1. "Restore Degraded Habitats" - promote natural, healthy stream sinuosity and channel profiles, plant desirable vegetation, improve aquatic habitat for a variety of fish species, etc. 
2."Control and Monitor Contaminants" - buffer nonpoint source contaminants from overland flow and reduce contaminant inputs from bank erosion (e.g., phosphorous).
3. "Increase/Secure In-stream Flow & Conservation Pools" - despite water loss associated with evapotranspiration, riparian plantings would have a positive impact on in-stream flow by promoting less variable, more natural stream flows and ground water recharge.
4. "Habitat Monitoring and Research" - riparian plantings would occur in areas that are being monitored and add to the knowledge base about the effects of habitat restoration on different species.

The project would help to meet goals and objectives listed in the Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan:
1. "Maintain or improve water quality and quantity for local needs while providing for the needs of recreation, fish and wildlife" - establish woody riparian vegetation where needed, decrease sediment flow into the river, etc.
2. "Provide suitable habitat for a diversity of wildlife species" - provide and protect quality fish habitat and recreational angling opportunities.
3. "Maintain and restore desired vegetation that is resilient and sustainable" - move vegetation communities closer to desired conditions.
4. "Maintain ranching and agricultural as sustainable economic, cultural and lifestyle components of the Upper Sevier Watershed" - riparian plantings along the Sevier River are done on private land in a manner that helps to "address potential and real conflicts between wildlife management goals and private land use".

The project would help to achieve water quality and beneficial use goals cited in the Otter Creek -- East Fork Sevier TMDL Study:
1. "Stabilize channel banks" - reduce streambank erosion and promote stability.
2. "Increase filtering capacity" - buffer nonpoint sources of phosphorous (pollutant of concern) from overland flow.
3. "Protect waters for cold water species of game fish and other cold water aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain" - shift and maintain temperature and dissolved oxygen at suitable levels for cold water aquatic species.

The project would implement conservation elements called for in the Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Southern Leatherside (Lepidomeda aliciae) in the State of Utah:
1. "Habitat Enhancement" - restore habitat conditions within the historical range of southern leatherside.
2. "Restore Hydrologic Conditions" - restore natural hydrologic characteristics and water quality (e.g., riparian buffer of nonpoint source pollutants).
3. "Range Expansion" - create suitable habitat conditions for potential reintroduction of southern leatherside to the lower Beaver River.

The project would help to meet habitat-related objectives in the Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah:
1. Riparian plantings would promote a healthy, functioning riparian habitat along the upper Sevier River and benefit late brood-rearing habitat for greater sage-grouse.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

The project has the potential to improve water quality.  The project would occur in areas where a healthy community of riparian vegetation is currently lacking; such areas that are more likely to contribute pollutants to streams via both direct inputs (e.g., total phosporous in soil from eroding stream banks) and indirect pathways (e.g., pollutants entering streams from overland flow are not buffered, stream temperature fluctuations are greater because the microclimate associated with dense, healthy riparian vegetation does not exist).  The project would help to establish and increase woody riparian vegetation abundance and diversity along important stream corridors in the Southern Region, which would then help with decreasing pollutants and improve water quality.

There are limited pathways by which as project like this can impact water quantity.  However, the project does promote reconnecting the stream with the floodplain and increasing water infiltration, both leading to ground water recharge and more consistent flows later into the season.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.