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White River Enhancement Project Phase 2
Region: Northeastern
ID: 3702
Project Status: Completed
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Project Details
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Need for Project
The White River corridor has become increasingly dominated by Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis). These invasives replace native plant communities by creating dense monocultures that prevent native plant species from establishing or re-establishing along the riparian corridor. The impacts from these monocultures include the reduction and elimination of native plant communities that directly reduces plant community diversity, insect diversity, wildlife habitat diversity, and aggressive fuels accumulation and river channel narrowing. Additionally, these monocultures can trap more sediment, armor the stream bank preventing lateral dissipation of stream energy, effectively narrowing and deepening the channel. This disconnects the stream from the riparian zone, and reduces the amount floodplain and backwater habitat available to juvenile fish; which is important habitat for many of the native fishes found in the White River. Control and removal of both Russian-olive and tamarisk infestations is critical to a healthy and functioning riparian system which directly affects the overall health of the watershed. The goal of this project is to reduce Russian-olive and tamarisk densities and infestations along the White River.
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.
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Objectives
The objective is to improve habitat across 174 acres by removing invasive tamarisk and Russian olive, along with decreasing the hazardous fuel loading. Specific objectives are: 1) Improve the water quality of the White River 2) Decrease the stems/acre of Russian olive and tamarisk 3) Reduce hazardous fuel loads 4) Restore natural geomorphic process
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.
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Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?)
The main risk is the continued expansion and dominance of Russian-olive and tamarisk in plant communities along the White River. These species are reducing native plant diversity and densities in riparian areas. A secondary risk is the continued expansion of these invasive species into other connected tributaries and subsequent increases in fuel accumulations that could result in a more intense and extreme fire events. Large fires would ultimately lead to a loss of cottonwoods and willows and the wildlife habitat they provide and increasing the potential for more infestations of these invasive species. This cycle can then repeat all but eliminating the native riparian plant communities form the river system.
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.
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Relation to Management Plans
Vernal BLM Fire Management Plan *Chemical treatments would be utilized in conjunction with prescribed fire and mechanical treatments to achieve desired objectives, and to also control invasive species. Vernal RMP ROD Works towards Goals and objectives for Special Status Species in the Vernal RMP (pg. 128) Vegetation Management Decisions; *VEG-4; Manage the vegetation to attain the ecological stage that will benefit wildlife in crucial habitat and livestock grazing. Manage vegetation in remaining areas that results in high vegetation species diversity. *VEG-5; Allow mechanical, fire, biological, cultural or chemical methods for vegetation manipulation, using the type of manipulation appropriate to and consistent with other land use objectives, and incorporating standard operation procedures and BMP's, as applicable, to protect other resources. *VEG-9; Manage the vegetation to attain the ecological stage that will: ensure sustainability, meet authorized use allocations (wildlife,livestock),ensure species diversity. Elk Statewide Management Plan *Population Objective 1, Strategy C; Support objectives and strategies in this plan to protect elk habitat and mitigate losses, *Strategy D; Support habitat improvement projects that increase forage for both big game and livestock. *Habitat Objective 1, Maintain elk habitat throughout the state by identifying and protecting existing crucial elk habitat and mitigating for losses due to human impacts, Habitat Objective 2, *Strategy A; Continue to support the interagency big game range trend study of crucial ranges throughout the state, *Strategy J; Support land management agencies in the proper management of crucial elk habitats. Deer Statewide Management Plan *Population Objective, Strategy B; Support all habitat objectives and strategies in this plan to protect and improve mule deer habitat *Strategy E; Work with Federal and state land management agencies to adopt seasonal closures or travel restrictions to minimize human disturbance of wintering mule deer, *Habitat Objective 1, Strategy B; Work with land management agencies and private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats. Strategic Management Plan for Wild Turkey 2000 Objective 2; Strategy E and F *E. Develop a list of habitat management projects that might be applied throughout Utah turkey habitat. *F. Design and implement at least one turkey habitat project per DWR region per year. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, A Technical Conservation Assessment Utah-Conservation Strategy *Improve existing habitat quality and decrease habitat degradation National Wild Pheasant Conservation Plan *increase acreage by 117,000 acres to achieve rooster harvest.
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.
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Fire/Fuels
Russian-olive alters the structure of plant communities by increasing vertical and horizontal canopy density, increasing fuel continuity, and creating volatile fuel ladders (Zouhar et al. 2008, Katz and Shafroth 2003). Tamarisk and Russian-olive can form dense, fire-prone thickets that develop into monospecific stands because of vigorous root-sprout growth following fire. The potential for more extreme fires will intensify as the density and cover of the tamarisk and Russian-olive encroachment increases, by reducing the hazardous fuel load we will be reducing the possibility for fire events. Increased fire frequency and intensity favor tamarisk and Russian-olive re-establishment over less fire-adapted native riparian species, such as willow and cottonwood, which are slower to re-sprout post-fire (Zouhar 2003).
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.
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Water Quality/Quantity
Tamarisk and Russian olive have a major impact on hydrology and soils. Removal of tamarisk and Russian olive has been linked to saving water and over time water quality increases (Friedman et al. 2009).
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.
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Compliance
2 PMArchaeology, Archaeology clearance will be completed by the VFL BLM , Dec 18 2014 / 6 NEPA, NEPA has been completed by VFO BLM in 2014. , Dec 18 2014
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.
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Methods
The removal of the Russian olive and tamarisk is planned to be accomplished by the use of chain saws. Crews will cut, pile, and treat stumps with herbicide. The project will be contracted out, and the contract administered by the Northeastern UDWR region, with daily contract supervision completed by Vernal BLM office. The project is planned in the spring of 2017.
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.
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Monitoring
To determine the effectiveness of the treatments, long-term monitoring plots will be established at a number of sites along the White River Corridor and the densities of invasive and native plants (number of individuals per unit area) will be measured. Densities will be measured pre- and post-treatment. The goal is to reduce densities of Russian-olive and tamarisk. In addition photo plots will be established before and after treatments will be taken. The BLM is in the process of hiring a hydrologist and will create a monitoring plan that will measure possible benefits of project when that person comes on board. I have informed the Division of Water Qualilty about this project, and I have asked DWQ to keep this project in mind as DWQ plans for future monitoring needs on the White River.
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.
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Partners
Working with UDEQ and UDWR on water quality monitoring. Working with Colorado BLM specialist to coordinate efforts across state line. Working with SITLA to treat SITLA portions of the project. Working with NRCS and private landowners to treat private lands. Work with Ute tribe to treat tribal lands. Coordination with Tamrisk Coalition and UDWR will continue. All above mentioned parties support this project.
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.
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Future Management
Since no seed is being applied, there would be no need for any grazing deferment. Coordination through BLM range-cons and permittees has already taken place on all active allotments within the project area. Ongoing grazing would continue as presently managed.Existing management of the project area is determined to be adequate to ensure the success of the project. It is expected that over the next 10 years that cutting and herbicide maintenance will be needed to remove encroaching russian olive and tamarisk to ensure the continued productivity of the native habitat. The proposed project is expected to ensure the continued availability for forage in the future for livestock which will result in the continued viability of the ongoing grazing system.
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.
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Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources
Tamarisk and Russian olive can decrease the availability of water for livestock (Hill pers. comm. 2009). By eliminating large stands of tamarisk and Russian olive in this riparian system livestock will be able to utilize this system and vegetation diversity benefits this project will bring.
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.
Title Page
Project Details
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Habitats
Seed
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Completion Form
Project Summary Report