Project Details

Meadow Creek has been severely impacted by flash flooding and trespass cattle issues over the past 20 years. Over the past 3 years, we've made significant progress to minimize and eliminate cattle issues. Unfortunately, in response to these stressing elements, the stream has cut below its surrounding floodplain, and has exposed banks, decreased water exchange/transfer between stream and water-table, and habitat types are simplified (fewer deep pools/riffles/runs). Previous project proposals have addressed in-stream issues that included solidifying stream crossing on access road, head cuts, cut banks, decreased stream sinuosity, decreased stream complexity (riffle, run, pool complex), lack of spawning gravel, and lack of fish cover.

Previous project for this area stated a separate proposal to fund riparian work/plantings to be filed in FY2018 (this proposal). This proposal will be used to fund 2.5 miles of riparian plantings on Meadow Creek on DWR administered lands, with special focus on the upstream portion of the stream. Currently there are limited woody riparian plants within this reach that include only 3 coyote willow trees (in approximately 3 miles). Willow vegetation is well established immediately downstream of the Moon Canyon road crossing, along the entire corridor to the Willow Creek confluence. This proposal will advance tree growth upstream to provide much needed plants to stabilize stream banks, provide in-stream shade, provide big game wildlife with an additional winter forage, and provide non-game wildlife with additional habitat, forage, and refuge. Cattle/wildlife exclosures will need to be constructed in certain areas to protect fragile areas or high-risk plantings. Long-term goal is for beaver to take advantage of and colonize the area. An exciting response to keeping cows out of the Meadow corridor in 2015 was the colonization of lower Meadow Creek by a beaver family. With no cow depredation, willow trees that were already present but beat down within the lower reaches of the stream were able to survive, grow, and multiply well within this area where roots were already established. In response, beaver have moved up into Meadow Creek from elsewhere in the Willow Creek drainage without human intervention to bring them to this new home.

Beaver dams have proven to increase stream complexity and resiliency, while providing permanent surface water, and water exchange in drought. Beaver dams have also proven to be excellent solutions for alleviating channel downcutting and moderating massive sediment transport. Both actions can be devastating to a proper functioning aquatic ecosystem, and surrounding riparian area dependent on perennial water.

Willow trees will be planted within the upper reach to encourage natural tree growth and dispersal, but additional native tree species will be added as well. This will increase tree diversity, which will increase the value of the habitat types that can exist in this currently devoid area. Several other tree species can grow much larger than willows and thus have increased shade value to Meadow Creek. Several tree species may tolerate drier soils that are further away from the stream, thereby increased capacity and diversity of habitat. Several of the tree species we will plant will have varying benefits for wildlife in terms of habitat and forage.
Tree species will include: 
coyote willow
box elder
western cottonwood
buffalo berry
currant bush
hawthorne
elderberry
chokecherry
aspen

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.

Threats to mule deer, elk, bison, and bear are addressed by adding forage, including winter forage. Forage includes trees themselves as an opportunistic menu item. Also, in the long term, this project focuses on increasing water availability to the riparian area. A healthy riparian area will provide a rich, thick abundance of forage much better than the current status of the surrounding canyon bottoms that are more arid. 
Threats addressed to bat species include additional roost availability and habitat diversity.
Beaver will greatly benefit through increased forage availability and dam building materials. Thus, this will introduce new, currently unavailable habitat. Currently there is little to no habitat 
in the upper portions of Meadow Creek for beaver. Thus beaver populations are limited in forage availability rather than having an anchor point with which to create a dam. BDAs (beaver dam analogues) are commonly used in areas where a) there are no beaver, and b) as an attempt to get beaver to construct a dam in a particular place by providing an anchor point. BDA's may be used in the future if beaver are not having the desired effect, or if we wish to attempt to get a beaver to create a dam(s) in specific areas. However, the construction of BDA's at this point have the potential to cause more harm than good.  
Colorado River cutthroat trout + Northern leopard frog threats addressed include increased water temperature concerns (short term = shading, long term = increased baseflow through groundwater discharge/recharge processes), sedimentation (increasing ground canopy and tree rooting, thus soil stability), and habitat complexity (short term, provides shade and erosion relief characters after a flood event; long term, trees provide log jams and beaver dam materials). Wild turkey will benefit from increased roost capacity near a water source, which is a bit scarce in this neck of the woods.

Habitat types in the Meadow Creek bottom include aquatic-forested (limited to a few areas of close-by PJ and willow stands), aquatic scrub/shrub, desert grassland, and lowland sagebrush. Within the direct riparian corridor are the aquatic types. These areas will benefit from habitat complexity created through this project. These areas will continue to benefit by having a rich, diverse, healthy stream to support. By stopping erosion and ensuring persistent, perennial water, these areas will be enhanced and supported in perpetuity. Beaver dams are proven to moderate massive flood events, while capturing some of this flow as ground water, which then leans to increasing baseflow.  Decreasing soil erosion only serves to maintain a balance for a healthy riparian. Similar benefits to grassland and lowland sagebrush. These areas will benefit from having a healthy stream/riparian corridor. Soil moisture is the most important component to maintain these eco-types. If soil moisture diminishes, then vegetation will change to more tolerant species, which usually means vegetation will shift to an invasive-dominated landscape, or forage species that are less desirable.

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.

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.

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.

much of the area of impact has already been cleared by State Archaeologist. I have discussed this particular project in person with DWR staff Archaeologist Monson Shaver on November 16, 2016, since a significant number of plantings will be planted outside the area that was covered in previous projects. I will continue to communicate with Monson about future needs through email, and he has stated that he will review this project automatically due to entry into WRI database. The general jist of our discussions was that there was no cultural significance or value due to the affected area being below ordinary high water mark and completely vegetated with grasses. If additional archaeological clearance is deemed necessary, Monson has stated we could complete a site visit in a day.

Stream alteration permit already obtained for upper reach of Meadow Creek, no stream alteration permit required for planting trees along riparian corridor.

No NEPA required, all work will be completed on DWR WMA lands.

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.

1. Discussed project and what we have planned for the Meadow Creek bottom with BLM biologist Jerrad Goodell. However, BLM only manages a very small portion (less than 300 meters) neighboring the project area. Thus this project will benefit BLM lands through respective tree dispersal and beaver colonization. The BLM land already has well-established willow growth. Much of the project area is upstream of the BLM allotment. 
2. SITLA lands are neighboring the project. Stream and riparian corridor improvements will continue to benefit from this project through tree dispersal, as well as the current CRCT and other target species occupation. Project discussion with SITLA management staff has been limited to the UPCD meeting and project comments. Hands-on implementation of this project will only occur on the DWR managed sections. Most of the SITLA managed land occurs within the lower portions of Meadow Creek, where there is already a well-established willow population.

3. This project has been discussed with our local chapter of Trout Unlimited, and brought forward to the group to lend a helping hand with labor needs. This small but active group has assisted on numerous DWR stream habitat improvement projects.

4. This project has been discussed with Wade Moulton, Blue Ribbon Council member. He is impressed with how well trout thrive in this system, both in terms of population and growth (i.e., we've surveyed fish >18 inches numerous times). If we are successful in continuing this trend to have additional water holding capacity, and increased trout populations while maintaining the fish sizes that occur in Meadow Creek, it is possible that this could be included as a Blue Ribbon water, much like neighboring West Willow Creek.

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.

Eliminating, downgrading, or mitigating trespass cattle issues on DWR land; less conflict between wildlife and domestic cattle.

Per comments received, I will clarify this benefit:

1. This project does not address or increase any fencing. The only interaction with livestock is to ensure that they are not in conflict with our land management on the WMA by increasing our presence and awareness to be able to communicate to the rancher about these conflicts. By having this presence we are also better able to document any conflicts happening on our neighbor's lands as well. 2. The DWR does not typically allow grazing on wildlife management areas unless there is a benefit to wildlife. Our current agreement with the rancher is for a trailing right through the WMA. By having a presence here, we can be more vigilant about watching for conflict while being better able to enforce current agreements. The important thing is to be able to minimize this conflict during the project's infancy when it is most vulnerable. 3. If there are some neighboring locations on BLM and SITLA that need additional watch, I'm happy to have a list of problems to look out for and report on as part of this project.

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.