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Anthro Guzzler Project
Region: Northeastern
ID: 4445
Project Status: Completed
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Project Details
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Need for Project
Wildlife guzzlers were originally constructed by the BLM and UDWR in the Anthro area in the 1980's. Unfortunately, these developments have surpassed their functional life and are in need of replacement. All three guzzlers are not working currently. In addition, these three guzzlers were constructed with buried tanks and underground plumbing. This design has been problematic for maintenance over the years. Pronghorn on the Anthro sub-unit relay heavily on developed water sources. The population level is much lower than periods in the 1990's. To help enhance the population, the water sources need to be restored or enhanced. In addition, pronghorn are drawn to agricultural fields to the north where they depredate on crops. It is essential to provide adequate water sources to help alleviate the depredation problems. Anthro sub-unit elk utilize lower elevation habitat on a year-round basis. These guzzlers are often heavily utilized by elk. These guzzlers help draw elk away from aspen areas on Anthro Mountain, where the USFS has expressed concern. The intent of this project is to once again restore water distribution and abundance for all wildlife species.
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 objectives of the project are to: 1.) Rebuild three non-functioning guzzlers 2.) Increase water sources for pronghorn and elk. 3.) Increase distributions and use areas for wildlife species.
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?)
There are not any negative risks anticipated from completing the project. However, if the project is not completed, water will remain limited and desired distribution and use by benefiting wildlife species will be reduced. Pronghorn populations on the Anthro sub-unit are highly dependent on developed water sources. Failure to maintain or enhance water availability will limit the population. In addition, without water, pronghorn will continue to be drawn to agricultural fields where depredation is becoming and increasing problem.
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
The project will benefit all of these high interest game species and support habitat improvement goals and objectives identified in the following plans. *Statewide Elk Plan *Statewide Pronghorn Plan
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
The project is not anticipated to have a positive or negative impact on fire and fuels. The guzzlers could provide some limited water for fire suppression efforts in case of an emergency.
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
Once completed, these three guzzlers will have a storage capacity of 5,400 gallons of water available to wildlife. Additional precipitation will occur throughout the year as the water is consumed, so the water made available is likely higher than this amount.
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
All three guzzler locations are located on old guzzler sites and work will be performed within the existing footprint. As such, this is a maintenance activity and NEPA or archaeological clearance will not be required.
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
All old guzzler materials will be removed from the sites and hauled to the local landfill. An 1,800 gallon Boss dome topped tank will be buried in the existing footprint. Next, a 12' x 40' supplemental apron will be constructed. The apron is supported by treated 6' x 6' posts. A wood deck is constructed with 2" x 6" lumber with 1/2" OSB decking secured. Then, metal roofing is installed to catch water and slope the runoff to the Boss tank.
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
The guzzlers will be inspected at least once annually in the future to determine functionality, and any maintenance needs required. Camera traps will be placed on each guzzler following completion to determine the effectiveness of the guzzlers and use by wildlife species. The results of the monitoring will help determine placement and design of future guzzlers and possible modifications to the current guzzler.
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
BLM is a great partner on this project. Many of these guzzlers were originally constructed through BLM efforts. BLM has taken the lead on completing other guzzler reconstructions in the area outside of the scope of 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
Annual inspection of the guzzlers will ensure functionality and maintain them in good working condition. Repairs and maintenance will be completed as needed and determined through inspections.
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
The guzzlers will not directly supply to domestic livestock. However, livestock may benefit from shifting wildlife use away from other watering facilities and forage areas.
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.
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Project Summary Report