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.

If the project is not funded, it will take longer for woody riparian vegetation to establish or some areas may never have the diversity of trees and shrubs necessary to significantly benefit wildlife and users. The absence of important woody riparian vegetation negatively impacts wildlife (e.g., poor habitat for sensitive species and game fish), reduces recreational opportunities (e.g., poor habitat related to riparian vegetation can be a limiting factor for popular game fish), leads to poor water quality (e.g., no buffer for nonpoint source of pollutants from overland flow), puts past stream enhancement efforts at risk (e.g., elevated rates of erosion could cause the loss of structures or other past enhancement work), etc.

Furthermore, the project sites have had substantial investments in restoration work done and not funding can either set back or put at risk habitat goals and objectives.

If the project is funded, there are no notable threats or risks. Similar projects have been funded and implemented in the past without any major problems and positive results.

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 help to address "Threats" listed in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan:
1. "Improper Grazing (current)" - the project would utilize riparian fencing and an agreement with landowners for a rest period followed by short duration, high intensity grazing during spring time only (i.e., Potential Conservation Action Code 2.1.2).
2."Channelization / Bank Alteration (direct, intentional)" - the project would use riparian planting to promote a more diverse riparian plant community (i.e., Potential Conservation Action Code 2.3.6).
3. "Sediment Transport Imbalance" - the project would use planting to reduce the rate of streambank erosion, which can cause imbalance in sediment transport and elevated levels of nutrients (e.g., total phosphorous) (Potential Conservation Action Code Not Listed).
4. "Increasing Stream Temperatures" - the project would use planting to establish a more robust and diverse community of riparian vegetation (i.e., Potential Conservation Action Codes 2.3.5, 2.3.6, 2.3.15).

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 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.

The project promotes reconnecting the stream with the floodplain and increasing water infiltration, both leading to ground water recharge and more consistent flows later into the season.

In relation to water quality/quantity and the Upper Sevier River Watershed TMDL, the project would "Maintain or improve water quality and quantity for local needs..." by establishing woody riparian vegetation where needed, decrease sediment and nutrient load sources from streambank erosion, and create a buffer from phosphorous-rich overland flow into the river.

In relation to water quality/quantity and the Otter Creek - East Fork Sevier TMDL Study, the project would "Stabilize channel banks" by reducing streambank erosion and promoting stability, "Increase filtering capacity" by buffering nonpoint sources of phosphorous (pollutant of concern) from overland flow, and "Protect waters for cold water species of game fish and other cold water aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain" by shifting and maintaining temperature and dissolved oxygen at suitable levels for cold water aquatic species.

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.

Bare root trees and shrubs would be purchased from various nurseries depending on stock availability and price. A conservation corps crew would be hired to plant bare root stock and willow cuttings along stream corridors where past stream enhancement projects have been completed and woody riparian vegetation is still lacking. Planting projects would begin in April of 2019. Because where and how planting occurs is so important (particularly where planting occurs relative to the vertical height of the plant on the streambank), a UDWR Biologist would work with the crew for the first day showing them how and where to plant and then a UDWR technician familiar with the area and how to plant would also works with the crew the entire duration of the project.

This project has been a yearly maintenance project of older stream improvement projects since FY15 and there has been a lot of planting work done in this time. However, the amount of riparian corridors in the SRO where stream improvement work has been completed is great (~ 9 miles of stream proposed for the FY19 project). Specific sites for planting are determined by selecting localized areas within past projects where woody riparian vegetation is lacking (e.g., a particular outside bend that has seen improvement in terms of herbaceous riparian vegetation reestablishment, but an absence of willow). The reason woody riparian vegetation is lacking in most of these locations is because it has either never been planted (e.g., initial stream improvement project lacked resources) or there was an initial failure that we don't think will be repeated (e.g., initial failure to implement grazing manangement plan).

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.