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.

Cheatgrass has high probability returning and re-establishing before other plant species due to the nature of this annual grass. As this happens, other plant species struggle re-establish resulting the landscape being predominately covered with cheatgrass. An unhealthy pattern of fires similar to the one that burned this area will continue to reoccur. This proposed treatment will increase the likelihood of other plant species (perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs) to re-establish. A more diverse and fire resistant plant community would be the result also creating more suitable habitat for wildlife namely the Greater Sage Grouse.

A risk of annual precipitation fluctuations may affect the seeds of the desired plant species establishing, however, the project is located at an elevation of 6,000 feet or higher, which is expected to help counteract the impacts of drought. Typically, rangelands at this elevation receive adequate precipitation to promote vegetative growth and viability in the short-term and long-term.

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.

Chipman Peak EA/FONSI/DR - December 2016.

The EA/FONSI/DR recognized the importance of the Project Area with regard to improving the vegetation component within the Bald Hills Sage Grouse Priority Habitat Management Area. A variety of vegetation treatments were authorized that would improve/maintain Rangeland Health in accordance with the Ecological Site Description. The focus for management within this area is to improve greater sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat while maintaining the dominant aspects of the sagebrush community to ensure adequate cover is
available. High quality brood-rearing habitat has been identified as a limiting factor for sage grouse in the Bald Hills population area.

BLM Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan 2015
A. The project is consistent with the SGARMP (2015) goals, objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Special Status Species section as follows:
Special Status Species Goal: Maintain and/or increase GRSG abundance and distribution by conserving, enhancing or restoring the sagebrush ecosystem upon which populations depend in collaboration with other conservation partners.

Refer to the following Objectives and Management Actions in the SGRMPA (Objectives: SSS-3, SSS-4, SSS-5) and Management Actions (MA-SSS-4, MA-SSS-6, MA-SSS7).

B. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Vegetation section as follows:

Refer to the following Objectives and Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-VEG-1, MA-VEG-2, MA-VEG-4, MA-VEG-5, MA-VEG-6, MA-VEG-8, MA-VEG-9, MA-VEG-10, MA-VEG-12 and MA-VEG-14).

C. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Fire and Fuels Management section as follows:

Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-FIRE-1 and MA-FIRE-3)
D. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Livestock Grazing/Range Management section as follows:

Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-LG-3, MA-LG-4, MA-LG-5, MA-LG-12, MALG- 13, MA-LG-16 and MA-LG-17)

The Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah was approved by the Governor in April 2013. The plan establishes incentive-based conservation programs for conservation of sage-grouse on private, local government, and School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration lands and regulatory programs on other state- and federally managed lands. The Conservation Plan also establishes sage-grouse management areas and implements specific management protocols in these areas.

The Utah Greater Sage-grouse Management Plan in 2009 identified threats and issues affecting sage-grouse management in Utah as well as goals, objectives, and strategies intended to guide UDWR, local working groups, and land managers efforts to protect, maintain, and improve sage-grouse populations and habitats and balance their management with other resource uses.

Southwest Desert Local Working Group Conservation Plan 2009. The local Working Group has developed a Conservation Plan detailing the natural history, threats, and mitigation measures for sage-grouse in each conservation plan area; and conservation guidelines for any activities occurring in the area.

The Utah State Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 (Final) is a comprehensive management plan designed to conserve native species populations and habitats in Utah, and prevent the need for additional federal listings.  Please refer to attached excerpts from the Utah State Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 that identify Strategy for Management (Pg. 41 and Pg. 50).

Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Resource Management Plan Resource Management Plan (1986).  Although the Project Area was not specifically discussed in the RMP vegetation treatments were identified throughout the Field Office.

Southwest Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan (May, 2006)

National Fire Plan (2000), BLM National Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy (2004)
The project is also consistent with the NFP. The goals and objectives of the NFP is to manage BLM administered public land to maintain, enhance and restore sagebrush habitats while ensuring multiple use and sustained yield goals of FLPMA. Goals/Strategies identified in the NFP include the following:
1. Provide guidance to ensure integration of sage-grouse habitat conservation measures for actions provided through the management in land use planning process.
2. Issue mandatory guidance on management of sagebrush habitat for sage-grouse conservation.
3. Enhance knowledge of resource conditions and priorities in order to support habitat maintenance and restoration efforts.
4. Complete and maintain eco-regional assessments of sagebrush and sage-grouse habitats across the sagebrush biome.
5. Provide a consistent and scientifically based approach for collection and use of monitoring data for sagebrush habitats, sage-grouse and other components of the sagebrush community.
6. Identify, prioritize and facilitate needed research to develop relevant information for sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat conservation
7. Maintain, develop and expand partnerships to promote cooperation and support for all activities associated with sage-grouse and sagebrush conservation.
8. Effectively communicate throughout BLM and with current and prospective partners on steps BLM will take to conserve sage-grouse and sage-grouse and sagebrush habitats.
9. Facilitate the collection, transfer and sharing of information among all BLM partners and cooperators, as well as BLM program personnel.
10. Develop BLM state-level strategies and/or plans for sage-grouse and sagebrush conservation on BLM administered public lands.

Southwest Desert Deer Herd Unit Management Plan (2015)
The project will be consistent with the habitat management strategies identified in the Deer Herd Unit Management Plan for Deer Herd Unit #20 (Southwest Desert) (UDWR) which pertain to the Project Area are as follows:
* Evaluate and implement potential habitat improvement projects on BLM, state, and private lands.
* Evaluate opportunities to address problems created by closed canopy pinyon pine and juniper.

Utah Pronghorn Statewide Management Plan (2009)
Habitat Management Objective (B.e.), Under the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, design, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of habitat improvement projects to benefit pronghorn.

Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Utah (2005)
The priority habitat identified for this area was shrub-steppe, which was identified as a Priority A (High threat, high opportunity, and high value to birds statewide) habitat. Priority birds identified within this area include sage grouse, ferruginous hawk, sage sparrow, and Brewer's sparrow. Sagebrush restoration was identified as an opportunity within this area to address concerns with sagebrush die-off and potential for cheatgrass invasion.

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.

There have been numerous large fires (Baboon, Badger, Black Mountain, Maple Springs and Roundabout) within the immediate vicinity of the project area. Of the entire Mineral Black Mountain Fire Management Unit (FMU) (646,151 acres), 235,986 acres have burned over the past 20 years. This amounts to over 36% of the FMU being impacted by high intensity wildfire. Of the acres burned, more than 40,000 acres have burned more than once
(cheatgrass burn/re-burn cycle). Most alarming is the fact that for the 22 years in which fire records are available (1993-2014), while the number of fires has decreased over the past 10 years, the acreages burned has increased more than 200%.

Without this project, Cheatgrass will continue invade and dominate this area. As fires occur, it will be more difficult to control and will have devastating effects by burning at a higher intensity and getting larger. Because there is a greater risk of conversion of shrublands to annual grasslands under a high intensity fire, managed, pro-active treatments proposed would reduce the likelihood of cheatgrass invasion and help perennial grasses and forbs persist long-term. Treatments identified within this proposal, including seeding with more fire resistant vegetation, would help reduce hazardous fuel loads, create fuel breaks, and reduce the overall threat of a catastrophic wildfire which could impact the watershed, and sage grouse and mule deer habitat.

Treatments in and around the sagebrush areas would break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of wildfire entering these sensitive areas. Reducing cheatgrass cover and creating a mosaic pattern would also break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of a high intensity wildfire. Because there is a greater risk of conversion of shrub lands to annual grasslands under a high intensity fire, managed, pro-active treatments proposed would reduce the likelihood of cheatgrass invasion and help perennial grasses and forbs
persist long-term.

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 Area is located at 6,000 feet above sea level; therefore, it is expected that the opportunity to restore native species to the composition and frequency appropriate to the area is high. There is noticeable soil erosion throughout the area due to the absence of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. The project is expected to improve herbaceous understory, which will reduce water runoff and decrease soil erosion while increasing infiltration.

Improvements to the Standards and Guidelines for Healthy Rangelands (Standard 1 and Standard 3) are expected through project implementation. It is expected that Standard 1 (Soils) -- will improve by allowing soils to exhibit permeability and infiltration rates that will sustain/improve site productivity throughout the area. This will be accomplished by making improvements to the Biotic Integrity of the community by converting areas into a diverse component of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs that is consistent with Ecological Site Description. Indicators will include sufficient cover and litter to protect the soil surface from excessive water and wind erosion, limiting surface flow and limiting soil moisture loss through evaporation, which will promote proper infiltration.

As discussed, extensive Rangeland Health monitoring data has been collected throughout the project area. This monitoring data will be utilized as baseline data to determine the success of the treatment while providing for a scientific measurement of the indicators identified above.

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.

Monitoring may include some support from UDWR or other cooperators. Standard surveys will include: Wildlife Use Pattern Surveys (i.e. Pellet Counts), Wildlife Population Surveys, Key Forage Utilization, Nested Frequency (Trend), Line Intercept (Shrub Cover and Age Class), Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health Assessment, Photo Points, Breeding Bird Surveys, Raptor Nest Surveys, General Wildlife Use Surveys and Noxious weed inventory / monitoring.

Post vegetation and wildlife monitoring data will be collected throughout the project area. This monitoring data will be compiled into an overall monitoring report that will help determine the level of success for the project in the short-term and long-term. This data will be utilized to support an Adaptive Management Strategy to determine if changes in treatment methods, seeding, etc... need to occur in order to meet measurable objectives.
 
There currently is inconclusive data to suggest that the sage grouse population size would increase if the treatments were completed in the project area.  Approximately 12,260 acres of vegetative treatments have occurred within the vicinity of the project area since 2013.  In addition, Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (Baboon Fire, Badger Fire, Black Mountain Fire, Maple Spring, Roundabout Fire, etc...) in the past several years.

Sage Grouse telemetry data has been collected since 2010 throughout the project area. It is expected that this baseline data and future data will allow for correlation of whether sage grouse are utilizing treatment areas.  Telemetry data that has been collected has indicated that in areas that sage grouse have moved into the area.  In addition, leks have been established within a couple of treatments in Little Horse Valley.  It is important to note that some areas that are treated throughout the Field Office may not have sage grouse move into them immediately; however, the importance of these treatments should not be underestimated. It is expected that all treatments identified would at the minimum serve as opportunity areas even if sage grouse do not move into them immediately following treatment.

Furthermore, it is expected that by improving Rangeland Land Health conditions and creating expansion sage grouse habitat in areas that should be dominated by perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs in accordance with the Ecological Site Description will lead to sage grouse habitat improvements and population increases. This will be verified through further data collection (telemetry, lek counts, RLH data, trend, utilization data, etc...).

A portion of the project area is located in the Long Hollow Utah Prairie Dog Management Unit. This area has been identified as critical for the recovery of the Utah Prairie Dog. The project would provide additional Utah prairie dog habitat to ensure that the Utah Prairie Dog Management Unit Plan Path to Recovery is attainable in the short-term and long-term.

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.