Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project Phase 4
Region: Southern
ID: 4777

Project Status: Current

Project Details

Aspen canopy cover on Monroe Mountain has decreased by over 70%, or 40,000 acres, in the last 200 years.  Restoring aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain is critically important and will have lasting beneficial effects.

Aspen restoration at this scale on Monroe Mountain will help improve and maintain population viability for a variety of wildlife species (elk, deer, raptors, neo-tropical migratory birds, small game, insects, etc., along with promoting a fire resilient ecosystem across the Monroe Mountain. The project will also enhance watershed integrity.

Purpose and Need for Action (Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project). The purpose of this project is to restore aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain by achieving the desired conditions described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). To help accomplish this purpose, the Richfield District has identified a need to (1) address the conifer encroachment that occurs due to the reduced occurrence of wildland fire primarily due to an increase in wildland fire suppression, and (2) address aspen over browsing by domestic and wild ungulates. These are two of the primary underlying causes for aspen decline on Monroe
Mountain. Restoring aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to:
1. Improving and increasing the amount of habitat for wildlife species dependent upon aspen ecosystems (i.e., Mule deer, elk, and Northern goshawk);
2. Improving and increasing the amount of habitat and forage for domestic ungulates (i.e., cattle and sheep);
3. Improving native species diversity;
4. Reducing hazardous fuel accumulations;
5. Reducing the risk for large-scale, intense wildland fires. This results in lower risk to the safety of the public and firefighters. This also results in lower risk to sensitive wildlife species (i.e. Northern goshawk, Western Boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas), and Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah)); and,
6. Increasing the probability that future naturally caused fires can be managed (if possible, not suppressed) and allowed to play the greatest feasible natural role in the aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain.

Vegetation treatments that encourage aspen regeneration on spring and summer range will continue to provide quality deer fawning and elk calving habitat.  A productive understory combined with some dead and down trees is optimal habitat for big game birthing.  Monroe Mountain studies done by BYU and UDWR have shown that deer coming off summer range have a sufficient fat layer and acceptable body condition going into winter.  It is imperative that additional acres are treated to benefit big game and livestock body conditions at the end of summer and fall.  This project will continue to provide those opportunities to ungulate animals.
 
Test plots using "Root Ripping" late fall of 2017 proved to be highly successful to encourage sprouting of aspen from the root system.  We intend to select areas that would benefit from this process as to encourage a higher rate of aspen regeneration.

Approximately 8-10 years ago an extensive Dixie Harrow program was put into motion on the higher elevations of Monroe Mountain.  The intent of harrowing upland meadows was to decrease sage brush (mountain and silver sage) and allow grasses and forbs to increase.  Transect data show approximately a 200% increase on grasses and a 50-100% increase on forbs.  The ideas was to attract ungulate animals into treatment areas by increasing available AUM's.  Timing was supposed to be immediatley prior to the extensive aspen treatment program on Monroe Mountain.  Because of NEPA hold ups and unforeseen constraints the immediate benefit from harrowing was there for ungulate use but not to benefit aspen treatments.  It is our desire to go back into the Dixie Harrow treatment areas and do re-treatments of sage to increase forage with an intent to lessen utilization on aspen sprouting.  For this reason we will need to rent a tractor to pull the Dixie or Chain Harrow.  The same tractor can be used to do some root ripping around the outer perimeter of aspen stands.

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.

Project Goals:

1)Implement a landscape level aspen ecosystem restoration project with an increased pace and scale of implementation to treat approx. 42,000 acres on USFS lands over a 10 year period.

2)Promote treatment efforts onto private lands located on Monroe Mountain collaborating with private land owners, NRCS and UFFSL.

3)Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre.

-Currently this phase of the project is estimated to treat ~6,100 acres.  Overall total estimated cost/acre is $369/acre for this phase of implementation.  WRI funding only cost/acre for investment into this project is estimated at $126/acre which is only roughly 1/3 of total funding required.

-Goals will be met by applying prescribed fire and using mechanical treatments in conjunction with traditional timber sales to remove encroaching conifers from aspen areas and thinning within mixed conifer areas.

Project Objectives:

1)Landscape Level Treatment Objective:
Implement treatments with a cross boundary landscape level approach while reducing risk of fire and promoting a fire resilient aspen ecosystems.

2)Phase 4 Treatment Objective
Improve ~6,100 acres of aspen stands by reintroducing disturbances; prescribed fire and mechanical treatments to reduce conifer invasion and stimulate new aspen regeneration.

3)Mechanical Treatment Objective:
Within the mechanical areas, merchantable timber will be sold and conifers will be cut, and piled or utilized for wildlife fencing.  80%-100% of cut and cured slash piles will be burned. To access the conifer, some incidental cutting of aspen may occur.

-With the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project being selected by the Joint Chiefs Partnership with NRCS and USFS, mechanical treatments are also occurring on private lands located on Monroe Mountain in conjunction with treatments occurring on National Forest System lands managed by the Richfield Ranger District. This will have multiple benefits that include across boundary landscape level aspen restoration, reducing risk of fire on both private and USFS lands, and reducing risk of future prescribed fire activities to private property.

4)Prescribed Fire Objective:
Prescribed fire treatments will be implemented utilizing aerial and/or hand ignition techniques targeting spruce/fir, mixed conifer, and seral aspen with mosaic burn patterns and mixed burn severities as an objective. To maintain Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan(LRMP) compliance, prescribed fire will occur when 60 percent of the area will be expected to burn leaving 40 percent of the area unburned. Incidental burning of mountain brush and other vegetation types is expected and allowed during prescribed fire implementation.

5)Monitoring Objective:
In response to aspen over browsing, aspen in the project area is and will continue to be monitored. Browse thresholds have been established. Adaptive management response options have been developed. Short-term temporary adjustments in livestock/wildlife management may be needed to ensure new aspen regeneration successfully recruits (reaches greater than 6 feet height).

6)Livestock Benefit Objective:
The intent of this project is to create and increase amount of forage available.

-Through implementation of this project, the amount of forage available to livestock is expected to increase significantly as a result. With the removal of conifer, the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the aspen understory is also expected to increase significantly. With increased forage livestock distribution and management is expected to improve.

7)Wildlife Benefit Objective:
The intent of this project is to create age class diversity in the aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain and create a more sustainable aspen landscape over time.

-Implementation of this project will increase habitat effectiveness for many wildlife species (big game, small game, upland game, raptors, neo-tropical migratory birds, local avian species, insects and key pollinators). This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and untreated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity.

-Species (elk and deer) that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation species will benefit from this project. This project will provide increases in forage and habitat effectiveness that benefit species such as ungulates. Distribution of ungulate pressure will be increased with the increase in useable, effective habitat. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There
will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future.

-Small game and upland game will ultimately see an increased benefit over time as the project areas develop into a maturing forest. Mosaic patterns of a 60/40 take/leave pattern is designed into the project to provide a mosaic pattern of age class diversity and maintain goshawk foraging areas. Mosaic patterns will also be beneficial for most all other wildlife species across the ecosystem.

8)Aquatic Species Benefit Objective: 
Over the course of the project aquatics monitoring will provide information about the effects of landscape scale vegetation treatments on boreal toads and their habitat use, breeding, distribution, population size, mortality, and hibernaculas.

-Large infrequent fires are known to extirpate trout populations and habitats as the effects of fire increase ash loads, flood occurrence, and erosion.

- Bonneville cutthroat trout will likely benefit in the long-term from this project as the risk of catastrophic fire is reduced through fuels reduction in Bonneville cutthroat trout-bearing streams, although project treatments may lead to short term population declines.  Monitoring will assess project impacts and ensure they are at levels conducive to population recovery.  Monitoring will also provide information to improve design of future large scale treatments to reduce aquatic impacts. Literature on the potential benefits and negative impacts of fire on boreal toads is mixed (Loeffler 2001). For this reason, a study of toads before, during, and after the project is being undertaken. Areas close to streamsides and known breeding areas and hibernacula are protected by design features, but use of upland and riparian habitats further away from breeding sites is not well documented. The boreal toad study aims to reduce project implementation risks to toads by determining habitat use areas prior to treatment and develop baseline information on populations in areas being treated and not yet being treated for comparison. This should reduce the risk of treating large subwatershed areas to toads and allow for direct measure of population trends in treated and untreated areas.

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.

Aspen dominated forests on Monroe Mountain have already experienced a 71% decline compared to historical conditions. With increasing shade from conifers and a decline in aspen dominated cover, ungulate browsing pressure across the mountain increases as ungulates concentrate browse pressure in fewer areas of high forage, causing ecological impacts across a wide range of vegetation types on Monroe Mountain. Without treatment, the amount of usable forage for ungulates will decrease and distribution of ungulates will continue to concentrate.

If left untreated, a continued loss of seral aspen is expected due to the level of conifer infilling and low rate of aspen sprouts recruiting without the introduction of disturbance. Stable aspen ecosystems are also expected to decline without treatment - which distributes browse pressure from recruiting aspen sprouts within these stands. Some stable aspen stands are composed almost exclusively with older trees near the maximum life expectancy for quaking aspen.

As conifers continue to expand and infill, the risk for large uncharacteristic/catastrophic wildfires will also continue to increase.  Wildfire suppression costs are extremely high especially when suppressing fires in similar fuel types and loadings as present on this project.  When wildfires occur, this could result in damage to private property and numerous structures, increased erosion, greater opportunities for noxious weed establishment, impacts to available short-term forage, stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides/flooding events.  This project reduces risks to multiple communities and watersheds across the Monroe Mountain along with multiple Municipal watersheds of Sevier Valley Communities.

A majority of the project is in Fire Regime Condition Class 3 (FRCC 3). Risk of loss of key ecosystem components are high within Condition Class 3. High departure from the natural (historical) regime of vegetation characteristics; fuel composition; fire frequency, severity and pattern; and other associated disturbances. Fire behavior, effects, and other associated disturbances are highly departed. Composition and structure of vegetation and fuel are highly altered. Uncharacteristic conditions range from moderate to high. Treatments would improve the Fire Regime Condition Class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2.

Habitat for sensitive species such as the northern goshawk and flammulated owl are currently at risk from catastrophic high severity wildfire. Implementation of this project reduces the risk of wildfires impacting these sensitive species. Design criteria are also included to help minimize short-term impacts to these species.

The greatest threat/risk to this project's success is domestic and wild ungulate browse pressure on aspen saplings. One of the critical elements to reduce the risk of browse pressure is to increase pace and scale of project treatments. As all past phases of this project are still within browse height of ungulates, continued treatments at a significant pace and scale are necessary to assure that browsing pressure is dispersed across all treatments. The risk involved with increased pace and scale is having capacity and continuous funding to continue to concentrate large acres of treatments to disperse this browse pressure.

To aid attainment of at least 1,000 to 2,000 aspen saplings per acre and 400 to 600 aspen recruits per acre in areas where mechanical and/or prescribed fire treatments are to occur, browse thresholds and adaptive management response options have collaboratively been developed and if needed, will be implemented. For more information about browse thresholds and response options, please see page 20-26 of the attached Final Record of Decision. The browse thresholds and response options are supported by DWR and the Utah Wildlife Board.

Annual encroachment of conifers is occurring at an exponential rate and now is the time to treat acres on a "grand scale" to allow the aspen ecosystem a chance to recover and restore lost acres.  Understory forage will become valuable for existing wild and domestic ungulate animals.  Tension between livestockmen and sportsmen should decrease over time as more forage is created through vegetation treatments.

This project has numerous perennial water bodies/riparian systems and watersheds located across Monroe Mountain.  Manning Meadows Reservoir, Manning Creek, Barney Lake, Lower Box Creek Reservoir, Box Creek, Greenwich Creek and the portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir are all TMDL's and 303d listed.  Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation.  Restoring uplands will reduce potential risks from future high severity wildfires by reducing impacts to these water source sand reducing risks of future impairment.

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.

I. This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). The desired conditions described in the EIS and the purpose and need for this project are consistent with the Forest's goals, the objectives found in chapter IV of the LRMP, and the Utah Fire Amendment (USFS 2001). The proposed treatment units are within management areas 2B -- Rural and Roaded Natural Recreation;
4A -- Fish Habitat Improvement; 4B -- Habitat for Management Indicator Species; 5A -- Big Game Winter Range - Non-forested; 6B -- Intensive Livestock Management; 7B -- Wood-Fiber Production - Genetics; and 9F-- Improved Watershed. The relevant goals and objectives are listed below:
1. Ecosystems are restored and maintained, consistent with land uses and historic fire regimes, through wildland fire use and prescribed fire (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-40).
2. Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion (LRMP p. IV-99).
3. Prescribed fire is authorized forest-wide (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41).
4. Use prescribed fire to reduce fuel buildup and meet resource objectives (LRMP p. IV-5).
5. Reduce hazardous fuels; the full range of reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and MA emphasis and direction (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41).
6. Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened, and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plants and animals (LRMP IV-4).
7. Improve or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter ranges (LRMP IV-4).
8. Maintain structural diversity of vegetation on management areas dominated by forested ecosystems (LRMP IV-11).
9. Manage aspen for retention where needed for wildlife, watershed, or esthetic purposes (LRMP IV-11).
10. Manage seral aspen stands for a diversity of age classes (LRMP IV-11).
11. Manage aspen to perpetuate the species and improve quality (LRMP IV-4).
12. Provide wood fiber while maintaining or improving other resource values LRMP IV-4).
13. Improve timber age class distribution and maintain species diversity (LRMP IV-4).
14. Manage tree stands using both commercial and noncommercial methods. Enhance visual quality, diversity, and insect and disease control (LRMP IV-62 and IV-84d).
15. Maintain and manage forested inclusions to provide a high level of forage production, wildlife habitat, and diversity (LRMP IV-112).
16. The area would have a mosaic of fully stocked stands that follow natural patterns and avoid straight lines nd geometric shapes (LRMP IV-113).
17. Prevent and control insect infestation and disease (LRMP IV-5)
18. Move toward historic fire regimes in these vegetation types on Monroe Mountain.

II. The decision is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Fire Management Plan in restoring fire adapted ecosystems.

III. This project is also consistent with the "Guidelines for Aspen Restoration on the National Forests in Utah" publication developed by the Utah Forest Restoration Working Group. Treatments were developed in line with the four major steps of the aspen restoration decision process (p. 16) and project actions are in line with ppropriate response options as laid out by the guidelines document.
Step 1: Assess the condition of aspen a) Assess the condition of aspen in the landscape/area including the determination of the aspen types b) Assess the extent, and significance of aspen, (aspen's aerial coverage, stand structure, stand composition, overstory/understory coverage, etc.) in the project area, and the relationship of the project area to the landscape setting or watershed.
Step 2: Identify problematic aspen conditions and their agents/causes a) Identify through data collection the condition(s) considered potentially problematic b) Identify through data collection the likely agents/causes of problematic conditions, as observed in the stand and surrounding area.
Step 3: Select from among appropriate response options that address the potentially problematic conditions.
Step 4: Monitor to assess aspen stand conditions and management/restoration
Response options from Guidelines for Aspen Restoration on National Forests in Utah authorized on MMAERP (p.28-29).
1. Cut subdominant conifers.
3. Burn aspen and conifers.
4. Selectively cut overstory conifers.
5. Hinge trees as an effort to impede ungulate access (this has had variable results).
6. Girdle conifer.
7. Root separation.
8. Change livestock grazing management (e.g., length and/or timing of grazing, class of livestock, or number of livestock, placement of salt and nutritional supplements).
9. Fence/temporarily fence for livestock and/or wild ungulates, dependent on prior determination of type of ungulate pressure. In situations where the relative impact of domestic livestock versus wildlife has not been determined, a livestock exclusion fence alone (followed with monitoring) may be a reasonable first choice.
10. Rest the pasture or allotment of excessively-browsed aspen stands, when options 8 and 9 are not sufficient or feasible or when actions are needed across a landscape.
11. Improve/increase the availability of native vegetation for wildlife nutritional opportunities outside of the aspen stands of concern.
12. Work within the existing framework for wildlife management to set specific herd objectives that match other resource conditions within the area.
13. Explore evolving technology and methods to mitigate wild ungulate impacts on aspen regeneration and recruitment. Explore the issue of scale to success ratio.
14. Prevent/reduce dispersed camping within aspen.
16. Restore natural fire regimes.

IV. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Elk Management Plan.
This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (elk). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed
plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit elk.
B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state.
Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock.
C. Watershed Restoration Initiative a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration.
i) Identify habitat projects on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat.
ii) Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages through the use controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas with minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns.
iii) Promote let-burn policies in appropriate areas that will benefit elk, and conduct reseeding efforts post wildlife.

V. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mule Deer Management Plan
This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (deer). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed
plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit mule deer.
Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019. (p. 19) 
d. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species.
e. Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah.
f. Seek opportunities through the Watershed Restoration Initiative to improve aspen communities that provide crucial summer habitat for mule deer.
g. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire.

VI. The northern goshawk in Utah: habitat assessment and management recommendations
In Forest Plan direction for the Northern goshawk, forest vegetation structural stage classes are discussed and how they relate to preference by goshawk for nesting, post fledgling family areas, or rearing and teaching of young and foraging. Careful consideration has been given to Northern goshawk territories found within the project boundaries. Territories will be part of the mosaic pattern designed as "leave" areas from prescribed burn and mechanical treatments. Creating age class diversity through the implementation of this project will ensure future habitat as well as habitat for prey used by goshawk is maintained. "The forests and woodlands of Utah are dominated by unstable stands of late seral species. Early and midseral species should be increased using both mechanical means and fire" (p. 38) "Numbers and distribution of large trees in the landscape should be increased. Policies should be adopted to manage for the production of large early seral species through cleanings, thinnings, and weedings, using mechanical means or fire." (p. 39) Potential Vegetation Type Recommendations "Subalpine Fir--The subalpine fir potential vegetation type is capable of providing high quality goshawk and prey habitat. It is currently dominated by late seral species throughout the State. Habitat should be improved by promoting early seral species such as quaking aspen, Douglas-fir, and lodgepole pine in a forest mosaic with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. These mixed forest cover types (especially mixes with quaking aspen) would be highly used by the goshawk and would have lower risk of epidemics of insects and diseases, and stand-replacing fire. Fire or mechanical treatments or both should be used to create conditions favorable to lodgepole pine and quaking aspen." (pg. 39)

VII. Grazing Allotment Plans for 10 different allotments within the overall project boundaries.
The amount of forage available to livestock is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of conifer the amount of grasses and forbs in the aspen understory is expected to increase significantly. With increased forage ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates. Browse pressure from both domestic livestock and wild ungulates is a concern with the implementation of this project. The District
will ensure, if needed, that temporary resting of treatment areas, herding, and electric fences are incorporated into Annual Operating Instructions. These actions will help ensure that permittees are in the communication loop and will give them enough time to plan for the resources they need to continue their operations. Impacts to permittees will be minimized by the use of herding and temporary electric fences so that treatment areas and/or stable aspen stands can be rested while non-treatment areas can continue to be grazed. Continued
livestock grazing in the non-treatment areas is subject to the Fishlake National Forest forage utilization standards and guidelines. Annual monitoring and enforcement of these standards and guidelines will continue.

VIII. Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan
Newly treated areas through fire or mechanical means will attract use by wild turkey which are abundant on Monroe Mountain. Insects and new growth will be readily available to support turkey populations.
Objective 2. Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. (p.16)

IX. UDWR Wildlife Action Plan
This project is geared toward meeting the goals found within this plan for a variety of wildlife species from large to small. The entire proposed project area is found within a UWRI conservation focus area.
The project is in line with the State's Wildlife Action Plan in that it directly benefits lentic water, lotic water, mountain riparian, and wet meadow habitats. It further directly benefits Bonneville cutthroat trout and boreal toad.
Threat - Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity:
Objective #1 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Fire is excluded from habitats in which potential burns now would be frequent, large, and destructive to soils and native vegetation; the habitats are being actively managed (treated) to reduce components or factors that promote risk of catastrophic fire, such as cheatgrass, excessive conifer encroachment, or unnaturally large stands of mature Gambel oak. (pg. 103)
Actions: 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. (pg. 104)
2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 104)
2.3.20 Conduct post-fire rehabilitation. (pg. 104)
Objective #2 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Fire is returned to habitats from which it had been unnaturally excluded; the fire regime (frequency and intensity) in these habitats generally approximates a natural, pre-settlement regime. (pg. 105)
2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 106)
2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense. (pg. 106)
7.3.4 Increase the use of stewardship contracting on BLM and National Forest lands.(pg. 106)

X. National Cohesive Strategy
By means of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning at a landscape scale, the resulting mosaic of early and late successional forests will work toward the goal of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, one of the three goals described in the National Cohesive Strategy.
1. Resilient Landscapes
General guidance regarding vegetation and fuels management include * Use and expand fuel treatments involving mechanical, biological, or chemical methods where economically feasible and sustainable, and where they align with landowner objectives. (pg. 58)

XI. State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy
The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project aligns with the mission of the State of Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The project has developed a comprehensive and systematic approach toward reducing the size, intensity and frequency of catastrophic wildland fires on Monroe Mountain through a collaborative process. The project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence negatively affecting property, air quality and water systems. The Mission: Develop a collaborative process to protect the health and welfare of Utahns, and our lands by reducing the size and frequency of catastrophic fires. (pg. 4)
5. Adopt Key Recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. (pg. 15)
* Encourage federal land management agencies to expedite fuels treatments. (pg. 15)
* Prioritize landscapes for treatment (irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries). (pg. 15)

XII. Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP
Goal 1: Minimize the potential wildland fire threat to life safety (Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP). This project works to achieve Goal 1 of the Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP by reducing fuel loading and lowering the potential of wildland fire spread across Monroe Mountain.

XIII. State of Utah Forest Action Plan
The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project addresses all three of the key goals laid out in the Forest Action Plan: conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses, protect forests from threats and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Wood products will be available through firewood permits, timber sales and stewardship contracts in accordance with the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration NEPA documentation and the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan. All actions called for in the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project work together to reduce wildfire and forest health threats to the surrounding forests and reduce the potential for long-term degradation of forested watersheds on Monroe Mountain.
Conserve and Manage Working Forest Landscapes for Multiple Values and Uses (pg. 3)
Protect Forests from Threats (pg. 3)
Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests (pg. 3)

XIV. State of Utah Boreal Toad Conservation Plan.
Boreal toad monitoring that will take place in connection with the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystem Restoration Project aligns with conservation actions listed in the State of Utah Boreal Toad Conservation Plan.  Applicable actions from the plan are outlined as follows: Conservation Actions -- the conservation monitoring actions listed below are incorporated into the monitoring plan.
1. Define current distribution and status (Surveys).
1.3.3 Determine the availability of dispersal corridors among habitats.
2. Monitor distribution, population, and habitat trends (Monitoring).
2.1.2 Document age class structure during breeding surveys.
2.2.1 Record habitat parameters during population monitoring.
2.2.2 Identify general threats during population monitoring.
2.3.3 Evaluate general habitat responses to conservation actions and/or threats.
3. Identify and reduce threats from habitat loss and degradation (Habitat Management).
3.1 Fire Management -- design features were incorporated into the project to prevent stand attributes near breeding sites by burning in mosaics, not treating all areas, and using fall burns where feasible.
3.1.1 Protect habitats in forest stands adjacent to and within 2.5 miles of breeding sites.
3.1.2 Restrict burns to late fall through early spring during which time boreal toads are inactive in known occupied areas.
3.1.3 Determine impacts of fire through monitoring of known breeding sites.
3.7 Roads -- overall the project has relatively few temporary roads. Design features were incorporated to reduce impacts where they do occur by construction during dormant seasons or after biologist clearance of the area.
3.7.1.b Avoid developing new roads that bisect occupied toad habitat.
3.8 Timber Harvest -- design features were incorporated to reduce impacts from timber harvest. Logistic considerations limit the ability to conduct winter logging on Monroe Mountain. For both fire and timber harvest, consistency with the state Boreal Toad plan and the PARC guidelines was discussed at length in the aquatics specialist report. There is some variation between these sources, with the need to allow forest cycles and resetting of succession to operate.
3.8.1 Protect habitats in forest stands adjacent to and within 4.0 km of breeding sites.
3.8.2 Restrict timber harvest to late fall through early spring during which boreal toads are inactive in known occupied areas.
5. Increase understanding of boreal toad ecology, life history, and threats in Utah (Research) -- these attributes are incorporated into the monitoring plan.
5.2 Characterize population structure and toad movements.
5.2.1 Estimate population size.
5.2.1a Conduct mark-recapture studies at selected breeding sites throughout Utah to estimate population sizes.
5.2.2 Track boreal toad movements.
5.2.2a Track toad movements to characterize upland habitat use and movement among breeding sites.
5.2.2.b Document colonization of new habitats.
5.2.2.c Document re-colonization of habitats after extirpation or disturbance (e.g. fire, flood).

XV. Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
This project aligns with conservation actions listed in the Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout. Southern Bonneville Management Unit management actions: "Fires and floods are a threat to small, isolated BCT populations. These threats are usually associated with fragmented habitat. Small populations potentially are subject to random events that threaten their existence. Such threats decrease with increasing populations, population size, habitat complexity and connectedness." Implementation of this project will reduce the threat of catastrophic fire and the associated negative impacts to Bonneville cutthroat trout on Monroe Mountain.
CONSERVATION ACTIONS (all from pg. 6)
5) Monitor Populations
8) Monitor Habitat Quantity and Quality
10) Control and prevent the spread of whirling disease

XVI. Sevier County Resource Management Plan
This project is congruent with the policies and desired management practices found in Sevier County's Resource Management Plan.
Policies (all from pages 6-7)
1. Support the removal of conifers and manage land to promote the establishment of aspen cover and attendant grass, brush, and forbs.
3. Encourage timber harvesting to prevent fuel load and biomass buildup.
5. The county supports prescribed burns as a fuels reduction management tool for resource enhancement, when used in conjunction with forest thinning and post-treatment salvage
or in areas that physically cannot be mechanically thinned, when such burns comply with air quality regulations.
12. Support managing forest cover types to perpetuate tree cover and provide healthy stands, high water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat.
14. Support the management of forests and woodlands for healthy conditions that contribute to healthy habitat for animal and plant species, proper watershed functioning conditions, and riparian restoration and enhancement.
16. Support agencies in prioritizing fuel reduction treatment in high-value/high-risk areas (e.g., wildland-urban interface, developed recreation facilities including campgrounds).
Desired management Practices
1. Encourage the commercial and non-commercial harvesting of forests and woodlands, to the maximum extent possible, through federal agencies' plans and policies.
4. Agencies should support a broad range of reforestation and timber stand improvement tools and timber harvesting practices consistent with prudent resource protection practices.

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.

The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project is being implemented to effectively restore resilient, fire-adapted aspen ecosystems on a landscape-scale and across boundaries by moving the stands toward properly functioning condition in terms of composition (species diversity) and density (crown spacing and fuel loading). In addition the treatments will improve structural diversity, promote aspen regeneration and recruitment, reduce the hazardous fuel loading and reduce the continuity of fuels across the Monroe Mountain landscape; thus mitigating the risks and damage associated with a high intensity, high severity, uncharacteristic/catastrophic wildfire and where appropriate, this project will expand opportunities to manage fire for resource benefits and meet Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan objectives.

This upper elevation project compliments completed and future planned treatments located in the mid to lower elevations as part of the Pine Canyon to Koosharem Creek/Bell Rock Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project.  It also compliments completed BLM treatment located in the valley bottoms at the base of the Monroe Mountain.  All these projects combined reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level to multiple communities and watersheds across Monroe Mountain while promoting resilient landscapes.

Wildfire suppression costs are extremely high especially when suppressing fires in similar fuel types and loadings present on this project.  When wildfires occur, this could result in damage to private property and numerous structures, increased erosion, greater opportunities for noxious weed establishment, impacts to available short-term forage, stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides.  This project reduces risks to multiple communities and watersheds across the Monroe Mountain along with multiple Municipal watersheds of Sevier Valley Communities.

The risk for catastrophic wildfire would be reduced adding a layer of protection from such events to adjacent landowners, homes/structures and Forest Service owned improvements. High value areas including the Manning Meadows and Monroe Meadows communities with numerous homes and structures that are in close proximity to the planned prescribed fire portions of this phase of implementation. Monroe Meadows subdivision is located directly adjacent to a portion of the planned mechanical thinning/timber sale area located near Monkey Flat Ridge.  Manning Meadows also includes a portion of the private land thinning planned during this phase. Other high value areas include Long Flat/Big Flat subdivisions all of which are located directly adjacent to the planned USFS mechanical thinning of this phase of implementation, Once mechanical treatments are completed, future large scale prescribed fire treatments will commence further reducing risk of fire to these subdivisions.

Mechanical thinning will also be occurring on private property in the Magelby area. This treatment in conjunction with future planned prescribed fire and mechanical treatments on adjacent USFS lands will reduce risk of fire to this private property with numerous homes and structures.

The dominant southwest wind flow in conjunction with associated fire behavior and long distance spotting expected from the aspen/mixed conifer fuel type pose significant wildland fire risk to these areas and values. Crossboundary hazardous fuels treatments in high priority areas are occurring in conjunction with the NRCS and Utah Forestry, Fire & State Lands (UFFSL) to reduce the likelihood of adverse fire impacts to communities located on Monroe Mountain.
Values at risk and resource concerns:
* WUI involving Private Property with structures directly adjacent to the project area and scattered across the Monroe Mountain.
* Priority wildlife habitat: Goshawks, Flammulated owls, and Boreal toad within and adjacent to project areas identified high crown fire potentials due to crown connectivity.
* If untreated- continued decline in aspen.
* If untreated- uncharacteristic high intensity/severity fire effects.

The majority of this project is within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); and fire regime IV -- 35-100+ year frequency and high (stand replacement) severity (greater than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced). The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central
tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project is in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2.

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.

Project treatments will result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Project treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. When wildfires occur,  increased erosion, greater opportunities  for stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides. This project reduces risks to multiple watersheds across the Monroe Mountain along with multiple Municipal watersheds of Sevier Valley Communities. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality and watershed health will be maintained or enhanced.  By removing conifer via prescribed fire and or mechanical it is anticipated that watershed resilience, Hydologic storage capacity in the regenerated aspen, and water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved).

Due to concerns for high value/sensitive aquatic species, aquatic monitoring is incorporated into the project design. This will document baseline conditions and help assess project effects and watershed recovery, ensuring aquatic species are maintained and enhancing the ability to plan future large-scale watershed restoration programs. As documented in the Final Record of Decision, this project is compliant with the Clean Water Act.

Fire behavior over the last 2 decades have illustrated the potential for large uncontrollable fires across Monroe Mountain with current fuel loadings and conifer stand densities. A large wildfire would likely lead to large flood events. Water quantity could increase but most increase would be associated with storm events or early snow melt. This would likely lead to channel instability and down-cutting. Ash, erosion from the fire, and erosion from channel adjustments would decrease water quality by increasing water turbidity and sediment loads. These effects could lead to extirpation of fish populations if the area burned was large enough. Water quantity (and quality) would return to near baseline levels as vegetation recovered over time, but channel adjustments such as down-cutting post-fire would likely have long-term consequences such as reduced areas of riparian habitat and wet meadows.

This project has numerous perennial water bodies/riparian systems and watersheds located across Monroe Mountain.  Manning Meadows Reservoir, Manning Creek, Barney Lake, Lower Box Creek Reservoir, Box Creek, Greenwich Creek and the portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir are all TMDL's and 303d listed due to phosphorus levels from sedimentation and erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation.  Restoring uplands will reduce impacts from future wildfires along with reducing risks of future impairment.

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.

The National Environmental Policy Act requires Federal agencies to consider and disclose the effects of proposed actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) analyzed five alternatives and displays the effects in conformance with the Act (40 CFR 1500 to 1508 and FSH 1909.15). The FEIS documents the analysis of environmental effects associated with a suite of restoration treatments on approximately 47,274 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands. The Final Record of Decision (ROD) documents issues presented from public and stakeholders, and local collaborative efforts; in conjunction with the analysis of five alternatives, including a no action alternative. It presents the decision along with rationale and alternatives considered in reaching the decision.

Based on the Biological Assessments/Specialist Reports that were completed for this project, this decision is compliant with the legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 15369c)). This decision will not adversely affect any Threatened, Endangered, Proposed or Candidate species or habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project Wildlife Specialist Report considered impacts to migratory birds to be in compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act requirements and executive order 13186 through the process and intent of the National Memorandum of Understanding and the Utah Strategy, developed between the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Wildlife Specialist Report determined that no adverse impacts to migratory birds' resources are expected as a result of implementing this project.

Based on the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project Wildlife Specialist Report, implementation of the action alternatives would impact perching and roosting habitat for bald and golden eagles in varying degrees but would not impact the two species adversely by modifying any one of the primarily habitat components necessary for persistence of the two species on the Fishlake National Forest. Several design features will be implemented as part of this project. In summary, based on the Wildlife Specialist Report, this project is consistent with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

As described in the Air Quality Specialist Report, in the short term there will be air quality impacts during implementation of this decision; however, National Ambient Air Quality Standards will not be exceeded. In the long term, there will be less fuel and a lower emission potential once an area has received a prescribed burn.

The burn plans are reviewed and each ignition is approved through the Utah State Smoke Management Plan, as described in Utah Rule 307-204. This decision will meet the Utah State Smoke Management Plan requirements and therefore comply with the Clean Air Act.

Based on the Hydrology/Soils Specialist Report, implementation of this decision is in compliance with the Clean Water Act.

The Hydrology/Soils Specialist Report determined that implementation of the action alternatives and this decision is in compliance with Flood Plains and Executive Order 11988.

The Hydrology/Soils Specialist Report determined that implementation of the action alternatives and this decision is in compliance with Wetlands and Executive Order 11990.

The Forest Archaeologist determined that no direct, indirect, or cumulative effects to cultural/heritage resources, as a result of implementing the action alternatives would be expected to occur. A letter from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office also concluded this project would have no effect on any known cultural resources eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Native American tribes were contacted and they expressed no concerns about this project. Based on this information, this project is in compliance with the
National Historic Preservation Act.

This decision is in compliance with Executive Order 12898 because based on public comments there is no indication that this project would adversely or disproportionately affect American Indians, other racial minorities, or low-income groups.

Based on all the collaboration that has occurred for this project, this decision is in compliance with the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Act.

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.

Phase 4 of this project will involve improving aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain by mechanically removing conifer (in house and via contract) from ~1,100 acres of aspen stands, thinning 282 acres of conifer through a traditional timber sale, mechanically thinning 233 acres on private lands, broadcast prescribed burning ~4000 acres of aspen/mixed conifer, pile burning ~300 acres of activity fuels generated from phase 3 of this project, aerial seeding ~500 acres of high severity prescribed burned areas continuing monitoring efforts, and gathering data from ~485 acres in preparation for future mechanical thinning.

The mechanical thinning/piling treatment method on USFS lands will be accomplished primarily through a Good Neighbor Agreement with the UDWR and contract services utilizing forestry equipment.  3-5 tracked bobcat skidsteer loaders with appropriate forestry attachments operated by force account will also be utilized.
 
The mechanical thinning on private lands will be completed in conjunction with the NRCS, Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands (UFFSL) and the private landowners though the Joint Chiefs Partnership.

Due too ungulate browse thresholds being reached on some treated portions of this project, wildlife slash fences when feasible may also be constructed. Fences will be contracted to be built during the thinning process.  The biomass from the mechanical thinning will be utilized to build an approximate 8' tall fence. Biomass fencing will reduce future costs of constructing traditional wildlife net-wire fences and will reduce ungulate browse pressure on newly mechanically treated areas on both private and USFS lands.

Prescribed fire implementation will be accomplished utilizing both Forest Service and inter-agency fire suppression resources along with aerial helicopter contract services and a Good Neighbor Agreement with UFFSLs that will allow us to utilize and include local volunteer fire departments and state fire resources during implementation.

Prescribed fire preparation will be utilizing slash lines via strip felling contracts.. This slash line method as proved to be very valuable and effective in areas that have more critical holding concerns. They broaden opportunities to burn while reducing risk of spotting and spots propagating into problems and threats to values at risk. During this phase ~500 acres are planned to be prepared with slash lines near Manning Meadows Subdivision along with multiple Goshawk PFAs near Barney lake. This will set us up for future burning in the next phase or year of implementation.

The mechanical thinning/piling treatments will be completed during the summer/fall of 2019 and 2020 if necessary. The prescribed fire will then be applied during fall of 2019 and spring of 2020..

During the summer/fall of 2019 a seasonal Forestry, Fire and State Land (FFSL) Timber Crew will complete timber surveys of aspen, mixed conifer and spruce/fir stands on approximately 485 acres in preparation for a future timber sale/thinning contract to be awarded for the following summer of 2020.

Approx. 300 acres of phase 3 piles are planned to be burned. This will be accomplished by force account seasonal firefighters during the winter of 2019/2020. If needed, burn pile scars will be reseeded to minimize establishment of noxious weeds.

Prescribed burn reseeding will generally occur 1-2 days after treatment. We will utilize contract services to seed with helicopter and aerial seeder. Planning to utilize aerial ignition via PSD and helitorch with the helicopter to implement the prescribed fire as well.

As part of this project aspen monitoring is required and needed to determine if new aspen regeneration is successfully recruiting; a sufficient number of aspen sprouts are reaching 6 feet and taller. This aspen monitoring is also needed to determine if aspen browse thresholds are being exceeded and to determine if adaptive management response options need to be implemented. This aspen monitoring is being done by Dr. Sam St. Clair from Brigham Young University and will need to continue for the duration of this project. This aspen monitoring is already funded with prior year funds.

As a part of this project, the District will monitor boreal toads before, during, and after project implementation. Monitoring will be done to ensure project design features are implemented as designed, work as intended and are effective, and that site-specific findings of toad use areas, timing, etc. are incorporated into implementation actions. This monitoring will help ensure that boreal toad impacts are minimized. Monitoring will also include breeding site monitoring to document use and relative densities of populations. The Aquatics Final Monitoring Plan in the Aquatic Specialist Report for Sensitive and MIS Aquatic Species for the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project (Whelan 2015a) discusses the monitoring plan in detail. The monitoring plan includes project objectives of determining changes in toad use areas, chytrid fungus infection rates/changes, finding key concentration areas such as breeding sites and hibernacula that will be buffered/protected, determining boreal toad use of areas planned for treatment, comparing toad use of treated versus untreated habitat, and (to the extent possible) determining population size and survival data. Aquatic Invasive Species control measures and annual reporting requirements are included as part of the monitoring plan. Some modifications have been necessary as radio tracking has been precluded due to low population numbers and UDWR direction. Additional survey work will be done to help determine toad use areas and habitat preferences without the radio tracking data. Due to extremely low Boreal toad population numbers, some historic breeding locations will be fenced and beaver dam analogues will be installed to enhance and protect breeding habitat. Efforts to improve and protect boreal toad breeding and known key habitat use areas are intended to reduce the cumulative effects that Monroe project activities as well as other ongoing land use activities have on boreal toads. These efforts will take place in connection with Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project Phase 3 and will include: fencing construction at Dry Creek Stock Pond #3 and Big Lake and beaver dam analogue installation South Fork Box Creek, Manning Creek/Barney Creek Confluence, Monroe Creek, Christensen Spring, and North Branch of South Fork Greenwich Creek, all of which have either had historic boreal toad breeding or use. Phase 4 project work will include monitoring on fenced areas and BDAs.  More habitat improvements will likely be proposed for Phase 5, after Phase 3 implementation and monitoring helps assess project design effectiveness and the most suitable locations for enhancement.

We will also need to rent a tractor to drag a Dixie or Chain Harrow in adjacent upland meadows to reduce sage and increase grass and forbs.  This will help provide more available forage for ungulate animals and lessen the need to browse on young aspen.  Seeding should not be necessary due to an already productive understory.  We can also treat during the summer in pastures that will be rested from cattle.  Summer rains will help bring an increased response of grass and forbs. (See attached data sheets from Dixie Harrow Transects on past treatments-IMAGES/DOCUMENTS section).

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.

Approximately 120 to 140 long-term aspen transects will be used to monitor status and trend of aspen following implementation. Monitoring is being done in conjunction and coordinated with aspen monitoring/research currently being done on Monroe Mountain by Dr. Sam St. Clair from Brigham Young University. Monitoring will address aspen regeneration/recruitment and understory conditions. Approximately 90 of these transects have already been established and are currently being monitored. To compliment this monitoring, 11 exclosures have also already been built at various locations across Monroe Mountain. See Final Record of Decision for additional information about monitoring.

Aquatics monitoring plans in 2018 were updated and revised in consideration of some of the monitoring findings and developments from summer 2016 and 2017 and meetings with UDWR in March and October of 2017. Radio-tracking of boreal toads was not pursued in 2018 and will not be pursued in 2019. Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags will continue to be used at 6 main breeding zones. EDNA work will be conducted and will be led by Dixie National Forest. Stream monitoring and lake monitoring will also be conducted. Aquatic macroinvertebrates will be collected from Monroe streams. Fish population sampling will be conducted on other Monroe streams. We will work with DWQ to determine ways to allow lake water nutrient test samples to be run even with high algal concentrations. Finally, more proactive boreal toad habitat and population restoration work will begin. If boreal toad egg strands are found on Monroe in 2019, a portion will be taken into captivity to be raised to toadlets for release in the fall. Experimental/temporary key habitat protection measures and other habitat improvement projects will be implemented in Phase III and later stages of the Monroe project. These measures include boreal toad breeding site fencing and beaver dam analogue installations in key boreal toad historic breeding/use habitat.

In addition, the District will monitor fish populations, streamflow, water turbidity, basic water chemistry, and aquatic macroinvertebrates one time before treatments are implemented if they have not been monitored in the last five years. Fish populations, streamflow, water turbidity, basic water chemistry, and aquatic macro invertebrates will also be monitored immediately following project implementation and one final time three to five years following project implementation. Lake water quality (basic water chemistry, nutrient levels, and secchi disk depths) will also be monitored from fish supporting lakes in the project area before project implementation in that watershed, during project implementation, and three to five years following project implementation.

Monitoring will be conducted monthly during the summer season from approximately May/June through Sept/October. The District will repeat hydrological channel monitoring stations (crosssections, longitudinal profiles, and photo points) that were established in or about 2001 on Manning Creek, Barney Creek, Dry Canyon, and Koosharem Creek. These stations will be resampled one time before treatments are implemented, immediately following project implementation, and a final time three to five years following project implementation.

Throughout implementation of this project elk, deer, owls and goshawks will also continue to be monitored annually (TESP and MIS). The District Wildlife staff will work closely with local UDWR biologists to monitor wildlife utilization on aspen regeneration. In the event established thresholds markers are exceeded conferencing will occur to enact protocol measures to prevent continued over-utilization of aspen sprouting. Photo plots combined with camera traps will be established to monitor results.

California Condor: This project lies south of I-70 and is therefore within the 10j experimental non-essential area for the California condor. We will monitor to learn if any of these raptor species are to show up on Monroe Mountain.

Multiple fuels and prescribed fire monitoring plots have been established with the prescribed fire portions of the project. Plots will be visited post treatments 1 year, 3 year, and 5 years to monitor fuels and tree mortality. This will be accomplished by the Forest Service SCA Monitoring Crew.

Invasive and noxious weeds are not known to occur in the treatment areas; however, treatment areas will be monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas.

The Richfield Ranger District is currently partnered with the Fire and Smoke Modeling Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE) research group that will be involved during prescribed fire activities on the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project. FASMEE is a multi-agency effort to provide advanced measurements necessary to evaluate and advance operationally-used fire and smoke modeling systems and their underlying scientific models. The field campaign may be conducted on large operational prescribed fires targeting heavy fuel loads and burned to produce high-intensity fires with developed plumes in the southeastern and western United States.

Not only will treatments enhance habitat for big game but increased diversity will also benefit small game, raptors, rabbits, turkey, as well as predator species (See attached table in documents showing species listed and benefits associated with this project proposal).

Post season deer counts in 2018 for the Koosharem Canyon-Blue Peak area show a 22.1% buck:doe ratio and a 77.9% fawn:doe ratio. We will continue to conduct count routes across the unit to monitor dee and elk use within the treatment areas. Deer and elk are utilizing the treatment areas that have been burned, cut, seeded and/or recently masticated. 2018 post-season deer numbers are very positive and area specific (not indicative of the unit as a whole) which would lead us to believe that vegetation projects on summer, transition and winter range are helping keep deer healthier than other parts of the range. We expect aspen in the higher elevation to indirectly benefit from this project;

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.

The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project is a result of several years of planning and collaboration among interested parties, groups and organizations, and Federal, State and local government agencies. In January 2010, the Utah Forest Aspen Restoration Working Group (UFRWG) finalized the 2010 Guidelines for Aspen Restoration on the National Forests in Utah (UFRWG 2010). As part of this effort, the UFRWG submitted a call for project proposals that could effectively test the newly created guidelines. The Fishlake National Forest submitted the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project to the UFRWG for their consideration. The proposal was accepted and in April 2011 the Monroe Mountain Working Group (MMWG) was formed to provide recommendations and feedback to the District as the project was being developed. From May 2011 through December 2015 the Richfield Ranger District met with the MMWG almost monthly developing and working on this project. These meetings were open to the public to provide information, ask and answer questions and discuss the proposed action and alternatives.

The MMWG consist of the following stakeholders: Utah Cattlemen's Association; Utah Woolgrowers Association; Utah State University Extension; Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Trout Unlimited; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR); Piute County Commission; Sevier County Commission; Utah Department of Agriculture and Food; Utah Farm Bureau; Rocky Mountain Research Station; Grand Canyon
Trust; Western Aspen Alliance; and Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources was a cooperating agency for the Monroe Aspen EIS and Final Record of Decision.

The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project was selected by the Joint Chiefs Partnership with NRCS and USFS. Through a partnership with UFFSL, NRCS and multiple private landowners, treatments are also occurring on private lands located on Monroe Mountain in conjunction with treatments occurring on lands managed by the Richfield Ranger District.  A Good Neighbor Agreement with UFFSLs is currently in place that will allow us to utilize and include local volunteer fire departments and state fire resources during prescribed fire planning and implementation. A Good Neighbor Agreement with UDWR is also currently in place that promotes the UDWR to be involved with planning implementation. Interagency agreement with the BLM are also in place.  This will allow for an interagency effort during implementation of the prescribed fire along with utilizing BLM work force during portions of the mechanical implementation.

In 2017 the Six County Association of Governments had their annual natural resources tour on Monroe Mountain.  Governor Herbert also attended for part of the day. Throughout the day this project area and other project areas on the Monroe were visited. Those in attendance expressed their support for this project and doing active management.

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.

Treatment sequencing follows a Monroe Mountain wide 10-year implementation plan and is primarily based on the current distribution of wild browsers on Monroe Mountain. Mechanical and prescribed fire treatments have begun in the southerly portion of the project area where visually, current browse pressures on aspen appear to be less than the northerly and central portions of the project area. Following treatments in the southern area, treatments in the northerly portion of the project will likely be conducted. Browse pressures in the north appear to be higher than what is occurring in the south, but less than the central portion of the project area. Following treatments in the southern and northern areas, treatments in the central portion of the project area will likely be initiated next. By generally sequencing the project in this order, browse pressure may be more directed away from newly treated areas; this is expected to increase the probability of regenerating aspen to reach 6 feet tall after treatment.

Mechanical treatments will occur in areas adjacent to private lands, areas adjacent to northern goshawk territories, and areas within/adjacent to boreal toad and Bonneville cutthroat trout habitat. These aspen, spruce/fir, and mixed conifer areas will be mechanically treated first within each sequence area (southern, northern, and central). Implementing these mechanical treatments will help reduce the risk of impacts from planned future prescribed fire to private property, northern goshawk, boreal toad, and Bonneville cutthroat trout.

Increased pace and scale of restoration type projects in this area is currently underway. Multiple projects have been, and are currently being implemented and more are being planned on Monroe Mountain. This project directly coordinates at a watershed and landscape level with the Pine Canyon to Koosharem Creek Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project that is currently being implemented in the mid to lower elevations on the east side of Monroe Mountain.  The Pine Canyon to Koosharem Creek Project covers a good portion of the mid to lower elevations located on the east side of the Monroe Mountain.  The project is planned to continue over the next 2-4 years in conjunction with a future wildlife habitat improvement project that is currently in the planning process.  The planned project will include landscape level treatments in the majority of the remaining lower to mid level areas around Monroe Mountain that are not currently covered under this project or the Pine Canyon to Koosharem Creek Project.   Also this is in effort to disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates and improve watershed health across the entire Monroe Mountain and BLM treatments occurring in the valleys surrounding the mountain..

Aspen browse thresholds and adaptive management response options have been developed and will be implemented to help ensure new regenerating aspen successfully recruit (become 6 feet or taller). To assist this effort, extensive aspen monitoring by Dr. Sam St. Clair has occurred and is contracted to continue.

Implementation of this project will reduce the risk of catastrophic high severity wildland fire; thus reducing the risk to the public and firefighters. This also reduces the risk to private property. Health and public safety is improved. With these reduced risks, future planned prescribed fire and management of naturally caused fires may be possible. This would allow fire to play greatest feasible natural role in the environment, in particular through the maintaining of a diverse mosaic of seral aspen stages into the future. Mechanical treatments may also be considered to maintain aspen ecosystems on the landscape.

As habitat is improved for ungulates (deer, elk, cattle, sheep) and additional forage becomes available, the Fishlake National Forest expects the flexibility and management of ungulates will improve. Maintaining healthy populations of wildlife while also responding to the needs of livestock permittees is expected to become easier. WRI  funded a water development/fencing project to help distribute livestock and provide additional flexibility to move livestock to accommodate temporary rest following treatments. The infrastructure for that project has been installed and our Aspen Project has been benefiting from the water infrastructure project for the past few years. Post implementation, we've been able to temporary rest areas from livestock use without reducing livestock numbers or season of use.

BYU continues to monitor aspen browse. To date we are seeing positive aspen results (especially in the prescribed fire portions) and we've been able to maintain livestock numbers and season of use. The water development/fence project has been a great success and will continue to be of benefit for the Aspen Project. As additional areas continue to get treated, our plan is to continue implementing the browse thresholds and if thresholds are exceeded, in coordination with the MMWG, implementing a suit of adaptive management response options. Our goal is to ensure an adequate amount of aspen regeneration successfully recruits.

In addition, mosaic treatment patterns are desired. Our goal is to continue treating approximately 60% thus leaving a mosaic of 40% untreated. This treatment approach is needed to maintain compliance with the Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan as it relates to northern goshawk.

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.

Forage Production or Improved Distribution:
Aspen ecosystems are rich in species of grasses, forbs, and animals; especially in comparison to associated coniferous forest types. The high value of the aspen ecosystem type as a forage resource for livestock and as forage and cover for wildlife increases with the implementation of this project. Through both the mechanical thinning and prescribed fire treatments, conifer encroachment is reduced and aspen regeneration/recruitment is promoted. This in return moves aspen ecosystems on the Monroe Mountain on a trajectory toward accomplishing desired conditions thus improving aspen ecosystems.

The amount of forage available to livestock is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of conifer, the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the aspen understory is also expected to increase significantly. With increased forage livestock distribution and management is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by livestock.

Livestock numbers on Monroe Mountain have been fairly constant for the past 50 years or so; however, during that timeframe with subalpine fir encroachment into aspen stands and PJ encroachment into sagebrush/grass/forb areas the amount of forage available to ungulates has decreased significantly. Healthy aspen stands provide 800-1,000 pounds of forage per acre and with conifer encroachment forage decreases to 0-50 pounds per acre. In treatments areas we are seeing significant increases in forage. This restored forage is and will continue to provide better conditions for ungulates already on Monroe Mountain and is restoring forage that has been declining for the past century. This restored forage in the aspen will help improve ungulate distribution and we anticipate benefits in the adjacent community types as distribution is improved. This increased forage also will help during drought years and helping maintain forage for a longer period of time into the grazing season. Having the season of use or livestock numbers temporary reduced during drought years is constantly a concern for permittees. With increased forage, our ability to maintain livestock numbers and season of use (while also maintaining compliance with the grazing standards and guidelines outlined in the Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan) during the drought years becomes easier.

Browse pressure from both domestic livestock and wild ungulates is a concern with the implementation of this project. The District will ensure, if needed, the temporary resting of treatment areas, herding, and electric fences are incorporated into Annual Operating Instructions. These actions will help ensure that permittees are in the communication loop and will give them enough time to plan for the resources they need to continue their
operations. Impacts to permittees will be minimized by the use of herding and temporary electric fences so that treatment areas and/or stable aspen stands can be temporarily rested while non-treatment areas can continue to be grazed. With several treatments occurring in 2016 and 2017 livestock permittees were still able to keep their full livestock numbers on Monroe Mountain the entire grazing season.

If browse thresholds are reached, a suite of adaptive management response options can be implemented; as described in the Final Record of Decision. The browse thresholds and response options are included in this project to ensure an adequate amount of aspen regeneration successfully recruits thus moving toward desired conditions that benefit domestic livestock. The browse thresholds and adaptive management response options
are supported by the MMWG and the Utah Wildlife Board.

Other Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
As part of this project, traditional timber sales are planned to occur throughout project implementation.  Efforts are being made to commercially sale merchantable  timber during this phase of implementation.  Approx. 282 acres of dead spruce and Doug fir areas are planned to be contract cut and then sold. Approx. 485 acres are planned to be prepared for future timber sales. Some treated areas may be re-planted with both spruce and Doug fir as deemed appropriate by the District Timber Staff.  Fir dominated areas that were prescribed fire treated in phase 3 of this project are currently in the process of being replanted with merchantable timber species such as Spruce and Doug Fir.

District Timber staff have been promoting commercial biomass sales of normally non merchantable timber such as white and sub-alpine fir to local private companies to be processed into wood chips.  Some interest is starting to be shown and hopefully a market niche will be developed and more of the biomass produced from the mechanical portions of this project will be able to be utilized.

Monroe Mountain is a very popular hunting unit for big game, fishing (a variety of fish species), camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, snowmobiling, private land ownership, wild turkeys and a variety of upland game and non-game species. Aspen restoration will improve transition and summer ranges that will benefit wildlife along with improving water quality and reducing risk to necessary fish habitat and watersheds.  This project will promote sustainability for a variety of sportsmen and sportswomen along with providing more hunting and fishing opportunities for future generations.

Monroe Mountain is also a very popular area for camping, hiking, snowmobiling wildlife viewing and ATV trail riding.  Miles of hiking and ATV trails exist across Monroe Mountain.  Aspen restoration across the mountain will promote a renewed resilient beautiful sustainable forest that will be enjoyed by future generations.

Vegetation treatments that encourage aspen regeneration on spring and summer range will continue to provide quality deer fawning and elk calving habitat.  A productive understory combined with some dead and down trees is optimal habitat for big game birthing.  Monroe Mountain studies done by BYU and UDWR have shown that deer coming off summer range have a sufficient fat layer and acceptable body condition going into winter.  It is imperative that additional acres are treated to benefit big game and livestock body conditions at the end of summer and fall.  This project will continue to provide those opportunities to ungulate animals by improving the health and integrity of the overall ecosystem.

Attached in the image/documents section is a table showing species listed for this project with an associated benefit.  A wide variety of species inhabit the aspen-spruce-fir ecosystem of Monroe Mt.  If left alone conifer would continue to dominate over aspen causing an increase of a mono-culturistic pattern which would decrease diversity among vegetation and wildlife species.  This project is critical at this point in time to set back this dramatic increase of conifer encroachment and restore as many acres of aspen as possible to preserve diversity across the ecosystem.

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.