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Goose Creek Fire Stream Restoration - Phase 1
Region: Northern
ID: 4876
Project Status: Completed
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Project Details
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Need for Project
The Goose Creek Fire burned 132,220 acres in Utah and Nevada in 2018. Vegetation along Straight Fork Creek and tributaries to Straight Fork were were severely burned. Soils in this area are highly erodible. With the loss of vegetation, we anticipate a high likelihood of down-cutting and erosion in the riparian areas with the potential for large debris flows. We plan to install a range of structures to minimize this risk. These structures will include beaver dam analog type structures, post assisted log structures, woody debris piles, and knocking adjacent standing burned junipers into the stream channel.
Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.
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Objectives
Retain sediment Reduce risk of channel downcutting Improve the functioning condition of riparian areas Accelerate incision recovery
Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.
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Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?)
This area is at a high risk for crossing an ecological threshold. Prior to the Goose Creek fire, the riparian areas were heavily impacted by livestock grazing, juniper encroachment, and portions of the watershed already have downcutting and channel incision occurring. Taking action at this point will reduce the risk of further downcutting, erosion, and channel incision and partnered with post fire rest from livestock grazing, will allow for riparian recovery. Without this project future riparian improvement will be unlikely. These structures will promote expanding the wet meadow area which will promote habitat for wildlife.
LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.
TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.
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Relation to Management Plans
WAP Box Elder Coordinated Resource Management Plan Goose Emergency Stabilization & Rehabilitation
List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.
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Fire/Fuels
healthy riparian - fire breaks, fire-resistant landscapes. Keeping riparian areas in proper functioning condition will prevent massive erosion impacts and can act as a fire break and prevent streams from excessive degradation post-fire.
If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.
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Water Quality/Quantity
This project will improve water quality. Slowing the flow and reducing erosion will decrease levels of fine sediment in the water. It will improved riparian condition will and filtration capabilities.
Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.
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Compliance
NEPA is not required as it is part of ESR efforts. This project was included in ESR plans but not funded. Additionally this project would fall under Box Elder BDA DNA. Stream alteration permit would be required -- support of water users of Etna reservoir. Additionally, due to post fire rehabilitation, state regulations regarding BDA structures and temporary water storage permits does not apply.
Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.
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Methods
A variety of low tech handbuilt structures, including beaver dam analogues and post assisted structures, will be constructed to mitigate post fire run-off and sediment deliver. Addtionally these structures will promote stream and riparian restoration.
Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.
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Monitoring
Obtain photo points to be utilized to determine if a second phase is necessary to achieve desired conditions.
Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.
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Partners
BLM, SITLA, FWS, Box Elder CRM, USU Extension
List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.
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Future Management
Changes in grazing management and fence locations to reduce pressure in riparian areas will be considered in the future. Following the initial implementation of this project, phase 2 could be planned to included additional structures if needed and the planting of riparian vegetation including willows. New fencing is planned for this grazing allotment as part of the ESR plan. This fence will create a new pasture as well as protect the re-seeding efforts from the fire. This new fence and pasture will allow more rest each year along Straight Fork.
Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.
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Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources
Implementation of these structures will improve riparian areas for wildlife as well as mesic areas for sage grouse. Additionally, the improvement of these areas will improve forage availability for livestock.
Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.
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