Project Details

Cheatgrass has become the most abundant invasive species in the nation. Cheatgrass can negatively influence ecosystems and have economic impacts by displacing native plants, increasing wildfire events, reducing yields, and reducing biodiversity. Cheatgrass has become more prevalent in the four different habitat project areas proposed (7,102 acres) that have previously been implemented on BLM and SITLA lands. Plateau herbicide would be applied aerially in the fall of 2019 on the entire project area application to help control the cheatgrass infestation. Herbicide control was chosen because it is one of the most cost-effective weed treatments for large areas and has a low level of soil disturbance.

Cheatgrass infestations can influence the habitat, food and shelter of many wildlife species and livestock. The Deadman Bench, Snake John and Raven Ridge areas encompass greater sage-grouse winter and brood-rearing habitat, BLM designated General Habitat Management Area, greater sage-grouse leks within 3.1 miles of the areas, mule deer winter crucial habitat, pronghorn year-long crucial habitat and several raptor nests within the area (i.e. golden eagle and ferruginous hawk). The Shiner Basin treatment area encompasses, greater sage-grouse winter and brood-rearing habitat, BLM designated Priority Habitat Management Area, State of Utah Designated SGMA, greater sage-grouse leks within and within 3.1 miles of the treatment area, elk crucial winter habitat, mule deer crucial winter habitat, and white-tailed prairie dog colonies. The Cherry Springs treatment area is encompassed greater sage-grouse winter and brood-rearing habitat, BLM BLM designated Priority Habitat Management Area, State of Utah Designated SGMA, greater sage-grouse leks within and within 3.1 miles of the treatment area, elk crucial summer habitat, and mule deer crucial summer habitat.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

If these areas are not treated, ecological, economical, and restoration costs could all be affected due to cheatgrass infestation.

Invasive Plant Species--Non-native: 
Cheatgrass is highly prolific and a competitive winter annual weed. Cheatgrass has a tendency to displace native vegetation quickly, which can cause a decrease in important habitat and quality forage for wildlife and livestock. When cheatgrass starts displacing native habitats, for example the sagebrush steppe, local economies and over 350 species of plants and animals that rely on the sagebrush for food, forage and shelter are negatively impacted.  Fire and invasive plant species are one of the primary threats to greater sage-grouse and their habitats. Cheatgrass has invaded the project areas, through the use of Plateau herbicide, this project aims to reduce these impacts from cheatgrass invasion.

Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity:
Cheatgrass can affect fire regimes because of the continuity of the fine fuels it creates. The fire return intervals are shortened because of the fine fuels, which does not allow for complete recover of perennial vegetation before the next fire.  The shortened fire return intervals allow the cheatgreass to outcompete native vegetation and spread rapidly, promoting lager and more frequent fires. Fire does destroy the cheatgrass plant, but usually does not harm the thousands of cheatgrass seeds in the soil, thus the cheatgrass seedbank outcompetes native plants and can destroy native ecosystems quickly. Due to the presence, and potential expansion, of cheatgrass in the project areas, fire frequency and intensity is likely to increase, which would further damage the area and reduce its value for greater sage-grouse and other wildlife and livestock that utilize the area. This project aims to reduce this risk through the chemical control of cheatgrass.

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.

Vernal Approved Resource Management Plan-BLM:
FIRE-4- Hazardous fuel reduction activities will be implemented primarily through the use of prescribed
fire and managed wildland fire. In some cases, chemical and/or mechanical treatments will be
used in conjunction with fire. Where social and/or resource constraints preclude the use of fire,
mechanical and/or chemical treatments will be used.
FIRE-5- Criteria for developing hazardous fuel reduction priorities will consist of the following:
* Areas of Fire Regime Condition Class 2 and 3
* Areas where the potential risk of losing keystone ecosystem species is present
* Areas where threats to private/public property exist
VEG-1 - Allow mechanical, fire, biological, or chemical control of noxious weeds and insect
infestations within the resource planning area with restrictions to protect desired ground cover
and water quality. Use the type of manipulation appropriate to and consistent with other land
use objectives.
VEG-2 - Continue implementation of noxious weed and invasive species control actions as per
national guidance and local weed management plans (WMPs) in cooperation with state agencies,
federal agencies, county governments, private landowners and other partners or interests directly
affected.
VEG-3 - Utilize principles of integrated pest management for the control and management of
noxious weeds and invasive species. These include prevention and control through mechanical,
cultural, biological, and chemical methods.
VEG-4 - Manage the vegetation to attain the ecological stage that will benefit wildlife in
crucial habitat and livestock grazing. Manage vegetation in remaining areas that results in high
vegetation species diversity.
VEG-9 - Manage the vegetation to attain the ecological stage that will:
*	Ensure sustainability;
*	Meet authorized use allocations (such as livestock and wildlife); and
*	Ensure species diversity.
VEG-10 - Manage the vegetative types to achieve the desired mix of seral stages, as outlined in
the ROD page 134.
MCA-5 - Appropriately manage noxious and invasive weeds and prevent introduction of new invasive species through the implementation of a comprehensive weed program per national guidance and local WMPs, including coordination with partners; prevention and early detection; education; inventory and monitoring; and using the principles of integrated pest management.
MCA-6 - All projects that involve ground-disturbing activities shall incorporate best management practices (BMPs) for control of weeds with an emphasis on prevention.
MCA-7 - Use of pesticides and herbicides shall comply with the applicable federal and state laws.
Pesticides and herbicides shall be used only in accordance with their registered uses and within limitations imposed by the Secretary of the Interior.
WL-34- Prevent the spread of non-native plants, especially cheatgrass, salt cedar and Russian olive to maintain and enhance the habitat of neotropical migratory birds.
Rangeland Health Standard 3- Protect against the establishment and/or spread of noxious or other
weeds from intensive recreation, including the use of riding and pack animals, hiking, motorized,
or other mechanized vehicles.

Utah Greater Sage-grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment:

MA-VEG-1: In PHMA, where necessary to meet GRSG habitat objectives, treat areas to maintain and
expand healthy GRSG habitat (e.g., conifer encroachment areas and annual grasslands).
MA-VEG-12: In PHMA, integrated Vegetation Management will be used to control, suppress, and
eradicate noxious and invasive species per BLM Handbook H-1740-2.
MA-FIRE-1: In collaboration with the USFWS and relevant state agencies, complete and maintain
GRSG Landscape Wildland Fire and Invasive Species Habitat Assessments to prioritize at risk habitats,
and identify fuels management, preparedness, suppression and restoration priorities necessary to
maintain sagebrush habitat to support interconnecting GRSG populations. These assessments and
subsequent assessment updates will also be a collaborative effort to take into account other GRSG
priorities identified in this plan. Appendix H describes a minimal framework example and suggested
approach for this assessment.
MA-LG-17: In PHMA, monitor for and treat noxious weeds and treat invasive species where needed,
associated with existing range improvements.

Executive Order 13112-1999:
Requires federal agencies to use relevant programs and authorities to: (i) prevent the introduction of invasive species; (ii) detect and respond rapidly to and control populations of such species in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner; (iii) monitor invasive species populations accurately and reliably; (iv) provide for restoration of native species and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded; (v) conduct research on invasive species and develop technologies to prevent introduction and provide for environmentally sound control of invasive species; and (vi) promote public education on invasive species and the means to address them; and (vii) not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States or elsewhere unless, pursuant to guidelines that it has prescribed, the agency has determined and made public its determination that the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the potential harm caused by invasive species.

BLM Manual 9015 -- Integrated Weed Management
Objectives
*	The BLM is vitally interested in an integrated pest management approach to the control and management of noxious Weeds. The BLM has and shall continue to remain active in developing, demonstrating, and applying the essential science, technology, and stewardship necessary to effectively manage and prevent the spread and infestation of noxious weeds.
*	The BLM's historical role has been reactive; the objective of this policy is to more fully integrate all BLM programs and activities into actions, which will improve the quality and ecological conditions of lands under the BLM management in the United States.
*	Prevent establishment and spread of new infestation by early detection, increase the general knowledge and awareness of employees, other users of the BLM lands, private landowners/operators, and State agencies about the noxious weed problems.
*	 Reduce existing infestation levels.
*	 Manage and contain established stands.

Vernal Fire Management Plan:

Fire Management Objectives:
Management objectives of the Vernal Resource Management Plan state:
1)	Allow mechanical, fire, biological, or chemical control of noxious weeds and insect infestations within the resource planning area with restrictions to protect desired ground cover and water quality. Use the type of manipulation appropriate to and consistent with other land use objectives.

Utah Statewide Pronghorn Management Plan:

B. Habitat Management Goal: Assure sufficient habitat is available to sustain
healthy and productive pronghorn populations.
Objective 1: Maintain or enhance the quantity and quality of pronghorn habitat to allow
populations to increase.
Strategies:
a. Identify crucial pronghorn habitats and work with public and private land
managers to protect and enhance those areas.
c. Work with public land management agencies to minimize, and where
necessary, mitigate loss or degradation of pronghorn habitat.
e. Under the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, design, implement, and
monitor the effectiveness of habitat improvement projects to benefit
pronghorn.

Utah Elk Statewide Management Plan:

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. 
Strategies:
B. Habitat Management 
a) Coordinate with land management agencies and private landowners to properly manage and improve elk habitat, especially calving and wintering areas. 
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. 
Habitat Objective 2: Reduce adverse impacts to elk herds and elk habitat.
Strategies:
C. Noxious Weed Control 
a) Work with land management agencies and county weed boards to control the spread of noxious and invasive weeds throughout the range of elk in Utah.

Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan:

Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges.
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.
Strategies:
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.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

Because of the early phenology of (i.e. fast growing and winter and early spring growth habit) cheatgrass, it easily can outcompete native vegetation for moisture, nutrients, and sunlight. Cheatgrass can exploit moisture early in the season while native perennials are still dormant due to the development of extensive root systems at cold temperatures. Cheatgrass can use a large proportion of soil moisture, making the successive establishment of other desirable plant species difficult. Thus, water quantity, especially soil moisture, could be negatively affected on a site-specific scale.

Studies have found that with increased fire frequency due to cheatgrass infestations, overall erosion potential increases after a wildfire, thus in the short-term water quality could be compromised until the cheatgrass can produce enough litter and root mass to hold the soils in place. In the short-term after a fire the soil is exposed and without vegetation to provide cover and roots to bind soil particles together, the soil is then more prone to water and wind erosion. With the shorter cheatgrass-fire intervals, risk of erosion increases, thus water quality may decrease in the interim on a site-specific scale.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

The project area is currently grazed, by cattle and some areas by sheep, and will continue to be grazed. The herbicide treatments will not influence the current grazing management plans. Cheatgrass infestations can affect rangeland forage for livestock and wildlife because it replaces perennial species that provide high nutrition and year-round forage. Cheatgrass can provide good nutrition during its early growth stages but cheatgrass is only palatable for a short window of time. The year-to-year forage production of cheatgrass also varies greatly. With a small window of palatability, varied forage production, and displacement of native perennial species, all these factors influenced by cheatgrass infestations can cause a significant cost in forage quantity and quality, loss of wildlife habitat, degradation of ecosystems, and cost-prohibitive restoration. Increased fire frequency can also influence recreational use of the area due to cost of rehabilitation and potentially closing off areas to recreational use due to fire recovery of the area.

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.