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Circle Cliffs Allotment Stair Canyon Pipeline Replacement
Region: Southern
ID: 5087
Project Status: Cancelled
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Project Details
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Need for Project
The Stair Canyon Pipeline is integral to the proper management and distribution of livestock within the Circle Cliffs Grazing Allotment and provides water to 4 of the 5 pastures within the allotment. The initial pipeline was installed circa 1970 with a 2.5 mile extension completed in 1991. Over the years the pipeline has been patched and repaired numerous times. BLM has determined that total replacement of the pipe is warranted rather than continue to try and maintain the existing pipe. Other water sources are extremely limited in the area and due to the condition of the existing line, water is not always available in the allotment pastures as needed. Completion of the project would ensure that proper distribution of livestock would occur within the allotment and its pastures. The project is a collaborative effort between BLM and the Circle Cliff Allotment Permittees.
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
The primary objective of the the project is provide reliable water within the Circle Cliffs allotment for both wildlife and livestock. Water would be made available from November through March and could be made available on a year-round basis as deemed necessary. The project will ensure that proper distribution of livestock occurs throughout the allotment, which is expected to provided for the long-term maintenance /success of seeding restoration efforts by maintaining herbaceous species.
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?)
Overall threats/risks are negligible. The BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) will install the the pipeline within the footprint of the existing pipeline while limiting the surface disturbance to the greatest extent possible. Furthermore, if necessary the GSENM will re-vegetate the disturbed area with an adequate seed mix conducive to the range site(s).
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
The project is in conformance with the GSENM Managment Plan (1999), Circle Cliffs Allotment Management Plan (1984), and the Escalante Management Framework Plan and Kanab/Escalante Grazing EIS (1981). Maintenance of the pipeline is also addressed under a Cooperative Agreement for Range Improvements (2003). The BLM determined that the 1991 extension was in conformance with the Environmental Assessment #UT-040-91-36. Cultural and wildlife surveys have been completed to allow for the construction of the project.
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
Not Applicable
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
Not Applicable
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
Environmental Assessment UT-040-91-36
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
The construction of the pipeline will be completed by the GSENM and/or Kanab Field Office (KFO) BLM staff. A D-6 or equivalent caterpillar and back hoe will be the primary equipment used to install the pipe. The project will be approximately 3 miles in length and pipe will be buried to a depth of 30-36". The livestock permittees will be responsible for tank and trough replacement/ construction.
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
BLM staff will continue to collect monitoring data (trend, utilization, etc...) throughout the area in accordance with established protocol.
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
The Circle Cliffs Allotment is a communal allotment with three permit holders. The three permittees have been consulted with and support the project. They have offered to assist in the installation of the pipe and make the necessary connections to troughs/tanks associated with the project.
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
Livestock grazing would continue to be managed under the direction of the Circle Cliffs Allotment AMP(1984). The Season of Use is from November 1 through March 31 at 1,050 Active AUMs which equates to 212 Cows.
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
Completion of the project will ensure that water is available as needed in the grazing allotment facilitating the appropriate distribution of livestock. Additionally, Range Management will continue with GSENM Range staff collecting monitoring data such as trend, utilization, actual use and precipitation. This information will be used to inform any future decisions impacting natural resources within the project 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.
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