Dolores River Restoration 4.0 - Utah
Region: Southeastern
ID: 5215

Project Status: Completed

Project Details

The establishment of tamarisk, Russian olive, and other non-native invasive plants along the Dolores River during the 20th century negatively impacted riparian and aquatic habitats. Dense stands of tamarisk displaced native plants, degraded fish and wildlife habitat, reduced livestock forage, limited human access to the river, interfered with the natural fluvial processes of the river, and increased the risk of severe wildfires.

The impacts of tamarisk on aquatic habitats are sometimes not fully recognized, but tamarisk tends to eliminate side channel and backwater habitats that provide critical spawning and nursery habitat for native fish by trapping sediments, reduce in-stream habitat complexity in a manner that negatively impacts rare native fishes, and reduce the input of key nutrients that support aquatic food webs (Graf 1978, Geological Society of American Bulletin 89:1149-1501; Bailey et al. 2001, Wetlands 21:442-447; Keller et al. 2014, Environmental Management 54:465-478).

Inventory and monitoring of riparian habitats by Tamarisk Coalition and the University of Denver revealed a pattern of establishment and spread of very dense stands of tamarisk accompanied by the displacement of diverse native plant communities along major stretches of the Dolores River. Beginning in 2009, the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP), which includes participants from a variety of public and private organizations (including four BLM field offices in Utah and Colorado), identified and began treating over 1,900 acres of impacted riparian habitat dominated by tamarisk and other invasive plants in an effort to restore native vegetation and improve the quality of riparian and riverine habitats.

The proposed project builds upon previous efforts and is needed to complete the initial removal of tamarisk underneath mature cottonwood galleries that occur within larger cottonwood gallery complexes.  This project will also provide for follow up maintenance of woody invasive re-sprouts at other sites including the recently inundated side-channel portion of the berm removal site that provides important habitat for juvenile native fish.  Finally, this project seeks to enhance understory conditions at several previously treated areas by treating secondary weeds using a combination of prescribed grazing and herbicide, and, revegetate ideal sites with native trees, shrubs, and seeds.

One area where maintenance and enhancement activities will occur is at the berm site at Stateline between mile 150-151. The flowpath of the newly reconnected side channel is now evident and previous work to clear the flowpath of non-natives was successful.  Very little follow-up maintenance is required at this time except for isolated individual Russian olives near the inlet.  Minimal maintenance efforts at this site will prevent re-infestation and proliferation of Russian olive and will continue to allow the side channel to flow freely.
Initial removal focusing on removing ladder fuels and competition underneath and adjacent to the native cottonwood stand across from the berm site (river right) was completed in 2019 under the Dolores 3.0 project.  Native shrubs are also prolific at this site mixed in with the tamarisk. Additional work is necessary to complete the removal of both tamarisk and Russian olive at this location.

In the Beaver Creek to Rio Mesa reach (river mile 155-160), 2 sites have been prioritized for initial removal efforts and 4 sites from 2018/2019 will be evaluated and treated for resprouts. Establishment of tamarisk in this area has altered fluvial processes and increased rates of sedimentation, leading to the loss of the side channel, which historically served as important spawning and juvenile habitats for sensitive and endangered fishes. Impacts to native riparian vegetation and wildlife have been equally significant. Many of these areas have adequate cover of native species and are expected to recover through passive regeneration.

These sites can only be accessed by raft during high water which coincides with the presence of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Similar to our 2017 (Dolores 1.0) and 2019 (Dolores 3.0) campaign, a bird biologist will need to assess bird occupancy ahead of the raft crews. Three "contingency" units have been identified in the Rio Mesa to the Colorado River Confluence reach between river mile 163-165. If the upstream raft units can't be treated because of the presence of SWFL then work will be initiated on these sites.

Initial removal of non-native tamarisk will continue upstream of Robert's Bottom on river left clearing out ladder fuels and competition from underneath a large cottonwood gallery and around the diverse native shrub understory.  These treatments are important management tools to help restore native riparian vegetation as a means of improving fluvial processes, increasing the quality of riparian vegetation for wildlife and livestock, and reducing fire danger. 
At Robert's Bottom, seed from naturally occurring grasses and forbs, not available commercially, will be collected and grown out for future planting in WRI fiscal year 2021.  Although plants are still present, previous attempts to collect seed have been thwarted by the lack of seed production due to lack of summer and monsoonal precipitation.

In an effort integrate more tools into the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) toolbox for addressing herbaceous weeds, this proposal intends to utilize prescribed grazing with goats to address kochia and knapweed infestations at Robert's Bottom and at the cottonwood gallery just upstream.

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.

A variety of threats that have degraded riparian habitat along the Dolores River in Utah will be addressed with this proposed work.  Motorized forms of recreation have damaged native plant communities and spread noxious weeds at the Stateline and Roberts Bottom sites. Dense stands of tamarisk have increased fuel loads and, with their deep root systems, altered the sediment transport balance and simplified riverine habitat along vast stretches of the twenty-two miles of the Dolores River's course in eastern Utah. Many of these stretches are also dominated by a suite of invasive, non-native plants that accompany tamarisk, such as Russian knapweed and kochia.

By improving the diversity and health of the plant community in the historic floodplain, habitat improvements supporting aquatic species (e.g. better nutrient inputs and increased habitat diversity for desert fish), riparian species (e.g. enhanced cover and food for migrating southwestern willow flycatchers), and upland species (e.g. forbs in the upper river terraces for big-horn sheep).

Currently, the biggest risk is not building on past investments effectively to restore native plant communities to a healthier, increasingly self-sustaining level.  In some of the areas proposed within this project, invasive plant densities are yet reduced to a level of low-intensity maintenance; failure to build on past work in these areas in a timely manner will detract from previous restoration efforts and increase costs down the road for improving habitat and reducing fuel loads.

Increased intensity and frequency of wildfires is a large risk, in particular, the potential to burn cottonwood galleries, which are critical to riparian health and provide habitat. Based on reduced spring peak flows from upstream diversions and drought, cottonwoods are less-likely to naturally propagate as abundantly as in the past (Coble and Kolb, 2012.) As such, it is critical this project protects naturally occurring cottonwoods from fire potential.

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.

(1) The Moab Field Office's Programmatic Invasive Species Management Plan (PISMP) uses an integrated pest management approach to eradicate, contain, control, and prevent targeted weeds within the MFO. The desired goal is to contain or control the spread of invasive species, and eradicate species that pose the greatest threat to the biological diversity within the MFO, and prevent any new weeds from becoming established by utilizing a wide range of treatment options (i.e. mechanical, manual, herbicide, etc.).  The resulting pro-active management of these plants would promote the areas ecosystem health and promote diverse native communities by maintaining and improving native forbs and grass species, increasing the regeneration of native cottonwoods and willows in riparian corridors, and ultimately preventing the loss of wildlife habitat, species diversity, and wildfire risk.

(2) Moab BLM Resource Management Plan (RMP) prioritizes management of riparian vegetation and emphasizes the control of noxious weeds, prevention of the spread of invasive species, and restoration of vegetated areas. Reduction of tamarisk and restoration of native riparian vegetation addresses management objectives for improving the quality and health of riparian habitats while improving the quality of resources used in recreation and reducing fuels in a manner that decreases the likelihood and severity of wildfires. Specific management decisions in the RMP that are directly related to the primary objectives of the proposed project include RIP-9, which calls for restoring riparian vegetation "through biological, chemical, mechanical, and manual methods (e.g., tamarisk control, willow plantings)," and RIP-16, which calls for implementation of strategies to "restore degraded riparian communities" and "protect natural flow regimes."

(3) The project addresses goals and objectives of the BLM Utah Riparian Policy, which states that "riparian areas are to be improved at every opportunity."

(4) The Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) for the State of Utah identifies lowland riparian habitat as being highest priority for conservation and restoration. UDWR has designated segments of the Dolores River corridor as "essential habitat" due to its cottonwood gallery, high avian biodiversity, importance as turkey habitat and deer winter range, importance to breeding and overwintering waterfowl, and use by bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

(5) The Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Roundtail Chub Gila robusta, Bluehead Sucker Catostomus discobolus, and Flannelmouth Sucker Catostomus latipinnes (UDWR Publication 06-18) includes an objective of enhancing and maintaining habitat for each of the three species. Tamarisk removal and side channel restoration has been an important component of this effort in other parts of Utah. All three of the "three species" are present in the Dolores River.

(6) The proposed project supports the goals of DRRP's 2010 Dolores River Riparian Action Plan and 2015 DRRP Transition Plan for Monitoring and Maintenance, which outline restoration goals, objectives, and methods for restoring and managing 175 miles of the Dolores River from McPhee Reservoir in Colorado to the confluence with the Colorado River in Utah.

(7) The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan calls for an emphasis on improving riparian habitat and use of seed mixes that include sufficient forbs and browse species (Habitat Objective 2).

(8) Pursuant to the Utah Noxious Weed Act, Section 7, to every person who owns or controls lands in Grand County, Utah, that noxious weeds standing, being, or growing on such land shall be controlled and the spread of same prevented by effective cutting, tillage, cropping, pasturing, or treating with chemicals or other methods, or combination methods, or combination thereof, approved by the County Weed Supervisor, as often as may be required to prevent the weed from blooming and maturing seeds, or spreading by root, root stalks or other means. Listed species that DRRP will manage include hoary cress, tamarisk, Russian knapweed, and Russian olive.

(9) Middle Colorado River Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area Cooperative Agreement - partnering organizations working along the Dolores River work towards the CWMA's goal "to promote an integrated weed management program throughout the MCRW-CWMA that includes public relations, education and training in the non-native invasive weed arena as well as inventory, monitoring, controlling and preventing the spread of non-native invasive weeds, sharing of resources, and designing other desirable resource protection measures relative to weed management."

(10) BLM Healthy Lands Initiative: The DRRP project area has been identified as a focal area of this vegetation-resources enhancement initiative to restore and improve the health and productivity of western public lands. The Healthy Lands strategy increases the effectiveness and efficiency of vegetation enhancement treatments by focusing on treatments on a significant percentage of lands -- both Federal and non-Federal -- within six geographic locations, rather than focusing on the local project level.  The strategy increases opportunities to leverage cooperative solutions across ownership's and jurisdictions.

(11) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Utah Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Strategic Plan:  This project falls within a priority area, priority habitat (riparian), and addresses threats to priority species (SWFL and YBCU).

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.

Municipalities downstream of the Dolores River, namely Moab, Utah, may benefit from decreased salinity inputs and increased filtration via a healthier riparian habitat. Large-scale tamarisk removal has the potential to improve water quality by reducing the salinity-concentrating effects of tamarisk infestations on Dolores River riparian habitats. Tamarisk removal techniques have been adapted, over several years of experience, to minimize soil disturbance and protect water quality. Further, improving floodplain connectivity helps remove sediment and pathogens, increases allochthonous nutrients that stimulate natural nitrogen and phosphorus cycling (Wolf et al. 2012),

Installation and fostering of native-species container plants and pole cuttings will further stabilize river banks and riparian soils. And, since tamarisk and Russian knapweed have high rates of evapotranspiration, the long-term conversion to (mesic) native vegetation on Dolores River floodplains will yield water quantity savings in the river. Removal of tamarisk and Russian olive has been linked to saving water and over time water quality increases (Shafroth et al. 2009).

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.

Sites have been selected based on DRRP's prioritization criteria that consider ecological, social, and feasibility factors.  The methods outlined below are organized from upstream to downstream.

STATELINE (Vehicle Accessible):
Cottonwood Gallery Across from the Berm Site (River Right):  1.2 acres of initial tamarisk removal from underneath and adjacent to a large cottonwood gallery was completed in the fall of 2019 under the Dolores 3.0 project.  Additional work is required to finish removing 2.9 acres of tamarisk and Russian olive in order to reduce competition and eliminate ladder fuels.  Removal is conducted by Conservation Corps crews using a cut-stump method. After cutting tamarisk trees with chainsaws, crews apply herbicide (Triclopyr) to the freshly cut tamarisk stumps during the fall (September - early November) of 2020.  Areas underneath cottonwood galleries are treated with 100% removal.  To protect previous investments, any resprouts from previous work will be treated with a basal bark/foliar treatment. For more detailed information please reference the statement of work and map associated with this site in the Documents/Images tab.

BERM SITE (River Left): 
The upstream end of the gravel berm was removed in February of 2019 and water flowed through the historic channel.  The flowpath was cleared of tamarisk and Russian olive in previous project phases to allow for improved hydrological function when reconnected.  This site now has a functioning side channel with cottonwood regeneration, sedges and rush colonization, and utilization by red-spotted and woodhouse toads, fish, beaver, bear, and mountain lion.

Work at this site consists of the removal of 10-12 Russian olive trees using a cut-stump/lop and scatter method. Removal of these few trees is important to eliminate Russian olive at this site and protect the previous investments from future invasion.  For more detailed information please reference the statement of work and map associated with this site in the Documents/Images tab.

BEAVER CREEK to RIO MESA REACH & CONTINGENCY UNITS (Raft-Accessible):
In the Beaver Creek to Rio Mesa reach (river mile 155-160), 2 sites have been prioritized for initial removal efforts (8.4 acres) and four sites from 2018/2019 will be evaluated and treated for resprouts (9.3 acres).  Removal is conducted by Conservation Corps crews using a cut-stump method. After cutting tamarisk trees with chainsaws, crews apply herbicide (Triclopyr) to the freshly cut tamarisk stumps during the fall (September - early November) of 2020.  To protect previous investments, any resprouts from previous work will be treated with a basal bark/foliar treatment.

In monotypic tamarisk stands,  mosaic treatment approach consisting of the removal of 30-50% of the tamarisk biomass is applied in monotypic tamarisk stands. The mosaic treatment of tamarisk will be implemented as a way of reducing tamarisk density while maintaining the degree of soil stability and partially shaded micro-climates necessary to provide conditions beneficial to riparian wildlife and native plants. This strategy, which incorporates the presence of the tamarisk-leaf beetle (a biological control agent), is expected to reduce tamarisk densities in a manner that allows native trees, shrubs, perennial grasses, and herbaceous vegetation to become reestablished. Results from a 2010-2014 DRRP pilot study conducted upriver in the Uncompahgre BLM Field office support using this site-specific integrated-pest management strategy.

ROBERT'S BOTTOM & UPSTREAM COTTONWOOD GALLERY (River Right):

In an effort to integrate more tools into the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) toolbox for addressing herbaceous weeds, this proposal intends to utilize prescribed grazing with goats to address Kochia and knapweed infestations at Robert's Bottom and at the cottonwood gallery just upstream (100 acres). Using goats as a biological control for weed infestations has many potential environmental and economic benefits including being safer than herbicide, benefitting local goat farmers, and cutting-back native shrubs. Goats are also much easier to control than other biological agents. Goats will be applied when knapweed infestations are "in bloom" to ensure to reduce seedhead production.  The seed will be applied prior to the treatment to allow hoof activity to work the seeds into the soil.

2.2 acres of woody invasive removal was completed at the cottonwood gallery upstream of Robert's Bottom.  Additional work is required to finish removing the 11.4 acres of tamarisk and Russian olive in order to reduce competition and eliminate ladder fuels.  Removal is conducted by Conservation Corps crews using a cut-stump method. After cutting tamarisk trees with chainsaws, crews apply herbicide (Triclopyr) to the freshly cut tamarisk stumps during the fall (September - early November) of 2020.  Areas underneath cottonwood galleries are treated with 100% removal.  To protect previous investments, any resprouts from previous work will be treated with a basal bark/foliar treatment.  For more detailed information please reference the statement of work and map associated with this site in the Documents/Images tab.

LAKE BOTTOM (River Right)

Across from Robert's Bottom, Lake Bottom is 9.9 acres of private land. Secondary weeds have been treated in 2018, and in 2019 by the landowner. The main project goal is to remove any initial stands of tamarisk and re-treat re-growth areas that have been previously treated as well as continue to treat secondary weeds. If any Russian olive is present that will also be eradicated. Prioritization is given to areas underneath and surrounding native vegetation, specifically Freemont cottonwood. When cleaning beetle-infested tamarisk,  a mosaic method is used in order to leave shade to assist passive recruitment of native species. Primarily, treatments will be a mixture of basal bark for small tamarisk-re-growth, and cut-sump or frill cut method for larger tamarisk or Russian olive trees. These treatments will protect native plant restoration through decreased competition, protect native plants from fire risk, promote passive restoration through decreased competition, and slow the growth of tamarisk and Russian olive.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Seeding will be conducted in targeted sites (e.g., where there is bare soil, in tamarisk slash piles, and in kochia infestations) to impede re-encroachment of invasive plants as well as to improve forage for livestock and habitat for wildlife. Species have been selected based on successes of previous re-vegetation efforts along the Dolores River and on recommendations from UT-DWR during last year's WRI comment period.

Active re-vegetation (e.g., species, micro-site selection, & planting methods) will be conducted at certain sites to address specific restoration objectives and based on lessons learned and shared during past DRRP Implementation Committee meetings.

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.

Coordinated by the DRRP Science & Monitoring Subcommittee, long-term monitoring of vegetation/riparian condition (rapid monitoring protocol), and breeding birds will be conducted at treatment sites to assess the effectiveness of the treatments and to guide future management efforts. BLM staff will be onsite at the beginning, during critical stages of the project, and near completion to ensure desirable results. Partners will be invited to do onsite visits as well to ensure increased input and share concerns. Data gathered will be available to upload into the WRI database for future analysis and review.

Rapid Monitoring was developed specifically for the needs of the DRRP and includes the collection of non-native/native cover-class data, tamarisk cover, noxious weed invasions, presence of the tamarisk leaf beetle, wildlife presence, passive recruitment of native vegetation, and photos to document progress. Annually, this data is used to inform future management actions, track effectiveness of various treatment methods, and engage various partners.

Rapid monitoring of treatment sites accessible by vehicle will be conducted in the Summer of 2020 and the Summer of 2021.  The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) recruits and selects two-person roving teams to conduct vegetation and weed monitoring utilizing Collector for ArcGIS on tablets. This team also compiles monitoring and photo-point reports at the end of the monitoring season for BLM land managers. Training and oversight are co-managed between SCC and RiversEdge West.

Rapid monitoring will also be conducted from a raft in Spring 2021 by the SCC strike team, RiversEdge West, and the BLM using the DRRP rapid monitoring protocol. Sites that were treated in 2019 and 2020 will be prioritized to monitor their progress. From the river, additional sites that need treatment will be recorded, as the raft will provide a unique vantage point.

Both rapid monitoring efforts, vehicle and raft, will be collected using the same methodology and with crews trained in the same manner by Conservation Legacy's Southwest Conservation Corps. Certain treatment sites are only accessible via raft, so it is necessary to organize two separate monitoring activities.

Partners from UT Division of Wildlife Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife will monitor the use of side-channel habitat by native fish species to evaluate success towards creating backwater habitat for juvenile fish, while partners from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies will continue long-term monitoring of how restoration work impacts avian communities via the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions program.

Partners from the Grand County Weed Department will implement the phenological monitoring in the spring of 2020 (in-kind funds) at Robert's Bottom to determine the best window to implement the prescribed grazing in 2021.  GCWD will also monitor pre- and post-treatment conditions following the prescribed grazing treatment.

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.

In 2015, thirty local, state, federal, and private organizations signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to protecting and building on shared investments in the collaborative restoration of the Dolores River through 2020. The Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP) promotes riparian restoration along almost 200 miles of the river corridor, monitors progress, and coordinates with numerous other conservation activities in the watershed. Nine of these partners play active roles in the project:

RiversEdge West (formerly Tamarisk Coalition): as chair of the DRRP Implementation Subcommittee and DRRP Science and Monitoring Subcommittee, this non-profit organization works with partners to plan, execute, and monitor restoration work across public and private boundaries throughout the partnership's project area.

Grand County Weed Department: this local agency conducts re-treatments of tamarisk and herbaceous weeds, as well as provides technical assistance (e.g., sharing findings from biological control monitoring) to inform restoration work.

University of Utah Rio Mesa Center: the University works with student groups to foster education, research, stewardship, and restoration along the Center's portion of the Dolores River in the Utah Bottoms.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: this state agency provides technical assistance to DRRP (e.g., surveying for side-channel revitalization project) and monitors the avian community along the Utah-portion of the Dolores River to increase understanding of how restoration affects bird species.

US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program: this federal program coordinates with a significant private landowner at Lake Bottom, supports the Rio Mesa Center, and provides technical support that informs DRRP restoration strategies.

Canyon Country Youth Corps: a program of the Four Corners School of Outdoor Education, CCYC hires and trains young adults to implement restoration work, including installation and repair of fencing, tamarisk control, and active revegetation of native plant species along the Dolores River in Utah.

Conservation Legacy's Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC): working with CCYC and Western Colorado Conservation Corps, SCC hires and trains young adults to implement restoration work, including tamarisk control, active revegetation of native plant species, and monitoring of restoration projects. SCC's Watershed Programs Coordinator also helps with planning and field support for crews.

Western Colorado Conservation Corps: working with the other two Corps programs, this non-profit organization hires and trains young adults to implement restoration work, including tamarisk control and treatment of Russian knapweed and hoary cress.

National Wild Turkey Federation: has provided funding and in-kind support to foster stewardship and active re-vegetation along the Dolores River.

While the Moab BLM is submitting this WRI proposal, it is worth noting that three other BLM field offices (Tres Rios, Uncompahgre, and Grand Junction in CO), two-state BLM offices (UT & CO), two district BLM offices (UT-Canyon Country & CO-Northwest), and the national office are all engaged partners, providing in-kind and/or financial support towards achieving the DRRP's shared ecological, social, economic, and management goals.

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.

The project is part of a multi-year effort that will involve follow-up monitoring, active re-vegetation, and treatments to control remaining infestations of priority non-native, invasive plant species such as tamarisk, Russian olive, Russian knapweed, and hoary cress.

Some temporary fence has already been constructed along the Dolores River where knapweed is common to assist with the treatment areas to lessen livestock presence while native plants establish.

The long-term goal is to restore riparian and floodplain habitats along the lower Dolores River in a manner that creates diverse riparian communities comprised primarily of native plant species as a means of improving the condition and resiliency of riparian and aquatic habitats. This will require an adaptive management approach.

Long-term, adaptive management strategies have been outlined in the DRRP Transition Plan for Long-Term Monitoring & Maintenance. A 2015, MOU signed by thirty partners affirms their commitment towards implementing the Transition Plan to build on seven years of restoration work to achieve a shared set of ecological, social, economic, and management goals through 2020. The DRRP has continuously served as a nucleus for information, on-the-ground work, and by garnering additional funding.

The private landowner in Lake Bottom has been working with the USFWS Partners Program for the last few years and currently has an agreement to manage and maintain the project area in a manner that benefits wildlife habitats.  This agreement is for 10 years and under that agreement, USFWS will monitor the project annually and work with the landowner to ensure project success.  Currently, the Lake Bottom property is not used for livestock grazing.  Under the USFWS agreement, the landowner has agreed that if in the future livestock will be used on the property that they will work with USFWS and other partners on a grazing plan.

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 removal of tamarisk, Russian knapweed, and other invasive vegetation species will allow multiple uses of the Dolores River and the surrounding landscape to be more sustainable for generations to come. This project will greatly benefit the riparian ecosystem, desert fish, birds, improve recreation, water quality, agriculture, and many other uses.

The removal of tamarisk and Russian knapweed is expected to greatly benefit domestic livestock in three ways:

First, it will facilitate the re-establishment of perennial grasses, native forbs, and shrubs that have much higher forage value than tamarisk. Past knapweed treatments upstream from the project area have led to the rapid re-establishment of perennial grasses, even in the absence of seeding. However, targeted broadcast seeding will be used to accelerate the recolonization of native grasses in selected areas where native grasses are sparse in habitat adjacent to the treatment site.

Second, control of tamarisk can make managing livestock easier. Previously dense stands of tamarisk that have either been removed or thinned (depending on site-conditions) increases access for ranchers to monitor and manage cattle on public allotments. Therefore, grazing and animal distribution will increase since more riverbank is accessible for watering livestock and wildlife. Finally, since greater access to the river is available following tamarisk removal, it leads to less stress on previous riparian areas hammered with livestock watering.

Third, Russian knapweed is known to be toxic to horses, potentially causing facial paralysis, malnutrition, dehydration, and necrosis (USDA Agr Info Bulletin Number 415). Controlling this noxious weed will reduce the potential for these and other livestock health issues.

The private landowner in Lake Bottom has been resting the property but has had discussions with partners that if goals are met they would potentially like to discuss a holistic grazing strategy.

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.