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Dollar Ridge Reforestation Year 2
Region: Northeastern
ID: 5249
Project Status: Completed
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Project Details
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Need for Project
The Dollar Ridge Fire was a 70,000 acre stand replacing fire. Nearly 45% the of acres burned were on private and State ownership. The high intensity and severity of the fire left little to no vegetative component on much of the fire scar. During a post fire interagency meeting, reforestation efforts were one of the top five priorities for rehabilitation efforts. WRI had agreed to secure up to $200,000 dollars covering a three year phase for reforestation starting in State fiscal year 2020. Tree seedlings will be planted for private property owners who sign up for the program. Seedlings on State lands will be planted in identified priority areas.
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 goal is to promote increased forest health and vigor which will benefit wildlife, wildlife habitat, water quality/quantity, and recreation. - Reforestation of around 100,000 seedlings over a three year period within both private and State owned land on the Dollar Ridge fire scar. - Create species diversity by planting conifer species like ponderosa pine, limber pine and Douglas-fir which did not for the most part live here naturally pre-fire but are well suited for this type of environment. Pinyon pine will also be planted if a local seed source can be obtained. - Other species that may be planted are serviceberry, chokecherry, mountain big sagebrush, bur oak, blue spruce, lodgepole pine and aspen.
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?)
Planting seedlings will help speed up the process to a healthier forest. If no planting were implemented it would take decades for conifer trees to come back naturally.
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
Utah Forest Action Plan 2015 - Use all available management tools, including forest industry, to restore and maintain healthy ecosystems. - Utah's forested resources are used to meet public needs while being appropriately managed to provide sustainability for future generations. Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 - Increasing regeneration success. The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan has an objective to improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on crucial ranges by initiating broad-scale vegetative treatment projects. The Strawberry River WMA Habitat Management Plan's goals are to protect, improve, and restore watershed, soil, and vegetative resources for the benefit of fish and wildlife.
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
Since there is currently little to no fuel loading. This project will create reforestation within the burn to help promote healthier habitat for wildlife and increased aesthetics. Species of trees planted will help create diversity and resilience throughout the landscape.
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
Water quality will be increased as tree roots will provide soil stabilization and decreases over time of sediment downstream. Shade created by the trees will increase soil moisture and cooler micro-climate temperatures which will be favorable for grasses/forbs establishment and cover for wildlife. Water quantity will be increased as shade will help support longer snow pack into the spring season. Major debris flows have already occurred. WRI has begun efforts of vegetation re-establishment (WRI 4752). Reforestation efforts will aid in long term benefits.
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 will not be required. Archaeological clearance has been waved. See attached document.
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
FFSL will coordinate with DWR to determine priority areas to plant seedlings on State owned land. FFSL will coordinate with surrounding private landowners (approximately 75 homeowners have signed up as interested in planting trees on their property) to set up a time for tree delivery. Home owners are encouraged to plant and care for the seedlings themselves and direction will be given by FFSL on proper tree planting procedure and care. For property owners who are interested but unable to plant seedlings Utah Conservation Core Crews will be available to help plant seedlings. Conservation core crews or other tree contracted crews will plant seedlings on State owned land overseen by FFSL and/or DWR.
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
Observational random monitoring will take place to determine the survival rate of the seedlings annually over the next 3-5 years. A monitor form survey will be mailed out to property owners asking them specific questions about survival rates.
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
Private landowners DWR, FFSL, Duchesne County, USFS - supports project and currently does not have intentions to plant seedlings on public land.
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
Establishing trees now will provide a healthier forest sooner as well as benefit wildlife, soils, water quality/quantity, future grazing and recreation activities for future generations to enjoy.
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
The seedlings will be vulnerable to ungulate pressure. If cattle had been used for grazing in the past it will be recommended to rest the landscape for the next 3-5 years or until the landscape can recover enough to support ungulate pressure. Aesthetic and recreation uses will be increased for future generations. Wildlife populations and habitat will also see an increase over the years.
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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