Project Details

The Indian Peaks WMA was acquired by the UDWR in 1957 and 1958 primarily because of its value for mule deer and elk.  In addition to big game, the property also provides habitat and/or potential habitat for other species including sage-grouse, turkeys, burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks, high elevation woodpeckers, pygmy rabbits, and various bat species.  Over the past 10 years the habitat on the WMA has been improved through removing pinyon and juniper (PJ) trees, but there are still a few thousand acres of phase 1 and phase 2-3 PJ encroachment that will benefit from additional removal efforts.  However, the greatest potential to improve the value of this property for wildlife is through releasing remnant aspen and shrub communities on the higher elevations (7,000 - 10,000 ft) of  the property.  These higher elevation habitats are approaching a climax vegetative community dominated by conifer trees, primarily limber pine, white fir and Engelmann spruce.  Using prescribed fire to reduce conifer cover in the higher elevation habitats will improve plant diversity and richness and increase overall productivity and increase the value of the property to mule deer increasing important browse species such as bitter brush and service berry and increase the forbs within the plant community by diversifying species and adding a good variety. Forbs are particularly important to mule deer when nursing fawns, as they are rich in nutritional value and help nursing mothers.  In addition to improving the plant community, reducing the conifer cover will increase the amount and duration of water available to wildlife in the 2 small streams that originate on Indian Peak.

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.

The objectives of the Indians Peaks WMA Deer Habitat Improvement Project is to improve the quality and increase the quantity of habitat for mule deer, elk, sage-grouse, turkeys, burrowing owls, ferrugenous hawks and other wildlife species through:
1) Releasing remnant aspen and mountain shrub communities on the higher elevations of the WMA through the use of Rx fire: We are hoping that this burn would cause the aspen to send up succors and that we can get somewhere between 100-500 shoots per acre and re-establish a thriving aspen stand. 
2) enhance and increase the % cover of existing sagebrush, bitter-brush and mountain shrub habitats to ~30% cover  by reducing the amount of phase 1 and phase 2 PJ encroachment to >2% within our treatment areas, through the use of lop and scatter and bullhog treatments, and seeding into the area some of the more dominant species of brush from the Ecological Site Description (ESD) as well as freeing up resources for the already established shrub and brush communities. 
3) expanding the amount of available water by increasing and extending overland flows in the two streams that originate on Indian Peak. Hopefully changing at least one of these streams from the intermittent stream that it has become, back to the annual stream that it historically was. This will help support  Objective 5, stocking of rainbow trout into an impoundment on the stream. 
4) reinvigorating and expanding existing riparian habitats, by re-establishing overland flow of the streams and maintaining flowing surface water throughout the year. 
5) filling the fishing pond on the property with the increased flows so that it can once again be stocked with rainbow trout, restoring what was a popular fishery when the stream filled the pond

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 left untreated a continued decline and eventual loss of aspen is expected.  With a decline in aspen, deer and elk will continue to be negatively impacted.  As conifer continues to increase and aspen decreases, the amount of usable forage for deer and elk will decrease and will be forced to increase their use of surrounding private and BLM lands.

Habitat for sensitive species such as Lewis's Woodpecker American three-toed woodpecker will be increased with the creation of snags through burning.  Habitat for other lowland species (burrowing owl, short-eared owl, pygmy rabbit) will also be opened up through PJ removal.  There is some evidence that excessive PJ removal may be detrimental to Pinon jays, but with the large amount of PJ habitat in the area, effects should be minimal.

The greatest threat/risk to the aspen ecosystems post treatment is the browse pressure from elk and wild horses.  To aid attainment of at least 1,000 to 2,000 aspen saplings per acre and 400 to 600 aspen recruits per acre in areas where  prescribed fire treatments are to occur DWR will continue to work with BLM to remove wild horses from the area (approx. 60 horses where removed in August of 2018). If elk browse begins to threaten the ability of aspen to recover post fire, DWR will authorize targeted hunts to reduce elk use to level that doesn't jeopardize the success of the project

Without treatment of encroaching PJ lower elevations of the WMA will continue to be stressed by over-utilization and vegetative competition.  Failure to maintain these areas will result in habitat degradation and loss.

The risks associated with the lop and scatter portions of this project are very minimal since there is existing under-story and seeding is not necessary.  The areas identified for Bullhog treatment will need to be seeded and there is risk associated with this treatment type is invasion from plant species that are not desirable as well as potential loss of seed if there isn't adequate moisture in the years following the treatment.

There is a riparian habitat on the WMA that is hanging on by a threat currently. The reduction of Pinyon and Juniper trees as well as an influx in water into the Indian Creek Stream bed will hopefully re-invigorate these plants and habitat. This action should also serve to keep the stream cool as well as to encourage reproduction of some of the tall cottonwood trees along the corridor that wild turkey populations are using as roosting trees. Failure to remove some of the trees that are currently using the water in this area could result in die off and total loss of some of the riparian habitat that has been in this area for a long time.

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.

Indian Peaks WMA management plan calls for a close monitoring on the encroachment of pinyon and juniper trees. When trees get to the point of needing treatments the plan calls for the use of lop and scatter and bullhog treatments as well as prescribed fire to restore the areas to usable space for wildlife specifically mule deer and elk. We feel like the planning of this project is filling the need for these management thresholds and that by doing this project we will be keeping our management objectives for the WMA Management plan that state;	Use natural and mechanical forms of treatment on an "as needed" basis to manipulate and improve plant communities for wildlife, and reseed areas after treatment. 
	Plant "green strips" to serve as fire breaks and provide winter forage for big game.
	Maintain and improve springs and riparian areas.

Southwest Desert Deer Herd Unit Management Plan (2015) The management goal of the Southwest Desert Deer Herd Unit is to increase the unit deer population. Habitat management objectives that are applicable to the Project are (1) Maintain or enhance forage production through direct range improvements on winter and summer deer range throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives. (2) Maintain critical fawning habitat in good condition.

Southwest Desert Elk Herd Unit Management Plan (2015).  This plan has a stated habitat goal that calls for the removal of at least 3000 acres of pinyon and juniper per year.  This project helps achieve that goal.

The Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah was approved by the Governor in April 2013. The plan established incentive-based conservation programs for conservation of sage-grouse on private, local government, and School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration lands and regulatory programs on other state and federally managed lands. The Conservation Plan also establishes sage-grouse management areas and implements specific management protocols in these areas.
The Utah Greater Sage-grouse Management Plan in 2009 identified threats and issues affecting sage-grouse management in Utah as well as goals, objectives, and strategies intended to guide UDWR, local working groups, and land managers efforts to protect, maintain, and improve sage-grouse populations and habitats and balance their management with other resource uses.

Southwest Desert Adaptive Resource Management Sage-grouse Plan (2008)
The goals and objective of this project are consistent with the following strategies with the this plan:
Strategy 1 - Improve age distribution of sagebrush-steppe communities
Strategy 2 - Improve water availability in brood-rearing habitat
Strategy 7 - Manage unwanted plant species in sage-brush steppe habitat

Utah Pronghorn Statewide Management Plan (2009)
Habitat Management Objective (B.e.), Under the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, design, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of habitat improvement projects to benefit pronghorn.

The Utah State Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 (Draft) is a comprehensive management plan designed to conserve native species populations and habitats in Utah, and prevent the need for additional federal listings. Our project if focusing on addressing any and all possible issues present for WAP species and trying to facilitate best management practices for these species.

State of Utah Resource Management Plan (2018)
The state supports the efforts of the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative and other rehabilitative efforts throughout the state
The state supports the Watershed Restoration Initiative to encourage reduced wildfire acreage, reduced soil loss from erosion, reduced sedimentation and storage loss in reservoirs, and improved water quality. 
The state plan supports active management to improve and enhance riparian resources to provide for appropriate physical, biological and chemical function.
engage with federal land management agencies to support active management of healthy riparian areas on federal land.
Seeding an optimal mix of native and desirable non-native species to support desired ecologic conditions and create a properly functioning ecosystem. 
Actively remove pinyon-juniper encroachment in other ecological sites due to its substantial consumption of water and its detrimental effect on sagebrush, other vegetation and wildlife. 
Use of the good neighbor program to partner with Federal Agencies to better manage forage.

Beaver County Resource Management Plan (RMP) (2017)
The Beaver County RMP supports this project in the following ways;

To ensure that federal lands are managed for multiple uses as mandated in the Multiple
Use Sustained Yield Act and other federal law. This approach places an emphasis on
striking a balance in land use planning among the competing values of recreation,
grazing, timber, watershed protection, fish and wildlife, mining and energy. Efforts
should be made to protect critical wildlife habitat, watersheds, scenery, and important
natural resources. To improve range conditions through vegetation treatments and proper management.
Land managers shall maintain and enhance desired plant communities that
benefit watersheds, water quality, wildlife, livestock, and achieve rangeland
health standards.
Vegetation treatments shall be applied to encroaching and undesirable species in
range projects such as pinyon/juniper, Russian olive, Halogeton and Rabbit
Brush.
Utilize native and non-native seed mixtures in vegetation treatments that are
appropriate to management objectives, are adapted to the site conditions and are
highly resistant to and/or competitive with invasive and noxious weeds.
	Range/Watershed Condition: Upland rangelands shall have vegetation cover and
composition which will insure sustained productivity considering site potential
and historical impacts; Range and watershed health is determined based on best
available science and experience without reference to intended uses; Assessment
of range/watershed condition is based on establishing the kind and amount of
vegetation that will furnish soil protection and useful vegetation production
considering the potential of the site, not necessarily restoring "natural" conditions.
	Pinyon-Juniper: Pinyon and juniper (PJ) is eliminated or reduced on any site that
has the potential to support grassland, sagebrush grassland, or other vegetation
types more useful in terms of watershed condition and resource outputs, unless it
has been determined, on a site specific basis that PJ does not jeopardize watershed
condition and add to the combined resource outputs and values on the site. On
sites where PJ occurs that do not have potential for good perennial grass and
shrub cover, or where technology is lacking to establish such cover by reasonable
efforts, PJ stands are maintained in an open canopy state when possible to prevent
catastrophic wildfire and stand replacement with invasive annuals.
	Mixed Conifer: Mixed conifer stands are prevented from invading other forest
types or mountain grasslands.
	Riparian: Riparian areas are managed to prevent excessive erosion and deposition
of sediment and impaired water quality that results, with recognition that these
processes may have begun in the past due to natural and/or human caused factors
and may continue far into the future regardless of the management applied.
	The use of tools including, but not limited to, livestock grazing, chemical, and other
mechanical control is critical to protecting ecosystem health from invasive species after
fire events.
	Beaver County supports prescribed wildland fire use on rangelands and encourages
prescribed burns where appropriate.
	The removal of pinyon-juniper infestations throughout Beaver County is necessary to
decrease wildfire potential and improve upland habitat conditions.
	Beaver County will encourage federal land management agencies to continue to seek
out, identify, map and catalogue known and unknown, or undiscovered cultural
resources within Beaver County. Ensure that all state and federal laws are complied
with upon the discovery and identification of new cultural resources.

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.

Due to the exclusion of natural fire in the project area the vegetative conditions are near climax in critical areas. The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is predominately Class 2 and 3 which is a moderate to high departure from natural historical vegetation conditions.  This has caused conditions that could support a total stand replacement event with loss of structure and bio-diversity to the project area. This potential loss of key components to the ecosystem is high.  Encroachment of pinyon-juniper is also driving a significant portion of the problem in the lower elevations.  While white fir encroachment has significantly suppressed aspen growth and recruitment at higher elevations. 
Modeling under typical wildfire conditions suggests the project area has a moderate to very high risk of wildfire.  With moderate to high rates of spread producing very high to extreme flame lengths and the potential for loss of 80% of the overstory canopy and stand structure. Wildfire suppression would be difficult and pose a high level risk for firefighters and the public.
This project conducted under a prescription could allow for fire management personnel to select the proper conditions to conduct this project. Under the proper conditions fire could be used to enhance mule deer and sage grouse habitat while reducing wildfire risk and the potential loss of habitat. This project could also serve as an anchor point for other such projects in the future.
By completing this project we feel that we will take the FRCC from a condition class of 2-3 to a condition class of mostly 1 with some 2.

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.

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.

An RX fire ignition plan will be implemented on approximately 2,838 acres with implementation of the fire to follow the RX Fire Plan designed by Forestry Fire and State Lands, as well as Cedar City BLM Fuels Shop Staff. In the event that we do not get a window to light the RX Fire We would move to the secondary treatments of pinyon and juniper removal. All Pinyon and Juniper which currently occupy and are encroaching upon the site will be removed  through a bullhog treatment on 709 acres.  Islands and corridors of pinyon and juniper would remain untreated throughout the WMA, creating a mosaic pattern of treated and untreated vegetation (see Attached Photos).  Before mechanical implementation, mulching areas would be broadcast seeded  with a mix of native and non-native shrubs, grasses and forbs important for improving mule deer habitat, and stabilization of soils.  Pinyon and juniper, which currently occupy the project site in lower densities would be lopped and scattered by contract hand crews with chainsaws and loppers, removing all trees on approximately 440 acres. Stringers of thicker trees in the washes will be left for big game where it is determined beneficial by DWR biologists.

We have been working with Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands, and Cedar City BLM on the RX Fire portion of the project . They have developed a plan that is active on the WMA, and are currently developing the RX Fire Plan in conjunction with Cedar City BLM Fuels Shop to develop a multi-agency plan that will allow for the RX fire that will be lit on Indian Peak to burn most effectively and be more controlled. We will lean on them when it comes time to implement the RX fire plan. Noteworthy here is that we have decided that if we don't get a burn window to light the RX Fire by October 10th then we will proceed with our plans for completing the lop and scatter and bullhog projects with the money. We will contract out the work for the lop and scatter portions as well as the bullhog mastication work associated with the project including aerially applying the seed mix in the bullhog area.

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.

Partners include: Forestry Fire and State Lands; Helping us put together the RX Fire portion of the project and give input on how to plan for the burn and the feasibility of the RX Fire being successful in the way we were thinking it might be. The Piute Indian Tribe of Utah specifically the Indian Peaks Band of the Piute tribe; We consulted with them during the planning of the project so that we made sure that we weren't negatively impacting areas that were culturally important to them as this property was owned and utilized for generations by their band of the tribe. Cedar City Field Office of BLM; we consulted with BLM on possibly partnering with them in future projects if the RX Fire window is not met in the first 1-2 years. In addition the agencies we have contacted Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (Troy Justensen) and The Mule Deer Foundation (Mike Laughter); We discussed specifically with these organizations that we would be looking for financial assistance to make this project happen, and both organizations are interested in partnering with us to complete this project.  This project has also been discussed with several different groups of people who have been hunting and viewing wildlife in the area for generations. We talked with these groups and individuals about what has changed over the years and areas that we can and should be working in with the project so that we can make it the best it can be for mule deer.

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.

As noted above property has a current WMA management plan and that plan directs management decisions.

Livestock grazing does not occur on the WMA, except for in cases of extreme drought/wildfire. We have written into our WMA Management Plan that during these times at the discretion of the habitat program manager, we can use the forage on the WMA as a grass bank. In the event that we do use the WMA as a grass bank we will monitor the feed availability, and use proper grazing management tactics to allow for the use of the resource.

The impacts of elk and wild horses on treatment areas (particularly regenerating aspen stands) will be monitored by UDWR habitat staff (see monitoring section for details).  If the wild horses that are still on the property following the BLM removal that occurred this past summer are negatively impacting projects; DWR will work with the BLM to organize an additional removal effort.  If elk are determined to be over utilizing recovering aspen stands, the population will be temporarily reduced through targeted hunts.

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.

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.