La Sal Creek Watershed Restoration
Region: Southeastern
ID: 5507

Project Status: Completed

Project Details

The La Sal Sustainability Collaboration (LSSC) was established in response to social, economic, administrative, and ecological concerns for a 285,000 acre landscape in the southern La Sal Mountains and adjoining canyon lands.  LSSC was co-convened by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) Grazing Improvement Program and the Grand Canyon Trust (GCT).   Other consensus-seeking members of the LSSC include San Juan County, the Sierra Club (SC), Trout Unlimited (TU), the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), La Sal Livestock, and BLT Livestock.  Representatives of federal agencies and other various state agencies provided invaluable service in an advisory capacity.

The purpose of the Collaboration is to co-create an approach to management of the LSSC area where federal, state, and private lands are operated as an integrated, sustainable system.  The Collaboration's initial goal was to develop consensus recommendations that will provide for ecological resilience, sustain economic viability, promote cultural preservation, and be socially acceptable and legally defensible.  After working together for over 5 years, the LSSC members also made a commitment to an active role in the evaluation, refinement, and implementation of their recommendations, and ongoing assessment and improvement of management of the LSSC landscape.

The proposals below are directly in line with many of the goals the LSSC is wanting to accomplish.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration:

A) Beaver Creek - Beaver Creek, a tributary of La Sal Creek and the Dolores River, is occupied by an isolated population of cutthroat currently listed by USFWS as the threatened greenback cutthroat trout. There is some debate over species identification, but whether greenback or Colorado River cutthroat, it is a special status species with limited habitat that requires management action. The area is also used for livestock grazing and has been impacted by roads used for livestock operations, ditch maintenance and for ATVs. The road crossing at FR4732 is contributing large amounts of sediment to the stream, impacting water quality and critical gravels used by cutthroat trout for reproduction/rearing. Each year the crossing becomes wider as soil from the banks erodes into the stream (see picture). Because this is a unique population of cutthroat, it is important to take every step possible to enhance and protect habitat in Beaver Creek. Leopard frogs also occupy the stream segment, and would benefit from improved road management and water quality.  Brook Trout are also present in the lower parts of Beaver Creek and throughout LaSal Creek downstream from the proposed segment and will benefit from the improved water quality resulting from bank stabilization around the road crossing.

B.)  Upper Hang Dog Bench Spring (hereafter referred to as Spring Development) is on the south block of SITLA permitted and ran as part of the La Sal Creek and Chicken Creek USFS allotments.  In the past at some point the spring source was fenced and developed with evidence of at least two generations of materials in the vicinity.  All aspects of the development is currently in disrepair and non-functioning.  Livestock and wildlife are using the water and vegetation at and around the source resulting in excessive trampling and over use.  This spring is in a relatively dry area of the pasture with cattle needing to trail approximately 1.5 miles to Chicken Creek as an alternative water source.  The development and protection of this water source, increasing storage/availability, will provide an off-site water source resulting in better distribution of all grazing animals and decrease pressure on the riparian corridor of Chicken Creek and the spring source itself.  Increasing the uplands available for use through an increase in available water sources will result in decreased pressure on the existing water sources and the surrounding uplands.

C.) Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing - During the summer of 2020 following two years of planning, the north 1/4 of the allotment boundary fence on the South SITLA Block was realigned and rebuilt in an area where it will be more stable, accessible, and maintainable.  The boundary fence in this area was over 60 years old, in terrible condition and not maintainable due to age and location.  Although this fencing is not directly part of this project it does greatly impact the long term objectives of this whole project and will benefit the La Sal Creek watershed through effects of improved livestock management.  Upper Two-Mile Creek area has been impacted by grazing because of the inability to control livestock with the fence trying to access the creek as a water source.  Therefore, this crossing does tie all of the fencing project and the practices of this project together.  The second 1/4-1/3 of this boundary will be replaced this year (2021).  The realignment of this fence as previously described resulted in crossing Upper Two-Mile Creek where a small jeep, ATV/UTV road crosses resulting in the need for a new cattle guard being placed next to an exiting culvert. The down stream end of the culvert has an approximate 3-4 foot drop creating a fish barrier and disturbance in the natural stream grade. Log structures will be used to protect the grade and create a way for fish to pass through the culvert/cattle guard and access the upper reaches of the creek. Better grazing control will also benefit habitat for amphibians such as leaprd frogs.
 
2.) Aspen Regeneration - As seen in many areas of the Intermountain West, pure aspen forest stands on the private property are dying off at an alarming rate, with an increase in dieback visible each year. Little to no aspen regeneration is present in some areas. The typical lush forb understory of aspen stands is no longer present in these dying stands. Possibly impacted by drought, SAD (Sudden Aspen Decline), overbrowsing by ungulates, or perhaps just due to a lack of disturbance, this aspen resource will soon be eliminated and converted to sagebrush range land. This project is needed to encourage aspen regeneration and to improve wildlife habitat before this resource is lost forever.

The forest stands on the private land extend onto neighboring USFS, BLM and SITLA lands. The aspen forests on the nearby SITLA land in the La Sals have been experiencing aspen decline for decades, with conifer recruitment in the understory outcompeting aspen. Additionally, drought and chronic browsing pressure have resulted in loss of clone structure, altering the compositional trajectory. This project is designed to restore decadent aspen stands to a healthy and productive forest. Promoting natural suckering results in persistent/pure stands along with critical understory important to wildlife. Public benefits from forests will be enhanced through this project by reducing the risk of wildfire destroying watersheds, ensuring public safety, and improving wildlife habitat. Aspen is an important vegetation community for mule deer, elk, wild turkey and many other wildlife species. Aspen provides a diverse grass and forb community that is utilized as forage for deer, elk, turkey and other wildlife species in the area. Deer, elk and turkey will also utilize the new regeneration of aspen in these areas as forage. There has been a considerable amount of aspen regeneration work done in the surrounding areas as well as due to the treatment size we do not feel like in the larger treatment areas wildlife will have a negative impact on new aspen regeneration. The smaller treatment areas trees and fencing will be utilized to ensure successful regeneration.

As stated by Jamie Nogle with NWTF in WRI4840-As the conifer encroaches within the aspen stands and dominates the area there is loss of herbaceous vegetation which is used by mule deer, elk, forest grouse, and wild turkey.  Dusky grouse, although a conifer-dependent species, rely heavily on aspen and associated understory for providing food in the form of insects, forbs, leaves, and berries.  Male dusky grouse require some openness in order to display and young broods often use aspen as escape cover. Maintaining aspen cover is essential for nesting and brood-reading. Managing aspen for younger age classes is beneficial for the species.  Ruffed grouse are more dependent on aspen than dusky grouse. This project will help reach the desired 3,500 stems per acre desired by ruffed grouse. It will also contribute more downed logs that can be used for drumming by males during the breeding season. Aspen are critical for ruffed grouse during the winter when they forage primarily on male aspen buds.  Aspen projects for ruffed grouse need to be done in a large enough scale that ungulate use can be accounted for while still maintaining grouse habitat. This project will add additional acreage of young aspen and help distribute ungulate use and reduce pressure from other recent prescribed burns and aspen treatments.

3) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) - To reduce existing vegetation density, live fuel loads/fuel continuity and ladder fuels within the project area to reduce wildfire risk and diversify vegetation structure. The proposed treatments would improve habitat quality and productivity for big game and other wildlife and livestock by creating mosaics of vegetation composition and age class structures, and increasing forage production.

-The Gamble oak and pinyon-juniper zone in the La Sals is becoming degraded due to increasing pinyon and juniper density and dense, aging oakbrush stands. In areas where trees have become dominant, they have out-competed understory species for light, moisture and nutrients. This eventually results in a loss of many understory species and sagebrush openings. The lack of understory species will deplete the native seedbank, increase soil erosion, and increase non-native weed invasion. When the oak becomes overgrown it is inaccessible for livestock and wildlife to utilize as forage. Excessive fuel build up can result in catastrophic wildfires, which further degrades the habitat. Removing pinyon/juniper and mulching oak brush will improve site conditions. It will ensure the seedbank maintains desirable species, reduces the chances of catastrophic wildfires, and decrease the risk of weed invasion. 
-Increasing available forage for livestock, mule deer, elk and turkey in areas where currently there is little forage due to density of shrubs and trees. This project will improve livestock distribution and spread use over a larger area in these pastures which allows for better management of the frequency and intensity of grazing.  The expected increases to overall rangeland health should lead to improved livestock weight gains and health
-Maintaining open sagebrush areas provide foraging areas for birds such as black-rosy finch and golden eagles. Black-rosy finch use sagebrush areas in the winter time to forage, by maintaining these areas it will benefit them. Golden eagles prey on small mammals that are found in sagebrush ecosystems. Maintaining open sagebrush areas will maintain habitat for mammals and maintain prey base for golden eagles.

4) Prior to implementation of habitat improvement/fuels treatments on USFS lands, need to complete the NEPA process for the 4000 acre LSSC Deer Spring project. Archaeology surveys were funded in 2021.

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.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration:

A) Beaver Creek - i. Contract the delivery and placement of road fill to restore eroded section of road and harden the Beaver Creek crossing. ii. Improve NFS road 4731 that access the stream crossing to allow for implementation of the project. iii. Install a culvert at the stream crossing.

B.)  Spring Development - i.  Improve water quality and quantity of the spring through spring source protection.  ii.  Provide an off-site water source for livestock and wildlife thereby improving distribution of grazing use in riparian zones and surrounding uplands.  iii.  Decrease use of other water sources and associated riparian areas and surrounding uplands by all ungulates.  iv.  Improve the distribution of grazing animals resulting in more even utilization across the pasture.  v.  Create and Improve quality and quantity of the lentic wetland habitat for all wildlife including amphibians (see species list in "Species" section).
  
C.)  Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing - i. Decrease risks to OHV operators/users. 
ii.  Decrease ecological impacts such as riparian zone disturbance, erosion and needed maintenance of existing infrastructure.    
ii.  Improve access to and function of existing wildlife habitat such as amphibian, fishery and overall rangeland health.
iii.  Decrease grazing management issues and conflict between users.

2) Aspen Regeneration -i) Conserve & protect watersheds by maintaining a functioning network of resilient forests; return forest structure to a balanced, healthy and historic level. Encourage the survival of more fire-resistant aspen
ii) Encourage and maintain aspen forests (healthy aspen forests have increased forage  production and diversity).
 iii) Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. 
 iv) Utilize pre-commercial timber for brush fencing where possible, and merchandise sawlogs to local sawmills.

3) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) - Reduce the encroachment of pinyon/juniper trees and bring the oak brush to a level that can be utilized, but leave patches of trees and older oak stands for wildlife corridors and cover.
-Reduce the density of pinyon/juniper trees and older stands of oak brush as a hazardous fuels treatment to protect habitat at risk from a catastrophic wildfire event.
-Reduce overland flows of water from rain/snow events where there are heavy pinyon/juniper stands, allowing water to be infiltrated into the soils and slowly released back into the system.
-Help bring this plant community back into a more natural state with a variety of age classes of oak.
4) Complete the required environmental analysis for a 4000 acre habitat improvement/fuels reduction project on USFS lands north of La Sal (Deer Spring project).

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.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration.
A.) Beaver Creek. i. Loss of reproduction and rearing habitat through sedimentation downstream of the road crossing. ii. Loss of food production through the filling of gravel interstices where macro-invertebrates used by fish reproduce and grow. iii. Fragmentation of cutthroat trout habitat through over-widening of the road crossing to the point that the sheet flow of water is too shallow to be passable for fish. iv. Declines in water quality from sedimentation and vehicles driving through the creek, washing away pollutants attached to vehicles
B.)  Spring Development - Threats and risks of not completing the proposed spring development include:
i.  Continued degradation and/or loss of wetlands and such habitat for amphibians, invertebrates and the like, surrounding the spring through over grazing, trampling and soil compaction.  ii.  Loss of water quality and quantity due to soil compaction, trampling and high concentrations of fecal matter from large mammals concentrating and lingering for extended periods of time at the spring source.  iii.  Continued concentrated and possible increased use of other existing water sources and associated riparian zones within the area.  iv.  Continued concentrated and possible increased use of uplands surrounding existing clean reliable water sources with the correlating under use of available forage and area around Hang Dog Bench Spring resulting in increased potential for destructive wildfire conditions.

Threats and risks of completing the spring development as proposed are:  i.  Short term disturbance of the wetland and surrounding area with the installation of the collection box, pipeline and fencing.  ii.  Increased disturbance, use and trampling at the proposed trough location and surrounding uplands. The threats and risks associated will completing the spring development will be greatly offset by the decrease of negative impacts to uplands currently receiving higher use levels and by the improvement and protection of the more sensitive and rare ecological types such as lotic and lentic water sources and wetlands/riparian zones.

C.)  Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing - Threats and risks of not completing the crossing as proposed are:  i.  OHV accidents related to speed while crossing cattle guard immediately followed by a narrow culvert crossing.  ii.  Increased maintenance frequency and expense associated will cleaning out the cattle guard including flood damage/covering.  iii.   Continued limitation of fish passage to upstream fishery hence limited habitat.  iv.  Erosion from and around the site of the cattle guard site post installation increasing sediment loads to the creek.  v.  Insufficient capacity for high flows through the existing culvert. vi. Damage to local riparian and wetland habitat available to amphibians.

Threats and risks of completing the crossing as proposed may include a temporary increase in sediments during and for several weeks post installation until vegetation is re-established and soils stabilize/solidify.  Again these threats and risks will be greatly off-set by the benefits to the system long term.
 
2.)  Aspen Regeneration -Any further delay in completing the aspen portion of this project would result in further loss of the aspen resource in this watershed. Aspen forests would likely cross an ecological threshold and be lost, transitioning to a range/ brush environment or become conifer-dominant stand.

Risks of not completing the aspen treatments include: (a) continued decrease in quality of wildlife habitat and forage, (b) a loss of aspen as a valuable watershed component, and (c) increased risk of wildfire (aspen is more resilient to wildfire than decadent sagebrush rangelands, woodlands or conifers). If the aspen resource continues to lose acreage on an annual basis, this could have a detrimental impact on the watershed downstream. Any further delays in implementation could result in further loss of reserves in the aspen root systems, therefore future treatments would be unsuccessful at stimulating aspen regeneration.
3) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) -  This project focuses on pinyon/ juniper removal and oak brush disturbance as a means to maintain healthy sagebrush habitat and reinvigorate oak. Sagebrush habitat is at risk of being lost due to the increasing density of pinyon juniper, overly dense oakbrush, subsequent wildfire, and high potential for cheatgrass invasion. High severity wildfire could lead to an increase in cheatgrass and loss of native species and erosion.  The cultural resource survey portion of this project for bullhog treatment of phase two (2022) includes in and around the sole power source corridor/power line to the community of Castle Valley. The project will protect that infrastructure and power supply for this community. This project will decrease the risk of high severity wildfire by reducing fuel loading, it will reduce soil erosion by promoting understory plant growth, and increase diversity in the vegetation, all of which are critical to maintaining ecosystem resilience. As the conditions in these areas declines so does herd health for wintering big game in the area and rangeland for livestock. This project will help improve and maintain diversity and improve ecosystem function in this target area. Treatments in this area are very important since there is limited potential for wildfire to create the desired disturbance and create a mosaic of different plant communities. The area is dominated by pinyon, juniper and oak, and this project will allow the site to grow grasses, forbs and shrubs that will benefit wildlife and livestock in the area.
One of the threats identified by the LSSC to livestock producers is the vulnerability of their industry to wildfire and drought.  Returning the ecosystem to one with high integrity and functionally will provide for ecological vibrancy, sustainability, and resiliency for their operation (LSSC, 2017).  The local livestock operators have made a concerted effort to change their management to better distribute livestock and provide for a greater variation of timing across allotments and pastures.  Part of this process was reducing allotments from 7 to 4 and increasing pastures from 38 to 59.  Returning these pastures to earlier seral communities with more forage is integral to making this new operation work.  This new system with changes in herding, pastures, salting, and other practices including a deferred rotation schedule and replacement of cow-calf pairs to heifers will allow for greater use of the landscape in turn reducing pressure on critical areas.

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.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OfJI3qysP19kjpmLpzmnAMOwaCLR9WKNFrsppqvUdqg/edit?usp=sharing

STATE OF UTAH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
The State recognized the need for local planning documents to provide guidance for the management of natural resources. The overarching goal was to have the state and federal governments coordinate on land management activities and share input.  This project has resulted in the collaboration of multiple state agencies, the forest service, and private landowners. Together, this project used the following guidelines within the plan to guide development of this project:
Stream
Fishery: 1)The State will seek to protect, conserve, and improve Utah's fish and aquatic wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. 2) The State will seek to provide for the varied demands of fish and aquatic wildlife recreationists.3) The State supports ensuring the persistence of the diversity of native fish and aquatic wildlife in Utah while at the same time providing excellent opportunities for anglers and other recreationists.
Floodplain and River Terrace: 1)The State supports implementing active management and restoration projects on federal lands to restore sinuosity, vegetation, and floodplain function which mimic the natural hydrologic system in suitable areas.2) Long term hydrologic function should be prioritized over short term ground disturbance however allowing disturbance for assisting natural function or for natural disturbance modeling. 3)The State supports proper management of forest health to decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfire and subsequent flooding damage.
Riparian Area: 1)Active management should be used to improve and enhance riparian resources to provide for appropriate physical, biological, and chemical function. 2)Meet or make progress toward attainment of the Utah Standards and Guidelines for Healthy Rangelands according to riparian site capability. 3)Prioritize and manage riparian areas to attain desired future conditions for riparian related resources (e.g. fishery habitat, water quality, wildlife and livestock forage, and soil stability). 4)Riparian areas and wetlands should be managed for the mutual and maximum benefit of wildlife, livestock and special status species. 5)The State supports the use of structural and non-structural improvements in unstable water courses to restore riparian areas properly functioning/desired future conditions. 6)The State will engage with federal land manage agencies to support active management of healthy riparian areas on federal land. 7)The State will work cooperatively with federal land management agencies and livestock producers to determine the appropriate level and type of livestock grazing to occur in riparian areas on public land.
T&E Species: 1)Work with stakeholders and partners to continue to implement recommendations from the Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015--2025 to conserve sensitive species and their habitat. 2)Identify and minimize the threats to sensitive or federally listed species to ensure healthy and robust populations of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species can exist in Utah. 3)Work with DWR and USFWS to identify and maintain wildlife migration corridors for all threatened, endangered and sensitive species in Utah. 4)Restore 75,000 acres of critical habitat for sensitive species each year through the Watershed Restoration Initiative and by partnering with other government and nongovernmental entities.
Water Quality and Hydrology: 1)Cooperate in the protection, restoration, enhancement and management of water resources in the State of Utah to the extent of each agency's authority, expertise, and resources.
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Fire Management:1)The State supports the efforts of the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative and other rehabilitative efforts throughout the state. 2) The State will advocate for forest management practices that promote species diversity and overall ecosystem health. 3)The State supports the Watershed Restoration Initiative to encourage reduced wildfire acreage and suppression costs, reduced soil loss from erosion, reduced sedimentation and storage loss in reservoirs, improved water quality and yield, improved wildlife populations, increased forage, reduced risk of additional federal listing of species under the Endangered Species Act, improved agricultural production, and resistance to invasive plant species.
Forest Management: 1)The State supports proper management of forest health to decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfire and subsequent flooding damage. 2)Develop partnerships and cooperative relationships with organizations that share goals of forest management. 3)Support the sustainable removal of conifers to promote the establishment of aspen and attendant grass, forbs and shrubs where appropriate. 4)Support the use of all appropriate silvicultural methods to reduce the risk of damage due to insects, disease and fire. 5)Encourage and promote cooperation by other land management agencies (State, private and federal,) employing ecosystem management, forest health and stewardship principles.
Livestock and Grazing: 1)Improve vegetative health on public and private lands through range improvements, prescribed fire, vegetation treatments, and active management of invasive plants and noxious weeds. 2) 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.3) The state encourages upward and stable trends in vegetation and soil condition on public lands.
Wildlife: 1)Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. 2)Increase current populations or establish new populations of wildlife in all suitable habitat within the state as outlined in approved management plans. 3)Conserve, improve, and restore 500,000 acres of mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. 4)Provide a diversity of high-quality hunting and viewing opportunities for wildlife species throughout the state.
Fencing/Spring Development
Livestock and Grazing: 1)The state supports active management of wildlife habitat and domestic livestock allotments that balances the interests of all public land users, including agriculture and grazing
 
GRAND COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 
Grand county engages its citizens and various resource experts on their knowledge, goals, and management objectives for 28 resources identified in the RMP. This information was gathered through surveys, workshops, focus groups, and public hearings. This plan provides the basis of communicating and coordinating with the federal government on land and resource management issues.  Grand county is heavily influenced by public lands within its orders. The county has clear preferences for these lands to be managed for the public purposes and ecological integrity. The county wants every opportunity to proactively participate in all relevant public land and resource planning processes.  Citizens, and private landowners have been involved in the development of this project proposal and others will have the opportunity to review it. The following policies of the RMP are addressed through this project:
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Forest Management: 2. Support federal agencies in vegetative management treatments in forested cover types that provide for a full range of seral stages, by forested cover type, which achieve a mosaic of habitat conditions and diversity. Each seral stage should contain a strong representation of early seral tree species. Recruitment and sustainability of early seral tree species in the landscape is needed to maintain ecosystem resilience to disturbance. 3. Support the removal conifers as determined appropriate, and manage land to promote the establishment of aspen cover and attendant grass, brush and forbs.
Land Use: ii. Watershed Management (Public Lands Policy 2.) Public lands agencies are encouraged to adopt policies that enhance or restore watersheds for Moab, Spanish Valley, Castle Valley and Thompson Springs. The county supports classification of these aquifers to the highest quality standard. Grand County will follow all state and federal water protection laws and actively engage local, regional, and federal land management agencies in discussing risks to aquifers and aquifer recharge areas in Grand County.
Water Quality and Hydrology: 8. ii. Goal 1- Mitigate potential risks to the drinking-water supply. 2. Strategy E - Participate in the Moab Area Watershed Partnership to work on comprehensive watershed planning and restoration. Example- Pack Creek Watershed Fence Replacement- The fence may preserve cleanliness of water collecting into Pack Creek by limiting erosion and feces deposited from livestock

GRAND COUNTY MASTER PLAN (2011)
The general purpose of the master plan is guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the county. The Plan sets forth a series of goals and strategies to effectively continue guiding future land use in Grand County in a manner consistent with a shared community vision.  The plan is to be used by the public and private sector of the county as a policy guideline for making orderly and desirable decisions concerning the future use of land in the County. The partners involved in developing this project proposal acknowledge and incorporate the counties policies in protecting watersheds through active vegetation and grazing management.
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration 
Public Lands Policy 2: Grand County will work to protect watersheds. Public agencies are encouraged to adopt policies that enhance or restore watersheds for Moab. 
Public Lands Policy 11- Grand County contains a number of damage areas and the County encourages public land agencies to restore these lands. 
Sensitive Lands Policy 1- Sensitive lands are defined as watersheds; seen areas of elevated benches, mesas, ridges and slopes; and significant geological, biological and archeological sites. 
Implementation Actions- Encourage responsible re-vegetation, preservation of existing native plant communities and control of noxious weeds.

SAN JUAN COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
The San Juan county plan outlines objectives and policies for use and management of natural resources on public lands.  Their RMP communicates the counties objectives and policies for public land resources to federal land management agencies in coordinating public land planning and resources management. This RMP identifies local knowledge and develops management objectives and policies related to natural resources. These policies were considered when planning this project.
Stream
Fishery: a. Fisheries are healthy and support biodiversity, recreation and tourism. 1) Support reasonable efforts to maintain healthy fisheries within the county.
Water Quality: a. Quality of all water resources is protected. 3) Support land management practices that contribute to or maintain healthy watershed conditions.
Riparian: a. Riparian areas are in proper functioning condition. c. Riparian areas are healthy and are protected for their ecological, biological and aesthetic values. 1) Use appropriate methods and practices to maintain, protect and restore riparian areas to proper functioning condition.
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Forest Management: Objective a. Forests, woodlands, rangelands, watersheds, and habitats are healthy and resilient and are managed for multiple use. 1) Support the use of mechanical, chemical, biological, prescribed fire, or controlled wildland fire to alter or perpetuate timber stands and increase herbaceous forage yield or cover as appropriate in areas where harvest methods are impractical or demand does not exist. 2) Support the use of various vegetation manipulation tools (such as mechanical, chemical, biological, prescribed and controlled wildland fire and livestock grazing) to enhance production of wildlife and livestock habitat and forage and improve watershed and water quality conditions on woodland areas with potential for improved ecological condition. 3)Encourage, where feasible, the harvest of forest products in areas of proposed or existing vegetation treatments to lessen the need for additional treatment or land disturbance, and in areas that need restoration for ecological benefits. 6) Actively manage forests and woodlands to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfire.
Fire Management: Objective b. Natural fuel load conditions benefit or improve watersheds and forage conditions and are appropriately maintained by natural and prescribed fire. 3) Use fuel reduction techniques such as conifer reduction, grazing, prescribed fire, chemical, biological, and mechanical treatments appropriate for site characteristics.
Livestock and Grazing: 1.Support the management of the range resource within its productive capabilities for grazing and browsing animals in harmony with other resources and activities to provide sustained yield and improvement of the forage resource. Encourage and coordinate other resource activities so as to maintain or enhance forage production. 
Fence/Spring Developments:
Livestock and Grazing: 3) Support the implementation of rangeland improvement projects including brush control, seeding projects, pinion and juniper removal, noxious and invasive weed control, and livestock water developments.
LA SAL SUSTAINABILITY COLLABORATION FINAL REPORT AND CONSENSUS RECOMMENDATIONS, FEBRUARY 2017
The La Sal Sustainability Collaboration (LSSC) was established in response to social, economic,administrative, and ecological concerns for a 285,000 acre landscape in the southern La Sal Mountains and adjoining canyonlands. The purpose of the Collaboration is to co-create an approach to management of the LSSC area where federal, state, and private lands are operated as an integrated, sustainable system. The Collaboration's initial goal was to develop consensus recommendations that will provide for ecological resilience, sustain economic viability, promote cultural preservation, and be socially acceptable and legally defensible. Management Actions were developed relative to livestock grazing, native fish conservation, beaver reintroduction, restoration of upland forest health, the role of wildland fire, limiting soil erosion, protection of high value areas, and mitigation of social conflicts.
High quality communication within agencies, among agencies, and between the agencies, producers, and interested stakeholders is critical to the successful implementation of LSSC recommendations and accomplishment of its goal for the social, economic, and ecological vibrancy, sustainability, and resiliency of the Southern La Sal Mountains and adjoining canyonlands where federal, state and private rangelands are operated as an integrated, sustainable system. This project contributes to the greater vision of the LSSC by involving numerous state agencies, federal land managers, private property owners, and public land users through the following objective: improving livestock management through fences and spring developments, and increasing forage through vegetation manipulation, reducing threats in wildland-urban interface areas incoporating work on private lands to increase protection, and enhancing riparian areas through improving or eliminating stream crossings and improving riparian habitats.
Stream
1) LSSC members are supportive of restoring the health, diversity, and productivity of native aquatic resources and provide for their use and resiliency in the face of climate change. 2) Secure the functionality of watershed, riparian and instream processes.
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
1) Identify wildland-urban interface areas where modification of vegetative conditions and/or local zoning and building regulations are needed to reduce threats to communities. 2) Protecting soil stability and productivity is essential to the social, economic, and ecological vibrancy, sustainability, and resiliency of the southern La Sal Mountains and adjoining canyonlands.
Fence/Spring Developments
1) The goal of the LSSC is to create a collaborative approach to management where federal, state, and private lands are operated as an integrated, sustainable system. 2) Support an approach to livestock grazing management that better distributes use and provides for greater variation in timing of that use across allotments and pastures. 3) Implementation of these grazing recommendations is partially dependent upon planning, constructing, and maintaining watering and gathering facilities, fences, cattle guards and other grazing infrastructure. *
 
MANTI- LA SAL NATIONAL FOREST LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF 1986, AS AMENDED 
The forest plan guides all natural resources management activities and establishes management standards and guidelines for the forest. It describes resource management practices, levels of resource production and management, and the availability and suitability of lands for resource management. This project incorporates forest management and stream management within the Forest boundaries.  The projects methods of improving aspen stands, and maintaining aquatic resources meets standards and guidelines outlined in the plan.
Stream
i. (F00) Water Quality Management - Improve or maintain water quality. ii. (F00) Soil Resource Management- Maintain or improve soil productivity and watershed qualities within the ecological site capabilities. iii. Minimize adverse, man-caused impacts to the soil resource including accelerated erosion, compaction, contamination, and displacement. iv. (F03) Soil and Water Resource Improvements- Rehabilitate disturbed areas, where feasible, that are eroding excessively and/or contributing significant sediment to perennial streams. v. (F07) Water Uses Management - Provide for fish and wildlife habitat, recreation and live-stock use pursuant to the Multiple Use and Sustained Yield Act of 1960. Protect and enhance riparian areas including dependent resources. (LRMP III-4)
Forest Management Goals: Wildlife and Fish-1) Maintain or improve fisheries habitat. Soil and Water- 1) Maintain satisfactory watershed conditions. 2) Provide favorable conditions for water flow (quality, quantity, and timing.) 3) Protect National Forest System lands or resources from unacceptable damage caused by development of water uses. 4) Improve deteriorated watershed conditions where feasible. 5) Protect soil and water productivity so that neither will be significantly or permanently impaired.
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Maintain upward or stable trends in vegetation and soil condition (LRMP III-3)  Maintain/improve habitat capability through direct treatment of vegetation (LRMP III-23). * Minimize hazards from wildfire - reduce fuel loading, stand and crown/canopy density, and resultant fire hazard to vegetation, the public, private property, and firefighters (LRMP III-5). *Provide habitat needs for deer and elk (LRMP III-19), especially improving the cover:forage ratio. Manage aspen with commercial or noncommercial treatments to maintain or increase the percent of the Forest in the aspen type (III-2). Maintain/improve habitat and habitat diversity for populations of existing wildlife species (III-22). Manage aspen at the ecological stage that provides high herbaceous yield and cover (III-65). Provide for timber stand improvement, reforestation and wildlife habitat improvement (III-25).
Forest Management Goals:  Vegetation- 1) Certain vegetation types are to be managed such that varying successional stages will be present to provide for a high level of vegetative diversity and productivity. 2) Aspen is to be managed with commercial or noncommercial treatments, with the goal of maintaining 13 percent of the Forest in aspen type or increasing the aspen type toward the 19 percent represented in 1915.  Wildlife and Fish-1)Maintain and improve habitat carrying capacity for elk and deer. 2) Maintain or improve wildlife habitat diversity. 3) Protect, maintain, or improve habitat for threatened or endangered and sensitive plants and animals. 4) Provide habitat for viable populations of existing vertebrate and invertebrate species found on the the Forest. Range- 1) Maintain upward or stable trends in vegetation and soil condition. Protection-1) Minimize hazards form flood, wind, wildfire, and erosion. 2) Reduce the accumulated fuels to a tolerable risk level. 
Fence/Spring Developments
Invest in range improvements where they will provide the greatest benefit (LRMP III-3).

UTAH WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN, 2015-2025 
The WAP identifies sensitive species and their habitats and pinpoint their threats, limiting factors, and crucial data gaps. This plan provides strong, clear guidance for improving habitats and strengthening wildlife populations.  It is a strategic tool that can reduce and prevent listings under the endangered species act. Several key habitats and species of greatest conservation need were identified as needing improvement on the La Sal Mountains. Utilizing mechanical and hand treatments on uplands and riparian areas to improve forage and habitat for wildlife address some of the main threats.
Stream
Riverine Key Habitat: Threats-Sediment transport imbalance, roads-transportation network. Strategy: 1) Promoting policies that maintain or restore natural water and sediment flow regimes. 2) Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate siting of roads in riparian zones. 
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Riverine Key Habitat: Threats-Inappropriate fire frequency and intensity
Aspen-Conifer Key Habitat: Aspen decline- 1) departure from natural fire regime (reduction in disturbance), resulting in widespread forest succession to conifer dominance; and 2) heavy ungulate browsing on young aspen stems, following disturbance. Condition- 1) Deficits of young and mid age classes, such that replenishment of aspen-dominated stands is being inhibited. 2) Surpluses of older and/or conifer-encroached classes which if left unaddressed, can lead to widespread permanent loss of aspen clones. Threats-1) Inappropriate fire frequency and intensity. Strategy: 1) Applying mechanical disturbance agents such as timber harvest. This can also be used to stimulate aspen regeneration and avoid or reduce resource losses to conifer beetles. As with fire, larger mechanical treatment areas serve to distribute browsing pressure and reduce damage to individual stems, increasing regeneration success. 2) Promoting policies that reduce improper browsing and grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife. 
Fences/Spring Developments
Riverine Key Habitat: Strategies- 1) Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife. 
Species of Greatest Conservation Need: 
Black Rosy Finch-little is known about the population, but they move to sagebrush and shrublands in lower elevations during winter. Improving shrublands and increasing the diversity and availability of forbs and seeds is important in winter habitat.
Golden Eagle- Improving understory vegetation enhances prey base for the species. Small mammals benefit from increased availability of forage.
Northern Leopard Frog- use streams and river for breeding and overwintering.
Colorado River Cutthroat Trout-occur in streams and high lakes in the Colorado River Basin and are at risk due to isolation and fragmentation.

CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT IN THE STATES OF COLORADO, UTAH, AND WYOMING, JUNE 2006
This Conservation Strategy (Strategy) was developed to direct implementation of conservation measures for Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT) in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as a collaborative and cooperative effort among resource agencies to eliminate or reduce threats that warrant CRCT listing as a special status species. This plan identifies methods of stabilzing and enhancing population and maintaining ecosystems and provides a framework for long-term conservation of the species. Current threats to CRCT on the La Sal Mountains include removal of unique populations through damage of streams from unmanageable fire, increase of sediment loads from stream crossings, and erosion concerns. This project will address some of these threats in the La Sal Creek watershed through fuel treatments, aspen rehabilitation which acts as a fuel break,  installation of BDA's and stream crossings, and eliminating travel routes.
Stream
This Plan designed to reduce threats to CRCT and stabilize or enhance populations and to maintain its ecosystems. One identified threat is destruction, modification, or curtailments of the species' habitat or range. Conservation goal: manage areas for increased abundance. Objective 3: Restore populations-Increase the number of populations by restoring CRCT within their native range. Local restoration goals and approaches will be developed to meet this objective. Objective 4: Secure and enhance watershed conditions. Strive to improve watershed conditions for CRCT, including development of protocols for monitoring. Strategy 7: Improve habitat conditions for CRCT. Impacts outside the riparian zone should be considered as part of CRCT management. Land management agencies should work to mitigate adverse impacts of watershed activities on water quality, instream habitat, channel morphology, riparian areas, and population stability. Habitat improvement techniques will be used where appropriate to provide missing habitat components or improve existing ones. Examples of these techniques include building instream structures to improve pool to riffle ratios, stream bank stabilization, riparian management, instream cover, pool or spawning gravel enhancement, and provision of fish passageways.

UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MULE DEER, 2020
This document provides overall guidance and direction for managing Utah's mule deer populations. This plan provides general information on natural history, management, population status, habitat, and issues of concern for mule deer in Utah. This plan also outlines the goals, objectives, and strategies for managing mule deer populations and their habitats. Deer eat a wide variety of plants including browse, forbs and grasses. Fawn production is closely tied to the abundance of succulent, green forage during the spring and summer months. Mule deer do best in habitats that are in the early stages of plant succession- early plant succession relies on fire or some other type of disturbance. This project is designed to return aspen and sagebrush communities to an early successional stage through mechanical treatments. Improved forage from this project will aid in better preparation for lactation in does, and more fat reserves for deer for use through the winter, and potentially better antler growth.

Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. 1) Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering, and migration areas. 2) Work with local, state and federal land management agencies and ranchers to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 700,000 acres of crucial range by 2026. 1)Work with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize mule deer habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration (Figure 6). Emphasis should be placed on crucial habitats including sagebrush winter ranges and aspen summer ranges. 2) 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. 3) Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinyon-juniper woodlands and aspen conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire.

DEER HERD UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN-DEER HERD UNIT #13 LA SAL SEPTEMBER 2020
Mule deer on the La Sal Mountains as of 2019 had an average population size of 7,200 with a three-year average adult survival (based on collars from neighboring San Juan unit) of 74.6 percent and fawn survival of 22.6 percent. The three year average of fawns to does was 27:100. A healthy recruitment rate is 60 fawns per 100 does. This project aims to improve forage in aspen and sagebrush communities by returning them to an early seral community encouraging more nutritious plant growth.

Stream:
Habitat Management Objectives: 1)Work with land management agencies in managing riparian areas in critical fawning habitat to furnish water, cover and succulent forage from mid- to late summer. 
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Habitat Management Objectives: 1) Maintain or improve mule deer habitat on the unit by protecting, maintaining, and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating losses due to natural and human impacts. 2) Continue to improve, protect, and restore summer and winter range habitats critical to deer, such as aspen and sagebrush steppe communities. Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvements such as pinion-juniper removal, reseedings, controlled burns, mechanical treatments, grazing management, water developments etc. on public and private lands. Habitat improvement projects will occur through the WRI process. 3) Reduce expansion of pinion-juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by pinion-juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects like lop-and-scatter, bullhog and chaining. 4) Work with private landowners, federal, state, and local governments to maintain and protect critical and existing ranges from future losses and degradation through grazing management and trail, OHV and Travel Plan modifications.

UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ELK 2015-2022
The statewide elk management plan provides overall guidance and direction for Utah's elk management program. This plan briefly describes general information on elk natural history, management, habitat, and population status. Elk are a generalist ungulate, and have a varied diet which consists of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Although elk inhabit most habitat types in Utah, they prefer to spend their summers at high elevations in aspen conifer forests. Elk will spend the winter months at mid to low elevation habitats that contain mountain shrub and sagebrush communities. Elk in Utah are more closely tied to aspen than any other habitat type. Aspen stands provide both forage and cover for elk during the summer months and are used for calving in spring. This project aims to improve and maintain aspen stands on the La Sal mountains which will contribute to improved forage.

Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
 1) Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. 2) Reduce adverse impacts to elk herds and elk habitat. 3) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. 4) 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. 5) Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages. 6) Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve elk habitat with emphasis on calving habitat and winter ranges. 7) Seek opportunities to improve aspen communities on summer ranges which provides crucial calving habitat. 8) Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages through the use of controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas where there are minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns.

ELK HERD UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN ELK HERD UNIT #13 LA SAL, AUGUST 2016
Elk on the La Sal Mountains are limited in the amount of quality summer habitat for foraging and calving areas. These ranges are shared with livestock and other big game.  This project will maintain and improve summer habitat for elk through aspen regeneration. As of 2019, the three year average population estimate on the La Sals was 2,733 with an average of 43 calf elk to 100 cow elk.
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
 1) Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat rehabilitation projects such as reseedings, controlled burns, water developments, etc. on public and private lands to maintain or increase biological carrying capacity. 2) Summer Range - Maintain and improve summer forage availability on the La Sal Mountains through aspen regeneration and oakbrush thinning projects.

UTAH'S WILD TURKEY MANAGEMENT PLAN, 2014
This plan presents management goals, objectives and strategies for the wild turkey in Utah. It identifies issues and concerns, and specifies strategies to overcome them. Turkeys rely on mast producing plants such as pine nuts and acorns for important food sources. A variety of grasses, weed seeds, and green, leafy vegetation are also eaten by turkeys. Sedges are important year-round food items where available. Large quantities of insects, particularly grasshoppers, are eaten during the summer. Suitable habitat includes three key ingredients: trees, forbs and grass. Regardless of the type of environment, turkeys must have a combination of trees, forbs and grass. Trees provide food, daytime loafing and escape cover, and most important--nighttime roost sites. Grasses and forbs provide food for adults and are especially important to poults as an environment in which they can efficiently forage for insects.

Wild turkeys require diverse vegetation for foraging and often use aspen, fruit-bearing shrubs, insects, grass, forbs, and legumes for foraging. Wild turkeys prefer 60% canopy cover which can be provided by young and mixed-age class aspen stands while still having light available for growing other desirable forage species. Managing some aspen for younger age classes and removing encroaching conifer from the aspen will benefit the species.
Fuels/Aspen Regeneration
Goal A. Maintain and improve wild turkey populations to habitat or social carrying capacity. Objective 2 Increase habitat quantity and quality for turkeys by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020, specifically by conducting habitat improvement projects in limiting habitats. 
JB RANCH FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLAN, 2014
This Forest Stewardship Plan recommends natural resource management activities and provides the general, broad-level direction for forest management on JB Ranch. This plan describes management objectives, desired future conditions and goals for the resources, priorities for action, and resource management practices to achieve desirable benefits resulting from implementation.

Objectives:
Forest Stand Improvement: 1) Regeneration harvest of aspen. Practice: a)Clearcut harvest in declining aspen stands to stimulate aspen regeneration.

Wildfire Risk Reduction: 1)Reduce vulnerability to large scale fires by reducing hazardous fuel loading on property, and by reducing ladder fuels within forest stands.

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.

1) Aspen Regeneration -The loss of aspen results in development of range/brush, conifer or the woodland ecosystem type, which are more fire prone than aspen. Removing woody debris from the stand and encouraging the development of aspen will inherently make the stand less likely to result in a catastrophic wildfire, a serious benefit considering the network of private properties nearby in the La Sals. Additionally, the restoration of this stand will promote heterogeneity on the landscape, a useful tool for mitigating insect and disease outbreaks (thereby reducing standing dead fuels) and ultimately creating a better defense against fire.

2) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) - Treatment is designed to reduce vegetation density, overgrowth and ladder fuels by reducing the invasive nature of pinyon/juniper and oak causing an increased probability of a high severity wildfire. Private in-holdings with residences, outbuildings, and near by infrastructure would have increased protection from high severity wildfires. This proposal will reduce live fuels within the treatment area while restoring the natural sagebrush openings. This improved condition and reduced fire risk will aid in protection from fires (natural and man-caused) which can spread between private, state and federal lands.
Treatment will provide fire fighters the opportunity to suppress fires under conditions that allow for fire fighter safety and protection of life, property and improvements.
3.)  The Spring Development will provide some benefit in control and reduction of fire/fuels:  i.  Development of an additional/off-site water source will aide in improving the conditions of the riparian zone along Chicken Creek and other near by streams and wetlands. Healthy, functioning riparian corridors and wetlands can act as fire breaks which can decrease size and severity of wild fires, as a control for controlled burns and as fire fighter safety zones during suppression of active fires.
ii.  Increased grazing use of uplands surrounding a developed spring may decrease fire risk through the decrease and breaking up of fine fuels which often ignite and carry fire.

The cultural resource survey portion of this project for bullhog treatment of phase two (2022) includes in and around the sole power source corridor/power line to the community of Castle Valley. The project will protect that infrastructure and power supply for this community.
  
This project will provide a direct long-term benefit by reducing the threat of large fires through reducing fuel loading.

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.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration.
A) Beaver Creek. Each time vehicles drive through Beaver Creek, a high amount of sediment is transported downstream. Along with sedimentation, the eroded section has been cut to a level deep enough to submerge part of vehicles motor as they drive through the water; this contributes toxic pollutants and chemicals to the stream. By changing the road to administrative one and only allowing grazing permitees to travel this route, we will significantly reduce the frequency and impact to the stream. Also, by providing road fill to the cut section, we will significantly reduce sedimentation downstream of the site providing for increased water quality and fish habitat. The installation of Beaver Damn Analogs will reduce sedimentation by slowing the  stream velocity. It will also expand the riparian community that will act as a natural filtering component. Additionally, it will provide needed grade control and water depth for fish passage.
B.)  Spring Development - Although small on a landscape and even watershed scale this spring development project will result in major beneficial changes to water quality and quantity at the spring itself and more minor positive effects to the overall La Sal Creek Watershed in the following ways:  i.  Constructing a fence to exclude livestock from approximately 1/2 acre surrounding the spring source will trampling and grazing at the spring source thereby decreasing one of the major contributors to soil compaction and high concentrations of manure contamination with little vegetative material as a natural filter.  ii.  Protection of the spring will improve the hydrologic functionality through establishment of native riparian vegetation increasing water retention, decrease evaporation through shading and temperature regulation and potentially increase habitat for amphibian species (see "Species" section).  iii.  Collecting water and piping away from the spring will provide a clean reliable source of off-site water reducing amount of use to springs and streams in the pasture which will result in the same affects to those riparian areas as described above.  iv.  Adding additional storage via installation of a trough will increase usable acres for all grazing animals and improve distribution throughout the pasture thereby increasing the "size of the pie" making use lighter across the whole resulting in more vegetative material leading to slowed run off and increased percolation.     
C.)  Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing - As briefly described in prior sections, particularly the "Needs" section, this aspect of the project helps to accomplish multiple objectives and tie several items together.  The boundary fencing associated with the cattle guard being installed as a bottomless culvert, will result in improved grazing management and livestock control.  The fencing will facilitate improved pasture rotations on both sides of the fence, improved human relations and decrease the length of time livestock spend in the Upper Two-Mile Creek area.  The combination of fencing, using the cattle guard as a bottomless culvert, and installing log structures as grade control and fish passage improves access to habitat for fish and amphibian populations and reduces impacts from grazing and human traffic to improve the proper functioning condition of Two Mile Creek.

2) Aspen Regeneration - i. Conserve & protect watersheds by maintaining a functioning network of resilient forests; by reducing the risk of severe, large scale wildfire in the project area, the actions will protect watershed values from damage to soils that result in reduced infiltration and increased runoff in the short-term and loss of top soil and subsequent reduction in soil productivity in the long-term. The additional treatment of drainages that could act as funnels during a wildfire protects these riparian areas in the long term.

Water quality/quantity will improve through increased water yield in this watershed due to a
sustainable aspen forest resource: studies have shown that sagebrush (and conifer) encroachment into aspen stands throughout the Intermountain West causes a significant decrease in an area's water yield (mechanisms include differential accumulation of snow, melting patterns, and plant water use rates). By encouraging the regeneration of aspen, the watershed's water yield should increase.

Forest Water Quality Guidelines serve as a resource created by the State that include considerations for land managers to reduce water quality/quantity impact in their management practices. The guidelines will be consulted for the aspen harvest to minimize impacts and enhance water quality. A post-harvest field review complements the guidelines to determine the effectiveness of the logging (including road construction, maintenance, skid trails, site prep etc.) on the protection of forest, soil, and water resources. On the private land, a post-harvest review will be conducted and submitted to the State for evaluation.
3) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) - i. Reducing fuel loading by reducing pinyon and juniper densities indirectly reduces the probability of high severity wildfires. By reducing the chance for wildfires, we indirectly reduce the probability of significant overland flow, rilling, and other erosional processes. This increase in ground cover and reduction in wildfire probability will ensure that water quality will be protected in these watersheds.

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.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration.
A) Beaver Creek. An Environmental Assessment will be produced to adequately analyze impacts to all resources, as well as providing the public with opportunities for comment/alternatives. i. Archeological clearance work will be conducted by USFS employees in the summer of 2021. ii. A Biological Assessment/Evaluation will be produced by the Forest Service, and consultation will be coordinated with the USFWS. iii. A stream alteration permit will be obtained from the Utah Department of Water Rights by Trout Unlimited.
B.)  Spring Development -  i.  No additional clearance is needed for the actual spring development where it has been developed in the past as long as new activities stay within the footprint of existing previous disturbance.  ii.  A cultural resource survey is needed in order to install new pole fencing out to a larger enclosure area.  All clearances for this will be completed by July 1, 2021  iii.  The grazing permittee has been involved in the panning of this project, supports the proposal and will contribute via in-kind, labor.

C.)  Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing -  i.  All cultural resource surveys and project approvals were completed in 2019.  ii.  The stream alteration permit is ready to be submitted and will be in January 2021 by Trout Unlimited.  All permitting will be in place by July 1, 2021.

2) Aspen Regeneration - A Notice of Intent (NOI) will be completed by the contractor prior to any treatments, pursuant to 65A-8a-104 of the Utah Code.  All contractors will be required to be registered with FFSL as a forest operator, pursuant to 65A-8a-103 of the Utah Code. Archeological clearance and SHPO concurrence will be conducted prior to any ground disturbing activates begin.

3.) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) - i. This practice for this phase of the project is all planned for private lands and is treatment of an old chaining.  The grazing permittee has been involved in the panning of this project, supports the proposal.  No additional clearances are needed.

4) Deer Spring Habitat project - expected level of environmental analysis is a CE (Categorical Exclusion)

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.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration.
A) Beaver Creek. i. Forest Service will complete NEPA for the project. ii. Improve road 4731 in order to get supplies and material into the site. iii. Contract the delivery and implementation of road fill into the 100' x 10' eroded section, along with hardening the stream crossing. iv. Install a culvert at the stream crossing.
B.)  Spring Development - i.  Construction of the pole fence exclosure will be contracted through the permittee to a fence contractor.  ii.  The spring development including spring box, pipeline and trough installation will also be contracted through the permittee. SITLA will provide over-site of these two contracts.

C.)  Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing -  i.  A trackhoe will be rented to complete this part of the project.  SITLA will provide the operator.  The existing culvert will be removed and the hole excavated to approximately 8.5 ft. wide x 12 ft. long x 6 ft. deep.  The lower end will be brought down to natural grade.  14 Concrete blocks (2'x2'x6' = 3,000 lbs each) will be placed two long and two deep on each side the then the concrete cattle guard bases placed on top of those on either side creating the base for the cattle guard to sit on and the walls of the bottomless stream passage through the road.  On each end of the passage additional concrete blocks will be angled out from each side two long and two deep creating wings to prevent flows from coming in behind the stream passage side walls (see diagram in photos).  6" cobble will be placed in the bottom through the passage to prevent down cutting and hold the soils.  Logs will be cut on site and placed crosswise in a rolling pattern in the stream flow below the passage to hold soils and prevent down cutting until the reestablished natural grade has stabilized.  One 8'x10' cattle guard, 14 concrete blocks and two cattle guard bases have been purchased by SITLA.  ii.  Lay-Down Fencing going both directions from this location was constructed during the summer of 2020.  SITLA provided the fencing materials and the permittees hired one contractor and paid for the labor (Approximately 2 miles completed).  ii.  An additional four miles of fence will be constructed during 2021 in the same manner replacing the existing old boundary fence.

2.) Aspen Regeneration - FFSL and SITLA will use a shared contractor to harvest decadent and dying aspen stands, then clear the areas of woody material. Some material will be hauled to a sawmill, and some biomass will be piled and burned. In areas where machinery does not disturb the soil sufficiently to stimulate regeneration, a ripper attachment will be used. On the private and SITLA property, felled aspen trees will be piled outside of the forest stand to be used as a barrier to protect the aspen regeneration from browsers. Where the formation of an adequate slash fence is not possible due to lack of material, polypropylene fencing will be supplemented to complete the perimeter.

Existing roads will be used to access the aspen stand on the private property. On the SITLA property, existing and some new constructed roads will be used to access aspen stands.  All equipment will be cleaned before entering the property to reduce the risk of invasive/noxious weeds spreading to the project area. If any weeds are observed in the project area, they will be removed/ treated immediately. As successful regeneration of aspen is more likely if stands are harvested or treated in the dormant season when nutrient reserves in aspen roots are highest, project work will likely happen in the fall. Residual large, dead trees with cavities will serve as potential nesting locations for birds.
3) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) -This project would be handled under a contract. Removal of encroaching conifers will be done with hand crews using chainsaws. Trees would be cut in a mosaic pattern with all limbs being completely severed from the stump, no slash larger than 4 feet in length and higher than 2 ft. off the ground. Cut materials will be left on the site or lopped and scattered. There will be no piling, slashing, or burning of cut materials. Treatments will occur from mid-summer to fall. Existing roads will be used to access the project area. Further access will be by foot. No new roads would be constructed. 
4) USFS Deer Spring project analysis would be completed in-house through the use of detailer IDT leader and overtime for District specialists field review and document preparation.

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.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration.
A) Beaver Creek. i. Photo points will be conducted to show pre and post implementation. ii. We will then conduct long-term photo points to show the trend of revegetation at the site. iii.  Chemical analysis for water quality monitoring has already been established and will continue as long-term monitoring. iv. Water quantity monitoring has already been established and will continue as long-term monitoring. 
B.)  Spring Development - i. SITLA will monitor and maintain the exclosure once installed. Pre and post project photos will be taken and uploaded into the WRI database with repeat photos of the enclosed spring area taken every 3-5 years.  
C.)  Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing - i.  TU took drone photos in summer of 2020 prior to fence construction (see photos).  Follow-up flights and photos will take place after completion and uploaded to the WRI database.  
The LSSC group has established an extensive monitoring plan for all allotments grazed by La Sal Livestock covering multiple allotments with several monitoring points across each allotment.  Effects of the above spring development and Upper Two-Mile Creek Crossing and associated fencing are expected to be picked up by this monitoring (see LSSC Monitoring Report for more details).

2.) Aspen Regeneration - Photo points will be established to identify pre- and post-treatment conditions, as well as long-term monitoring points for future reference. Post-treatment photos will be taken within 3 years post-treatment.
Day-to-day monitoring of contract operations will be completed during implementation by DWR, SITLA, and FFSL personnel.
Post-harvest, the efficacy of the management practices to protect soil, forest and water will be evaluated using the Forest Water Quality Guidelines.
3) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) -The project area will be monitored for vegetative cover, ground cover, and grass forage production before and after treatment. At each monitoring site, a list of observed plant species will be compiled. A landscape photo will be taken, and 10 nadir (straight-down) photos will be taken along a 100-m transect. These photos will be analyzed for average vegetation and ground cover using Sample Point software. Grass production will be measured using a 9.6-square-foot hoop placed at the 10-m, 50-m, and 90-m points along the transect.

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.

Trout Unlimited has played a key role in drafting the LSSC plan for the allotments held by La Sal Livestock and BLT livestock.  TU will play a key role in project management for this and future phases of the LSSC plan implementation and monitoring of the affects of all practices on the fisheries within the area covered by that plan.  TU will provide expertise and seek stream alteration permits when annual restoration includes stream and riparian projects.  
NRCS has been a valuable resource exert in planning grazing and rangeland improvements through LSSC.  They will consult on all project plans and seek for ways to leverage Farm Bill programs with WRI to enhance the ability to complete restoration projects.
San Juan County will play a role in critically reviewing any projects that are put on the ground within the county.  They have invested many hours of time and expertise in the drafting of the LSSC plan.
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, through the Grazing Improvement Program, has been one of the convening organizations for the LSSC.  They will play a role in project management and coordination with range improvements, grazing plans and pasture rotations 
La Sal Livestock, BLT Livestock and Redd Ranches are the grazing permittees on the La Sal Creek watershed project area and will provide on the ground expertise on time and timing of the project so that it can work in conjunction with livestock grazing to be successful. The permittees have and are committed to continue to make significant contributions in both time and money.  They will also receive consulting through Steve Deeter, a local grazing expert that works for them to provide rangeland and livestock health information. He has been a great asset to this collaboration, and continues to work with multiple agencies to improve overall rangeland health.
Manti-La Sal National Forest will complete all NEPA requirements before the implementation of this project.  They will work to make sure that the permittees are in compliance with LSSC plans and permit requirements.  They will also work with TU and DWR to coordinate and manage the project.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has been involved with the LSSC since it began. DWR is interested in the partnership and collaboration with multiple organizations to provide resource benefit to wildlife and as well as other resources. DWR is an active participant in developing aspen regeneration, rangeland improvements in the uplands as well as the riparian areas. DWR will be the contracting agency for most of the work in this phase of the LSSC project.

Aspen related project work is occurring on both SITLA and private land, creating a landscape-
level impact on the northern and southern end of the La Sal mountains. Contractors will be shared to remove old and dying aspen from the sites, and perform scarification where needed. FFSL has worked with the JB Ranch landowners for several years, and has provided resource management recommendations through the Forest Stewardship Plan.  SITLA has a long history of aspen forest management on the La Sals, and this project is a continuation of that effort.

Trout Unlimited
La Sal Sustainability Collaboration
Utah Grazing Improvement Program
U.S. Forest Service
Livestock Operators- BLT Cattle Company, La Sal Livestock
Moab Area Watershed Partnership
State Institutional Trust Lands Administration

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.

1) Stream and Spring Restoration
A) Beaver Creek - i. The Forest Service lands in the Beaver Creek watershed will continue to be managed for livestock grazing, recreation, and for the benefit of wildlife species and associated stream functionality.
B.)  Spring Development - i.  The permittee is willing to take on the annual maintenance of the spring development and will be assigned maintenance through an agreement attached to the grazing permit.  ii.  SITLA will be responsible for annual checks and maintenance of the pole fencing around the spring source.
C.)  Upper Two-Mile Creek Fence and Road Crossing - i.  SITLA will have maintenance responsibilities of the cattle guard crossing as part of the routes within the South Block Travel Management Plan.  The associated boundary fencing will be assigned equally to the permittees through an agreement attached to the grazing permits.
2) Aspen Regeneration - i. the private lands will continue to be managed for wildlife benefits. The private lands are currently under a DWR Cooperative Wildlife Management Area which incentives landowners to manage large tracts of land for wildlife. The private lands allow for minimal livestock grazing but has a two pasture rotation system and if livestock grazing becomes and detrimental to wildlife grazing will be changed. The private lands have a Forest Stewardship Plan which gives direction from Forestry Fire and State Lands to improve forest resources on the property through several phases. Aspen regeneration project have been implemented with this private landowner in the past and have seen great success with brush fencing and landowner maintenance. The landowners were the recipient of the 2020 Stewardship Land Managers Award. SITLA lands are managed for the benefit of school children and other trust beneficiaries. The timber harvested from this project will be used for trustees. SITLA lands on the La Sal blocks will continue to be used for multiple recreational opportunities for the public.   
3) Fuels Treatment (Lop & Scatter) - Pinyon/Juniper treatments in the foothills of the La Sals will allow for better management of wildlife fires in the area. Near the project area there are ponderosa stands that can burn often and treatment areas such as the proposed action, allow for better management of wildfire and prescribed burns that would be conducted in the surrounding areas.

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.

Livestock grazing is an important multiple use of these lands.  The proposed treatments would decrease the amount of woody vegetation (especially pinyon-juniper and oak) within much of the grazed areas in these allotments as well as increase riparian health.  This would likely lead to an increased production of herbaceous vegetation (grass and forb species) on up 3,500 acres of rangelands.  Grazing management in these allotments takes into account the frequency, intensity and timing of grazing. Improved forage allows for greater flexibility and improvement in the management of frequency and intensity of grazing and provides improved resources to wildlife as well. The private lands land have a rotational grazing plan that is providing for differed timing of grazing from year to year. Areas where aspen regeneration occur will be fenced off from grazing until the aspen regeneration can withstand livestock grazing in the area, most likely when they are over 6ft. tall.

Stream, spring and riparian health is also important to both livestock and wildlife.  Healthy riparian areas where the stream is connected with the surrounding floodplains and very productive areas.  It is important that riparian areas are in proper functioning conditions to continue to provide water, forage, cover for livestock and wildlife as well as habitat for fish species.

The livestock permittee has been heavily involved in our collaboration to help make decisions on which areas to start doing restoration work. We have multiple range improvement projects planned for future installment once all the NEPA and cultural clearances are done to improve the grazing management throughout the public/private lands within this collaboration.

Noxious weeds are not expected to increase or spread as a result of the treatments as best management practices will be implemented.  In the short-term there could be some interruption of grazing operations; however the long-term benefits to the range resource outweigh the short-term negative impacts.  
The removal of Pinyon Juniper (PJ) will open up the canopy and release soil moisture which will allow other vegetation to take advantage of the light and moisture that was previously being taken up by the PJ which will benefit wintering wildlife in the area. This is important since mule deer populations in the area are not doing well. Fawn recruitment is low on the La Sals and habitat quality is a contributing factor. Increasing quality and quantity of forage for game species will help the population.
The proposed aspen timber harvest is a sustainable use of forest resources. The local forest industry is bolstered by receiving and utilizing saw timber from projects like this.  It also helps provide job opportunities for rural communities.  In return, the land benefits from multiple ecosystem services, including: higher biodiversity, improved fire protection, increased forage and cover for wildlife, water and soil retention, and stronger connectivity and resilience of these vulnerable aspen communities.

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.