Escalante Municipal Watershed Phase 1 and Hungry Creek NEPA
Region: Southern
ID: 5665

Project Status: Completed

Project Details

Phase 1 is a 166 acre treatment within the 3,200 acre Hungry Creek Farm Bill area and contains the headwaters of Deep Creek, Lost Creek and Hungry Creek which all feed into Pine Creek and the Escalante River. Hungry Creek Farm Bill is a subset of the 137,000 acre Hungry Creek project area. The area contains the municipal watershed of Escalante, the source of irrigation water to Pine Creek Irrigation Company, and unique and extensive wetland ecosystems, including Pine Creek which contains a core, remnant and increasing population of native Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT; Hadley, Golden, and Whelan 2014), which are a State Species of Greatest Conservation Need and are managed under a Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy. Immediate threats to these assets are advanced aged forest communities with high fuels loads, extensive mistletoe infections, and high risk for uncharacteristically severe wildfire; encroachment of non-hydric species into wetlands; grazing; and suppression of wildlife forage and habitat. The 137,000 acre Hungry Creek project area will need funding to conduct cultural, wildlife, hydrologic surveys to satisfy NEPA requirements for future implementation phases.

The town of Escalante receives 100% of its water from springs north of Posey Lake in John Allen Bottom and Deep Creek. The system has backup wells in the Escalante River Valley, but these are used only in case of emergency or very low spring flows. Low spring flows triggered the use of the wells several times in the past 20 years (G. Graham, Escalante City, personal communication, December 17, 2020).

The fuel loading throughout this area creates an elevated risk for an uncharacteristically large, high severity wildfire. Surrounding these springs and throughout the Upper Pine Creek subwatershed are a variety of forest communities. Currently on the west side there are aspen, and spruce/fir and mixed conifer communities. The east side has spruce/fir/aspen, aspen/ponderosa pine communities. Stand structure throughout is predominantly even-aged with scattered uneven-aged pockets with a Fire Regime Condition Class 3 (FRCC3). Both climax and seral aspen stands are in decline. The upper elevations in the west that were once dominated by aspen are now succeeding to white fir and Douglas fir. In aspen stands the stand structure is predominantly even aged. These late successional forest types have high fuel loadings caused by dense ladder fuels, dead and downed wood and standing tree biomass. The last timber harvest in the area occurred in the late 1980s within the ponderosa pine belt but no known treatments within the Spruce/Fir community. Current conditions are also suppressing wildlife and livestock forage. Removal of excessive fuels and encroaching conifers, along with the corresponding successional change would help provide resiliency to the vegetative community, wildlife habitat, and ultimately to the municipal watershed. Conducting these hand treatments around sensitive areas will also lower the risk of any negative impacts to these and riparian areas from 3,200 acres of prescribed fires in the surrounding forests that are planned for autumn 2023.

In addition to the municipal water supply, the project has direct downstream effects to the Pine Creek subwatershed, and the 303(d) listed Escalante River Upper Assessment Unit. Pine Creek is an important area for fish and wildlife. It contains a core, remnant and increasing population of native Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT; Hadley, Golden, and Whelan 2014), which are a State Species of Greatest Conservation Need and are managed under a Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy. Pine Creek is the source of irrigation water to northeast Escalante. Project treatments aim to prevent severe wildfire and its well-known associated detrimental effects to water quality, erosion, wetland and stream morphology and function, and riparian and upland vegetation and habitats.

During the past 20 years wildfires in areas with high fuel loadings and disproportionate portions of vegetative communities in late successional stages have resulted in significant negative impacts to core and conservation populations of native cutthroat trout and aquatic habitat throughout the State of Utah. Both the State's Wildlife Action Plan and the Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for CRCT recognize the importance of upland and riparian vegetation health and encourage active management to maintain and improve watershed conditions for this species (see Relationship to Plans section). The wetlands in the project the area support populations of springsnails which are highly specialized to and dependent on spring-fed habitats (Hershler et al. 2014). At this point the species of springsnails remain undetermined; however many springsnails in Utah are managed under a Conservation Agreement for Springsnails in Nevada and Utah (BLM 2018, Springsnail Conservation Team 2020) which recognizes detrimental habitat conditions as a main threat to extirpation and urges maintenance, enhancement and restoration of springsnail habitats.  Surveys are planned in summer 2021 to determine the species that occupy springs in the project area.

The Utah Division of Water Quality has listed Escalante River Upper Assessment Unit (UT14070005-012_00) on the state's 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies. Beneficial uses in the Escalante River Upper waterbody are warm water aquatic life and agriculture (Categories 3B and 4). They are not currently being met due to total dissolved solids and biological indicators due to poorly functioning forest conditions. Projects for implementation in this proposal address or mitigate several primary sources of dissolved solids and water quality impacts that are currently contributing to impairment of the Assessment Unit. 
Grazing in the area is often concentrated in wetlands in the hot seasons because of more desirable forage in the wetlands when compared to surrounding uplands. Lack of desirable forage in the uplands is in part due to forest cover that does not allow for growth of understory forage because of lack of understory light and acidic or allelopathic properties of conifers. Wetland survey data collected in the area show extremely high browsing and grazing use by livestock, impacted streambanks, and overutilization indicated by very low stubble heights. The project will address these issues through changes in grazing management by rest rotation and fencing to protect and restore wetland vegetation.

This project area contains substantial summer range and transitional range for mule deer and elk. Elk and mule deer herd management plans for this unit call for improvements to summer range (see Relationship to Management Plans section) and specifically call for aspen regeneration and a reduction in spruce fir succession.  Protecting the water supply areas as proposed in this project will allow for prescribed fire in mixed conifer and spruce/fir habitats with the end goal being resetting succession back to aspen.

The project area is within Posey Lake, Posey Lake campground, Tule Lake and immediately adjacent to The Box Death Hollow Wilderness, all of which are heavily used and greatly enjoyed by both local and out-of-town visitors. The Boulder Mountain Sportfish Management Plan shows that Posey Lake is managed as a trophy brook trout, tiger trout and splake fishery, as well as an opportunity fishery for rainbow trout. Tule Lake is managed as a trophy brook trout fishery. Posey Lake receives substantial fishing pressure because of its ease of access from Escalante and the adjacent campground. Both lakes are relatively shallow and susceptible to water quality problems should their drainage basins be burned by a high severity wildfire.

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 long-term goals within the greater Hungry Creek area are to increase forest and riparian wildfire resilience and ability to recover from wildfire; restore stand age structure in a variety of forest communities; and to improve and enhance riparian vegetation, habitats, water quality and water quantity.  The 137,000 acre Hungry Creek project area will need funding to conduct cultural, wildlife, hydrologic surveys to satisfy NEPA requirements for future implementation phases.
Objectives within this project area are:
*	Protect the municipal and irrigation water supply for the town of Escalante.
*	Reduce the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire and prescription fires and the 
        associated negative effects to 
o	the municipal watershed, 
o	downstream irrigation water infrastructure, 
o	water resources, 
o	wildlife and livestock forage and habitats.
    *	Maintain and improve stream, wetland and watershed function.
    *	Protect and improve water quality and quantity.
    *	Improve habitat and forage for benefit of wildlife species and grazing.
    *	Shift forest composition back to earlier successional stages.
    *	Shift riparian species composition back towards native hydrophilic species that provide a 
        range of benefits to fire resiliency, soil health and structure, and water quality and quantity.
    *	Collect data for NEPA analysis of vegetation treatments in Spruce/Fir, Mixed Conifer and 
        Ponderosa pine communities of 137,000 acres of the Hungry Creek project area for future 
        implementation phases.
o	Cultural
o	Wildlife
o	Hydrological

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.

As highlighted under the "Need for the Project" and "Objectives" sections, the current conditions of both vegetation and fuels within aspen, ponderosa pine, and spruce-fir communities create an elevated threat for an uncharacteristically high severity fire within the project area. In 2012 the Lost Lake wildfire burned approximately 2300 acres of the Boulder Mountain.  Suppression costs were roughly 500 dollars per acre.  The Hungry Creek project area has a similar vegetative composition with minimal infrastructure. Suppression costs for wildfires in the Hungry Creek project area can be expected to exceed 500 dollars per acre.  The cost to suppress a wildfire will easily surpass any projected timber values within the Hungry Creek project.

In forested habitats that are currently overstocked, climate change is likely to further exacerbate the potential threat of uncharacteristically intense and severe wildfires. The risks of impacts that can result from an uncharacteristically severe wildfire include, but are not limited to:

*	Degradation of Escalante City and Pine Creek irrigation water supply and potential loss 
        of infrastructure for that supply
*	Increased erosion and sedimentation
*	Stream channel erosion  
*	Degradation of water quality
*	Loss and reduction of wetland hydrophilic species
*	Loss of riparian and upland habitat
*	Loss of the conservation CRCT population and/or their habitat
*	Loss of wildlife habitat
*	Threat of noxious weed invasion and a change in plant community type
*	Loss (at least temporarily) of wildlife and livestock forage.

Aspen has decreased throughout the Intermountain West during the 20th century, and aspen-dominated acreage within the five national forests of Utah has declined by 50% or more in recent decades (Kay and Bartos 2000, O'Brien et al. 2010). Since aspen does not commonly reproduce from seed the loss of an aspen clone may be the loss of a long-standing aspen presence not easily recovered. Human intervention to reduce natural disturbance has resulted in conifer succession throughout aspen in the project area and across the Dixie National Forest. Not planning treatments in these aspen stands elevates that risk that they will be completely lost to conifer succession.

In addition to the many possible negative impacts that come with high severity fire as discussed in the water quality and quantity section, spring and wetland areas in the project area are also under pressure from grazing, drought, and climate change (Fesenmyer et al. 2018, Huntington et al. 2016, Hultine et al., 2010). Should all these impacts occur simultaneously or cumulatively, the result would be highly deleterious and could result in a large reduction or total loss of these habitats.

If the health and productivity of the ponderosa pine, spruce-fir, and mixed conifer ecosystems continue to decline, impacts to upland game, small mammals, neotropical birds, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, flammulated owl, etc. will be severe. In general upland birds, including forest grouse and turkeys, require open stands of conifer and aspen with an understory of berry producing shrubs, forbs and grasses. A healthy insect component in this matrix is critical for early brood rearing. Healthy mixed forests, early successional forests, and edges of aspen forests provide these kinds of environments. Our current habitat struggles to provide these requirements. UDWR biologists have identified a need on Boulder Mountain for improved conditions in mule deer habitat. Mule deer on the Boulder Unit have seen a steady decline in population of over 1700 animals in the last five years. Population estimate models show a decline from 8,373 deer in 2014 to 6,600 deer in 2019. When populations are modeled for the 2020 year the population will show another decline. This unit overall is summer range limited by conifer expansion into former aspen stands and winter range limited by encroachment of pinyon and juniper into sage and mountain brush communities. These treatment phases in pinyon and juniper pave the way for treatments with prescribed fire in the encroaching spruce/fir to encourage aspen regeneration. For over 100 years encroaching tree management has been largely "hands off". If you stand in this treatment area you are surrounded by dark green for the 360-degree vista. There is no edge, there is no diversity, there is little food. This trend must be reversed in order to re-vitalize our struggling deer herds.  Radio telemetry collars were deployed on mule deer in this area in December of 2019. Data from these collars is being used partially to determine if the encroaching conifers in this area also contribute to limiting factors for fawn survival and summering populations of Mule Deer. The cost of depredation issues to DWR on this unit are around $150,000 annually.  Without treatment, the risk of large scale crown fire could be catastrophic to goshawk nesting habitat on Boulder Mountain.

Fire suppression and natural succession over time have created denser, conifer dominated forests with higher accumulations of large woody debris, leading to the potential for more intense and larger fires across several vegetation types on Boulder Mountain. The need for treatment has been identified for some time. A district NFMA assessment conducted in 1996 described vegetation type gains and losses over the last 100 years. This assessment compared soils data to present vegetation cover.

The report found that, in the absence of treatment, species diversity could be reduced across the landscape. It was estimated at that time that 80% of seral quaking aspen has succeeded to conifers compared to historic conditions. Ponderosa pine communities have experienced structural changes in the forming of multi-canopied stands, increased ladder fuels, and greater white fir and Douglas-fir components than historically occurred. Spruce-fir communities have expanded into meadows and previously aspen communities altering the historical patterns and proportions in the vegetation mosaic.

Heyerdahl et. al. 2011 showed that fire played a continual role in shaping vegetation on Boulder Mountain during the period they reviewed, 1650-1900. Fire recording trees within the ponderosa community experienced fire on average every 16 years, with the range consisting of every year to 64 years. Aspen communities showed record of fire occurrence on average every 13 years, ranging from three years to 40 years. Fire occurrence across all vegetation types was shown to significantly drop off after around 1880. The study also compared tree density, as represented by trees per acre >8 inches DBH, from 1900 to 2000. The establishment of additional conifer cohorts since the drop off in historic fire occurrence has led to nearly all vegetation types having increased tree densities since 1900.

Many of the ponderosa pine, spruce-fir, and mixed conifer stands on the Escalante Ranger District are trending toward stand densities outside of the historic range of variation for these vegetation types. This leaves the stands susceptible to uncharacteristically high fire severity. Ponderosa stands across the forest have a buildup of ladder fuels leaving the high importance large diameter ponderosa pine at increased risk of mortality from wildfire.

Several spruce-fir and mixed conifer stands within the project area have experienced mortality from either spruce beetle or Douglas-fir beetle outbreaks. Most are at high risk of experiencing bark beetle mortality.

Impacts to aquatic species and habitat are possible and could be severe as the risk of high-severity wildfire increases without treatment in these vegetated areas. Built up fuels on Boulder Mountain have created the potential for catastrophic wildfires that would threaten Colorado River cutthroat trout, a Forest sensitive species, in Pine Creek with extirpation and habitat loss. Severe effects to stream stability and function occur following severe wildfires. Flooding and high runoff events that follow post-fire cause erosion, sedimentation, ash flows, downcutting, and loss of aquatic species and habitat. Lakes on boulder mountain are considered Blue Ribbon Fisheries for their fishing quality (boulder mountain lakes produce trophy fishing opportunities), quality outdoor experience, quality fish habitat, and economic benefits (UDWR Blue Ribbon Fisheries Program). High-intensity wildfires cause ash flows and sediment runoff in lakes, adversely affect water quality, and are known to cause fish kills. Boreal toads occupy aquatic habitat on boulder mountain and the threat of wildfire exists for this aquatic species as well. Boreal toad distribution has not been fully investigated on Boulder Mountain.

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.

The State's Wildlife Action Plan - The State's Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) identifies threats and provides potential conservation action for State species of conservation concern (Utah Wildlife Action Plan Joint Team, 2015).  The WAP identifies inappropriate fire frequency and intensity as a high-level threat for CRCT and aspen-conifer ecosystems with the following as potential conservation actions:
o	2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.
o	2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.
o	2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense.
o	The treatments proposed in this project will reduce uncharacteristic fuel types in riparian areas surrounding important springs and water sources to allow for larger scale prescribed fire treatments on the surrounding landscape where it was historically more frequent. Removing encroaching vegetation from within springs and wetlands will restore characteristic riparian vegetation.

*	The Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for the CRCT: Directs signatories to: "Secure and enhance conservation populations" of CRCT and "Secure and enhance watershed conditions" for CRCT.  Reducing the risk of large, high severity wildfire will maintain and enhance watershed conditions for the core population in Pine Creek. Subsequent improvement in health and vigor of characteristic riparian species serves to restore water holding capacity within the area, sustain higher baseflows into later, drier seasons, maintain and rejuvenate stream bank stability, and preserve water quality. All of these riparian and water benefits will also maintain and enhance watershed conditions for the downstream population in Pine Creek.

*	Boulder Mountain Sportfish Management Plan --Incorporate a trophy fishing component in Posey Lake to include brook and tiger trout.  Reducing the potential for the negative erosion and water quality impacts from a large, high severity wildfire in the drainage around Posy Lake will help protect the investment in development of the sport fishery there.

*	Deer Herd Unit # 25C (Plateau Boulder/Kaiparowits) - The Unit Plan has objectives to "Encourage vegetation manipulation projects and seeding to increase the availability, abundance and nutritional content of browse, grass, and forb species." And "Seek cooperative projects and programs to encourage and improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat, with public and private land managers to maintain a stable or upward trend in vegetative composition." The Plan notes that future habitat work should focus on:  increasing "browse species in critical winter range and burned areas." Increasing "critical winter range opportunities for mule deer," maintaining "summer fawning areas by increasing beneficial habitat work in summer and transitional habitat areas," Continuing "to reduce threats to catastrophic wildfires, by reducing fuel loads and creating firebreaks," and supporting "enhancement and restoration efforts in Quaking Aspen forests unit wide by reducing encroachment of Spruce-Fir forests." Treatments proposed in this project are designed improve these habitats and achieve these objectives.

*	Elk Herd Unit # 25C/ (Plateau Boulder/Kaiparowits) - The Unit Plan has an objective to "maintain and/or enhance forage production and habitat quality (including aspen systems) through direct range improvements throughout the unit on winter and summer range to achieve population management objectives. Focus will be on high use areas especially where we can entice animals away from agricultural areas and crucial range areas receiving higher than desired use."  The plan acknowledges "On the summer range above 9,000 feet, the trend is toward a climax Engleman spruce forest that is eliminating aspen habitat and open meadows. Decadent aspen also need to be treated to regenerate stands." The plan specifically calls for "Summer range projects to stimulate aspen recruitment and reduce conifer encroachment will be identified and implemented."  Treatments proposed in this project are designed to do exactly those things.

*	Dixie National Forest Land Resource Management Plan (as amended)-

*      Goal 13. Coordinate Fish and Wildlife program with Utah DWR (pg IV-5).Goal 14. Improve the quantity and quality of aquatic habitats through direct habitat improvement and increased coordination with other land use programs (pg IV-5).
*	Goal 15. Maintain or enhance the terrestrial habitat for all wildlife species presently on the Forest (page IV-5). All the vegetation treatments proposed should increase browse and or forage for Forest MIS species, such as mule deer, elk and wild turkey.
*	Goal 17. Manage Classified Species habitat to maintain or enhance their status through direct habitat improvement and agency cooperation (pg IV-6). This project has the potential to benefit a core, remnant populations of CRCT. CRCT are an Intermountain Region Sensitive species and is managed under Conservation Agreement and Strategy that both DWR and the Forest Service are signatories or involved partners.
*      Goal 17A. Restore or maintain forested landscapes in a properly functioning condition (PFC).  Functioning forested landscapes provide habitat for the northern goshawk and its prey to support a viable population of goshawks in Utah.
*	Goal 18. Continue to improve management on all allotments (pg IV-6).  
*	Goal 25. Harvest timber in coordination with other resources (pg IV-7).
*	Goal 29. Provide water and soil guidance to other resource activities to protect or improve water quality and quantity and soil productivity (pg IV-8).  
o	Comply with state water quality standards during land management activity.
o	Manage riparian areas according to the Riparian Management Standards and Guidelines. Protect or improve riparian dependent resources during management activities within or affecting riparian areas. 
o	Protect municipal water supply watersheds. 
*	Goal 31. Secure and quantify instream flows (pg IV-9).  
*	Goal 33. Increase water yields where possible through timber harvest program when consistent with other multiple-use goals (pg IV-9).
*	Goal 45. Develop a well planned and executed fire protection and fire use program that is cost efficient and responsive to land and resource management goals and objectives (pg IV-12).
*	Goal 48. Establish and maintain fuel mosaics which result in an acceptable hazard and spread potential of wildfire, allow appropriate wildfire suppression, and coordination to other resource programs and objectives (pg IV-13).
o	Vegetative modification projects should be designed to break up continuous fuel types and serve as fuel breaks. 
*	Goal 53. Insure appropriate public participation in National Forest planning and decision making (pg IV-14).
-General Direction 3J. Where goshawk field surveys are required, complete surveys for territory occupancy within suitable habitat. Surveys will be completed during the nesting and/or post-fledgling period, and must be conducted at least one year prior to implementation of management actions (pg CC-22).
-General Direction 3K. Where goshawk field surveys are required and when project planning permits, two consecutive years of surveys for territory occupancy prior to implementation of management actions is preferred (pg CC-23).

Project proposals will be in line with the Northern goshawk in Utah: habitat assessment and management recommendations. All known northern goshawk nest areas are excluded from the project proposal areas. Careful consideration will be given to northern goshawk territories found through surveys within the project boundaries. Nest areas will be part of the mosaic pattern designed as "leave" areas from prescribed burn. Creating age class diversity through the implementation of this project will ensure future habitat as well as habitat for prey used by goshawk is maintained.

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.

Records dating from 1960 through 2009 reveal the Posey fire management unit (FMU) to have the highest fire occurrence on the Escalante Ranger District. Lightning is the predominant ignition source although smoking, campfires, equipment use and arson have been attributed to approximately 7% of the ignitions.

Posey Lake and its campground are high recreational use areas in spring, summer and fall. Protection of users and infrastructure are of utmost importance. The campground and day use area have a capacity of around 250 people at a time with the campground being mostly full and the day use area being over capacity for much of the summer. The project area has historical sites and remnant artifacts inside and outside the campground. A lookout tower just above Posey Lake was built but the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) roughly around 1933. It is located on top of a hill with continuous fuels and steep slopes of mixed conifer which create high risk to the structure in the event of a fire.

Live fuel moisture in the ponderosa pine and brush communities is a significant factor in fire spread and intensity. A low relative live fuel moisture condition combined with a continuous fuel bed and available fine fuels sets the stage for large fire growth. Isolated pockets of beetle killed and dwarf mistletoe infested ponderosa pine exist and continue into the transition to mixed conifer, aspen and fir community. Visual and measured observations of current conditions in the spruce-fir, aspen/mixed conifer, ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper communities within the project area indicate overstocking of understory vegetation, elevated levels of dead and downed woody debris and predominately late seral stage vegetation communities which can be described as Fire Regime Condition Class 3 (FRCC 3) across much of the area. Surface fuels are continuous throughout the project and range from 5-45 tons per acre of dead and down debris. Some higher elevation areas are showing as much as 50 tons per acre of dead and down.

Phase 1 will reduce the fuel loading through thinning and removing merchantable and nonmerchantable material. This will reduce fuel continuity, crown fire potential and improve forest health. Phase 1 is designed to prepare the project area for future prescribed fires as well as create defensible space for Posey campground, lookout tower, municipal spring sites and associated wetlands. The outcome of this effort would be a start to provide a successional change back to healthy ponderosa pine and aspen/mixed conifer with a grass understory from a white fir dominated understory with large fuel loadings to bring the area closer to FRCC 1. The successional change will create a forest which will be able to survive a fire during a 90% weather event with minimal rehabilitation undertakings.

NEPA data will need to be collected to continue treatment phases across the Hungry Creek project.

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.

One of the main purposes of this project is to protect, restore and enhance the water quality and supply from spring systems that provide the bulk of municipal water to the town of Escalante.  The spring systems also provide water to Pine Creek which contains a conservation population of CRCT and supplies irrigation water to water users in Escalante. High value ecosystem services supported by the water sources within and downstream from the project area include drinking water for the Town of Escalante, cold water refugia for aquatic species, reliable base flows, irrigation water for Escalante water users, habitat for fish and aquatic species, riparian habitat and food for wildlife (birds, elk, deer), and water and forage for livestock. Additionally, riparian areas comprise a very limited and small portion of overall landscape in arid climates at only 1-3% of total land area (Patten 1998) and are only 1% of the Dixie NF. This, along with the high value of ecosystem services they provide makes these areas precious and a high priority for protection and restoration.

Thinning fire prone conifers within and around developed municipal water sources as well as other springs and wetlands in the municipal watershed will prevent or mitigate negative impacts from uncharacteristically severe wildfire and allow for planned prescription burning in the greater surrounding areas with minimal impacts to these spring systems. Prevention of severe wildfire will avoid negative impacts from erosion and flooding to irrigation infrastructure downstream in Pine Creek. Thinning fire prone, competing non-hydric conifers from within the wetland and spring areas will have several positive effects that enhance and improve water quality and quantity. Density of conifers in wetlands where the task is to remove conifers for vegetation restoration (east side, see Methods) ranges from roughly 3 to 40 trees per acre. Not only are conifers unsuitable nutrient and food sources, many produce either highly acidic or allelopathic chemicals (Burns 1990), especially juniper, that inhibit growth of the native sedges and grasses. (Horman and Anderson 1997; Horman and Anderson 1998; Roundy and Vernon 1999; Ross, Castle, & Barger, 2011).

There are a host of benefits to water resources that come from preventing negative impacts due to uncharacteristically severe wildfire. Among the many possible negative impacts are soil repellency, increased runoff and peak flows, and subsequent hillslope and channel erosion and sediment deposition (Silverman et al. 2019, Shakesby and Doerr 2006, McGuire and Youberg 2019). This is harmful to fish and aquatic organisms and is detrimental to riparian vegetation due to smothering and loss of habitable ground. Suspended and deposited sediment and ash can directly and indirectly impact aquatic organisms through clogging gills, smothering fish eggs and invertebrates, reducing water and oxygen flow through interstitial space, and reducing habitat (covering spawning gravels, reducing pool depth, etc.; Waters 1995).

Loss of riparian vegetation due to high severity fire can lead to loss of bank stability with associated disconnected floodplains, lack of shade, shallow and widened stream bed, and lowering of groundwater level; all of  which lead to warmer water (Silverman et al. 2019, Carter 1996, Patten 1998, Shakesby and Doerr 2006). All of these effects lead to diminished vegetation cover in composition, extent, and vigor and associated loss of water holding capacity, carbon holding capacity, forage, habitat, soil structure and infiltration. Some stream channels within this phase of the project are largely boulder controlled and resistant to channel erosion, though several channels in the wider Hungry Creek area are prone to erosion and incision. All channels would be subject to burial by increased hillslope erosion, and channels within springs and wetlands, which are low gradient and diffuse, would be especially susceptible to sediment accumulation.

In contrast, restoring and promoting obligate and facultative herbaceous and woody phreatophyte species (referred throughout text as hydrophilic species) can resist the effects of high severity fires. Wetlands ecosystems with more vigorous, robust, dense hydrophilic vegetation have been shown to burn less severely, be more resilient to fire, and are more likely to recover (Dwire et al. 2016, Silverman et al. 2019, Fairfax and Whittle 2020). Appropriate prescribed fire intensity and frequency can restore and benefit riparian vegetation at sites with high water table such as those in the project area, especially when coupled with proper grazing management (Wright and Chambers 2002).

Decreasing the amount of erosion by removing conifers and increasing hydric species ground cover and reducing the risk of high severity wildfire will assist with TDS loading downstream, as well as potentially assist with reducing sediment related impacts to benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Upper Escalante River Assessment Unit

Healthy hydrophilic vegetation provides many other benefits to water quality and water storage. In riparian areas vegetation claims the most responsibility for highly valued habitat and biogeochemical functions (Dwire et al. 2016). Native hydrophilic vegetation, if allowed to thrive and expand, will promote clean water, keep water temperatures cool, increase water storage, slow surface and groundwater flow, increase late season base flows, trap sediment during overbank flow events, prevent sediment deposition to streams, increase streambank stability, generate more productive soils, and increase forage and habitat. Filtering and trapping of sediment not only keep water clean, but capture nutrients which encourage growth, and provide areas for expansion (Swanson et al. 2017, Carter 1996, Patten 1998). Specifically, it has been shown that willow-sedge communities are among the best for maintaining stream bank stability (Winward, 2000). These species are abundant in the project area and are of focus for the restoration efforts.

Water storage is increased and improved in several ways. Hydrophilic species, in contrast to mesic conifer species, have larger, more complex, and deeper root structures. These not only hold more water per unit (Hultine et al. 2010), but also create more porous soil structure that has higher water holding capacity. Soils high in organic content also slow flow rates. The capacity to both hold more volume and slow the pace of flow serve to release more water for a longer time, allowing water to be available as higher base flows in later, hotter, drier seasons when water is most in demand. This phenomenon has been shown in riparian restoration efforts in northeastern Nevada (Biodiversity for a Livable Climate 2015, Swanson et al. 2015). In mountain meadows where encroaching conifers were removed there was a rise in groundwater levels and soil moisture (Surfleet et al. 2019). Beyond annual increase in base-flows, long-term persistence of conditions which retain water within wetlands and streams for longer seasonal duration serves also to recharge aquifers (Swanson et al. 2017).

Dense junipers are the main target for removal in several lower elevation wetlands but are less common in the higher elevation wetlands. There has been some research showing that removal of juniper has the potential to increase water quantity (Deboot 2008, Roundy 2014). There is also research showing higher flows due to cutting of forests, especially clear cuts (Aranda et al. 2012), and lower flows in the first year or two after thinning (Aranda et al. 2012, Bladon et al. 2006). Flow and tree water use response to cutting is highly variable. It is not possible to predict how much, if any increase in water quantity will result. However, evergreen plants do have greater potential to use water year-round (Patten 1998, Aranda et al. 2012) in contrast to the hydrophilic species we aim to restore. The goal is to increase the likelihood of higher water quantity, and to monitor post-implementation results to gain more data and understanding of vegetation effects locally.

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.

As part of the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and in preparation for conducting the environmental analysis and complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to the extent appropriate, some wildlife, aquatic, botany, cultural and archaeology needs to be completed.  Collecting this important information within the project area will help inform the environmental analysis and allow for a much better, supported, and durable Decision outlining implementation details to be made. Compliance with NFMA and NEPA are required.  Taking the time to collect this data will facilitate this compliance.  This data will also facilitate compliance with the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, compliance with the State Historic Preservation Office, etc.
 
The project is covered under the Hungry Creek Farm Bill Categorical Exclusion. The 2014 Farm Bill gives the Forest Service authorities and provisions that assist the agency to accomplish its mission, particularly in the areas that are high priority, such as ecological restoration, support to communities, and reducing the risk of wildfires. The Decision Notice for the project was signed in June 2020 (see Decision Memo in attachments). A total of 718 acres were surveyed for cultural clearance for the CCC and Aqueduct timber sales (504 and 214 acres, respectively) in 2020.  In this proposal to complete the cultural, wildlife and hydrologic surveys funding will be needed for Forest Service seasonal technicians to conduct the surveys during the summers of 2021 and 2022.  A total of 28,000 acres will be surveyed for the northern goshawk and a total of 13,000 acres will be surveyed for the flammulated owl.  Analysis and data collection will be supervised by Forest Service staff.

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.

In this project 129 acres will be lopped and piled by contracted crews for future pile burning by Forest Service personnel. An additional 37 acres will be lop and scattered by contract crews to be broadcast burned at a later date by FS personnel.

The CCC timber sale was contracted in fall of 2020 and will begin implementation as soon as winter 2020/21.  The CCC timber sale covers 344 acres, contains 2819.14 CCF with a timber value of $36,215.  The cost to implement and administer the sale is roughly $50,000.  The Aqueduct sale covers 250 acres, contains 2000 CCF with a timber value of $27,000.  The cost to implement and administer the sale is roughly $40,000 and is scheduled for implementation Fall of 2021.  The timber sale areas lie in the south eastern half of the Hungry Creek Farm Bill area and are south of this project's proposed east side wetland thinning.  These timber sales will be concurrent with the treatments implemented in this project.

Various methods are used to collect wildlife, botany, archaeological, and cultural data. 10% coverage for archaeology is the goal with phased surveying prior to implementation.  Although the percent coverage varies by resource area, similar processes occur for wildlife, aquatics and botany.  The desire is to prioritize and focus survey efforts acknowledging that surveying every inch of 137,000 acres is not practical. Some surveys that must occur within a year of implementation, will occur prior to implementation. This approach has been successful on the Dixie National Forest for other projects currently being implemented.

*Wildlife Surveys - The WRI funds would be used to hire 2 FS seasonals on the Escalante Ranger District supervised by Lisa Young to conduct wildlife surveys in the project area. WRI funds would also be used to help with vehicle needs. Surveys would occur during the summers of 2021 and/or 2022. The in-kind contribution would be time and data analysis done by Lisa Young.  Wildlife surveys would be conducted in potentially suitable breeding habitat for the northern goshawk and flammulated owl. This data is needed to follow Forest Plan requirements and help in locating breeding habitat which influences the design of the proposed action.  Specification of vegetation treatment requirements within known northern goshawk territories are found in the Forest Plan.  These surveys will also identify issues and accurately disclose effects to wildlife species in the environmental analysis process.  The Forest Service Region 4 Survey Protocol for the Northern Goshawk and the PIF Flammulated Owl Survey Protocol will be followed.

Archaeology Surveys: The WRI funds would be used to conduct archaeology surveys in the Hungry Creek project area. The in-kind contribution would time/data analysis from the Dixie Forest Archaeologist. Surveys would occur in 2021 and/or 2022. Based on slope, distance from water, and other factors high probability areas would be surveyed.  Generally 10% representation is the goal; higher percentage in the mechanical areas (spruce/fir - mixed conifer areas) and lower percentage in the prescribed fire areas (Ponderosa pine areas). This data is needed to help identify significant cultural sites that need protection and to gain concurrence from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office.

Hydrology Survey: WRI funds would be used to hire 2 FS seasonals to conduct hydrological surveys in the Hungry Creek project area.  In-kind contributions would be vehicle costs and time and data analysis from the district hydrologist. The goal of the Dixie National Forest is to complete the surveys during the summers of 2021 and 2022.  The Dixie National Forest anticipates the Hungry Creek Project can be a Environmental Assessment (EA).

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.

Stream flow -- Streams downstream of east side wetlands have been measured in 2019 and 2020. Flow measurements will be repeated in those same locations in spring and fall to determine any short- or long-term changes in base flows. Flows on outflow channels of two of the developed municipal springs will be measured.

Soil -- Cut areas on the west side will be visited before and after implementation of prescribed fire to monitor effectiveness of the treatments. These will be measured by soil severity and distance of charred ground from the water source areas. Soil burn severity will be conducted according to the US Department of Agriculture Field guide for Mapping Post-fire Soil Burn Severity (Parson et al. 2010), protocol.

Erosion -- Photo monitoring will be used to track effectiveness of erosion control logs. Any post fire erosion will be mapped and measured if producing measurable gullies. Effective ground cover will be measured in randomly selected areas before and after burning to establish a base line for any significant erosion that occurs.

Fish -- UDWR and the Forest Service conduct CRCT monitoring in the Lower Colorado GMU, including Pine Creek, approximately every 7 years with the last monitoring occurring in summer 2020.  See attachments for a description of the monitoring and reporting.  Quantitative fish monitoring has also been conducted at two locations downstream of the CRCT population.  The FS conducts these surveys on approximately 5-year intervals with the next sampling scheduled in 2021. Qualitative fish sampling has occurred in Deep Creek, Hungry Creek and Blue Spring Creek over the past 10 years and can be repeated to note and changes in distribution and relative abundance.

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems -- This monitoring protocol measure vegetation composition, wildlife including springsnails, soil structure, water quality and quantity, and land use, disturbance and management impacts. Extensive monitoring has been conducted in Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) in and around the project area. Data from all land management areas are uploaded to the multi-user database, Springs Online (Springs Stewardship Institute 2020), in order to develop better understanding of GDEs and provide regional context. 16 sites within this project area, and 26 sites in and near the Hungry Creek Farm Bill area have been surveyed. Many of the largest and most critical sites in the project area have been surveyed twice since 2013 and will offer valuable data on some trends. New sites are added annually, and several new sites will be added to cover a greater number of sites within this project area prior to implementation. All sites within the project will be surveyed again within two years after implementation. The data from these surveys are critical in informing impacts from grazing and will be used to plan future grazing management. The GDE surveys follow the US Forest Service Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems: Level I Inventory Field Guide (USDA 2012).

Multiple Indicator Monitoring -- This protocol (Burton et al. 2011) measures grazing impacts to stream banks and includes measures for woody browse that will be used to determine need for fencing. New sites will be established in selected key areas to monitor the recovery of wetlands vegetation and extent of browse. One existing site that was established to measure the streambank impacts is in the project area on Hungry Creek downstream of the east side wetlands treatments. This site has been monitored four times since 2015 and will continue to be measured and compared to prior readings. Four other sites that were established to measure the streambank impacts exist within the larger Hungry Creek Farm Bill area on Hungry, Deep, Blue Spring, and Pine Creeks. Those will be incorporated into the monitoring regime as treatments expand to the larger area. Woody browse measurements can be added to any of the existing streambank monitoring sites where needed. The goal is to resurvey these sites for bank stability, bank cover and greenline to greenline width every 5 years. Results of Partial MIM monitoring are detailed in monitoring reports by the Dixie National Forest.

Cross sections -- One site has been established. Measurements include two cross sections, a long profile, sinuosity, and substrate size composition and were measured in 2015 and 2020. This site is downstream on the outflow channel of one of the major east side wetlands proposed for treatment and will be revisited after implementation. Should other observable channel changes occur in other locations that warrant measurement, new sites will be established.

Long-term vegetation trend monitoring -- Five site have been established in the project area; four photo point, and one long term vegetation Riparian Level III site (Winward, 2000). The inventories monitor trend in vegetation composition along the greenline throughout the drainage and will help to evaluate changes in riparian vegetation composition along with repeat photography. Inventory sites are read on a rotating five-year interval and will continued to be monitored for Forest riparian objectives. Results of riparian inventories are detailed in monitoring reports by the Dixie National Forest.

Forest stand plots --Rocky Mountain Research Station out of Flagstaff, AZ will include the Hungry Creek Farm Bill area as one of five different sites across the southwestern U.S. for a common study of density and aggregation within ponderosa pine stands. The purpose of the study is to build upon and develop new vegetation treatments that will advance the science of Ponderosa pine forest restoration, promote Northern Goshawk habitat, and preserve pre-settlement old growth trees into the future. Plans are to identify and finalize plot location during 2021.

Fuels --19 Fuel plots have been established and measured in the project area using Brown's transects. Once the project has been completed plots will be measured and compared to determine effectiveness. Photo points will also be taken before, during and after treatments that will be uploaded to the WRI website.

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.

Dixie National Forest, and the City of Escalante recognize the need for treatments in and around the municipal watershed to protect the water supply, and to enhance and improve forest and watershed health. All partners are working together to achieve the goals of ensuring clean, safe drinking water, and preserving the health and vitality of the headwaters of the Escalante River ecosystem for the water and ecosystem services it provides.

Dixie National Forest is partnering with the City of Escalante to implement the work around wetlands on the west side, and to maintain infrastructure at the municipal water sources. The Forest Service and City work together to repair fencing, inspect pipelines, and prevent contamination of the source areas through cleaning upslope catchment ditches. This project is a significant, large scale, long-term effort to ensure clean, safe drinking water to all.

The Forest Service and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) toured this area in September 2020 and UDWR's Habitat Section is supportive of the proposed treatments.

Dixie National Forest is in collaboration with GSEP and Springs Stewardship Institute to inventory as many groundwater dependent ecosystems (i.e. springs and wetlands, GDEs) as possible in the Escalante River watershed. Data from all land management areas are uploaded to the multi-user database, Springs Online (Springs Stewardship Institute 2020), in order to develop better understanding of GDEs and provide regional context. All collaboration serves to improve spring development designs, and to share methods for protecting GDEs so that they may continue to provide habitat as well as ample water for wildlife, livestock and humans alike.

The footprint of the Hungry Creek Farm Bill project is contained entirely within the Dixie National Forest and as such there were no opportunities for cross boundary work.

The project was scoped from October 31, 2019 to November 30, 2019. The scoping letter and scoping bulletin was sent to 31 mailing list recipients, an electronic mailing list of 450 individuals, the Town of Escalante, and the Garfield County commissioners on October 30, 2019. Two comment letters were received from the Farm Bureau and Grand Canyon Trust et al. (SUWA, Western Watersheds, Center for Biological Diversity). The Farm Bureau supports this and other range improvements projects. Grand Canyon Trust comments related to this proposal's treatment methods and areas were in support of rest and fencing of riparian areas and meadows where needed, aspen regeneration, wildlife surveys, and the collaborative process. There were issues that drove a change or new design feature, but no key issues that prompted change of the proposed action.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

The Hungry Creek Farm Bill CE that authorizes this project is the first step in a larger project that encompasses over 137,000 acres over four 6th field Hydrologic Unit Code watersheds. The Dixie National Forest has invested significant time and energy in planning for the Farm Bill project area and the larger project area and wants to continue to work toward watershed resilience. Additionally, the high value sport fisheries and recreational facilities in this area, along with the municipal water supply facilities for the Town of Escalante will help drive future management of this area for better forest health and to better be able to allow wildfire to play its role through managing natural ignitions without detrimental impacts to these important values at risk.

Both UDWR and the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service are signatories to the Conservation Agreement and Strategy for CRCT which will continue to direct management toward maintaining and improving watershed function, through road and trail, instream habitat and riparian and upland vegetation projects, such as those contained in this proposal.

The treatments within this proposal all fall on the active Pine Creek cattle allotment. The Pine Creek allotment is managed on a five pasture deferred rotation grazing with a permitted use of 647 cow/calf pairs from mid June to the end of September.  The proposed 166 treatment acres are located entirely within the Posey Lake pasture, which is 5,577 acres. The long-term goal is to mutually improve riparian conditions and range conditions. Improved grazing management or exclosures has been shown to greatly improve productivity in hydrophilic vegetation, increase available water (Fesenmeyer et al. 2018), and raise levels of shallow aquifers (Biodiversity for a Livable Climate 2015). Grazing issues may be addressed through temporary fencing to allow regeneration of hydrophilic vegetation where browsing of woody species is too extreme (see Methods). Ultimately results of vegetation recovery after conifer removal may be used to inform future grazing management with emphasis on working with range specialists and permittees to create functional riparian pastures.

Monitoring will be used to determine appropriate adaptive management for livestock and for active or passive vegetation treatments once the larger prescribed fire portion of the project is completed.  New conifer whips around spring systems will be retreated with dedicated hunters, Forest Service personnel and youth conservation corps crews. Thinning and harvest treatments in ponderosa pine may be maintained with a combination of future harvest along with prescribed and managed fire.

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.

Reducing tree density and increasing sunlight to the forest floor on 65,000 acres of ponderosa pine, spruce-fir, and mixed conifer ecosystems will result in better quality habitat and significantly increased amounts of forage for livestock. Treatments are expected to increase forage on the forest's cattle and sheep allotments. A variety of grass, forb, and brush species would be expected to respond to the increased sunlight and moisture following restoration.

Risk to and from recreationalists in the event of a wildfire will be reduced with the implementation of this project. Mechanical work will consider aesthetics in designing treatments, especially along Hell's Backbone Scenic Backway (FH 154), a commonly used route for tourists traveling on the Boulder Mountain.

Material will be available for sale under timber sales or permits following all applicable USFS policy. Consideration has been given to non-traditional sale opportunities, including live firewood sales, to provide community members a chance to actively participate in restoration activities and build support for restoration. The CCC timber sale was contracted in fall of 2020 and will begin implementation as soon as winter 2020/21.  The CCC timber sale covers 344 acres, contains 2819.14 CCF with a timber value of $36,215.  The cost to implement and administer the sale is roughly $50,000.  The Aqueduct sale covers 250 acres, contains 2000 CCF with a timber value of $27,000.  The cost to implement and administer the sale is roughly $40,000 and is scheduled for implementation Fall of 2021.

Proposed actions are expected to increase the quality of habitat for huntable game as well as desirable wildlife for viewing opportunities.

Preservation of fishing destinations and experiences, especially established under the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Blue Ribbon Fisheries Program, would ensure continued contribution to local economies and provide quality fishing opportunities to the public.

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.