Project Details

Pinyon and juniper trees have increased in the Blawn Wash area and are competing with the sagebrush, forbs and grass that should be occupying the proposed project area.  Besides impacting the plant community structure and composition, the infilling of pinyon and juniper has negatively impacted soil resources, water and nutrient cycles, fire regimes, forage production and wildlife habitat.  Mule deer and elk use this area along with past treatments on adjacent BLM and state lands.   Some of the treatment will remove trees from previously chained areas in addition to areas where tree infilling that has occurred in sagebrush openings.  Future projects will be proposed in this area where the trees are too dense to be thinned by hand. The project area serves as important seasonal habitat for several species of wildlife including but not limited to mule deer, elk, and many shrub steppe species.  A catastrophic wildfire could also increase the risk of invasive species and erosion.

The western edge of the area is sage grouse habitat.  This project and future projects in the area will be designed to enhance to habitat for grouse.  As mentioned this area also contains habitat for mule deer and elk, and pronghorn may also use the area.  The two SITLA sections to the east that were chained in 2017 have become a common place to view, and hunt particularly elk. There is not a soil survey in this area but during NEPA it was determined that the site of the proposed project most closely coincides with an Upland Shallow Loam (Utah Juniper -- Single leaf Pinyon) site and a semidesert shallow loam. BLM area - A portion of the area was chained in 1987 and a lop and scatter was completed in 2020. The 3 state land sections have been chained.
Fencing has been proposed around one of the SITLA sections for the protection of the resources that will be applied.  On two sections to the east of the proposed treat were fence to keep livestock and wild horses off the treatment in 2017.  Fencing has allowed the permitee has been able to better manage their range, make the areas more desirable for wildlife and allow for a successful restoration of the lands.  The fence will be marked with wildlife markers where have proven to reduce wildlife (particularly elk) and fence fence collisions.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

The invasion of pinyon and juniper trees into areas once dominated by grasses, forbs, and shrubs increases the risk of losing key areas for mule deer, elk, and many shrub steppe species. The increase of pinyon and juniper also increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The risk of invasion of cheatgrass and rabbitbrush and loss of sagebrush after a wildfire could further impact critical habitat. High tree density also increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire which could increase the risk of invasive species and erosion. Projects on SITLA lands adjacent to this proposed project have proven successful in meeting objectives. However, as with any surface disturbing activity, there is a low potential for weed invasion. BLM will aggressively treat any noxious weeds in the area if found. 
Recent data shows a decrease in Pinyon Jay populations.  We will address this as we continue the planning process. It is important to note that pinyon jays need health pinyon-juniper forest. As per the sage steppe guidelines PJ density is noted in "Phases I-III" Phase one being the most sparse, young trees, and Phase three being the most dense, old trees. Research has shown large landscapes of Phase II and Phase III trees are vulnerable to parasites, disease and large-scale die offs from drought (see Greenwood et al.). Pinyon Jays rely on pinyon and juniper forest for food, cover, and nesting. Large scale die offs of Pinyon would and do have negative effects on pinyon jay populations. Creating healthy mosaics increase the diversity across the landscape. Of the site proposed for treatment. According the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources pinyon jays "nests are located in trees, usually conifers, five to thirty feet off the ground".  The islands of trees will be left as we continue the planning process and obtain the areas that need to avoided for cultural resources and wildlife.  By removing trees in these areas, we are improving the ecological value of the landscape. We would like to connect other treatments in the Pine Valley area and provide better greater sage grouse habitat, that in turns benefits all the sagebrush obligates.

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.

Pinyon Management Framework Plan (PMFP) (1983) Although the Project Area was not specifically discussed in the RMP vegetation treatments were identified throughout the Field Office. Southwest Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan (May, 2006) 
National Fire Plan (2000) The project is also consistent with the NFP. The goals and objectives of the NFP is to manage BLM administered public land to maintain, enhance and restore sagebrush habitats while ensuring multiple use and sustained yield goals of FLPMA. Goals/Strategies identified in the NFP include the following: 1. Provide guidance to ensure integration of sage-grouse habitat conservation measures for actions provided through the management in land use planning process. 2. Issue mandatory guidance on management of sagebrush habitat for sage-grouse conservation. 3. Enhance knowledge of resource conditions and priorities in order to support habitat maintenance and restoration efforts. 4. Complete and maintain eco-regional assessments of sagebrush and sage-grouse habitats across the sagebrush biome. 5. Provide a consistent and scientifically based approach for collection and use of monitoring data for sagebrush habitats, sage-grouse and other components of the sagebrush community. 6. Identify, prioritize and facilitate needed research to develop relevant information for sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat conservation 7. Maintain, develop and expand partnerships to promote cooperation and support for all activities associated with sage-grouse and sagebrush conservation. 8. Effectively communicate throughout BLM and with current and prospective partners on steps BLM will take to conserve sage-grouse and sage-grouse and sagebrush habitats. 9. Facilitate the collection, transfer and sharing of information among all BLM partners and cooperators, as well as BLM program personnel. 10. Develop BLM state-level strategies and/or plans for sage-grouse and sagebrush conservation on BLM administered public lands. .

BLM Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan 2015 A. The project is consistent with the SGARMP (2015) goals, objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Special Status Species section as follows: Special Status Species Goal: Maintain and/or increase GRSG abundance and distribution by conserving, enhancing or restoring the sagebrush ecosystem upon which populations depend in collaboration with other conservation partners. Refer to the following objectives and management actions in the SGRMPA (Objectives: SSS-3, SSS-4, SSS-5) and Management Actions (MA-SSS-4, MA-SSS-6, MA-SSS7).   B. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Vegetation section as follows: Refer to the following Objectives and Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-VEG-1, MA-VEG-2, MA-VEG-4, MA-VEG-5, MA-VEG-6, MA-VEG-8, MA-VEG-9, MA-VEG-10, MA-VEG-12 and MA-VEG-14).    C. The project is consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Fire and Fuels Management section as follows: Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-FIRE-1 and MA-FIRE-3)   D. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Livestock Grazing/Range Management section as follows: Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-LG-3, MA-LG-4, MA-LG-5, MA-LG-12, MALG-13, MA-LG-16 and MA-LG-17).

Southwest Desert Local Working Group Conservation Plan 2009. The local Working Group has developed a Conservation Plan detailing the natural history, threats, and mitigation measures for sage-grouse in each conservation plan area; and conservation guidelines for any activities occurring in the area.
The Utah State Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 (Draft) is a comprehensive management plan designed to conserve native species populations and habitats in Utah, and prevent the need for additional federal listings.
Southwest Desert Elk Herd Unit Management Plan (2015).  This plan has a stated habitat goal that calls for the removal of at least 3000 acres of pinyon and juniper per year.  This project helps achieve that goal.  
Following the Southwest Desert  Mule Deer Management:
"Coordinate with federal and state partners in designing projects that will improve fire resiliency and protect areas of crucial habitat."
"Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvement projects. Protect deer winter ranges from wildfire by reseeding burned areas, creating fuel breaks and reseed areas dominated by cheatgrass with desirable perennial vegetation."
"Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects."
Utah Mule Deer Statewide Plan (12/5/2019-12/5/2024)
"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"
"Work with local, state and federal land management agencies and ranchers to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges."
"Minimize impacts and recommend mitigation for losses of crucial habitat due to human impacts."
"Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah."
"Support existing and explore additional incentive programs for landowners that will increase tolerance, enhance habitat, and promote deer populations on private lands such as the CWMU, landowner permit, Walk-In Access programs, etc."
Utah Wildlife Action Plan
     *Lowland sagebrush is a key habitat identified in the WAP.
     *Riverine is a key habitat identified in the WAP.
     *WAP identifies inappropriate fire frequency as a threat to lowland sagebrush.  This project will reduce future fire risk and act as a fire buffer to adjacent higher risk areas. Riverine habitat is threaten by Channel Down Cutting that can be related to unhealthy PJ forest and lack of an understory to promote infiltration of moisture into the soil.  
Beaver County Resource Management Plan
"To improve range conditions through vegetation treatments and proper management,
allowing for an appropriate increase in livestock grazing."
"To maintain the AUM's at current levels and encourage increases as range conditions
Provide."
"Land management agencies shall take actions to control and eradicate harmful and
invasive noxious weeds and aggressively treat pinyon-juniper encroachment on
habitats which benefit wildlife."
"Wildlife habitat and range reseeding projects must employ a mix of desirable native
and non-native seeds that optimize forage requirements, range health and productivity."

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

Completion of this project would reduce flooding and runoff from heavy rainstorms by depositing woody debris in the gullies to slow and hold back the water. Currently with the pinyon and Juniper on site there is a lot of bare ground available for erosion. By planting this treatment with a variety of grasses, forbs and shrubs the ground cover will be greatly increased, which will decrease the potential for erosion. Areas that become dominated by by pinyon and juniper out compete understory herbaceous species and leave bare soil prone to erosion. This herbaceous vegetation is important to reducing overland flow and reducing soil loss. Pinyon and juniper dominated sites can intercept 10-20% of precipitation (Horman et al., 1999). By completing this project this will allow more precip to contact the soil and get into the water table where there is a higher density of pinyon and juniper. Treating areas of lower densities will prevent a future situation as described above. According to Folliott 2012, research showed that pinyon and juniper expansion into areas historically dominated by higher forbs and grasses impeded streamflow for off-site uses. Because pinyon and juniper is very competitive for water this often reduces grasses and forbs within the area. "The increase in bare soil, particularly in the spaces between trees, typically leads to increased runoff and soil loss as the juniper infestation increases" (Thurow 1997). Increased runoff and sediment load decreases water yield and water quality within the watershed. Studies have shown that an evaluation of alternatives using conversion treatments to enhance stream-flow in the pinyon and juniper should be made (Barr 1956). It could be thus assumed that by completing the pinyon and juniper removal project that more water will enter the soil profile and streams, wet meadows, and springs will continue to flow and have the potential to increase flow.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

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.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

The forage quality and availability would greatly increase in the area after implementation of the project. Completion of this project would help distribute animal use over the area, which would reduce concentrated use in certain areas. This area is popular for hunting elk and deer to the public. Improving the habitat for hunting and wildlife viewing is important for the local community and Beaver County. 
The chaining will provide opportunities for fire wood collection that is a population past time with local families and the communities.  ATV and OHV frequent the areas often to view and enjoy the wildlife and wild places.  This treatment will enhance the beauty and the opportunity to view and enjoy Utah's wildlife and wild places.
Improving landscapes has the potential and has been proven to have positive economical impacts on the surrounding communities and the business in the area.  We anticipate that Beaver County and their residents will be see positive economic impacts that will continue to help draw people to enjoy their county.

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.