Project Details

This project proposes to implement various vegetation treatments including group selection harvest and commercial thinning as part of the Ikes Valley Vegetation Improvement Project. The treatments for this project will aim to develop a diverse ponderosa pine community that consists of multiple seral stages and reduce stocking to allow for sunlight to reach the ground and encourage a diverse ground flora that provides food and habitat for a wide range of wildlife species. These thinning treatments will improve tree health within the stands to reduce long term risk of mortality due to insect and diseases as well as create canopy openings and reduce fuel loading to lower the potential for stand-replacing crown fire. This will also provide a benefit to the Swain's creek watershed and subdivision by minimizing the potential impacts from a high severity wildfire. Swain's Creek to the west of the treatments proposed in this project has a conservation population of southern leatherside chub, which are managed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan. This is an isolated population which may connect to historic habitat in Asay Creek at times. Asay Creek has historic observations of southern leatherside chub; however, restrictions on access by private landowners have prevented biologists from confirming whether there are still populations in Asay Creek. Asay Creek is known to have a thriving nonnative trout fishery and where there is public access downstream large brown trout can be caught. Swain's Creek and the headwaters of Asay Creek have heavy fuel loading similar to the headwaters of Stout and Dairy Canyons which burned during the Shingle Fire. Wildfires in the forest and fuel conditions currently present in the project area are likely to be large and high severity. Fish populations and fish habitat have for the most part been completely lost in Stout Canyon and Dairy Canyon following the Shingle Fire and a wildfire in the Swain's Creek or Asay Creek headwaters would likely produce the same result. The proposed project directly abuts Asay Creek and the confluence of Swain's Creek and Asay Creek. The proposed project area is within crucial summer and fawning habitat for mule deer and substantial habitat for elk. Treatments are proposed on both the Panguitch Lake Unit #28 and the Zion Unit #29 State management areas. Pronghorn also inhabit this area as well and is part of the Panguitch/Zion North Unit for Pronghorn. State big-game wildlife management plans, as outlined in the 'Relationship to Management Plans' section encourage managers to "initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that are being taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of unwanted conifers into sagebrush, aspen habitats, and ponderosa pine stands" (UDWR State Wide Management Plan for Mule Deer 2014-2019). These treatments will improve foraging habitat for big-game by thinning encroaching conifer and dense stands of timber and allowing the grass/forb and shrub component to perpetuate. Elk Management Plans for Panguitch Lake Unit #28 and Zion Unit #29 Habitat Objectives states 'Maintain and/or enhance forage production through direct range improvements throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives, (Panguitch Lake Unit) Discourage the encroachment of pinyon and juniper trees into sagebrush and other habitats. These treatments will help accomplish these objectives by improving the understory of grasses and forbs and eliminating pinyon and juniper trees to improve elk foraging habitat. One important habitat component that pronghorn rely on is forbs in the grass matrix. The State Pronghorn Management Plan indicates sustaining populations of quality forbs and grasses as a high objective. The proposed treatments will help sustain and perpetuate grasses and forb by reducing encroaching conifer and reducing the risk of large high severity fires that would have detrimental impacts to habitat. The project area is habitat for wild turkeys in particular the Merriam subspecies. Grass, forb and shrub vegetation types are extremely important for foraging turkey since they supply seeds, berries and insects to eat. Merriam's are found in stands of ponderosa pines mixed with aspen and grassy areas. State Wild Turkey Management plan objectives include 'conduct habitat projects to address limiting factors'. The treatment areas will improve the ponderosa pine stands by thinning and reducing fuel loading along with creating more openings for grasses and forbs. This in return will help in reducing the chances of large crown fires in the future and provide quality habitat for turkeys. The WRI funding for this project will go to fund a stewardship contract that will pay a contractor to cut, skid, and process trees 8-11.9" DBH at a cost of approximately $425 per acre. This will be done along with a commercial thinning that will remove larger trees. The Forest Service has completed the NEPA analysis and has already marked and laid out the project area. The Forest Service will also cover the costs of contracting and administration of the project.

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 objective for this project is to improve wildlife habitat by increasing forage production for wild and domestic ungulates, to create stand conditions that minimize mortality and growth loss from insect and disease, and to reduce hazardous fuels in or adjacent to the wildland urban interface. This will be done by conducting a commercial thinning removing dominantly small diameter (8 to 12 inch diameter) live ponderosa pine along with larger trees up to about 18" in a group selection/regeneration treatment followed by subsequent prescribed fire on 643 acres. The thinning treatment will reduce the basal area from about 120 sq. ft./acre to 60-80 sq. ft./acre across the project area and will increase tree health and vigor in ponderosa pine stands by reducing insect hazard rating and potential for crown fire. In addition, the treatment consists of small scattered patches of openings ranging from 0.25 to 1 acre that are limited to where the need is to establish natural regeneration of conifers, increasing forage, and creating multiple age and size classes of trees. Following treatment, under-burning would take place if total fuel loadings are over 150 tons per 10 acres. The cutting units would receive a prescribed fire treatment to remove surface fuels in order to reduce intensity of fire behavior and potential for transition to crown fire as well as prepare created openings for natural regeneration and reduce understory densities of white fir and juniper. A second entry with prescribed fire may occur within burning units that have not met desired condition. This project will also support the local wood products industry by providing about 2,000 CCF of timber and will improve the desired condition of tributaries contributing to the west fork of the Sevier River Watershed. This project will support a substantial amount of workers employed in the forest products industry and government.

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.

Threats and risks if the area is not treated would include; increased disease from mistletoe leading to a dying and dead forest ripe for a wildfire with negative ecological effects such as the Brianhead fire of 2017. There are also an increase in conifer and juniper encroachment. This encroachment has reduced the amount of species diversity and foraging opportunities for multiple species of wildlife and livestock. Increases in fuel loadings over time will lead to potential high severity catastrophic wildfire events which would have detrimental impacts to habitat quality and effectiveness for wildlife. Increases in fuel loadings will lead to potential high severity catastrophic wildfire events which would have detrimental impacts to the west fork of Sevier River Watershed. A stand replacing wildfire would have detrimental impact to multiple species of wildlife includes; raptors, migratory birds, mule deer, elk , pronghorn, fish and wild turkey. If this targeted treatment area is not treated soon the problem of forest pests and diseases destroying the stand as well as the potential for a large stand replacing crown fire only will increase with each passing year. The Shingle Fire in 2012 (adjacent to this project) has caused Stout Canyon to be unstable since this wildfire. Road damage has been occurring annually and sedimentation from the fire has yet to stabilize. To assist in stabilizing the Upper Sevier River and its total maximum daily load (TMDL) this project would assist in stabilizing the watershed for detrimental effects.

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.

This project is directly tied to the Dixie National Forest, Forest Plan. The Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities and provides the overall guidance for management activities by specifying goals and objectives, desired future conditions, management direction, and standards and guidelines. All administrative activities affecting the National Forest must be based on the Forest Plan. Other management plans that relate to the Ikes Valley Vegetation Improvement Project include: 1) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule deer (2014-2019). Section IV Statewide management goals and objectives. This plan will address Strategy C. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that are being taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of unwanted conifers into sagebrush, aspen habitats, and ponderosa pine stands. This project area is within crucial summer and fawning range for mule deer and will help improve habitat by reducing encroaching conifers white fir, sub alpine fir, and P/J thus allowing the native grasses, forbs and shrubs to persist and improve. The project area is adjacent to the Shingle Fire burned area, making this project a critical piece of forested security habitat and foraging area for wildlife to use. This project will create mixed seral stages that benefit multiple species and help reduce the chance of uncharacteristically large high severity fires. 2) Panguitch Lake Deer Herd Unit Management Plan, Deer Herd Unit # 28 -Habitat management strategies: Reduce expansion of Pinyon-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinyon-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects like lop and scatter, bullhog, and chaining. The proposed project will help to restore essential forage opportunities for wildlife by reducing the amount of encroaching white fir, sub alpine fir, and P/J. In addition, the project will reduce fuel loading that can greatly alter potential wildfire behavior, further protecting this crucial summer range from catastrophic wildfire. 3) Zion Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #29: Habitat Management Objectives-Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the unit by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts, Work with federal and state partners in fire rehabilitation and prevention on crucial deer habitat through the WRI process. This project is within crucial summer range for mule deer and will enhance security habitat and provide better foraging opportunities. 4) North American Mule Deer Conservation Plan (Mule Deer Working Group 2004). A) Mule deer habitat Objectives and Strategies-Develop and implement habitat treatment protocols that reduce the impacts of cheatgrass or other invasive plants. B) Manage mule deer habitat in a fashion to control type conversions (i. e., conversion of rangeland to croplands, and shrublands to monotypic pinyon-juniper stands) (Pg. 7). The project will help in preventing monotypic P/J, white fir, sub alpine fir, stands by creating reducing the conifer encroachment. 5) Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan (2015-2022): Elk are generalist ungulates and forage on grasses, forbs and shrubs. They prefer to spend a lot of the summer months within or near aspen conifer forests. Conifer encroachment in aspen stands is a concern in all of Utah. Habitat Management Goal B: Conserve and Improve elk habitat throughout the State. C. Watershed Restoration Initiative b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional WRI working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration I) Identify habitat projects on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat. II) Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages through the use of controlled burning and logging. This project will directly improve summer elk habitat through thinning and burning, creating mixed seral stages and creating small openings for perennial grasses and forbs to improve. 6) Elk Management Plans for Panguitch Lake Unit #28 and Zion Unit #29: Unit Habitat Objectives; Maintain and/or enhance forage production through direct range improvements throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives, (Panguitch Lake Unit) Discourage the encroachment of pinyon and juniper trees into sagebrush and other habitats. This project will help accomplish these objectives by improving the understory of grasses and forbs and eliminating pinyon and juniper trees. 7) Utah Pronghorn Statewide Management Plan (2017): One importance in sustaining pronghorn populations is a forb component and high quality browse. Risk of increased fire frequency due to invasive plants such as cheatgrass is a major concern. Objective 1: Maintain or enhance the quantity and quality of pronghorn habitat. Strategy D) Under the UWRI design, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of habitat improvement projects to benefit pronghorn. This project will remove P/J encroachment and improve the grass and forb component. 8) National Fire Plan (NFP) - Primary Goals: 1) Improve fire prevention and suppression; 2) Restore fire adapted ecosystem. The project will reduce the amount fuel loading within the Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and sagebrush vegetation types that can alter fire behavior and improve these primary goals. 9) Accompanying (NFP) 10 year Comprehensive Strategy - Guiding Principles: 3) Prevent invasive species and restore watershed function and biological communities through short-term stabilization and long-term rehabilitation; 4) Restore healthy, diverse, and resilient ecological system to minimize uncharacteristically severe fires on a priority watershed basis through long-term restoration. This project is one of several current or proposed projects on the Cedar City Ranger District were project objectives are aimed at restoring watershed function and biological communities. The major goal is to move towards a resilient ecological system by reducing fuel loading and creating species diversity. 10) State of Utah-Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy-Protecting the health and welfare of Utahns and our lands. Priority Action Areas- Southwest Region 6, Garfield and Kane Counties-the project is near the Mammoth Creek and Duck Creek community areas on National Forest Lands (pg. 19). 11) Strategic Management Plan for Wild Turkey-Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR 2014). Grasses provide food for adults and are especially important to poults as an environment where they can effectively forage for insects. Poults need an environment that produces insects and in which they can efficiently forage. Poults need an area that provides enough cover to hide them, but allows the adult hen unobstructed vision for protection from predators. The reduction of encroaching white fir, sub alpine fir, and P/J will help improve the foraging habitat for wild turkeys by promoting species diversity. Wild turkeys are known to use both the Ponderosa pine and sagebrush areas within the project boundary. 12) Land and Resource Management Plan-Dixie National Forest (LRMP 1986). A) Management Area 4C and 6A-Provide adequate forage to sustain big game population levels agree to in approved wildlife management plans on NFS lands. Maintain habitat capability at 70 percent of potential. This project will help maintain and/or increase the quality foraging habitat for big game by removal of encroaching white fir, sub alpine fir, and P/J and thinning of the overall ponderosa pine stand. 13) Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan (2005). Protection of critical deer habitat and watershed protection (p196). This project will help protect critical summer range for mule deer and help maintain watershed conditions by reducing fuel loading and white fir, sub alpine fir, P/J encroachment. 14) Asay Bench Allotment Management Plan- Desired Conditions in the Upland: Improve plant diversity and revert areas that have conifer encroachment issues (pinyon, juniper, spruce and fir). This project will aid in reverting areas of conifer encroachment that may improve plant diversity. 15) Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Southern leatherside (Lepidomeda aliciae) in the State of Utah: Conservation Element B, Habitat Enhancement, Enhance and/or restore habitat conditions in designated area throughout the historical range of southern leatherside. Conservation Element D, Restore Hydrologic Conditions, Maintain and restore, and/or augment natural hydrologic conditions. The project will improve Forest health and reduce the risk of uncharacteristically large, severe wildfire to southern leatherside populations in Swain's Creek and possibly Asay Creek.

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.

Forest fuel buildups have caused intense wildland fires along the National Forest/private land boundary (WUI). Lack of changes in continuous fuel characteristics and forested stands compromises the safety of the public and firefighting resources. There is a need to improve the overstocked forested stands around Swains Creek to help increase the chances that forest resources, private lands, and developments can be less susceptible to threat of damage from wildfire. Reduction of small diameter trees will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires that can spread from private lands onto forest lands and vice a versa. Ponderosa Pine Ponderosa pine forests in this area contain ponderosa pine, douglas-fir, aspen, white fir and pinyon-juniper (P-J). Historic ponderosa pine mean fire return intervals in the southern Utah region ranged from 15 to 18 years (Battaglia and Shepperd 2007). Frequent low intensity fires kept fuel loadings low, kept shade tolerant species (i.e. white fir, sub alpine fir, and P-J) from encroaching and ensured a fire resilient stand of large widely spaced mature ponderosa pine trees. Post-settlement fire exclusion has facilitated the growth of shade tolerant species and decreased the representation of aspen and ponderosa pine. In addition to this species shift there has been a large increase in basal area, tree density and surface and ladder fuel accumulations. All these factors play a role in creating favorable conditions for large intense landscape fires. Fire suppression, logging, and grazing have been the main contributors for Utah's loss of significant ponderosa pine acres to white fir, sub alpine fir, and Douglas-fir invasion (Battaglia and Shepperd 2007). Fire suppression and grazing also contribute to shrub (manzaita, mountain-mahogany, black sagebrush, Gambel oak, bitterbrush, etc.) dominated understories in ponderosa pine forests which contribute to higher flame lengths and increase the chance of crown fires during wildfires. Fire suppression has led to increased tree density and competition which puts most of the ponderosa pine stands at high risk of attack by bark beetles and other parasites. Battaglia and Shepperd (2007) would classify the ponderosa pine type in this area as Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) 3 because this forest is considerably altered from those in FRCC 1 (within the historic range of variability). There are some remnant large trees in the area but the fire regime has been altered by over 100 years of fire suppression which has led to the invasion of brush and shade tolerant tree species. FRCC 3 stands are prone to large, intense, high severity wildfires which can damage the ecological integrity of the area. Desired conditions in the ponderosa pine area are to return the area to FRCC 1 characteristics. These characteristics include containing a variety of sizes and ages of trees, contain openings of various sizes up to two acres, and surface and ladder fuels such that fire could burn through and not destroy the stand. Mixed Conifer Mixed conifer forests contain Douglas-fir, aspen, ponderosa pine, white fir, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce trees. Mixed conifer mean fire return intervals in the southern Utah region range from 2 to 129 years depending on location, species composition and dating methodology used (Battaglia and Shepperd 2007). Mixed conifer fires during pre-European settlement were low to moderate intensity with patchy crown fires. Recent fire exclusion has facilitated the growth of shade tolerant species (i.e. white fir) and decreased the representation of aspen and ponderosa pine. In addition to this species shift there has been a large increase in basal area and tree density. All these factors play a role in creating favorable conditions for large intense landscape fires. The above conditions also play a role in creating good conditions for insect and disease infestations (Battaglia and Shepperd 2007). When dead trees fall, the surface fuel loading is increased. Greater fuel loads result in increased fire intensity and difficulty to suppress. Pre-European settlement mixed conifer fuel loading estimates is one-fourth to one-third of present day loadings (Battaglia and Shepperd, 2007). Battaglia and Shepperd (2007) classify the analysis area as a Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) 3 because historical fire return intervals have been missed for the last three or four intervals. With the increase of shade tolerant species; decrease of fire resistant pine, aspen, and Douglas fir trees; extensive regeneration that provides ladder fuels for fire to travel or climb into the crowns; and increased basal area and tree density (which allows for insects and disease which increase surface fuels), conditions are favorable (during extreme weather conditions) for high intensity large landscape scale wildland fires. Desired conditions in the mixed conifer area are to return the area to FRCC 1 characteristics. These characteristics include containing a variety of sizes and ages of trees, have a higher representation of aspen and ponderosa pine, contain openings of various sizes up to two acres, and surface and ladder fuels such that fire could burn through and not destroy the stand. This is a fire dependent ecosystem where fire has been suppressed for over 100 years. Surface and ladder fuels are accumulating in the project area due to natural and activity generated fuels as well as fire exclusion. The Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer areas are classified as wildland urban interface (WUI). The proposed actions will reduce the intensity and severity of future wildfires and will make it easier for fire fighters to manage or suppress wildfires. Modeled flame lengths are significantly decreased by reducing juniper and fir encroachment in ponderosa pine. Prescribed burning of juniper/fir slash from juniper/fir removal and understory burning in general will restore wildfire to the area, reducing surface and ladder fuels and reduce the fire hazard in the WUI. The targeted treatment area would provide protection to all the communities in the greater Duck Creek Area (Elk Ridge, Ponderosa, Swains Creek, Strawberry estates, Duck Creek Ridge, Duck Creek Proper, Meadowview Heights, and Mammoth Creek) all these areas are considered W.U.I. Treatments areas are within close proximity to this W.U.I. All these communities contain large numbers of people during the fire season, multiple high value homes and out buildings, multiple infrastructure such as water, power, gas and sewer all of which supports these communities. State Route 14 is also a major travel corridor that this project would benefit for public safety. The overall project area is heavily used by outdoor enthusiast year around and many local businesses depend on this use and the aesthetic features of the area that attract tourism. A large stand replacing crown fire would greatly impact these business not only during the wildfire event but also post as it may turn people who regularly recreate here to go elsewhere.

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.

The Watersheds (Asay Creek) in this area are tributaries of the Sevier River. This project is expected to contribute to the desired future condition of the watersheds involved because the Stream Management Zone will be treated to reduce the risk of stand replacing fires and will maintain their natural function. If a wildfire were to occur and greatly disturb the area with a large crown fire the soils in the project area would experience irreversible resource damage during a surface disturbing event (Bayer, 1996). All temporary roads that are going to be used are up on the plateau above the stream management zone and are not expected to contribute sediment to the stream. Constructed fire lines will be rehabilitated immediately following prescribed fire operations so effects from this disturbance will be short term. Since past, direct and indirect effects do not exceed the estimated 15% thresh hold in any of the watersheds, channel response and long term water quality changes are not anticipated at the confluence of each of the watersheds. Slash and burn piles will be located outside of riparian vegetation and at least 50 feet from any stream. This treatment will increase grass and forb cover over the long term and lessen the chances for erosion to keep occurring in its current state. Also the project would greatly reduce the chances for a large scale wildfire event that would cause significant damage to the soils and streams in the watershed.

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.

All NEPA has been completed for this project. Concurrence was received from SHPO and from USFWS that this project can be implemented. National Environmental Policy act (NEPA) NEPA directs the Forest Service (and other Federal agencies) to conduct environmental analyses to assess the nature and importance of the physical, biological, social, and economic effects of a Proposed Action and its reasonable alternatives. Public notification and involvement are a key part of environmental analysis. Conclusions are reached about the significance of the effects on the human environment. These conclusions about the significance of effects determine the levels of analysis and documentation. National Forest Management ACT of 1976 (NFMA) American Antiquities Act of 1906 and Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Clean Water Act The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires each state to implement its own water quality standards. The State of Utah's Water Quality Antidegradation Policy requires maintenance of water quality to protect existing instream Beneficial Uses on streams designated as Category 1 High Quality Waters. All surface waters geographically located within the outer boundaries of the Dixie National Forest, whether on private or public lands, are designated as High Quality Waters (Category 1). This means they will be maintained at existing high quality. New point sources will not be allowed, and non-point sources will be controlled to the extent feasible through implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) or regulatory programs (Utah Division of Water Quality 1994). The State of Utah and the Forest Service have agreed through a 1993 Memorandum of Understanding to use Forest Plan Standards & Guidelines and the Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 2509.22 Soil and Water Conservation Practices (SWCPs) as the BMPs. The use of SWCPs as the BMPs meets the water quality protection elements of the Utah Nonpoint Source Management Plan. The Proposed Action is designed to not change or add fill to waters anywhere within the project area. Endangered Species Act of 1973 as Amended The Endangered Species Act requires that actions of Federal agencies do not jeopardize or adversely modify critical habitat of federally listed species. Executive Order 13186. Executive Order (E.O.) 13186 directs federal agencies to protect migratory birds by integrating bird conservation principles, measures, and practices into agency activities and by avoiding or minimizing, to the extent practical, adverse impacts on migratory bird resources when conducting agency actions. The National Forests in Utah entered into an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 2007 and developed a strategy on how to address impacts from agency actions on migratory birds in NEPA documents. Project proposals that follow the strategy identified in that agreement will be considered compliant with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and E.O. 13186 (USDA 2007). Executive Order 11990 of May 24, 1977 (Wetlands) This order requires the Forest Service to take action to minimize destruction, loss, or degradation of wetlands and to preserve and enhance the natural and beneficial values of wetlands. In compliance with this order, Forest Service direction requires that an analysis be completed to determine whether adverse impacts will result. Executive Order 11988 of May 24, 1977 (Floodplains) This order requires the Forest Service to provide leadership and to take action to (1) minimize adverse impacts associated with occupancy and modification of floodplains and reduce risks of flood loss, (2) minimize impacts of floods on human safety, health, and welfare, and (3) restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values served by floodplains. In compliance with this order, the Forest Service requires an analysis be completed to determine the significance of proposed actions in terms of impacts to floodplains. Executive order 13186 directs federal agencies to protect migratory birds by integrating bird conservation principles, measures, and practices into agency activities and by avoiding or minimizing, to the extent practical, adverse impacts on migratory bird resources when conducting agency actions. This order directs agencies to further comply with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and other pertinent statutes. This analysis is compliant with the National Memorandum of Understanding between the USDA Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to promote the conservation of migratory birds (USDA 2008). In addition, the Dixie National Forest is compliant with the letter of understanding to the letter of understanding to the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service Utah Field Office (USDA 2007) concerning compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Executive Order 13186.

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.

This project will compliment fuel reduction efforts on private land by the State of Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State lands to help protect the communities/infrastructure in Duck Creek, Swains Creek, Strawberry Valley, Ponderosa, and Elk Ridge and make these communities fire adapted communities. The Dixie National Forest fire/fuels staff met with fire council members in Duck Creek at the Cedar Mountain Fire station in May of 2018. In this meeting the F.S. let these community leaders know exactly what the F.S. was planning near their communities. The members of this fire council as well as fire officials from the State of Utah Department of Forestry, Fire, and State lands were supportive of efforts of the Dixie National Forest proposed efforts on Forest Service land directly adjacent to these communities who are also working on the private land to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. This project directly ties into the now completed W.R.I. project Sawyer Point Veg and continues to treat the landscape to the west of Sawyer Point area and the Billingsly Stewardship project. Forest Service ID Team Members: Keith Adams, Jake Dodds, Eric Eastep, Mike Golden, Jennifer Green, Kevin Greenhalgh, Adam Howes, Robert Lopez, Mark Madsen, Stephen O'Neil and Del Orme. Federal, State, And Local Agencies that have been consulted with: Brian Head Town Mayor, Cedar City Mayor, Cedar Mountain Fire Protection District, Five County Association Of Governments, Garfield County Commissioner's, Kane County Commissioners, Kane County Water Conservancy District, Panguitch City Mayor, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Tribes consulted with: Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Others consulted with: Garkane Energy, Grand Canyon Trust, PacifiCorp, South Central Telephone Association, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Tushar Mountain ATV Club, Tri-State OHV Club, Utah Shared Access Alliance, Western Watersheds Project.

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 Proposed action would result in increased plant diversity and forage production for both wild and domestic ungulates, multiple species of birds, and insects across the landscape. In addition, thinning and opening of these dense shrub and forested lands would allow all animals to move more freely across the landscape. Currently there is no over utilization of grazing in the treatment area. However this would help ensure that over use is not an issue. The overall increase in forage production would lead to less intensive grazing pressure, soil compaction, and patch grazing would be relieved. It is expected that the Turkey Track Stewardship Project would open the forest floor to greater quantities of direct and indirect sunlight. This increase in light should improve conditions for native grasses and forbs already present in the understory. These native grasses and forbs are desireable and include species such as muttongrass, prairie junegrass, Canby bluegrass, western wheatgrass, blue wildrye, bluebunch wheatgrass, Ross' Sedge, peavine, linearleaf beardtongue, arrowleaf balsamroot, Siler's milkvetch, Lewis flax, Eaton's beardtongue, slender goldenrod, and sego lily. This action would also likely improve conditions for native shrubs such as snowberry, Martin's deerbrush, Oregon grape, and Greenleaf manzanita. These native grasses, forbs, and shrubs will be released as a direct benefit of this project and should fill in the interspaces and create a functional native plant community. Additional seed would not be required. This project also has the potential to improve future timber harvest for wood products by alleviating the competition for water with too many trees on the landscape and encouraging larger size classes of trees to develop in the project area. By removing encroaching tree species and thinning the overall stand as well as removing parasite infected Hawksworth mistletoe trees this forest will be sustainable for future generations to utilize and enjoy. This project will also encourage the utilization of 8-11.9" live trees which currently are not economically viable to remove without funding for a stewardship contract. This will help to increase sustainable utilization of these trees. This project area is also a popular location for both turkey and mule deer hunting. This project would enhance these two species by diversifying the forest understory from overstocked timber stands. It is concluded that in the long-term this project would move resources toward desired forest conditions. It will help meet the Dixie National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan. In the short-term some management changes will have to be made in order to reach the optimal vegetative potential of the project. This will need to be done through coordination with the grazing permittee's and documented in the Annual Operating Instructions.

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.