Boobe Hole Habitat Enhancement Project Phase II
Region: Southern
ID: 5762

Project Status: Completed

Project Details

The implementation of this project will be on the Boobe Hole CWMU, project is located on Private Property and will consist of removal of 80-90% of encroaching pinyon-juniper trees within the treatment areas to increase overall forage value for wildlife and livestock. Project will include the removal of older phase II and III stands of pinyon-juniper trees through the means of a bullhog mastication project.  Over time pinyon-juniper trees are increasingly invading the area encroaching on important wintering sagebrush communities.  The project will also identify some leave areas to increase thermal and hiding cover for big game and livestock.  Understory is in fair condition with a variety of grasses, forbs, and browse species, the need to reseed these areas is important to help sustain the perennial grass, forb and shrub component.  Removal of these trees will allow for increased understory and reduced sediment loss allowing improved water quality and quantity within the watershed. The Boobe Hole CWMU would like to continue to improve the overall quality of habitat for wildlife over the next several years. 
Project will also have a water development aspect which will consist of installing over 4,000 feet of 2" HDPE pipeline which will be laid on the surface.  With this comes the development of a head box to collect water from a spring source and then gravity feed to two (2) watering troughs.  This project will allow much need water to be distributed within the grazing allotment, to disperse livestock grazing and enhance forage value.

Because of the critical nature of sustaining key wildlife species like big game, sage grouse, and other sage brush obligate songbirds we feel the importance of this project should be elevated because of the overall impact to priority habitats and species.  This project is addressing several conservation needs for songbirds species not captured in the species section of this proposal.  And lastly, we feel this project should be elevated because of the large collaborative effort to restore and enhance habitat in the area by local government, State and Federal agencies, NGO and sportsmen groups, and several landowners.

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.

Project Goals: 
1) With the numerous acres that have been treated adjacent to this project on both Private, SITLA and BLM Lands, the overall goal of this project is to continue to implement a collaborative landscape level ecosystem restoration project with an increased pace and scale of implementation across boundaries. 
2) Promote treatment efforts onto private and state lands with a collaborative effort between the USFS, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, UFFSLs, Sevier County and Private Land Owners. 
3) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre. 
4) Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion.
5) Implement a landscape level ecosystem restoration project that will reduce risk of catastrophic fire.

Project Objectives: 
1) Improve and/or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter and transition habitat by thinning or removing Pinyon and Juniper with prior seeding. Design forage to cover ratios to benefit a variety of wildlife species. 
2) Improve and expand habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species such as Sage Grouse by increasing acres of grass and forb communities. 
3) Improve or maintain quality of habitat for wild turkeys by increasing acres of grass and forb communities. 
4) Reduce hazardous fuels while maintaining and improving fire resilient landscapes by improving the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. 
7) Increase overall forage production, habitat quality, and species diversity by treating in a mosaic pattern of 60% treated and 40% untreated that will create biodiversity across the landscape.  
8) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre.
9) Enhance habitat on USFS, BLM, SITLA and private lands to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands.

*Currently this phase of the project is estimated to treat ~XXXX acres. Overall the total estimated cost/acre is $425/acre for this phase of implementation.

Our goal is to introduce a variety of grass and forbs to the site which will aid in soil stabilization.  Mechanically treated Pinyon and Juniper areas would be aerial seeded with grasses and forbs prior to mechanical implementation. This proposal and treatment method would help maintain the existing sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area and it would allow for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. This would also help improve age class and species diversity and it would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs.

A more fire resilient ecosystem would be promoted while reducing the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires to communities and watersheds located on or adjacent to Fishlake Mountain.

This proposal and treatment method would help maintain existing (even though rated as "poor condition") sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area while allowing for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. A well designed treatment would also help improve age class and species diversity and would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs communities and watersheds. Soil erosion from the site will be greatly minimized.

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 greatest risk to this project's success is the possibility of cheat grass invasive species post treatment. This risk is somewhat elevational dependent on this project. The lowest elevations near valley floor pose the greatest risk. As treatments occur further up slope and/ or on northern slopes, the risk decreases.

Seeding will occur on the project to promote grasses and forbs in the effort to outcompete the cheat grass. Ungulate browse pressure also poses a risk/threat on project success. Several projects have been implemented and more are planned to be implemented in the near future in this area. The combination of all these projects are in effort to increase the pace and scale of implementation to help disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates.

Ground surveys and site visits have allowed us to see the lack of understory plants in the PJ complex on the west side of Fishlake Mountain. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ encroachment continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. Some areas within the project have lost a majority of the understory sage/grasses/forbs, but other areas have not completely lost the understory. One of the biggest threats realized in this area is if left untreated these areas with some understory of sagebrush/grasses/forbs left will eventually be gone as well, if left untreated this will continue to be "poor" habitat and range for ungulate animals. The area serves as transition range and winter range for big game and because it is in poor condition animals fail to remain in this zone for the season of use that should be normal.

Over half of the PJ in the project is in phase II, but is about to cross the threshold into phase III dominated PJ and lose the remaining understory.  The other half of this project is in phase I with portions about to cross the threshold into phase II.  If left untreated these areas with productive sage/grass/forb communities will degrade in productivity and treatment costs in the future will go up dramatically.  As PJ has become dominate on the landscape and the loss of understory vegetation increases, big game and small game animals are experiencing a loss of foraging habitat. This expansion of more PJ and reduced sage/grass/forb habitat has contributed to the decrease in Mule deer populations, other wildlife species, and sage grouse habitat in the area.

This expansion factor also contributes to the problem of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage.  If more acres are returned to properly functioning condition it is possible that big game animals will benefit from these treatments in the years to come.

This entire area is at risk of large catastrophic wildfires that could adversely affect entire watersheds.  Completed treatments along with planned and future treatments reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level while promoting resilient landscapes.  Wildfire suppression costs are extremely high especially when suppressing fires in similar fuel types and loadings as present on this project. When wildfires occur, this could result in damage to private property and numerous structures, increased erosion, greater opportunities for noxious weed establishment, impacts to available short-term forage, stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides/flooding events. Restoring uplands will reduce impacts from future wildfires by reducing risk of future impairment.

This project is located in multiple watersheds located along the west side of Fishlake Mountain such as Lost Creek, Daniels Canyon, and Otter Creek. All of these watersheds are perennial water bodies/riparian systems. The portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir is TMDL and 303d listed due to phosphorus levels form sedimentation and erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation.  Any project on the west side of Fishlake Mountain that improves ground cover will greatly reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system reducing this risk to the watershed.

Aspen restoration at a large scale on Fishlake Mountain is in the implementation stage. Big game use on regenerating aspen sprouts has proven to be a problem on the mountain. Projects that will minimize and distribute ungulate pressure away from aspen regeneration are a positive strategy.

Although it was determined by the USFWS that listing under the ESA was not warranted for Greater sage grouse there is an impending review to see if further action or protection is needed.  Continuing to do work as identified in the Statewide Sage Grouse Management Plan to conserve sage grouse will support a continued "not warranted" status.  Land managers, biologists, and researchers familiar with the project area feel it is very important for sage grouse because available habitat is the limiting factor for population growth here.  As habitat is made available it is believed grouse will immediately use it.  Just recently, the area UDWR wildlife biologist observed grouse in a mastication treatment completed this fall.  By completing this project we are addressing an immediate threat to one of the primary limiting factors for grouse in this area.

As previously mentioned, the area has been identified as priority for restoration of CRUCIAL mule deer habitat under the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan.  "Crucial" means the areas habitat is necessary to sustain the areas mule deer herd.  Implementing habitat restoration and enhancements is extremely important for sustaining local mule deer.

This project will increase and maintain the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities.  A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states within an ecological site.  A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife species and people.  A diverse landscape is also more resistance and resilient to disturbance.  By allowing this landscape to continue to move further into a dominant PJ woodland it increases the risk of losing the sites ability for resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and and heal after a disturbance.

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 action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986) (LRMP). The purpose and need for this project is consistent with Fishlake National Forest goals and objectives found in Chapter IV of the Forest Plan. The proposed treatment units are within management areas 5A- Big Game Winter Range (majority of proposed acres) and 4B - Habitat for Management Indicator Species.

This proposal is consistent with and it responds to Fishlake Forest Plan direction for wildlife management in areas 5A and 4B. The relevant goals and objectives are listed below: * Improve or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter ranges. (Forest Plan IV-4) * Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plants and animals. (Forest Plan IV-4) * Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion (Fishlake LRMP p. IV-99)

*Reduce hazardous fuels: the full range of reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and MA emphasis and direction (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41)

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Elk Management Plan: 
This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Fishlake Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (elk). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit elk. 
B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. 
C. Watershed Restoration Initiative a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. 
This project will help minimize depredation on local agricultural cropland.  UDWR biologists and technicians spend a tremendous amount of time and money up and down grass valley herding elk and deer from private lands in the late winter and spring months.

The Greater Plateau Elk Complex Elk Management Plan (2016) lists range improvements in the habitat objectives section. This project specifically addresses the components listed under range improvements in that it enhances forage production and habitat quality through direct range improvements on winter range within the unit. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex goes on to mention that "focus will be on high use areas especially where we can entice animals away from agricultural areas".

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mule Deer Management Plan: This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Fishlake Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (deer). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit mule deer. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019. (p. 19) d. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species. e. Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah. g. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire.  This project will help minimize depredation on local agricultural cropland.  UDWR biologists and technicians spend a tremendous amount of time and money up and down grass valley herding elk and deer from private lands in the late winter and spring months.

This project area is identified as "priority for restoration of crucial mule deer habitat" under the Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan (Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan, 2019-2024).  "Crucial" is defined as "habitat necessary to sustain the areas mule deer herd".  Allowing the area to remain in phase 2 and 3 pinyon and juniper encroachment means less quality habitat to meet mule deer objectives.  This project will specifically meet the objective of "working 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".  The Fish Lake Unit Mule Deer Management Plan specifically states to "reduce expansion of Pinyon-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinyon-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects like lop & scatter, bullhog, and chaining" (Fish Lake Mule Deer Management Plan, 2015).

Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan:  Newly treated areas through fire or mechanical means will attract use by wild turkey which are present within the Boobe Hole CWMU and Fishlake Mountain. Insects and new growth will be readily available to support turkey populations. Objective 2. Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. (p.16)

UDWR Wildlife Action Plan:  This project is geared toward meeting the goals found within this plan for a variety of wildlife species from large to small. The entire proposed project area is found within a UWRI conservation focus area. Threat - Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity: Objective #1 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Fire is excluded from habitats in which potential burns now would be frequent, large, and destructive to soils and native vegetation; the habitats are being actively managed (treated) to reduce components or factors that promote risk of catastrophic fire, such as cheatgrass, excessive conifer encroachment, or unnaturally large stands of mature Gambel oak. (pg. 103) Actions: 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. (pg. 104) 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 104) 2.3.20 Conduct post-fire rehabilitation. (pg. 104)  Objective #2 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Fire is returned to habitats from which it had been unnaturally excluded; the fire regime (frequency and intensity) in these habitats generally approximates a natural, pre-settlement regime. (pg. 105) 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 106) 2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense. (pg. 106)

National Cohesive Strategy:  By means of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning at a landscape scale, the resulting mosaic of early and late successional forests will work toward the goal of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, one of the three goals described in the National Cohesive Strategy. 1. Resilient Landscapes General guidance regarding vegetation and fuels management include* Use and expand fuel treatments involving mechanical, biological, or chemical methods where economically feasible and sustainable, and where they align with landowner objectives. (pg. 58)

State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy: The Boobe Hole Project aligns with the mission of the State of Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The project has developed a comprehensive and systematic approach toward reducing the size, intensity and frequency of catastrophic wildland fires on Fishlake Mountain through a collaborative process. The project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence negatively affecting property, air quality and water systems. The Mission: Develop a collaborative process to protect the health and welfare of Utahns, and our lands by reducing the size and frequency of catastrophic fires. (pg. 4) 5. Adopt Key Recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. (pg. 15) * Encourage federal land management agencies to expedite fuels treatments. (pg. 15) * Prioritize landscapes for treatment (irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries). (pg. 15)

Grazing Allotment Management Plans: The amount of forage available to livestock within affected allotments on Boobe Hole CWMU is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of pinion/juniper, the amount of grasses and forbs in the sagebrush is also expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates.

Sage Grouse Management: Portions of this project are located within or adjacent to the Parker Mountain-Emery Sage Grouse Management Area. This project aligns with the Parker Mountain Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan, October 1, 2006. Specifically, the project corresponds with section 2.5. in the plan, which states as follows: "Action: Treat areas where undesirable vegetation has become, or is at risk of becoming a factor in sage-grouse habitat loss or fragmentation." It also follows the Conservation Plan for Greater Sagegrouse in Utah, February 14, 2013. Specifically section 5.4.1: "Aggressively remove encroaching conifers and other plant species to expand greater sage-grouse habitat where possible." As stated above in the Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse this project will reduce numbers of acres of Pinyon and Juniper encroaching into sage habitats, therefor meeting opportunities to enhance sage grouse habitat.

Bald Eagle Management Bald Eagles: Bald eagles are protected by the Utah Wildlife Code, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Although the bald eagle is no longer listed on the Endangered Species List, the species remains listed as a Species of Concern in Utah, a subset of the State Sensitive Species List. State and federal laws prohibit harassing, injuring or killing eagles, or damaging their nests. Midwinter surveys of bald eagles within the lower 48 states were initiated by the National Wildlife Federation in 1979. Wintering Bald Eagles utilize the project area and treatments would improve life cycle opportunities for them. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d) is a United States federal statute that protects two species of eagle. The bald eagle was chosen as a national emblem of the United States by the Continental Congress of 1782 and was given legal protection by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940. This act was expanded to include the golden eagle in 1962.[1] Since the original Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has been amended several times. It currently prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from "taking" bald eagles. Taking is described to include their parts, nests, or eggs, molesting or disturbing the birds. The Act provides criminal penalties for persons who "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle ... [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof."[2] The purpose of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection act is to not agitate the bald and golden eagle to the extent of not 1.) Abusing an eagle, 2.) Interfering with its substantial lifestyle, including shelter, breeding, feeding, or 3.) Nest abandonment.[3] The eagle feathers have been collected and incorporated into clothing, art, jewelry, etc. In addition, having the possession, exchange, or sale of bald eagle feathers violates the act if no permit is obtained. The basic structure of the act resembles the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

California Condor Management California Condor:  This project lies south of I-70 and is therefore within the 10j experimental non-essential area for the California condor. We are to monitor if any of this species were to show up on Fishlake Mountain.

State of Utah Forest Action Plan: This project addresses all three of the key goals laid out in the Forest Action Plan: conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses, protect forests from threats and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Wood products will be available through firewood or post/pole permits.

Sevier County Resource Management Plan; This project is congruent with the policies and desired management practices found in Sevier County's Resource Management Plan. Policies (all from pages 6-7) 1. Support the removal of conifers and manage land to promote the establishment of aspen cover and attendant grass, brush, and forbs. 3. Encourage timber harvesting to prevent fuel load and biomass buildup. 5. The county supports prescribed burns as a fuels reduction management tool for resource enhancement, when used in conjunction with forest thinning and post-treatment salvage or in areas that physically cannot be mechanically thinned, when such burns comply with air quality regulations. 12. Support managing forest cover types to perpetuate tree cover and provide healthy stands, high water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat. 14. Support the management of forests and woodlands for healthy conditions that contribute to healthy habitat for animal and plant species, proper watershed functioning conditions, and riparian restoration and enhancement. 16. Support agencies in prioritizing fuel reduction treatment in high-value/high-risk areas (e.g., wildland-urban interface, developed recreation facilities including campgrounds). Desired management Practices 1. Encourage the commercial and non-commercial harvesting of forests and woodlands, to the maximum extent possible, through federal agencies' plans and policies. 4. Agencies should support a broad range of reforestation and timber stand improvement tools and timber harvesting practices consistent with prudent resource protection practices.

CENTRAL UTAH FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN (FMP):
 *Greater use of vegetation management to meet resource management objectives
 *Hazardous fuels treatments will be used to restore ecosystems; protect human, natural and cultural resources; and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities
 sagebrush steppe communities will be a high priority for ESR and fuel reduction to avoid catastrophic fires in these areas

Federal Land Policy and Management Act
*Sec. 102 (a); the public lands be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals
*Sec. 103 (c); The BLM is directed to manage public lands in a manner that will best meet present and future needs of the nation.

Richfield Field Office RMP 
 -Manage for a mix of vegetative types, structural stages, and provide for native plant, fish, and wildlife (including SSS) habitats.
- Sustain or reestablish the integrity of the sagebrush continuity, and quality of habitat that is necessary to maintain sustainable populations of the Greater sage-grouse and other sagebrush-dependent wildlife species.

BLM Grazing Management Regulations:
 -Objectives are to promote healthy sustainable rangeland ecosystems; to accelerate restoration and improvement of public lands to properly functioning condition
 -Maintenance and enhancement of habitats to promote the conservation of Federal proposed, Federal candidate, and other special status spec.

*SITLA Management Plans:
Correspond with the  Utah Code Title  53C Chapter Five Section 101, 102 and 103 in accordance with Management of Rangeland Resources

Utah Adminstrative Code R850-50-1100 Range Improvement Projects within the SITLA Property.

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.

Enhancing the habitat in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and breaking up the continuous fuel bed of Pinyon and Juniper that currently exist along the west side of Fishlake Mountain. This treatment will promote a fire resilient environment that reduces the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires, with less risk to public and firefighter safety. Fire risk would be reduced to multiple watersheds and communities located on Fishlake Mountain.  Existing wildfire risk index in the project area ranges from moderate-high to very-very low.  It also compliments completed BLM and SITLA treatments located in the Sandledages and Cedar Mtn Durfeee areas of the Fishlake Mountain.  All these projects combined reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level to to multiple communities and watersheds across the northwest portions of Fishlake Mountain and within the valley bottoms on the east side of Monroe Mountain (Sandledages and Willow Patch Fires) while promoting resilient landscapes.

The dominant southwest wind flow in conjunction with associated fire behavior expected from the Pinyon and Juniper and mountain shrub fuel types pose significant wildland fire risk to these areas and values.  The large treated areas will create buffers in and around values at risk and will significantly reduce the risk of fire to these values.

The majority of this project is within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project would be in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2.

The USFS and the BLM has seen success in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheat-grass response, but after the re-seeding has time to establish, cheat-grass has decreased dramatically thus reducing this potential increased risk of fire.

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.

This project is located in multiple watersheds located along the west side of Monroe Mountain such as Lost Creek, Daniels Canyon, and Otter Creek. All of these watersheds are perennial water bodies/riparian systems. The portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir is TMDL and 303d listed due to phosphorus levels form sedimentation and erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Any project on the west side of Fishlake Mountain that improves ground cover will greatly reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system. Water flow from the west side of the mountain includes Otter Creek which then flows into Otter Creek Reservoir and water from the Otter Creek Reservoir meets up with the Sevier River System near Junction and Paiute Reservoir. The project proposed will greatly reduce sediment transfer.

Restoring uplands will reduce the impacts future wildfires and reduce the risk of future impairment. Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. By removing Pinyon and Juniper it is anticipated that water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved) in the short and long term. Some research indicates that Pinyon and Juniper removal in mountain sagebrush can increase soil water availability (Roundy et al. 2014). Pinyon and Juniper removal activities should have a net positive effect on increasing water yield/availability as fewer conifer trees use water.

Risk of fire will be reduced within multiple watersheds. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs, the planned aerial seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and reduce the risk of erosion.  Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced.   Project treatment may result in short term (1 year) impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation.

Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated or chained tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion and protect the water quality throughout the watershed.  By removing Pinyon and Juniper this should allow for more precipitation to contact the soil and increase biomass on the ground. In areas where hand thinning will be used there should be adequate vegetation to avoid soil erosion but this should increase the amount of water into the system instead of evaporating before it reaches the ground.  Wet meadows and upland plants benefit by utilizing the increase soil moisture, providing for better resiliency during drought years. This provides for an increase in water quantity for herbaceous plants on sites where PJ is removed.  Treatments on this project will be occurring in sagebrush and mountain mixed brush ecological communities. Restoring uplands within all of these ecological communities will reduce impacts from future wildfires along with reducing risks of future impairment to the watersheds.

Sevier County: In Sevier County's Water Quality and Hydrology section under Desired Management Practices the statement below supports these types of projects. 3. Where water resources on public lands have diminished because grasses have succeeded to pinyon-juniper and other woody vegetation, a vigorous program of mechanical treatments should be applied to promptly remove this woody vegetation and biomass, stimulate the return of the grasses to historic levels, and thereby provide a watershed that maximizes water yield and water quality for livestock, wildlife, and human uses. (pg. 24). The installed (2018) guzzler near the project area will provide a clean water source for a variety of wildlife species thus minimizing their need to travel to upper and lower elevations for water.

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.

PRIVATE
1) Aerial Seeding of Grass/Forb mix (Fall 2021)
2) Mechanically Bullhog up to 440 acres of encroaching Pinyon and Juniper (Fall 2021)
3) Over 4,000 feet of 2" HDPE pipeline will be installed (2021)
4) Two (2) Rubber Tire or Backwoods troughs will be installed (2021)
5) One Spring Development will take place providing a secure water source (2021)

440 acres needing archaeology surveys for the Bullhog aspect of the project. Funding is being requested to complete these surveys, prior to the implementation of the treatment.

Slopes under 40% or classified phase II or III PJ expansion will be thinned utilizing bullhog mastication methods by machine.

A mosaic treatment pattern combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. This diversity will help create a mix of life cycle benefits for a variety of wildlife and insect species. Curl-leaf mahogany and other key brush species will be designed away from fire opportunities to maintain browse integrity.

The UDWR will work with the Boobe Hole CWMU and Grazing Permittee to re-seed with a mix of grass, forbs and shrubs. Areas needing to be seeded would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use if needed, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow new vegetation time to establish. Instructions regarding temporary rest would be incorporated into the Annual Operating Instructions (AOIs) for the livestock permit holders.

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.

USFWS
As part of the USFWS landowner agreement USFWS biologist will visit the site at minimum once per year to assess needs, success, failures, and need for any follow-up treatments/maintenance for the duration of the 10 year Landowner Agreement.
 
Monitoring plans will also include UDWR bi-annual big game classifications used to monitor production and subsequent survival of area deer and elk herds.  Project Manager will establish a set of vegetation and photo points within a transect to collect pre and post treatment data. UDWR may ask for the GBRC Range Trend Crew to set a permanent vegetation transect for future monitoring of this project that will be read or surveyed for vegetation data every five years depending on their workload, in which this data can be uploaded in the proper forms.

We will also be monitoring the bullhog mastication aspect of this project out three-seven years and removing all whips that may be left or sprouting after the treatment, establishment of key grass and forb species will be monitored as well for establishment. The UDWR and or USFWS will enter into a AOI agreement with the Grazing Permittee before the project is implemented.  The livestock permittee will look to keep the pipeline and troughs located in good working condition within the treatment area as it will benefit them and their livestock during the grazing seasons. Grazing of livestock within the treatment area after the deferred rest will require monitoring to not have the livestock consume or overgraze the treatment areas.

Other monitoring will be done by the Boobe Hole CWMU operators, working to keep pipeline and troughs in good working order, helping to ensure all livestock is in the proper grazing pastures and off the reseeded treatment areas.

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

Partners associated with this project include:
UDWR
USFWS Partners Program
UDAF (GIP)
Boobe Hole Private landowners and CWMU Operators
Grazing Permittee
SITLA

May other partners within the Sevier County include County Commissioners, who are very supportive of this kind of work and the added value it brings to the county.

In the past External Conservation Sportsman Groups have added additional funding and value to projects like this seeing the need to support wildlife on private lands, they included but are not limited to SFW, MDF, NWTF, FNAWS, UBA, RMEF and SCI.

UDWR Habitat Council has also provided funding for project like this and in FY 21' they funded a much needed pipeline project on this CWMU.  Other projects on this CWMU have been funded in the past by UWRI funding as well.

Project Manger has been in touch with SITLA Representative about adding in or treatment of adjacent property, at this time SITLA will not be participating in this phase of the project. SITLA is however on board for future Habitat Restoration work that will be occurring in the future.

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 UDWR will work with Boobe Hole CWMU and grazing permittees to implement a rest rotational grazing system within the bullhog mastication portions of the project that is consistent with the Ranch Management Plan.  Grazing will also be suspended for two growing seasons post treatment to allow the grass and forb species to establish.  This will be written into an MOU or Cooperative Agreement signed by the permittees prior to implementation of the  project  UDWR and the Boobe Hole CWMU are strongly committed to improving habitat through restoration efforts to meet overall regional goals and objectives for wildlife and livestock grazing in this area. Success will be determined by the Management Plans of the Boobe Hole CWMU and UDWR through proper grazing systems that allow for healthy rangeland communities. The project objectives for Future Management may consist of grazing the treatment area and manage for: a) provide for livestock grazing while maintaining rangeland in properly functioning condition. b) maintain healthy, sustainable rangeland ecosystems and restore degraded rangelands to meet Utah's Standards for Rangeland Health and to provide a wide range of public values... c) integrate livestock use and associated management practices with other multiple use needs and objectives to maintain, protect, and improve rangeland health. d) monitor and evaluate grazing pastures to maintain or improve rangeland productivity.
Management of the pipeline and spring site will need to be monitored, debris will need to be removed keeping the spring source free which will allow water to continue to fill the troughs and provide water to livestock and wildlife.

The Boobe Hole CWMU and the Grazing Permitees are very motivated and committed to management that will insure productivity and maximize the useful life of this project.

Working with the Boobe Hole CWMU and the Grazing Permittees they have committed to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with UDWR as to the in-kind work that will be done on their property.  This agreement will be signed before work is to take place and move forward.  Boobe Hole CWMU have Ranch Management goals and objective for livestock grazing as well as the present CWMU that they manage for big game wildlife.   The CWMU is critical to the ranch and they value the need to have wildlife on their property.  Within the CWMU they have mule deer and elk permits available to the public for hunting opportunities.  UDWR has provided services and work with the Boobe Hole CWMU in the past, to help them increase habitat and forage for livestock and wildlife over the last several years.  Together they have improved several hundred acres and completed water delivery and storage systems.

The private landowners will enter into a contract with USFWS.  As part of the landowner agreement with USFWS the landowner agrees to leave the habitat restored in place for a 10 year period and during that time will work with the USFWS biologist to monitor and access needs, success, and any needed adaptive management.

Other Future management goals will include following up with restoration treatments and the need to do maintenance projects such as removing smaller pinyon-juniper whips out of the treatments, improving shrub components through hand seeding of Bitterbrush or Cliffrose in specific areas.

Within the Boobe Hole CWMU Management Plan it does address the needs for water developments and Habitat Work to be implemented, monitored, fix or repaired.  This plan is for the preservation and conservation of wildlife species within the Fishlake Plateau.  These management tools and implementation of these habitat projects within the Boobe Hole CWMU Ranch will be managed by the grazing permittee's and operators for the betterment of livestock and wildlife.

Other grazing improvements will be seen in the riparian areas of the allotments as cattle will not be congregated around them, destroying vegetation and over utilizing these wet areas.  In turn we should be able to pull livestock away from these areas with better water distribution and improve management practices.

Management of this project will be to ensure that the project is installed correctly, pipeline and watering troughs are set correct and all fittings are secure.  The need to fix or repair items associated with this project will be left up to the grazing permittee in the future, and allow for the distribution of cattle during the grazing period.

Additional phases of this pipeline project may be needed in the future as water is limited in this area and the need for additional watering sites is critical to the distribution of livestock as well as wildlife in this area. Grazing Permittee will need to work with the UDWR, GIP, or NRCS to continue projects like this within the Boobe Hole Allotment, water is critical and will always be valuable to livestock and wildlife populations in the future.

Grazing Management will be key, as water becomes limited projects like this one allow for cattle movement, grazing practices and timing to be adjusted in drought type years.

With this habitat project implemented over 2,000 acres will benefit from the improvement and additional grazing acres will be utilized due to water improvements and the reduction of livestock congregation.  Livestock utilization of cattle in the past have had to travel long distances to get to water each day.  With this project we will be better to utilize forage on a more manageable level, keep cattle from trailing, provide water for wildlife and improve grazing practices within the Boobe Hole Allotments.  Within the Boobe Hole CWMU Management Plan it does address the needs for water developments and Habitat Work to be implemented, monitored, fix or repaired.  This plan is for the preservation and conservation of wildlife species within the Fisklake Plateau.  These management tools and implementation of these habitat projects within the Boobe Hole CWMU Ranch will be managed by the grazing permittee's and operators for the betterment of livestock and wildlife.

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.

Forage Production or Improved Distribution: Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the Pinyon and Juniper expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. As Pinyon and Juniper is thinned, understory vegetation increases, wild and domestic ungulates will experience an increase in foraging habitat. Through the mechanical thinning, Pinyon and Juniper expansion is addressed and sagebrush, grasses, and forbs are promoted. This in return moves the sage/grass/forb ecosystems on the west side of Fishlake Mountain on the upscale towards improved forage conditions thus improving ecosystems for both wildlife and livestock. Portions of the project are currently not being grazed due to the lack of understory and Pinyon and Juniper expansion. This project has the potential to improve distribution of domestic livestock into new areas. The amount of forage available to livestock and wildlife is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of Pinyon and Juniper the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the and sagebrush is expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates.

Other Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources: Efforts are being made to promote commercial sale of Juniper fence posts from project areas. This project promotes sustaining hunting of big game such as elk and deer along with small game such as wild turkey on the Fishlake Mountain. Treatments like this have potential to increase wildlife numbers and potential hunting opportunities to future generations. A main goal of these treatments is to enhance habitat at a landscape scale rather than at a jurisdictional level to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands.

Healthy diverse rangelands also impact the small local surrounding communities economically.  The area is popular as a camping, fishingh, and hunting destination.  Visitors buy gas, visit restraunts, and purchase other supplies locally.  Hunters do the same but also hire local guides, taxidermists, and purchase local hunting supplies.  Livestock grazing is a major source of income in the surrounding area and having healthy diverse rangelands resilient and resistant to disturbance directly puts food on the table in these communities.

With the Sevier County ATV Jamboree each year, riders from across the country enjoy riding trails in this area and enjoy camping and recreating.

The pipeline portion just allows better distribution of water decreasing the cost to the permittee of the possibilities of hauling water by truck to different locations, during critical times of the summer.  Cleaning out and re-claying overflow catchments also gives additional storage for water due to summer rains and snow melt in the spring.

This project will be a great asset to help benefit the livestock portion of the project, by increasing the need for water in critical areas of this allotment it will be able to increase the overall utilization of the Boobe Hole Allotments as far as grazing additional areas that have not been grazed, and reducing impacts of grazing on other critical areas.  This project will sustain 150 AUM's on the South Boobe Hole Allotment.

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.