Project Details

This proposal is requesting the resources needed to install a ADA fishing pier and perform maintenance on fishing and interpretive trails around Willow Lake, Ferron Reservoir, Petes Hole Reservoir, Benches (Beaver Dam) Reservoir and Yearns Reservoir. This proposal seeks to maintain these trails by performing trail tread repair, building water control structures, rebuilding trail boardwalk/bridges, retaining walls, hardening trail segments as well as building ADA compliant fishing pier at Willow Lake to help make angling inclusive for visitors needing more accessible trails. This work will be accomplished by an 8-person American Conservation Experience(ACE) crew, Youth Conservation Corps, in-house labor, and volunteered time from Elements Traverse, a program for at-risk youth. These routes are used almost exclusively use by hikers and anglers, but may have occasional use by bicycles and equestrians.
This project will serve as a pilot to other potential phases. Other phases in the future could include improvements for angler access and to trails  around Wrigley Reservoir, Potters Ponds, Emerald Lake, Grassy Lake, and Duck Fork Reservoir. Inspiration for this project was the public reception to trail improvements at Ferron Picnic/Black Dragon Trailhead that improved access to Ferron Creek and to the picnic sites. Since the improvements have been implemented the site has received increased use and praise from the residents of the nearby town of Ferron."

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.

Our goal is to provide visitors with a safe and convenient access while protecting the adjacent resources, all located on the Manti-La Sal National Forest in Sanpete County. Our goal is to provide visitors with safe and convenient access along these shorelines while protecting adjacent resources. Our goal is to provide/improve angling access to the reservoirs, and to construct an ADA accessible fishing pier from the Willow Lake campground. 
The DWR will be responsible for purchasing and installing an ADA fishing pier at Willow Lake and constructing a walking path from the Willow Lake campground to the fishing pier.  The DWR is also responsible for purchasing materials and reconstructing the foundation of the angler walkway at Benches Reservoir.  DWR along with dedicated hunters and employess from the Scofield Mine replaced the walkway several years ago.  Because of high water the foundation logs and footers could not be replaced at that time.  This project will lower water levels to fix the foundation of the walkway. This proposal is requesting funds for the construction and installation of an ADA fishing pier and the reconstruction of the foundation of the Benches Reservoir fishing walkway.  
The USFS will be responsible for performing maintenance on fishing trails, and installing bridges around the following reservoirs: Willow Lake, Ferron Reservoir, Pete's Hole Reservoir, and Yearns Reservoir.  USFS contribution has been funded by RTP and is an in-kind match for this proposal.  Features/trail work:
Pete's Hole Reservoir -- trail length 3260 feet; 2 bridges, 2 mini bridges, 4 retaining walls.
Yearn's Reservoir -- trail length 1874 feet; 1 bridge, 2 mini bridges, 2 stairs, 1 small fence.
Ferron Reservoir -- trail length 3525 feet; 5 bridges, 11 interpretive signs.
Willow Lake -- trail length 5710 feet; 3 bridges, 3 stairs, 2 retaining walls.  DWR is proposing funding for additional work: fishing pier, hardened approach to peir, trail from parking area to pier, additional bridges and boardwalk to finish trail.

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.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

The proposed action has been reviewed for compliance with the Forest Plan (Manti-La Sal National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 1986, with amendments)).  Proposed activities meet the goals and management direction provided by the Forest Plan.  The following management direction, as well as others not listed applies: Under Forest-wide Direction, the proposed action would conform to: *Develop appropriate facilities where the present facilities are not meeting the demand and where it meets the highest net public benefit.  *Design facilities and access to provide sites protection, efficient maintenance, and user convenience.  Design and develop sites to ensure that developed capacity meets the anticipated demand.  *Construct, reconstruct and maintain developed sites in accordance with the established Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classification for the management unit.  *Manage recreational activities so they do not conflict with wildlife use of habitat.  *Maintain developed sites in accordance with regionally acceptable work standards.

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

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

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.

Engineering has been completed or approved by the Forest Service engineers, and the project is ready to go.  This proposal seeks to maintain trails by performing trail tread repair, building water control structures, rebuilding trail boardwalk/bridges, retaining walls, and hardening trail segments.  This work will be accomplished by an 8-person American Conservation Experience(ACE) crew, Youth Conservation Corps, in-house labor, and volunteered time from Elements Traverse, a program for at-risk youth (Manti LaSal Nation Forest in-kind contribution).  Building an ADA compliant fishing pier at Willow Lake and the replacing the boardwalk foundation at Benches Reservoir (Beaver Dam Pond) will be accomplished by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.  The DWR will accomplish this proposal by: 1) placing project out for bid through DWR requisition process; 2) visit location with potential contractors during bid process; 3) award contract to top contractor; 4) replace boardwalk foundation at Benches in fall 2021 at low water; 5) develop trail from existing trail system to fishing pier; 6) install fishing pier late fall, early winter.

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

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

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

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

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.