Project Details

Previous projects adjacent to the acres of this proposal have been completed in the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed and have contributed to the connectivity of habitats suitable for sage grouse throughout the watershed. The areas covered in this project will connect previously treated areas and provide additional habitat and connectivity for sage grouse, improve mule deer migration habitat and benefit  other sage-steppe dependent wildlife. Although this area is not within mapped priority sage grouse habitat (PHMA) it lies directly adjacent the PHMA and is predicted to benefit Sage Grouse by expanding habitat. . Area partners and the local sage grouse working group have requested treatments in this area for several years, as there has been some movement of grouse through this corridor.
The Upper Kanab Creek Watershed area is a high priority area for vegetation treatments by numerous partners because of the high diversity of wildlife, including sage grouse, mule deer and elk. The encroachment of pinyon and juniper within sage-steppe has negatively impacted soils resources, water and nutrient cycles, fire regimes, plant community structure and composition, forage production and wildlife habitat. This area also receives national attention because it contains the Paunsagunt and North Kaibab mule deer herds, which migrate between Utah and Arizona; the Paunsagunt herd is world renowned for being one of North America's trophy mule deer herds.

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.

Primary objectives for this project include:
1.Reduce the density of Stage II & III pinyon and juniper trees to restore and preserve understory vegetation, including sagebrush and native grasses and forbs. 
2. Improve 1,882 acres of substantial summer mule deer habitat and substantial year-long elk habitat by releasing both the existing understory and sagebrush component. 
3. Increase brood sage grouse habitat and increase fall/winter sage grouse habitat adjacent to sage-grouse management areas (UDWR). 
4. Increase connectivity on 1,882 acres of sage grouse opportunity habitat adjacent to the Panguitch SGMA (UDWR).
5. Improve water quality and quantity within the Upper Kanab Creek watershed.
6.Reduction of Hazardous Fuel Loads.
7. Align with Division of Wildlife Unit #27 Mule Deer Management Plan objectives by 
    A. Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the unit by protecting and enhancing existing 
        crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts.
    B. Seek cooperative projects to improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat. 
    C. Provide improved habitat security and escapement opportunities for deer.
    D. Carry out habitat improvement projects. Protect deer winter ranges from wildfire by          
          reseeding wildfire areas, creating fuel breaks and vegetated green strips and reseed 
          areas dominated by Cheatgrass with desirable perennial vegetation. 
    E. 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.

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.

Even-aged, decadent sagebrush and the invasion of pinyon and juniper trees into areas once dominated by grasses, forbs, and shrubs increases the risk of losing key areas for wildlife (ie. mule deer, Elk). Without this project, perennial grasses, forbs and healthy shrubs (sagebrush and bitterbrush) will not exist.  Collar tracking data shows high use in the area by mule deer. For mule deer these movements can span a large distance and this time of migration is critical to their health because it allows animals to access feed and other resources at the time of year when they are abundant. This project will also allow animals to respond to harsh environmental conditions that may significantly reduce their survival. Even-aged, decadent stands of sagebrush and the increase of pinyon and juniper also increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire in these habitats. The risk of cheatgrass and loss of sagebrush semidesert habitat after a wildfire could further impact habitat for wildlife. Catastrophic wildfire also threatens nearby infrastructure and outlying residential properties of the Deer Springs Ranch which has been designated a "community at risk" by the Department of Forestry Fire and State Lands (FFSL) . Adjacent projects identical to the proposed project have proved successful in meeting objectives.  However, as with any surface disturbing activity in sagebrush ecosystems, there is a low potential for weed invasion. BLM will aggressively treat any noxious weeds in the area if found.

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 Upper Kanab Creek project area is adjacent to the Panguitch/Bald Hills population in Sage-Grouse Management Zone III: Southern Great Basin. The 2013 Conservation Objectives Final Report (COT) identified this area as having the highest potential for increase in Utah due to habitat treatments to remove pinyon-juniper. Key threats to sage-grouse in this area are increased predator populations, vegetation management (conflicting uses or lack of), energy development, and residential/commercial development.

BLM Utah also recently completed an the Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment, which tied sage grouse treatment objectives and thresholds for disturbance to existing land use plans (in this case, The Kanab RMP (2008). Primary to this document is a section that integrates the State of Utah's strategy of improving greater Sage Grouse habitat through vegetation treatments by setting treatment objectives to increase areas available for sage grouse habitat and to reduce the threats of wildfire to sage grouse habitat (pp 1-13) (Section 2) (Appendix C). This project will both reduce threats of wildfire while also increasing available connectivity and habitat.

Those involved in this project and other Upper Kanab Creek Projects continue to work with the local sage grouse working group like Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Local Working Group (CCARM). The intent of the Plan is to provide guidance and recommendations to meet the overall goal of maintaining and, where possible, increasing sage-grouse populations and improving habitat conditions in the Color Country CCARM Conservation Strategies:
1. Improve age distribution of sagebrush-steppe communities.
2. Improve water availability in brood-rearing habitat.
3. Improve wildlife and livestock distribution in winter and brood-rearing habitat
throughout the next ten years.
4. Locate and monitor new active lek sites over the next ten years. 
5. Maintain or increase sage-grouse populations through direct management. 
6. Manage unwanted plant species in sage-brush steppe habitat.
7. Minimize impacts of new land developments and/or recreational uses on sagegrouse
populations during the next ten years. 
8. Take steps to reduce the negative impact of dramatic weather events during the
next ten years. 
This project was presented to the CCARM group in December 2021 and received support from the council.
Fire, vegetation management and invasive species are three aspects ranked as important considerations in this plan. 
This project falls within the Paunsaugunt Deer Herd Unit # 27. The Mule Deer Management plan was approved by the Wildlfe Board on December 5, 2019  will be in effect for five years (December 5, 2024). 
Unit Habitat Management Goals: 
1. Manage for a population of healthy animals capable of providing a broad range of recreational opportunities, including hunting and viewing.
2.  Balance deer herd impacts on human needs, such as private property rights, agricultural crops and local economies.
3. Maintain the population at a level that is within the long-term capability of the available habitat to support.
4. Continue with limited entry hunting.  Maintain cooperative DWR/Landowner relationships.

Southern Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan - This project falls under the Glendale Bench Fire Management Unit (FMU). 
Fire Management Objectives: 
1. Using mechanical methods create a mosaic of age classes in the sagebrush and sagebrush
perennial grass vegetation types.
2. Treat pinyon/juniper to create or enhance sage grouse habitat using prescribed fire on up to 22,000 acres aggregate with non-fire fuels treatments.
3. Convert 15,000 acres to sagebrush grass using natural fire, prescribed fire and mechanical treatments.

Other plans that relate to the proposed project are: 
BLM National Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy (2004).
Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 which state protecting forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands from unnaturally intensive and destructive fires.
BLM's Final Programmatic Environmental Report:  Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Report, June 2007, The Fundamental of Rangeland Health (43 CFR 4180) and Utah's Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health which address watersheds, ecological condition, water quality and habitat for special status species.

This project is authorized under the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Plan NEPA UT- 040-09-03, (Decision signed in 2011 and Upheld by IBLA September 6, 2012). This project was designed to improve vegetation conditions for wildlife, but specifically for sage grouse.

REFERENCES
Frey, S. N., S. G. Lupis, K. Heaton, T. A. Black, T. A. Messmer, and D. Mitchell. 2006. Color
Country Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan. Utah's
Community Based Conservation Program. Unpublished Report. Logan, Utah.

Frey, S. N., S. G. Lupis, C.Reid,  K. Heaton, T. A. Black, T. A. Messmer, and D. Mitchell. 2007
Southwest Desert Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan. Utah's Community Based Conservation Program. Unpublished Report. Logan, Utah.

BLM. September 2015. Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment. September 2015. US Department of the Interior Appendix C. Required Design Features (particularly as they pertain to fire and fuels).

UDWR. May 2015. Deer Herd Unit Management Plan. Deer Herd Unit #27 (Paunsagunt). 8 pp.

Southern Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment (UT-040-04-054).

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.

Within the project area there is a large fuel loading build up and an alteration in fuel types. Pinyon and juniper trees and even aged, decadent sagebrush, once held to lower densities by more frequent fires, have expanded in range and moved into areas once dominated by shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Without this project, fuel conditions are such that an unexpected wildfire may be difficult to contain, leading to an increased risk to firefighter and public safety, suppression effectiveness and natural resource degradation such as loss of substantial summer mule deer habitat. Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) within the project area is predominately FRCC 3 which is where fire regimes have been extensively altered and risk of losing key ecosystem components from fire is high.  This projects design lends to reduce fire risk to life safety, property, watersheds, and natural resources by restoring resilience and sustainability to a fire dependent ecosystem through the proposed activities.
During the past 20 years, this area as experienced frequent but small fires, pinyon and juniper trees, once held to lower densities by more frequent fires, have expanded in range and moved into areas once dominated by shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Current closed tree canopy and material on the ground (ladder fuels) has increased the risk of catastrophic wildfire. (ie. 2019 Deer Range Fire totaling 301 acres). Treatments identified within this proposal (mulching) would help reduce hazardous fuel loads, create fuel breaks, and reduce the overall threat of a catastrophic wildfire which could impact outlying residential properties and infrastructure of the Deer Springs Ranch and other private inholdings in the area. Treatments in and around the sagebrush semi-desert habitat would break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of wildfire entering these sensitive areas. Removing pinyon and juniper and decadent sagebrush in a mosaic pattern would also break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of a high intensity wildfire. Because there is a greater risk of conversion of shrublands to annual grasslands under a high intensity fire, managed, pro-active treatments proposed would reduce the likelihood of cheatgrass invasion and help perennial grasses and forbs persist long-term. The treatment proposed would help to effectively return this area to more resilient landscape by placing the fire regime closer to the historical range (FRCC1), where fire plays a role in the ecosystem.

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 project area is within the upper portions of the Paria and Kanab Watersheds (HUC8 #: 1407007 and 15010003 respectively). Soils within this year's proposed treatment area are shown to be suitable for the proposed treatment activities designated for pinyon/juniper. Data has shown this area likely supported a wider community of grasses and forbs, with pinyon/juniper as a smaller component of the vegetation community. Over time this area that has numerous natural canyon's as well as many seeps and springs began to lack the desired understory vegetation and has shown an increased in upland and riparian erosion, which has resulted in severe headcutting and downcutting in some areas. Removal of pinyon/juniper will allow perennial grasses and forbs to return to the site, adding stability to the soil layers and help reduce upland erosion. Creating an early seral stage of vegetation will do much to reduce the overland flow of water in these area, as well as helping to increase water kept on site for longer periods of time. In addition, BLM has made efforts to utilize woody material within washes to stop or slow overland flow. These efforts have been successful and cost little to no money and no additional resource damage. 
Most recent research (Kormas, et. al. 2016) found that when shrub-steppe communities and grasslands convert to pinyon and juniper woodlands, the water cycle and local weather pattern is significantly altered. Snow deposition and the timing and magnitude of melt can alter delivery of water to the soil, which can then impact plant growth. This study found that more water is lost to evapotranspiration and snow melts earlier in pinyon and juniper than in sagebrush-steppe areas. The study concludes that sagebrush vegetation can effectively
capture, store and deliver water and better sustain vegetation diversity necessary for sage grouse and ecological processes than pinyon and juniper dominated areas.

The majority of soils within the Proposed Action area are suitable for the treatment activities
designated for pinyon/juniper treatment, sagebrush treatment and retreatment. Many of the soil types found within the watershed will and likely did support a wider community of grasses and forbs, with pinyon/juniper as a smaller component of the vegetation community. Removal of pinyon/juniper will allow perennial grasses and forbs to return to the site, adding stability to the soil layers and reducing upland erosion.

References:
Roundy BA, Young KR, Cline N, Hulet A, Miller RF, Tausch RJ, Chambers JC, Rau B. 2014. Pinyon-juniper reduction increases soil water availability of the resource growth pool. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 67:495-505.

Young KR, Roundy BA, Eggert DL. 2013. Tree reduction and debris from mastication of Utah juniper alter the soil climate in sagebrush steppe. Forest Ecology and Management. 310:777-785.

Kormas, P.R., et. al. Ecosystem Water Availability in Juniper versus Sagebrush Snow-Dominated Rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management (2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2016.05.003

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.

1,882 acres of Stage II and Stage III condition class pinyon/juniper areas will be masticated during the Fall of 2022. Islands and corridors of pinyon and juniper would remain untreated throughout the unit, creating a mosaic pattern of treated and untreated vegetation. Before the mastication treatment, the area would be broadcast seeded. Both introduced and native species may be used to help ensure project success. Introduced species may be used in the seed mix to provide immediate soil stabilization and competition with exotic weed species. Natives will be included for long term site stability, drought resistance, and diversity. A mix of native and non-native shrubs, grasses and forbs are important for improving sage grouse winter and brooding habitat, substantial mule deer summer range and elk habitat. An adequate amount of both black and mountain sagebrush is present in the understory to restore the sagebrush component to the area. Seedings would be rested from cattle grazing for a minimum of two complete growing seasons. 
A cultural contract will be awarded and concurrence with SHPO will occur the year before implementation of the 1,882 acres of this project.
Masticated areas will likely need a follow-up hand-thinning approximately 5 years from initial treatment to protect the investment made by partners.

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.

In order to determine the success of various seed mixes and treatments, monitoring would be
conducted by BLM and UDWR personnel or contractors. Monitoring would consist of nested frequency or other BLM monitoring techniques and photopoints

Vegetation Monitoring Plans:
The Kanab Field Office has established nested frequency plot studies and continues to monitor upland sites in all of the affected allotments every 5 years. In addition to the existing monitoring sites, as projects are implemented a nested frequency plot study will be established in each treatment area to measure success and long term stability of the site.

Trend monitoring occurs on Allotments within the Kanab Field Office approximately every five years. Monitoring studies will be conducted on all vegetation treatments that occur on the Monument to study the changes in vegetation composition over time as a result of the treatments. Monitoring techniques could include photo points, nested frequency, line intercept, etc. The type of study may vary by site and by treatment

BLM continues to take an aggressive approach to noxious weeds, through
monitoring/control/education/eradication program. The Kanab Field Office is an active
participant in the Canyon Country Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), which aims
at treating weeds across all jurisdictional boundaries. Noxious weeds would be controlled on all disturbed areas when detected.

Wildlife Monitoring Plans: 
This year, each BLM Field office will have entire team devoted to the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM), and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area.  This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape.

Additionally, this project falls adjacent to potential sage grouse habitat. Habitat Assessment Framework monitoring is a multiscale, sage-grouse habitat assessment tool that will be integrated with the AIM. This monitoring is done from a broad-to-fine scale. The dataset at the site scale (which includes this project) describes habitat indicators, such as sagebrush cover, sagebrush height, grass and forb cover, riparian stability, and/or proximity of detrimental land uses and structures. These data will ensure appropriate project implementation, as well as guide future actions in sage grouse habitat.

Currently, there are no AIM, HAF (sage grouse) monitoring points in this treatment area; however, these areas will be prioritized for data collection during 2022. There are also no UDWR trend studies in this area.
This area continues to be monitored for sage grouse, (vhs collars in collaboration with Alton Coal and the CCARM).  Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Group (CCARM) has tracked grouse in this area providing information for their locations, travel patterns, seasons of use, and duration time in habitats. This information will tell if the areas to be treated are successful in provide more habitat for sage grouse. Current research shows they are using the treated areas.

The Paunsagunt mule deer herd is also monitored by UDWR throughout this area both through range trend monitoring, population modeling and actual harvest data. Information would continue to be collected from existing BLM and DWR studies, which include
vegetation trend and deer/elk pellet counts. Monitoring sites established outside of treatment
areas could be used to compare results on treated vs. untreated areas. Additional monitoring sites would be established by DWR and BLM as deemed necessary to monitor success.

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.

The Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Project is a result of several years of planning and collaboration among interested parties groups and organizations, and Federal, State and local government agencies. Many partners/groups have provided funds as well as ideas to the success of the project. Coordination has taken place with the Kanab Field Office wildlife biologist, the Color Country District sage grouse biologist and the Division of Wildlife biologist for the area.  Input from these biologists was critical in the planning of this project. The Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Plan which identifies concerns and priorities within the project area was accomplished by many partners (Federal, State, and Private).

Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Project Partners: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Forestry Fire and State Lands,  Kane County Conservation District, Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Sage Grouse Working Group, Utah Partners for Conservation and Development, Color Country Resource Conservation and Development, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Safari Club, SITLA, and local livestock grazing permittees.

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 treatment will provide a variety of resource benefits, including a grazing management benefit. The Upper Kanab Creek Table Mountain project area is within the Mill Creek grazing allotment. Livestock use on these allotments occurs between June 1 - September 30. The acres of the allotments within the project area are in mid to late seral stages with a static to downward trend due to even-aged, decadent sagebrush and encroachment and infilling by pinyon and juniper. Pinyon and juniper is out competing the shrub and herbaceous components thus reducing available forage for livestock and wildlife.

Rangeland conditions are expected to improve following implementation of the proposed vegetation project. The health, vigor, recruitment and production of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs would improve which would provide a more palatable and nutritional source of forage for both livestock and wildlife. This will aid in improved rangeland conditions throughout the allotment. Implementation of this project would eventually improve overall livestock performance (e.g. increased cow weights, increased calf crops, increased weaning weights, etc) and improve the economic stability of the permittees due to an increase in the quantity and quality of grasses and other herbaceous forage which are important to livestock grazing.  Production of past treatments on the Upper Kanab Creek project have increased from 30 lbs/acre to over 3,000 lbs/acre once seeding was established.

There is no plan at this time to change the grazing regime or AUM's. Diversifying the vegetation and providing a variety of seral stages will benefit both livestock and other wildlife within the area.

Current recreation uses and opportunities within the project area include dispersed activities such as hunting, sightseeing, driving for pleasure, accessing canyons for scenic photography or canyoneering, nature study, wildlife photography and hiking/backpacking/camping.

These activities may be temporarily disrupted or displaced during actual land treatments. In the short term, posttreatment areas may become less or more attractive to the recreating public, depending on the nature of their activities and their preferred settings. For instance, creating more open areas might enhance wildlife viewing opportunities, but it might also discourage photographers in search of totally natural-appearing, unaltered landscapes. As native vegetation becomes reestablished on treatment areas, those sites will also probably attract some recreation activities while discouraging others, due to the altered vegetative cover, scenery, naturalness and use by wildlife species.

The Table Mountain project area is located and is home to Mule Deer from the famed Paunsaugunt hunting unit.  This area is unique to the fact that it is one of only three hunting units in the state of Utah labeled as a Premium Mule Deer hunting unit.  The Paunsaugunt deer unit  draws hunters each year from areas nation wide and brings in large amounts of dollars from the sale of conservation permits to hunters seeking the opportunity to hunt this area. These conservation dollars in turn can be used in the future for improving habitats and needed wildlife projects.  This project will help in maintaining/improving the area for these opportunities, as well as improve the overall health of big game populations in the area.

Non-use agreements have been signed by the permittees to allow rest for a minimum of two growing seasons or until it is determined that recovery efforts have met the objectives outlined for this project.

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.