Project Details

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.

1. Gain approval from the USACE of mitigation plan needed to carry out the project; Willard Spur Parking Lot Expansion (5760).
2. Purchase a 6" trailered diesel pump that will allow managers to fill wetland playas. Ultimately restoring and enhancing non-functioning wetlands at OBWMA, which will fulfill mitigation requirements by the USACE.
3. Refurbish levees and install new water control structures, which will allow managers to successfully manage water levels and restore nesting and foraging habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and upland birds on OBWMA.
Furthermore, a 6" trailered diesel pump will allow managers to fulfill mitigation requirements. Once playa's and connecting ditches are filled to meet USACE requirements, the use of the diesel pump would also be advantageous to successfully irrigate shrub rows in various locations on the WMA. In addition to the shrub rows/ditches, the pump could be utilized in growing diversity among food plots that will provide a variety of food types for a variety of species using the WMA. This will help restore many lost acres of wetlands and upland habitat benefiting not only waterfowl, shorebirds, and upland birds, but increasing huntable area and hunter opportunity as well.
Having water in this area will also allow for new shrub rows and shelter belts to be planted.

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.

This Mitigation project directly relates to both, the  Willard Spur WMA Habitat Management plan (HMP) as well as the Ogden Bay HMP:
Purpose of Willard Spur WMA; (c) provide recreational opportunity for traditional marsh-related activities, including hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing, including access with airboats and other small watercraft [See Appendix B].
This enlarged parking area directly supports the HMP by providing more room for both consumptive and non-consumptive users to SAFELY park their vehicles and access the WMA easier and more efficiently for recreation at the Spur.
This project relates directly to the primary purpose of Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area as stated in the Ogden Bay WMA Habitat Management Plan:
To preserve, restore, and enhance both aquatic and terrestrial habitat for wildlife; increase wildlife populations to meet wildlife management objectives; conserve, protect, and recover sensitive wildlife species and their habitats; protect cultural resources; and provide for recreational opportunities that are compatible with the purpose of upland and wetland ecosystems.
In relation to WAP:Objective #1 for Droughts
 Terrestrial SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. 
Drought condition over that past several years has reduced the resilience of highly functional upland habitats. In order to maintain, and rehabilitate these upland habitats, renovation and reseeding is necessary in order to minimize the impacts of drought. Actions that this project will address include; 
2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.
3.3.1 Develop list of priority reintroduction species and locations
Objective #1 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-native plant problems remain free from the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants.
Actions to achieve objective: 2.2.2 Survey, inventory established, and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Develop public information and educational programs aimed at encouraging attitudes and behaviors that are positive for wildlife conservation.
Objective #2 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Invasive plant dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically).
2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.5 Conduct mechanical control of invasive/problematic species.
Other Ecosystem Modifications
Objective #2 for Other Ecosystem Modifications Land management agencies and agents develop vegetation management projects that avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to species and habitats identified as vulnerable to these threats such as brush eradication.
Habitat modification and loss is being mitigated by perennial plantings, food plots and shrub rows.

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.

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.