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.

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.

Utah Wildlife Action Plan. 2015. Least chub are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (S2/N1) under the WAP. Threats to its persistence include invasive nonnative species, both plants and animals. Nonnative common reed (Phragmites) has invaded the refuge pools and is spreading. Least chub are particularly sensitive because they exist largely as isolated populations with shrinking habitat due to droughts, water management, and encroachment of vegetation on their habitat.

Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Least Chub. 1998. Goal is to ensure long-term persistence of Least Chub within its historic range and support development of statewide conservation efforts. Objectives include to: 1) eliminate or significantly reduce threats to least chub and its habitat to the greatest extent possible, and 2) restore and maintain a minimum number of populations throughout its historic range that will ensure the continued existence of Least Chub. The CAS's goal and both objectives are applicable to the proposed project.

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.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT: Tooele Army Depot personnel will utilize heavy equipment including a mini excavator and possibly a backhoe to help remove Phragmites from the lower pond, cattails from either pond, and as necessary, to perform some minor dredging usually coincident with removal of emergent vegetation. Heavy equipment may also be used to help clear some willows from around the ponds to facilitate access for monitoring, primarily the upper pond. All use of heavy equipment will be done under the guidance of DWR biologists.
HAND CREWS: Personnel will utilize cutting shears and shovels (supplied by DWR) to remove upland and emergent vegetation in both ponds, but primarily the upper pond where vegetation encroachment is more severe. DWR biologists will oversee this work. Goal is to open up densely vegetated (emergent and submerged) but retain an sufficient amount (25% minimum pond coverage) as cover and breeding habitat for fish.
SHREDDER: Removed vegetation will be stockpiled and fed into a shredder. Processed vegetation will be hauled away from the site for use elsewhere on Army Depot grounds.
FISH SALVAGE: Remove as many fish as possible from ponds prior to activities and transfer to holding tank. Return fish to ponds when completed.

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.