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.

This project objectives will consist of aerially seeding the burned areas of the Halfway Hill Fire with suitable grasses, forbs and shrubs.  This will be done through the use of contracting through State Purchasing a contractor to seed a primary and a secondary seeding, after the primary seeding has been aerially applied we would like to single chain the suitable areas to cover the seed and reduce erosion areas within the burn.  This aspect of the project will be done through contracting again with a contractor the use of two D8 or D9 tracked cats to cover the seed in the fall of the year.  Additional efforts will be to inventory all WMA and BLM fence lines in the area to see what needs to be replaced or fixed, UDWR will be working closely with the Fillmore Forest Service and Fillmore BLM office to complete these tasks.  UDWR, BLM, and the Forest Service will work together as a partnership to accomplish these objectives and complete the restoration needs to ensure a diverse rangeland community of grasses, forbs, shrubs and browse species are reseeded through this effort.  We will also be working with the private landowners associated within the burn scar as well to reseed and chain their portion as well.

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.

Risk of not doing any restoration work will allow for invasion of noxious weed species, and little to no grasses, forbs and shrub recruitment, in the high severity burn scar.  In additional areas that had moderate to low severity will come back or should show a response in the future.  Erosion of soil will be present due to rain and snow precipitation allowing for flooding of lower elevation properties.  Rangeland plant health will be compromised due to lack reseeding efforts and covering the seed through proper implementation efforts. The need for soils to stabilize is critical within the next year or two.  Perennial grass, forb and shrub species that will become established in the future will benefit livestock and wildlife within the Pine  Canyon Watershed. Post Fire flooding also pose a risk to human life and safety, debris basins have been installed within Pine Canyon and Dry Creek areas of the burn.  Storm Patrols will be necessary to protect USFS values at risk and implementing early flood warning systems could significantly mitigate risks to human life and safety.   Severe risk to roads and trails is very likely as well, loss of soil due to erosion will be significant within the burn scar. Areas of UDWR, Private USFS and BLM will be treated through reseeding efforts.

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 projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit 21B (Fillmore Pahvant Unit ) including: 
*Continue to improve and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to DWRs Habitat Initiative. 
*Maintain habitat quantity and quality at a level adequate to support the stated population objectives while at the same time not resulting in an overall downward trend in range condition and watershed quality. 
*Work cooperatively with land management agencies and private landowners to plan and implement improvement projects for the purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat and range resources in general.

*The project also helps fulfill the state mule deer management plan section IV Habitat Goal: Conserve and improve mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges.

*The proposed projects will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan:
*Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat.
*Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state.
*Objective 3: conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered.
*Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for Division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah.
*Objective 2: improve communication with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners, and government agencies to obtain support for Division programs.

*UDWR SR critical big game winter range are important browse communities that need to be enhanced and improved.  The Division will employ a variety of methods to achieve this including prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, reseeding and seedling transplants, also mechanical treatments.  Priority areas will include sagebrush-steppe and mountain browse communities. Falls within the rangeland focus area for WRI wildlife species for mule deer and elk.

*This plan is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement and fuels management to improve habitat, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire.

*Other project have been completed by the Forest Service and UDWR in past years within the Ebbs Canyon. 
Along with the Meadow Creek and Baker Canyon Fire Rehab Project completed on Forest Service, BLM and Private Properties.

*Project within the are also benefit the management plans objectives of the lower Sevier River Watershed, as this will reduced sediment run off and create a healthy rangeland communities.

*Management Plans are also in conjunction with NRCS overall goals of healthy rangelands and communities, improving watersheds and reducing erosion and sediment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment
*FFSL CWPP Process is a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative plan created by the fire department, state and local forestry, land managers, community leaders, and the public.The planning process maps values at risk, and requires actions to reduce risk, such as prescribed burning, fuel reduction, or other measures that adapt a community to better confront their wildfire threat.  Area is also part of the Millard RWPP FFSL Plan which was implemented in 2014, there are Wildfire Codes and Ordinances associated with this plan.  Project would also be relevant to NCS Goals and supported through the FS National Cohesive Strategies. CAT FIRE Objectives and Strategies:
In 2013, the State of Utah developed the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (CAT FIRE) in response to the severe 2012 fire season. Reducing the catastrophic wildfire requires attention to three interdependent goals identified in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy -- Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Wildfire Response. These goals have been embraced throughout the development of the state's CAT  FIRE strategy. Mitigation of hazardous fuels can change fire behavior making it easier to suppress. The effects of the mitigation, however, are not limited to life and property safety but will also affect forest health, water quality, vegetative species abundance, etc. As we continue to implement projects across the landscapes in Utah, the only way to truly be successful is to integrate existing programs, utilize local and federal partners and continue to educate the general public to create the desired shift towards more resilient communities and ecosystems.

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.

The need to reseed and establish a improved community of grasses, forbs, shrubs and browse species is critical to support wildlife and livestock in the future. Through restoration efforts from the USFS, UDWR, Private Landowners, BLM, and Grazing Permitees this will be a partnership that can obtain the goals and objectives by working together to restore and maintain the area effected by the Halfway Hill Fire.  We need to make sure the reseeding efforts are a success to allow for reduction in wildfire behavior due to the resilient seed species being planted that can help suppress fire activity in the future.  The Pahvant Management Unit has burn several time over the past 10-20 years, which include but not limited to the Lower Ebbs Fire, Baker Canyon and the Meadow Creek Fire.  Fuel loading has transitioned to more of a grass and shrub community over this time adding lower concentrated fuels due to cheatgrass invasion over time.  With the implementation and reseeding efforts of perennial grasses and forbs we are hopeful we can establish grasses and forbs that can complete and resist or control large scale fire behavior.

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.

No direct livestock benefit as of right now due to the Halfway Hill Fire, within the FS, BLM, UDWR and Private properties that where effected by the fire.  Through Private, State and Federal Agencies Fire Rehab efforts and restoration work will prepare us for the future benefits in the years to come.  Through these restoration efforts we will be able to reseed and chain portions of the Halfway Hill Fire with perennial grasses forbs, shrubs and browse species that will contribute to improved rangeland health conditions, increase water production for grasses species and improved water capabilities for rangeland water troughs.  Overall grazing permittees and private landowners should see improved forage production and better weight gain and overall, calf production in the future due to the restoration efforts that are to take place through this fire rehab effort.  In addition the improvement of grasses, forbs and shrubs will benefit the wildlife populations of big game and upland game in this area.

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.