Project Details

The proposed project surrounds the Lower Bowns Reservoir area on the east end of the Boulder Mountain and a portion of Forest System Lands between Fish Creek and Carcass Creek on the north slope of the Boulder Mountain.  The archeology surveys of this project were funded in FY2022 through WRI funding and were conducted during the spring and summer of 2022. Currently the reports are being completed and summited to SHPO for concurrence (estimated concurrence March 2023). The project area is located on the north and east slopes of Boulder Mountain. The project is intended to improve wildlife habitat, in particular crucial winter range for mule deer, and reduce fuel loads that over time are creating potential for large, undesirable wildland fires. The project will remove successional conifer (P/J) by mechanical treatment using heavy equipment with mulching attachments on approximately 1,064 acres and a hand treatement of Lop and Scatter on approximately 1,430 acres. This treatment will help stimulate regeneration of desirable native vegetation, including desirable shrubs, forbs and grasses. In addition, approximately 640 acres will be seeded.
This area has historically provided habitat for once-abundant mule deer populations.  Mule deer have used the mix of conifer stands, sagebrush/bitterbrush communities, and isolated aspen stands recognized in this area as transitional, summer (including fawning), and high-elevation winter range, depending on weather conditions.

Over the last few decades, as a legacy of fire suppression developed, results have included the following: 
1) Numerous forest openings featuring bitterbrush shrub communities including desirable native grasses and forbs shifting to encroaching mixed conifer stands
2) Loss of aspen stands with associated understory plant species
3) Increased potential for undesirable large wildfires and its effects on plants, soils, wildlife and water resources
4) Loss of potential stream flow production from increased mixed conifer occupation 
5) Loss of habitat that benefit a variety of wildlife species 
These plant community shifts from open meadows, including Ponderosa pine, aspen and desirable understory plant species, towards stands dominated by Pinyon/Juniper limit the potential for a diversity of habitat types that benefit a wide range of wildlife species.   
Considering the existing condition and trend of the vegetation type of the project area, this action is intended to help move towards a more desirable mosaic of diversified plant communities.

Desired outcomes would include:
1) Promote an abundance of vigorous sagebrush/bitterbrush plants and associated understory of grass and forb species
2) Reduce the potential for undesirable large, stand replacing wildfire
3) Enhance the diversity and range of habitat that will benefit a variety of wildlife species including mule deer.
The majority of big-game habitat within the proposed project lies within critical winter range for the North Slope of the Plateau/Boulder mule deer herd (Unit 25C) and substantial winter range for elk.  The proposed project area is generally a wintering range as deer and elk migrate to lower elevations from summer ranges along the Boulder top.  This project area has potential to hold deer and elk considerably longer if more quality security and foraging habitat was present.  This may help alleviate foraging pressure on the surrounding private lands. The Mule Deer Management Unit 25C Plan lists encroachment by pinyon-juniper woodland communities poses a substantial threat to important sagebrush rangelands.  Additionally, Pinyon-juniper woodlands dominate the vegetation coverage within the deer winter range (UDWR 2015).  Riparian areas are often crucial fawning habitat and Fish Creek, Carcass Creek, Oak Creek and Pleasant Creek offer the most riparian habitat in this area.
Treatments will include removal of conifer using mechanical methods with heavy equipment such as bullhogs (mounted on a skid-steer or loader) and hand treatment with crews with chainsaws/loppers. This will open the canopy, releasing bitterbrush and other desirable vegetation from competition with the encroaching conifers.

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.

The overall objectives of the Lower Bowns Habitat Improvement project is to increase the abundance of vigorous sagebrush/bitterbrush plants and associated understory of grass and forb species, reduce the potential for undesirable large stand replacing wildfire, and enhance the diversity and range of habitat that will benefit a variety of wildlife species. 
This phase of implementation will help sustain and improve big-game habitat which supports the WRI goal to enhance Utah's wildlife and biological diversity. Reducing conifer encroachment near crucial water tributaries (section of Fish Creek) may reduce the risk of large high severity wildfires which supports the WRI goal to enhance Utah's Water Quality and Yield for all uses.  In addition, protecting agriculture and improving available livestock forage and distribution supports the WRI goal of Opportunities for Sustainable Uses.
In addition to the overall objectives mentioned above, the project will meet the following objectives:
1)  Mitigate the current and future impacts of conifer expansion into crucial mule deer winter habitat and substantial elk habitat. 
2)  Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion. 
3)  Increase overall forage production, habitat quality, and species diversity by treating in a mosaic pattern that will create biodiversity across the landscape. 
4)  Reduce risk of large high severity fire by reducing hazardous fuels (FRCC) while maintaining and improving fire resilient landscapes.

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.

This project is designed to reduce the future impacts of current pinyon-juniper expansion to wildlife habitat, watershed health and wildfire risk.
Mule deer on the Boulder Unit have seen a steady decline in population of over 2,200 animals in the last seven years. A 26% decrease. Population estimate models show a decline from 8,373 deer in 2014 to 6,150 deer in 2021. When populations are modeled for the 2022 year the population will likely show another decline. This unit overall is summer range limited by conifer expansion into former aspen stands and winter range limited by encroachment of pinyon and juniper into sage and mountain brush communities. These treatment phases in pinyon and juniper pave the way for treatments with prescribed fire in the encroaching spruce/fir to encourage aspen regeneration. Proposed treatments will increase forested edge habitat, opening for foraging and maintain effective security habitat for mule deer. Radio telemetry collars were deployed on Mule Deer in this area in December of 2019 and 2020. Data from these collars is being used partially to determine if the encroaching conifers in this area also contribute to limiting factors for fawn survival and summering populations of Mule Deer. Please see the Wildlife Tracker map showing wildlife movement in and around the project area in the images section of this proposal. The cost of depredation issues to DWR on this unit are around $150,000 annually.  
In general upland birds, including Forest Grouse and Turkeys, require open stands of conifer and aspen with an understory of berry producing shrubs, forbs and grasses. A healthy insect component in this matrix is critical for early brood rearing. Healthy mixed forests, early successional forests, and edges of aspen forests provide these kinds of environments. Our current habitat struggles to provide these requirements. 
This project lies within Mexican Spotted Owl Juvenile Dispersal areas adjacent to occupied owl territories within Capitol Reef NP. This treatment will likely provide additional foraging areas for juvenile and adult birds. 
This project also addresses inappropriate fire frequency and intensity in relation to the threat of Problematic Native Plant Species in Mountain Sagebrush systems.

Within 5-10 years these same areas will increase in cost  with mastication work roughly at $500/acre and seeding at $60/acre.  Late Phase I and phase II expansion areas can currently be treated with bobcats or a full size excavator. Withholding treatment will transition the late phase I areas into needing mastication treatment and re-seeding. Mastication treatment areas proposed for later phases treat early through late phase II. Greater infill into these areas over time will increase per-acre treatment costs.

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.

1) Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) also referred to as the "forest plan" IV-3. Integrate vegetation management with resource management to maintain productivity and provide for diversity of plant and animal communities. LRMP, IV-3. Coordinate wildlife and fish habitat management with State and other Federal and local agencies. LRMP, IV-4. Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plants and animals. 
2) Utah Wildlife Action Plan, 2015 Publication Number 15-14, State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, Effective 2015-2025 -- Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the uncharacteristic and surpluses of older age class, including: Dixie/chain harrow, brush mowing or other treatments that reduce the older age class and stimulate the younger/mid age classes; herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such smooth brome; single tree mulching/cutting of invading conifer (p.51). This pinyon-juniper removal project also addresses uncharacteristic and surpluses of older age class trees and reduces the threat of Problematic Native Plant Species in mountain sagebrush systems. 
3) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule deer. Section IV Statewide management goals and objectives. This project will address Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2013 (p11-12). Strategy C. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that are being taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats. Strategy f. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages. These treatments will improve age class diversity and help create a healthy mosaic of trees, shrubs and grasses.
4) Plateau Boulder Deer Herd Management Plan Unit #25C (2015) - Habitat Management Objectives -- Encourage vegetation manipulation projects and seeding to increase the availability, abundance, and nutritional content of browse, grass, and forb species. Strategies: Habitat Protection, Improvement and Maintenance - 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 projects; maintain summer fawning areas by increasing beneficial habitat work in summer and transitional habitat areas.(p.3-4) This project is expected to benefit mule deer by improving forage resources long term and restoring sagebrush ecosystems which the deer rely on for browse especially during the winter period. Treatments will include a reduction of pinyon-juniper by use mechanical bullhog methods. 
5) Wayne County Resource Management Plan 2017. This action is congruent with Pinyon-Juniper page 49. Pinyon-juniper -- Pinyon and juniper is eliminated or reduced on any site that has the potential to support grassland, sagebrush grassland, or other vegetation types more useful in terms of watershed condition and resource outputs, unless it has been determined, on a site specific basis, that PJ does not jeopardize watershed condition and adds to the combined resource outputs and values on the site. On sites where pinyon-juniper occurs that do not have potential for good perennial grass and shrub cover, or where technology is lacking to establish such cover by reasonable efforts, pinyon-juniper stands are maintained in an open canopy state when possible to prevent catastrophic wildfire and stand replacement with invasive annuals. (p.49). This project area has the potential to support grassland, sagebrush grassland, or other vegetation types more useful in terms of watershed condition and resource outputs if treated to remove the pinyon/juniper trees.
6) This treatment is aligned with the State of Utah's Resource Management Plan, objectives for livestock and grazing under page 148. Actively remove pinyon-juniper encroachment in other ecological sites due to its substantial consumption of water and its detrimental effect on sagebrush, other vegetation, and wildlife. (p. 148) Water quality, quantity and livestock forage should improve by implementing this project of some 2,500 acres.
7) National Cohesive Strategy. By means of mechanical thinning at a landscape scale, the resulting mosaic of sagebrush and persistent pinyon-juniper forests will work toward the goal of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, one of the three goals described in the National Cohesive Strategy. 
1. Resilient Landscapes General guidance regarding vegetation and fuels management include; Use and expand fuel treatments involving mechanical, biological, or chemical methods where economically feasible and sustainable, and where they align with landowner objectives. (pg. 58) The planned project is within about 30,000 contiguous acres zoned as Habitat Initiative restoration priority lands on the North Slope of Boulder Mountain, which should contribute to a resilient landscape.
8) State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The Lower Bowns Habitat Improvement Project aligns with the mission of the State of Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The project has developed a comprehensive and systematic approach toward reducing the size, intensity and frequency of catastrophic wildland fires near the existing infrastructure. The project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence negatively affecting property, air quality and water systems. The Mission: Develop a collaborative process to protect the health and welfare of Utahns, and our lands by reducing the size and frequency of catastrophic fires (pg. 4). Under number 5. Adopt Key Recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (pg. 15); Encourage federal land management agencies to expedite fuels treatments. (pg. 15) Prioritize landscapes for treatment (irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries) (pg. 15).  This proposed treatment will bring potential canopy fire to the ground and allow for greater likelihoods of successful fire suppression or wildfire utilization for resource benefits.
9) This project, with its aforementioned benefits and involvement of various participants, meets the following, selected goals of the DWR Strategic Plan:
Goal A- Conserve, protect, enhance and manage Utah's wildlife.
A-1. Maintain populations of harvestable wildlife species at species or drainage management plan objective levels. 
A-2. Maintain distribution and abundance of all other naturally occurring wildlife and native plant species.
Goal B- Conserve, protect, enhance and manage Utah's ecosystems.
B-1. Increase the functioning of impaired ecosystems.
B-2. Prevent declining conditions in both impaired and currently functional ecosystems.
Goal C- Enhance wildlife recreational experiences consistent with other DWR goals.
C-4. Improve or increase public accessibility for wildlife-related recreational opportunities.
Goal D- Provide for a broad base of economic benefits from wildlife consistent with other DWR goals.
D-3. Decrease economic losses from wildlife to the citizens of Utah, consistent with wildlife management goals and objectives.
Goal E- Ensure broad-based public involvement in the management of Utah wildlife and ecosystems.
E-1. Increase support for DWR wildlife management programs in Utah by federal, state, local and tribal governments.
E-2. Increase support for DWR wildlife management programs in Utah by the private sector and citizens.
10) UTAH ELK STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN
This project helps to meet Population Objective 2 - Foster support among stakeholders for Utah's elk management program. Specifically the project helps increase tolerance of public land grazers not enrolled in a CWMU or LOA by conducting habitat projects that will benefit livestock and wildlife. The proposed treatments will also assist with meeting Habitat Objectives 1 - Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. 
11) Strategic Management Plan for Wild Tukey-Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR 2014).  Grasses provide food for adults and are especially important to poults as an environment where they can effectively forage for insects. Poults need an environment that produces insects and in which they can efficiently forage.  Poults need an area that provides enough cover to hide them but allows the adult hen unobstructed vision for protection from predators. This treatment will help improve the sage brush and grass/forb vegetation types by removing pinyon/juniper. In addition, treatments will help improve the ponderosa pine foraging habitat for wild turkeys. 
12) Wayne County Public Lands Resource Management Plan: Chapter 7-Forest and Fire Management pg.126- Wayne County supports proactive management that will create and maintain fire resilient forests. Building and maintaining forests, particularly in the Dry frequent-fire forest type, which are resistant and resilient to both extreme fire and insect outbreaks requires proactive management including combinations of mechanical treatments (e.g., thinning) and prescribed fire. In this type of forest, mechanical treatments followed by prescribed fire or pile burning has been shown to be the most effective treatment for reducing the risk of crown fires (e.g., Stephens et al. 2009). Results of extensive research indicate that "mechanical plus fire, fire-only, and mechanical-only treatments using whole-tree harvest systems were all effective at reducing potential fire severity under severe fire weather conditions" (Stephens at al. 2009). Mechanical reduction of pinyon juniper succession at the base of the north slope of the boulder will help reduce fuel loading in the sagebrush, mountain shrub, ponderosa pine and scattered aspen vegetation types.    
13- Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Plan (USFWS 2012). pp.287 Under 4. Threat-specific Management Recommendations A)iii. "Much of the work needed to reduce broad-dcale fire risk to owl habitat can be accomplished by first treating areas down-slope from and surrounding PAC's. Combinations of mechanical and prescribed fire treatments may be used to minimize risk of high-severity fire effects while striving to maintain or improve haibtat conditions for owl and its prey." This project is near the Oak Creek Mexican Spotted Owl Designated PAC. Mechanical treatments will help reduce high severity fire effects  and will improve MSO prey habitat.

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 Lower Bowns Habitat Improvement project area sits south of the town of Grover and private inholdings near the Miners Mountain area. A continuous fuel bed of pinyon and juniper expansion exists across portions of the project area. The Lower Bowns area is a highly used recreational area with three main campgrounds nearby: Lower Bowns campground, Pleasant Creek campground and Rosebud ATV campground. There is an extensive amount of hiking and ATV trail systems that intertwine the project area; Slickrock Trail, Rosebud ATV Trail, Jorgenson Trail. The proposed treatment will bring potential canopy fire to the ground and allow for greater likelihoods of successful fire suppression or wildfire utilization for resource benefits. This project also addresses inappropriate fire frequency and intensity in relation to the threat of Problematic Native Plant Species in Mountain Sagebrush systems.
Portions of Pleasant Creek and Oak Creek are within the lower segments of the project area and Fish Creek and Carcass Creek are near the upper segment of the project area. This treatment is likely to have a positive effect on the quality and quantity of water available for culinary, irrigation and receation use and protect this infrastructure from damage due to a large fire.    
The proposed treatment augments the last three phases of the Government Creek project area to the west along the north slope of the Boulder Mountain and existing completed work as part of the Teasdale Front project which created shaded fuelbreaks, safety zones, and expanded potential escape routes in the event of catastrophic wildfire on the north face of Boulder Mountain.

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.

This project, containing approximately 2,494 acres of pinyon and juniper expansion reduction using mechanical and hand treatments, is expected to increase water quantity through reduced conifer presence and improve water quality through decreased erosion from increased ground cover.
Reducing the amount of pinyon/juniper will increase and prolong stream flows in two perennial streams, while reducing erosion caused by bare soil. Fish Creek and Carcass Creek are perennial streams that flow off the east slope of the Boulder Mountain  These streams are also used for irrigation in the valley.  Treatments will also help stabilize the soil and reduce erosion. Kormas et al. found that drainage's dominated with juniper experience "snow water equivalent peaks higher, snow melts out earlier, and more water is lost to evapotranspiration in catchments when compared to sagebrush steppe vegetation".
In a study from 2008, Deboodt, et. al (2008) mentions that juniper trees can use up to 30 gallons of water a day, when adequate moisture is present.  It also states that Vegetative modeling has shown that 9 to 35 trees per acre can utilize all the precipitation delivered to a site in a 13-in annual precipitation zone. In their study researchers monitored two watersheds 12 years prior to treatment (cutting).  After the treatment analysis indicated that juniper reduction significantly increased late season spring flow by 225%, increased days of recorded groundwater by an average of 41 days , and increased the relative availability of late season soil moisture to soil depths of .76 meters.  It was also noted that managing vegetation for water yield may be obtainable at a much lower precipitation threshold than what was previously understood.
Baker, et. al (1984) found a 157% increase in stream flows over a 147 ha pinyon and juniper treatment. Recent research Roundy, et. al. (2014) has shown that mechanical treatments to remove pinyon and juniper increase time that soil water is available. Even four years after treatment, treated areas showed from 8.6 days to-18 days additional water availability at high elevation sites. 
Roth, et. All (2017) stated snow pack is deeper and last longer in the open site at the low and mid sites (4-26 and 11-33 days, respectively).  
Additional research by Young, et. al. (2013) also showed a relationship between tree removal and soil climates and wet days on these sites, which while providing more available moisture for desired vegetation could also provide moisture for weeds. Numerous studies have shown that increased infiltration rates and less overland flow improve both water quality and quantity.
Reducing pinyon and juniper trees, according the available research should increase snow pack, and time that snow pack is on the ground, increase spring flows, and increase soil moisture.  It is expected that similar results will happen in this area after the treatment takes place.

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.

Implementation of this project will be directed by the Fremont River Ranger District administered by the Fishlake National Forest, USDA Forest Service. The project being proposed will be analyzed and comply with the NFMA/NEPA acts. The project is expected to meet the general Forest-wide standards and guidelines presented on pages IV-54 through IV-55 of the Forest Plan.  This project will occur within Dixie National Forest Management Prescription Areas 6A, 2B, and 4B.  Specific directions and goals for this area can be found on pages IV-109 through IV-68 and pages IV-82 of the Forest Plan.  The Fishlake National Forest Pinyon and Juniper Project Decision Notice was signed on December 5th, 2019. The Fishlake National Forest has begun consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office. Archaeological surveys for this project were funded by WRI in FY2022 and were contracted and completed during summer of FY22. SHPO concurrence will be completed prior to implementation. Wildlife and rare plant surveys will occur prior to implementation.

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.

A- Mechanical mastication treatment (State Contracted) (Approximately 1,064 acres) -- Contracted personnel will use heavy equipment with grinding head attachments to masticate pinyon and juniper succeeding into areas on slopes less than 30%. Hiding cover for wildlife will be maintained throughout the project area by avoiding pinyon and juniper woodland areas and leaving islands, patches and natural corridors. Areas will be marked prior to implementation.
B- Hand Treatment (Lop and Scatter) on approximately 1,430 acres (USFS Contracted)-- Contracted personnel (crew) will use hand treatment methods such as chainsaws, loppers or saws to lop and scatter pinyon and juniper succeeding into mountain shrub habitat. Hiding cover for wildlife will be maintained throughout the project area by avoiding pinyon and juniper woodland areas and leaving islands, patches and natural corridors. Areas will be marked prior to implementation.
C- Seeding, Aerial seed approximately 640 acres of the lower portions near Lower Bowns Project area.

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.

A phased approach to implementation allows for sagebrush community response monitoring to inform future phases. Future phases of this project are planned to extend these treatments to the north and south.  As monitoring indicates a need for re-treatment, and capacity allows, areas will be treated to maintain grass, forb, and shrub communities. The project area will be monitored for re-encroachment and proposed for re-treatment either through in USFS wildlife/fuels programs and volunteers like the DH program or a full WRI proposal depending on the severity and extent of the re-encroachment. 
This project will also help with managing natural fire ignitions in the future by giving land managers more fire management options.
The project is located on portions of the North Slope C&H, Pleasant Creek and Oak Creek grazing allotments.  These allotments are managed under a deferred rotation grazing system which is in compliance with allotment management plans and annual operating instructions. Implementers will coordinate project activities with permittees in order to minimize impacts.  We plan on seeding approximetely 640 acres on the lower reaches south of Lower Bowns Reservoir on the Oak Creek Allotment. There are 5 pastures in that allotment and the seeding portion of the project area overlays mostly within the Durfey Creek pasture. In coordination with permittees and FS range managers this pasture will be managed to rest following seeding.

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 project area contains Forest Service roads, hiking trails, OHV trails and the well-known Great Western Trail system. The project areas are near Highway 12, a huge tourist route that is part of the "Mighty Five National Parks" that experiences high use during the summer months. The Northern portion of this project area is near several fisheries such as Fish Creek, Carcass Creek, and to the southwest there are several lakes and reservoirs: Beaver Dam Res, Fish Creek Lake, Blind Lake, Cutler Lake, and Green Lake. The lower portion of the project area surrounds the popular Lower Bowns Reservoir. There are three campgrounds nearby; Lower Bowns Campground, Pleasant Creek Campground and Rosebud ATV Campground. Pleasant Creek and Oak Creek flow to the north and south of the project area. There are also multiple hiking and ATV trails in the immediate area; Great Western ATV trail system, Rosebud ATV trial, Slickrock trail, and the Jorgensen trail.  All roads and trails will be maintained following project implementation guidelines. The north and east slope of Boulder Mountain is also a known destination for deer, elk, pronghorn and turkey hunting. All of the lakes, streams and reservoirs makes this area a huge fishing and camping destination. The project is located on portions of the North Slope C&H, Pleasant Creek and Oak Creek grazing allotments.  These allotments are managed under a deferred rotation grazing system which is in compliance with allotment management plans and annual operating instructions and livestock are present from approximately June 16-Oct 15.   Removal of successional pinyon and juniper will help improve forage availability for livestock.

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.