Project Details

The BLM and UDWR have constructed hundreds of guzzlers (wildlife water developments) and invested thousands of dollars in the construction of these facilities on public land. During drought years or when wildlife guzzlers fail, big game animals such as bighorn sheep, which have grown dependent on this available free water, may be forced to look elsewhere for water. This can create excess stress on lactating ewes and lambs and force them into less than desirable habitats, and may even cause premature death due to stress. Production and survival of young may decrease due to lack of forage and water availability during drought
years. As these animals are forced to roam over larger areas seeking forage and water, excess energy can be expended, thus creating higher physiological demands. Ensuring water facilities are functioning and supplying free water will help reduce the stress of searching for new water sources and of traveling to other areas of the range that may put these animals into a compromised situation from predation, disturbance and stress. The Moab Field Office has constructed 13 bighorn sheep and 27 antelope water developments to enhance habitat for these species. These developments are checked annually by BLM, UDWR and volunteers. Many are in need of repair, reconstruction and water to make them functioning again to provide water. Many of the bighorn sheep water developments require parts and water to be hauled via helicopter. The BLM works with the UDWR and volunteers to accomplish maintenance, but, repair needs and water hauling exceeds annual budgets allocations
for water development maintenance.

Additional habitats in the vicinity are also assessed for potential improvements that may be needed to further ensure suitability of these habitats.

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.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 Sec 103 (C);  The BLM is directed to manage public lands in a manner that will best meet present and future needs of the Nation.

BLM National Policy Guidance on Wildlife and Fisheries Management (Manual 6500).  This manual provides direction 'to restore, maintain and improve wildlife habitat conditions on public lands through the implementation of activity plans.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Cisco Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, 1978; overall objective of the plan is to improve the 242,000 acres of habitat through the development of reliable water sources to provide water for approximately 750 adult antelope year-round.

Hatch Point Habitat Management Plan, 1976; 
*	Objective 3; Improve pronghorn, sage grouse and other big game and non- game species habitat by improving year-round water resources on Hatch Point.

Potash-Confluence Habitat Management Plan, 1896; 
*	Objective 4; Maintain water developments used by bighorn, chukar and other wildlife by providing funding where needed.                 
                                                                                                   
Moab Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP), approved 2008 (BLM-UT-PL-09-001-1610 UT-060-2007-04) 
*	Page 139 (WL-23): Install and improve year-round water resources within the LaSal Management Unit and the Cisco Desert Herd Unit (pronghorn).   
*	Page 141 (WL-35); Improve desert bighorn habitat by installing and improving year round water resources within all desert bighorn habitat.

Utah DWR Statewide Management Plan for Bighorn Sheep, 2018 
*	B. Habitat Management Goal: Provide good quality habitat for healthy populations of
bighorn sheep.
o	Objective: Maintain or improve bighorn sheep habitat to enhance individual herd success and thereby promote the overall sustainability of bighorn sheep statewide.
Strategy A. a. Identify valuable bighorn sheep habitats and work with land managers and private landowners to protect and enhance these areas. Strategy F. Improve or maintain existing water sources and develop new water sources as needed to improve distribution and abundance of bighorn sheep. Strategy J. Inform and educate the public concerning the needs of bighorn sheep including the effects of human disturbance and the need for habitat improvements.

Utah DWR Statewide Management Plan for Pronghorn, 2017
B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve pronghorn habitat
throughout the state.  
*Objective 1: Maintain or enhance the quantity and quality of pronghorn habitat. Strategy I. In conjunction with other land management agencies, develop and implement a maintenance schedule for existing water developments and develop new water sources as needed.

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.

A BLM Recreation/Wildlife Maintenance positions is in place to do biannual inspections, and maintenance of guzzlers in the Moab/Monticello area with an emphasis on bighorn sheep guzzlers.

-Maintain over 47 large guzzlers for desert and rocky mountain bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and mule deer. Includes checking water levels, scheduling water delivery, completing needed repairs, stabilizing decks, tightening gutters, removing debris, fence maintenance, and removing and weeds or vegetation inhibiting wildlife use.
-Manage a set of remote cameras at various guzzler locations
-Winterize systems to prevent livestock use and freezing damage

Funding from WRI will primarily be used to replace four aprons on bighorn sheep guzzlers and potentially one tank replacement.  Due to remote access, materials and potentially people will need to be flown in via helicopter in at least three locations.  Old materials will need to be flown out from Upper Hell Roaring. The saucer for little canyon will also need to be flown out. Guzzlers will be assembled on the ground with hand tools.

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.