Project Details

Long term population monitoring is a critical component of the USFWS Mojave Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan and is an integral part of the delisting criteria. For example, rate of population change should be increasing for at least one tortoise generation (e.g., 25 years) in all recovery units to warrant delisting (USFWS 1994, 2011). The primary goal of Year 1 (Phase 1) of this project is to determine the current tortoise density, and long-term demographic and population trends for desert tortoises within the Red Cliffs NCA, the primary conservation area in the UVRRU. Obtaining population estimates in calendar year 2023, exactly 25 years since full scale implementation of the monitoring program, will allow for trend evaluation of one tortoise generation, an important recovery criterion. Under the 1995 HCP, the County provided substantial funding to support baseline monitoring that demonstrated the efficacy of the conservation program and provided an understanding of population trends within the UVRRU (Allison and McLuckie 2018; McLuckie et al. 2020). Since the implementation of the Restated and Amended HCP the County has not provided funding to support regional monitoring activities, hence, regional monitoring has not been conducted since 2019.  A secondary goal of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the recovery program and implement appropriate adaptive management strategies to recover desert tortoises in the UVRRU.

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 primary goal of Phase 1 of this project, Mojave Desert Tortoise Long Term Population Trends within the Red Cliffs NCA and Desert Tortoise Population Status Assessment within the Beaver Dam Wash NCA, is to determine current population status, and long-term population demographic and population trends within the Red Cliffs NCA, the primary conservation area in the UVRRU. Obtaining population estimates in calendar year 2023, exactly 25 years since full scale implementation of the monitoring program, will allow for trend evaluation of one tortoise generation, which is identified as an important recovery criterion, and will provide for an understanding of long-term impacts from recent large-scale fires (e.g., Turkey Farm Road and Cottonwood Trail Fire) in the Red Cliffs NCA during the summer of 2020.

Specific project objectives of regional long term monitoring within the Red Cliffs NCA include the following: (1) complete effectiveness monitoring by sampling long term desert tortoise monitoring plots in Management Zones 2, 3, 4, and 5; (2) hire, supervise, train, and coordinate field crew; (3) track radiotelemetered tortoises to quantify above ground activity during surveys; (4) evaluate and assess size class distribution, sex ratios, growth rates on marked animals, and health; (5) collect presence data on BLM Sensitive species observed on transects and in the field; (6) analyze monitoring data (1998 to 2023) and assess adult population density, abundance and long term trends; (7) evaluate population status and assess effectiveness of management actions (e.g., fencing, habitat rehabilitation, translocation, etc.); (8) provide an assessment of plant community status across the landscape (e.g., species present, % cover); and (8) analyze data and prepare annual and final reports for BLM and agency partners. In addition, UDWR will pursue additional funding (e.g., ESMF, Washington County HCP) to support surveys on adjacent nonfederal lands (e.g., UDNR, SITLA) and assess tortoise population status across the entire conservation area (e.g., Management Zones 2, 3, and 5 within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve).

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.

The goals and objectives of this project are consistent with 46 goals and objectives from 16 management plans. This project closely follows those recommendations listed in the Revised Recovery Plan for the Mojave Population of the Desert Tortoise (USFWS 2011) and the Recovery Plan for the Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population; USFWS 1994). Additionally, the Red Cliff's NCA RMP and the St. George Field Office RMP call for proactive vegetation management efforts to protect a variety of resources, including wildlife, recreation, and cultural. 
Revised Recovery Plan for the Mojave Population of the Desert Tortoise (USFWS 2011) and the Recovery Plan for the Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population; USFWS 1994) 
* Develop, support, and build partnerships to facilitate recovery (1) 
* Protect existing populations and habitat (2); Conserve intact desert tortoise habitat (2.1); Restore desert tortoise habitat (2.6) 
* Augment depleted populations through a strategic program (3); Implement translocations in target areas to augment populations (3.4) 
* Monitor progress towards recovery (4); Monitor desert tortoise population growth (4.1); Monitor the extent of tortoise distribution in each recovery unit (4.2); Quantify the presence and intensity of threats to the desert tortoise across the landscape (4.4) 
* Conduct research on the restoration of desert tortoise habitat (5.2) 
* Implement an adaptive management program (6) 
Recovery Action Plan for the Mojave Desert Tortoise in the Upper Virgin River (USFWS 2014) 
* Restore habitat in burned or otherwise disturbed areas; identify polygons of high potential or importance and create islands of seeded or planted habitat to enhance recovery (Priority 1, 4.02). 
* Conduct habitat restoration by controlling cheat grass and other non-native and invasive plant species (Priority 1, 4.05).
* Restore habitat with large-scale seeding or plantings within the Reserve (Priority 2, 4.03). Recovery Action Plan for the Mojave Desert Tortoise in the Northeast Mojave (USFWS 2014) 
* Reduce coverage of exotic annual grasses and thus fire risk, and increase the coverage of native species and plant diversity (Priority 1, 1.02). 
* In recently-burned habitat on the Beaver Dam Slope, re-seed multiple polygons, no smaller than 40 acres each (Priority 3, 1.12). 
Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (WC 1995) and Amended and Restated Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (WC 2021) 
* Preserve and enhance desert tortoise populations and their habitat within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (WC 1995, 1.5). 
* Provide protection for other listed and candidate species and their habitats (WC 1995, 1.5). 
* Fund surveys and other actions to help gather information and identify and implement actions to help other listed and candidate species (WC 1995, 1.5). 
* Translocate displaced desert tortoises to the Reserve or other designated translocation site thereby expanding the protected desert tortoise population (WC 2020, 6.1.2). 
* Monitoring tortoise population trends and threats to support adaptive management actions (WC 2020, 6.1.2). 
Utah Wildlife Action Plan (UDWR 2015) 
* Assess distribution and abundance of species with greatest conservation need (pg. 7). 
* Implement research or surveys to identify and understand the key factors in effective restoration and conservation (pg. 7). 
* Build partnerships among agencies and stakeholders to abate threats for priority species (pgs. 217-224). 
* Implement monitoring to measure the effectiveness of conservation actions and to adapt conservation to changing conditions (pgs. 213-215). 
Gila Monster Conservation Strategy (UDWR 2007) 
* Identify, maintain, protect, and enhance important habitat to protect and conserve Gila monsters in southwestern Utah (Goal 2). 
* Identify and implement management actions that would protect and enhance Gila monster habitat (2.2). 
* Maintain biological integrity of protected habitat areas (i.e., Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, 3.1.1). Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (UDWR 2005) 
* General Conservation Action to control and monitor invasive species with specific conservation action to protect and maintain habitat (6-2, 6-7). 
* Restore degraded habitat by managing previously or potentially suitable habitat to achieve or approach properly functioning condition with specific conservation action to maintain habitat integrity (6-2, 6-7). 
* General Conservation Action to control and monitor invasive species with specific conservation action to protect and maintain habitat (6-2, 6-7). 
Dixie Resource Area Resource Management Plan (BLM 1998) and Resource Management Plan for the Red Cliffs and Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Areas (BLM 2016) 
* Maintain wildlife habitats in properly functioning conditions to support natural wildlife diversity, reproductive capability, and appropriate human use and enjoyment (2.24). 
* Manage suitable public land habitats for the recovery or reestablishment of native populations through collaborative planning with local, state, and federal agencies, user groups, and interested organizations (2.24). 
* Work with state, local, and other federal partners to minimize or eliminate the need for additional listing of species under the Endangered Species Act in Washington County (2.24). Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan (UDWR 2014) 
* Expand and improve mule deer populations throughout the state within the carrying capacity of available habitats and in consideration of other land uses (VI, pg 17). 
* Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges (VI, pg. 18). 
Landscape Conservation Forecasting for Washington County's National Conservation Areas (TNC 2011) 
* Improve or maintain condition of all ecological systems; improve the condition of ecological systems that are currently in an undesirable (highly departed) condition (Pg. 4-5). 
* For the six ecological systems that are vital tortoise habitat, reduce departure from desired future condition (tortoise habitat departure) from high to low (Pg 4). 
* Protect reference vegetation classes, unburned and only once-burned shrubland classes (Pg. 4). 
* Decrease fuel loading and continuity to help reduce risk of loss from wildlife to natural and cultural resources in the NCA's (Pg. 4). 
Southwest Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan, Cedar City Office (BLM 2004) 
* Prevent invasive species and restore watershed function and biological communities through short term stabilization and long term rehabilitation (II,A., pg. 11). 
* Restore healthy, diverse, and resilient ecological systems to minimize uncharacteristically severe fires on a priority watershed basis through long-term restoration (II,A., pg. 11). 
Virgin River (Watershed) Management Plan (WCWCD, 2006) 
* To maintain and enhance water quality and associated natural resources of the Virgin River Watershed by reducing soil erosion, wildfires and flooding (Chapter 1, III-14).
Desert Tortoise Management Plan, Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah (UDWR 2004)
*Protect existing desert tortoise habitat within SCSP to prevent habitat loss and fragmentation (Objective 1.2)
*Rehabilitate and enhance disturbed habitat to maintain ecosystem integrity and health of tortoise populations (Objective 1.3)
*Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date information on tortoise and other sensitive wildlife populations, and their habitats (Objective 4.1)

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.

Phase 1. The sampling methodology will be consistent with the desert tortoise long-term monitoring programs implemented range wide across the Mojave desert (Allison and McLuckie 2018) and described by Anderson and Burnham (1996). The monitoring program will consist of two independent teams of observers, one surveying permanent transects and the other estimating above ground activity using telemetered tortoises. Population monitoring efforts will be concentrated on federal lands within Management Zones 2, 3 and 5 in the Red Cliffs NCA.  We will pursue additional funding from ESMF and Washington County to survey transects on adjacent SITLA and UDNR lands within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (Table 1).

Long term permanent random transects, established in 1998, will be resurveyed within the NCA to assess population trends from April to mid-June (Figure 1). Each transect is 2 km in length, and either shaped in a square, with 500 m sides, or linear. Due to the small and irregular size of Zone 5 linear transects were placed laterally, perpendicular to high concentrations of tortoises. Transects are within tortoise habitat, defined as areas below 1,200 m (4000 ft). Transect start points and corners were permanently marked, beginning in 1998, with 16" rebar, and painted red with enamel exterior spray paint to facilitate relocation. Each transect start point or corner is permanently labeled using double-faced aluminum tags identifying the transect number and directional orientation of each corner (i.e., NE, SE, NW, SW).

Transects will be surveyed by a two person crew using a three-pass survey technique to search on and near the transect centerline. Using a compass to check directional alignment, a 50 m surveyor tape will be pulled along the transect line by the first observer. Then, both observers will walk in a sinusoidal pattern on opposite sides of the transect line, crossing over the surveyor tape, to ensure that all tortoises are detected. Finally, the first observer will walk directly back along the transect line to ensure that all tortoises on the line are detected. Search efforts will extend to 12 m from the transect line, with particular focus near the center, 3 to 5 m from the line. This procedure will be repeated in 50 m increments, with the roles of the surveyors reversing each time, until the entire 2 km transect is completed.

The tortoises location relative to the three pass search pattern will be noted to quantify any tortoises missed on the transect line and evaluate crew performance. Snake sticks and signal mirrors will be used to search under bushes and within deep shelters, particularly along the transect line. The surveyed length of each transect will be calculated as the straight-line distance between GPS coordinates at start and end points, excluding areas that could not be surveyed. 
	
When tortoises are detected, we will measure the perpendicular distance from the line using a 30 m open reel fiberglass tape. In addition, distance along the transect line, UTM coordinates, dominant vegetation, environmental variables (ambient/surface temperatures, percent humidity, cloud cover, wind speed), and time detected will also be recorded. Standard tortoise carapace measurements will be taken using a caliper and ruler including carapace length (CL), width at the third and fourth marginal seam (post M3), and width at the seventh and eighth marginal seam (M7/M8). Additional data collected included sex (determined for adult tortoises only), time found, behavior, health observations (Berry and Christopher 2001), parasites observed (e.g., ticks, mites), injuries, shell wear (Berry and Woodman 1984) and shell anomalies. If a tortoise cannot be removed from a burrow, it will be visually estimated as either reproductive or nonreproductive. For future identification, each tortoise (CL > 100 mm) will be given a unique mark by notching marginal scutes with a triangular file. The carapace of each tortoise will be photographed for future reference. We will use latex gloves while handling each tortoise and disinfected equipment with a diluted bleach solution (1:10 dilution of 5.25% bleach) after use (Brown et al. 2003). Once processing is complete, tortoises will be released at the point of detection. 
	
For each shell remain found, CL, sex, UTM coordinates, signs of predator or scavenger, percent scutes and bones present, position of shell, estimated time since death, and perpendicular distance from the transect line will be recorded. The CL of deteriorated or fragmented shell remains will be estimated using regressions based on scute size (Berry and Woodman 1984). Time since death will be estimated using deterioration rates of tortoise shell and skeletal remains (Berry and Woodman 1984). All processed shell remains will be photographed. 
	
The proportion of tortoises visible (go) during the monitoring period will be estimated by simultaneously tracking a subset of radioed tortoises. Tortoises seen on the surface or in burrows with only the aid of mirrors will be identified as "visible" while tortoises deep in burrows or hidden in dense vegetation will be considered undetectable and therefore "not visible" (Anderson and Burnham 1996). Radioed tortoises will be located using a Telonics receiver (Model TR-2E) and directional antenna. Telemetered tortoises will be monitored two to three times a week at a representative site located in the central portion of Management Zone 3 of the Reserve and NCA.

During the first week, field crews will be intensively trained on distance sampling theory, field protocols and search patterns. Polystyrene desert tortoise models of two sizes (adults and juveniles) will be placed on a training course in Management Zone 3 to train crews on the search technique, improve the detection function, maintain detection shoulders, measure the perpendicular distance of each model to the transect line accurately, and use of orientation equipment (e.g., compass, GPS). Data will be checked daily for quality and analyzed weekly to assess the detection histogram and improve search efforts. Field crews will be regularly rotated between distance sampling and radio telemetry to allow training in the overall survey method and to improve technicians' tortoise search image.

To assess overall habitat condition, vegetation cover will be assessed at a minimum of one transect corner (e.g., NE, NW, SE, SW) for each transect. Within a flagged 10 m radius circle at the designated transect corner, each perennial and annual species will be assigned a cover class category based on its % cover within the flagged area as follows: 1 = trace, 2=0-1%, 3=1-2%, 4=2-5%, 5=5-10%, 6=10-25%, 7=25-50%, 8=50-75%, 9=75-95%, and 10=>95%. Overall vegetation composition and percent ground cover will be assessed, including unburned and fire disturbed habitat, within the NCA study area.

We will use Program DISTANCE 7.3 Release 1 (Thomas et al. 2010) to estimate density and abundance within Management Zone 3 as well as across the Reserve (Zones 2, 3 & 5). To account for tortoises not visible or detected during sampling, including those deep in burrows or hidden in dense vegetation, we will use the correction factor, , and incorporate that value into population estimates. We will assess population trends by comparing current estimates with UDWR's long term monitoring data collected from 1998 to 2019. Survey and observation records will be compiled and provided in geodatabase format (Microsoft Excel) and ArcGIS spatial layers identifying sampled areas, transects surveyed, shell remain locations, tortoise locations, and other conservation species observed. In the final report, we will include the following: overall field effort, habitat condition, tortoise size class distribution, tortoises marked and recaptured, sex ratios, health observations and assessments, mortality, growth rates, density and abundance estimates, and overall population trend.

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.