Gooseberry Phase 4
Region: Southern
ID: 6852

Project Status: Current

Project Details

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY: This proposal will consist of treating ~4,643 acres. The plan is to treat an estimated ~5,000-10,000+ with prescribed fire additional acres during future phases of the project. This phase should for the most part complete all planned mechanical treatments in the Gooseberry area and will be transitioning to implementing prescribed fire in the surrounding upper elevations in future years/phases.  Overall, the total estimated cost/acre is ~$283/acre for this phase of implementation.

NEED FOR PROJECT: Continuing project treatments at an increased pace and scale of restoration in the Gooseberry Creek area is needed to not only address the significant sagebrush/grass/forb decline in the area, but also to reduce the risk of fire to the numerous values in the area. The pinion/juniper (PJ) expansion and fading understory in this area is having negative impacts to Gooseberry Creek, Salina Creek and Lost Creek water quality, Southern leatherside chub, along with numerous wildlife species (primarily Mule deer, which is a Fishlake National Forest Management Indicator Species) which are dependent upon this area and these ecosystems. Additionally, in this phase partners are working with the private landowner to work in wetland ecological sites.  More specifically, fen wetlands, seasonal wet meadows, and springs.  Although these sites are small in acreage, they have a much larger impact to the surrounding landscape.

Approximately 1,900 acres of the PJ are in Phase II transitioning to Phase III. On the ground surveys and site visits in these areas have allowed staffs from the Richfield Ranger District to see the lack of understory plants. Approximately 2,700 acres of the PJ are in Phase I transitioning to Phase II. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb and mountain brush communities. This PJ expansion largely results from reduced occurrences of natural disturbance. As PJ has become dominant on the landscape and as the loss of understory vegetation increases, there will be continued increases in sediment transfer and TDS into Gooseberry and Salina Creeks.

Big game and small game and upland game animals will continue to experience a loss of foraging habitat. This area has a small Mule deer population which was verified by UDWR 2021 mule deer vehicle route inventory. Mule deer in the area are at historical low numbers. (see spreadsheet attached to this document showing 1986-2023 deer survey for this general area).  This expansion of more PJ and associated decreasing sage/grass/forb and mountain brush habitat has contributed to and will continue the overall decrease in Mule deer populations and other wildlife species in these areas (western portion of project is in a big game focus area). This expansion factor also contributes to the issue of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. Elk depredation issues have been a source of controversy with private landowners in the Gooseberry Valley for several years. A UDWR Range Trend Study plot is found within the western portion of the project. It is the "Triangle Mountain - STUDY NO. 25A-1" A study site summary states: "When established in 1985, this study site was dominated by seeded introduced perennial grass species such as crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) (Pre-1992 Data). Young two-needle pinyon (Pinus edulis) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) had begun to reestablish following a chaining treatment that took place in 1970, and the site began to transition from Phase I to Phase II of woodland succession as trees increased in size and abundance (Photos, Table 25A-01.14). However, the site was retreated in 2005, and the study has been considered to be within Phase I since 2009 (Table 25A-01.1, Table 25A-01.4). Introduced perennial grasses have maintained co-dominance in all sample years; forbs have remained rare (Table 25A-01.7, Table 25A-01.10, Table 25A-01.11). Shrubs have been a minor vegetation component throughout the duration of the study (Table 25A-01.12, Table 25A-01.13)." For this reason, it is imperative that we treat as much winter and transition habitat by seeding combined with mixed mechanical treatment acres or burn acres.

Careful consideration has been taken in designing projects with a balance of forage and cover. Not only will treatments enhance habitat for big game but increased diversity will also benefit small game, raptors, rabbits, turkey, as well as predator species. New additional acres of forage will be available for elk and deer adjacent to private land. Treated acres will help minimize crop depredation by big game animals.

The overall end state of this project is to: 1. Improve vegetative resilience by increasing abundance and diversity of native shrubs and perennial herbs (grasses, forbs and other herbaceous vegetation). 2. Reduce risk and associated negative impacts from uncharacteristic wildfire to the public, firefighters, structures, private property, and other high values at risk. 3. Improve wildlife habitat transition and winter range (i.e. Mule deer). 4. Reduce sediment transfer and TDS into Salina Creek and Gooseberry Creek to improve water quality and improve and protect Bonneville cutthroat trout and Southern leatherside chub habitat (Both species are Intermountain Region Sensitive Species).

Historical records from personal conversations with private landowners surmise that Greater sage-grouse used to be very plentiful in the upper open meadow near Rex Reservoir area. He stated that sage grouse used to strut in the open meadow area and use the surrounding private and USFS sage brush habitat for other parts of their life cycle. With sage grouse being documented in the 7-mile valley and the lower Lost Creek-Sand Ledge areas it stands to reason habitat loss may have contributed to the lack of or major reduction in sage grouse using the ranch and surrounding areas. Habitat improvement with this project not only will help big game, small game, raptors, avian species, insects, but possibly sage grouse.

Additionally, we will be working in wetted habitats in the floodplain of Lost Creek on private property with the goals reducing erosion, creating seasonal wetlands, restoring soil moisture, and improving grazing management.  Today, less than 1% of Utah's total land is wetlands. Seventy-five percent of these remaining wetlands are part of the Greater Great Salt Lake Ecosystem.  In Southern Utah not only are wetlands rare, they are ultra-rare, making up an extremely small portion of the landscape.  Having said this wetlands are disproportionally important on the landscape.  Habitats near water -- streamsides, wet meadows and wetlands -- support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled.  As stated, wetland habitat is the rarest type of habitat in Utah, yet the role of wetland habitat on the landscape is substantial. Within Utah, 66-75% of all bird species use mesic habitats during some portion of their life history. Typically, diversity and abundance of birds dramatically increases in western mesic habitat compared with other habitat types(Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy 2.0, 2002).  Other research shows that 60--80% of wildlife are dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001).

In Utah it is said as much as 80% of mesic habitat occurs on private lands.  These private mesic lands critically important to the health of wildlife populations across public and private lands.  If true wildlife conservation is to take place on a sustainable level, public wildlife managers must engage private landowners.  It is important that we continue to work in these areas that are critically important to the landscape around them, and because these wet areas are mostly private it is extremely important to work with private landowners restoring these areas whenever possible.  Wet habitat is the zipper that ties the ecology of the surrounding landscapes together.  Not working in these wet areas puts adjacent habitat and wildlife at risk.

Other public huntable species that may benefit here are dusky and ruffed grouse, mountain cottontail, blacktail jackrabbit, cougar along with rainbow and brown trout. Diversifying and improving upland, meadow, and wetland habit will benefit these species through increases in mountain shrub habitat for grouse and rabbits, potential increase in prey base for cougar, and improvements in water quality and quantity from wetland work in lost creek for fish species.

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.

PROJECT GOALS: 1) With the numerous acres that have been treated adjacent to this project, the overall goal of this project is to continue to implement a collaborative landscape level ecosystem restoration project with an increased pace and scale of implementation across boundaries. 2) Promote treatment efforts onto private and state lands with a collaborative effort between the USFS, UDWR, USFWS and Private Landowners. 3) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre. 4) Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion. 5) Implement a landscape level ecosystem restoration project that will reduce risk of catastrophic fire.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES: 1) Improve and/or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter and transition habitat by thinning or removing PJ with prior seeding. Design forage to cover ratios to benefit a variety of wildlife species. 2) Improve and expand habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species such as Sage Grouse and other declining sagebrush obligate songbirds by increasing acres of shrub grassland ecological sites. 3) Improve or maintain quality of habitat for wild turkeys by increasing acres of grass and forb communities. 4) Reduce hazardous fuels while maintaining and improving fire resilient landscapes by improving the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. 5) Increase overall forage production, habitat quality, and species diversity by treating in a mosaic pattern of 60% treated and 40% untreated that will create biodiversity across the landscape. 6) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre. 7) Enhance habitat on USFS and private lands to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands. 8) Enhance habitat for southern leatherside chub in riparian areas. 9. Habitat improvements will help provide habitat for sage grouse to return to the private lands and surrounding USFS lands. 10) Reduce erosion, restore seasonal wetlands, and restore soil moisture in floodplain habitats along Lost Creek.

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.

Cost Prohibitive Ecological Threshold discussion 
This multi-year project has many goals, objectives, and outcomes. While many of those are related to biology and ecology, several are related to to social and fiscal outcomes. As stated, this area is at a risk for severe fire impacts throughout the watershed. Conservation practices in past phases of this project and in this phase will mitigate and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Wildfire suppression is one of the most costly activities land management agencies undertake every year and depletes much of land management agency budgets. Additionally, fire scar rehabilitation is one of the most costly land restoration activities conservation practitioners can undertake. Given the high threat of fire in this watershed, implementing conservation practices as part of this project will prevent fire suppression and restoration activities that may become cost prohibitive across the entire landscape. The time to do this project is now, while we can be proactive rather than being reactive after a severe wildfire burns through. We are tiptoeing the line between proactive and reactive here. In the hand treatment areas the understory is still well intact and cost are very low and not cost prohibitive if we treat now.

Social Threshold Discussion 
Development threat is fairly high in this area on private land. This area has extremely high visitation for outdoor recreation. Plainly stated, development is an immediate threat to the ecology of this landscape. Helping ag producers remain profitable here is important to reduce the risk of landowners selling of grazing lands for development. Just recently the private land was purchased by the current landowner. Luckily he wanted the property for agricultural purposed and wildlife rather than developing cabin lots. Additionally, the high recreational visitation to this area provides local rural communities economic opportunities. A catastrophic wildfire will impact communities economically. We currently have a new landowner who has the ability to rest his property from grazing because he is still building up his herd. He may lose this ability in the future if we wait.

The combination of all these projects is in effort to increase the pace and scale of implementation to help disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates. Ground surveys and site visits have allowed us to see the lack of understory plants in the PJ complex in the Gooseberry Creek, Salina Creek and Lost Creek areas.

Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ encroachment continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. Some areas within the project have lost a majority of the understory sage/grasses/forbs, but other areas have not completely lost the understory. One of the biggest threats realized in this area is if left untreated these areas with some understory of sagebrush/grasses/forbs left will eventually be gone as well. This will continue to be "poor" habitat and range for ungulate animals.

The area serves as transition range and winter range for big game and because it is in poor condition animals fail to remain in this zone for the season of use that should be normal. ~1,900 acres) of the PJ in the project is in phase II but is about to cross the threshold into phase III dominated PJ and lose the remaining understory. The other portion (~2,700 acres) of this project is in phase I with portions about to cross the threshold into phase II. If left untreated these areas with productive sage/grass/forb communities will degrade in productivity and treatment costs in the future will go up dramatically. As PJ has become dominate on the landscape and the loss of understory vegetation increases, big game and small game animals are experiencing a loss of foraging habitat.

This entire area is at risk of large catastrophic wildfires that could adversely affect entire watersheds.

This project will reduce the ecological risk of: 1) Current sediment transfer and associated increasing TDS and 2) Potential catastrophic impacts of increased sediment transfer and degradation of Southern leatherside chub habitat and population in the event of a wildfire. As Salina Creek and Lost Creek and its tributaries are improved and potential catastrophic ecological impacts in the event of a wildfire are reduced, sediment transfer into Lost Creek and Salina Creek and subsequent Sevier River will likely be reduced as well. Completed treatments along with planned and future treatments reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level while promoting resilient landscapes.

Wildfire suppression costs are extremely high especially when suppressing fires in similar fuel types and loadings as present on this project. When wildfires occur, this could result in increased erosion, greater opportunities for noxious weed establishment, impacts to available short-term forage, stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides/flooding events. Restoring uplands will reduce impacts from future wildfires by reducing risk of future impairment.

This project reduces the threat to sensitive riparian ecosystems located in Lost Creek and Salina Creek that hold the Southern leatherside chub fish species. Refer to the "Water Quality/Quantity" section for more detail.

GEOSPATIAL AND REMOTE SENSING INFO/ PLANNING DOCUMENTS

WILDLIFE TRACKER
Not many big game species or turkey are equipped with tracking equipment in this area. There was a doe mule deer collared and used the project area to travel between Koosharem and Gooseberry, getting hung up at the interstate (see photos). Additionally, we included a map showing telemetry points of elk in the mid to late 90's, which is still the most complete and comprehensive big game habitat use in the area. Wildlife tracker doesn't have much data in this area for elk but this map shows the importance of our project and surrounding area for elk.

TNC LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION FORCAST MODELING
A search of WRI supported Landscape Forecasting was conducted and no data exist for this area.

USGS BIOME-SAGEBRUSH CORE HABITAT MODELING
These data were compiled as a part of a landscape conservation design effort for the sagebrush biome, and are the result of applying a spatially explicit model that assessed geographic patterns in sagebrush ecological integrity and used these results to identify Core Sagebrush Areas (CSAs), Growth Opportunity Areas (GOAs), and Other Rangeland Areas (ORAs). This model is being used biome-wide to target core intact sagebrush habitat to focus sagebrush protection and restoration with the Department of the Interior. This project falls in within "other rangeland areas" as shown in the prioritization too.

UTAH WILDFIRE RISK ASSESMENT PORTAL
A quick assessment using this fire risk explorer (screen shot in photo section) shows the project is in an area where risk is anywhere from moderate to very high. The portal suggests taking action by implementing practices to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire. Our project will accomplish this.  
   
PLANS
One aspect related to maintenance and mule deer mentioned above, is the fact that in the Deer Herd Management Plan (see in plan section) is specifically calls out the need for maintenance work to manage mule deer on this unit.

Project partners have looked through the Sevier County Resources Management Plan and identified many objectives, resource concerns, and management actions this project would positively address.  A list of those items would be too long to list here but fall under a diversity of needs such as agriculture, water resources, wildlife, livestock grazing, watershed protection, wildfire threat.

RARE ECOLOGICAL TYPE CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL WATERSHED
Additionally, we will be working in wetted habitats in the floodplain of Lost Creek on private property with the goals reducing erosion, creating seasonal wetlands, restoring soil moisture, and improving grazing management.  Habitats near water support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled.  In the West, riparian habitat covers less than 1% of the land, yet the role of riparian habitat in the landscape is substantial.  These wet habitat are disproportionately critical to the landscape around them.  SEE "NEED FOR PROJECT" FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING IN WETLANDS WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.

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) This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986) (LRMP). The purpose and need for this project are consistent with Fishlake National Forest goals and objectives found in Chapter IV of the Forest Plan. The proposed treatment units are within the following management areas: * 5A- Big Game Winter Range (majority of proposed acres) and * 4B - Habitat for Management Indicator Species. This proposal is consistent with and it responds to Fishlake Forest Plan direction for wildlife management in areas 5A and 4B. * Reduce hazardous fuels: consistent with forest and MA emphasis and direction (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41)

2) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Elk Management Plan: This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Lost Creek areas, supporting local elk populations and enhancing elk habitat. NF.

3) The Greater Plateau Elk Complex Elk Management Plan (2016) lists range improvements in the habitat objectives section. This project specifically addresses the components listed under range improvements in that it enhances forage production and habitat quality through direct range improvements on winter range within the unit. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex goes on to mention that "focus will be on high use areas especially where we can entice animals away from agricultural areas."

4) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mule Deer Management Plan: This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Gooseberry Salina Creek and Lost Creek areas. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Mule deer population numbers are low in these areas. Habitat improvement from this project will help provide quality habitat to improve the viability of local Mule deer populations.

5) Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan: Newly treated areas through fire or mechanical means will attract use by wild turkey. Insects and new growth will be readily available to support turkey populations. This project will provide more foraging opportunities for wild turkey as grasses and forbs provide insects and seed.

6) UDWR Wildlife Action Plan: This project is geared toward meeting the goals found within this plan for a variety of wildlife species from large too small. a. Threat - Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity: i. Objective #1 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity 1. Fire is excluded from habitats in which potential burns now would be frequent, large, and destructive to soils and native vegetation; the habitats are being actively managed (treated) to reduce components or factors that promote risk of catastrophic fire, such as cheat grass, excessive conifer encroachment, or unnaturally large stands of mature Gamble oak.

7) National Cohesive Strategy: This project is in line with the strategy. By means of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning at a landscape scale, the resulting mosaic of early and late successional forests will work toward the goal of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes.

8) State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy: The Lost Creek Collaborative Project aligns with the mission of the State of Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence negatively affecting property, air quality and water systems.

9) Grazing Allotment Plans: The amount of forage available to livestock within the affected allotments in the area is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of pinion/juniper, the amount of grasses and forbs in the sagebrush is also expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve.

10) Bald Eagle Management Plan and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d) is a United States federal statute that protects two species of eagle. Bald eagles migrate to the area in late October and remain through late March. Treatments will attract wildlife species that are common prey to eagles and other raptors. Wintering Bald Eagles utilize the project area and treatments would improve life cycle opportunities for them.

11) Sevier County Resource Management Plan; This project is congruent with the policies and desired management practices found in Sevier County's Resource Management Plan. Policies (all from pages 6-7) a. Support the removal of conifers and manage land to promote the establishment of aspen cover and attendant grass, brush, and forbs.

12) Central Utah Fire Management Plan (FMP): a. Greater use of vegetation management to meet resource management objectives b. Hazardous fuels treatments will be used to restore ecosystems; protect human, natural and cultural resources; and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities. Sagebrush steppe communities will be a high priority for ESR and fuel reduction to avoid catastrophic fires in these areas.

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.

Enhancing the habitat in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and breaking up the continuous fuel bed of PJ that currently exist in the Gooseberry Creek and Lost Creek areas.

This treatment will promote a fire resilient environment that reduces the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires, with less risk to public and firefighter safety. Fire risk would be reduced to multiple watersheds and communities located in the Gooseberry Creek areas with. The communities of existing wildfire risk index in the project area ranges from moderate-high to very-very low. It compliments completed BLM and USFS treatments located in the area. All these projects combined reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level to the communities and watersheds across the Lost Creek and Gooseberry Creek areas while promoting resilient landscapes.

The dominant southwest wind flow in conjunction with associated fire behavior expected from the PJ and mountain shrub fuel types pose significant wildland fire risk to these areas and values. The large, treated areas will create buffers in and around values at risk and will significantly reduce the risk of fire to these values.

About half this project is within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The other half of this project would be in FRCC 3.

This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. The District has seen success (Dixie Harrow transects) in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheat-grass response, but after the re-seeding has time to establish, cheat-grass has decreased dramatically thus reducing this potential increased risk of fire.

Today, practitioners are restoring the West's creeks, valley bottoms, and wet meadows by using "low-tech, process-based" mesic restoration practices to slow down water, allowing it to spread across the landscape where plants and wildlife can use it.

In addition to improving habitat for wildlife and boosting productivity of riparian vegetation communities, these mesic habitats create important fire breaks and refuge for wildlife fleeing wildfire, as detailed in this paper by Emily Fairfax from 2020.

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.

WATER QUALITY: This project is located in the Salina Creek and Lost Creek watershed including Lost Creek and Gooseberry Creek which are perennial streams/riparian systems. Salina Creek and Lost Creek and its tributaries are listed as impaired with a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). This project as it's proposed will improve ground cover and thereby reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system. The project proposed will reduce sediment transfer. Restoring uplands will reduce the impacts of future wildfires and reduce the risk of future impairment.

WATER QUANTITY: Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. By removing PJ it is anticipated that water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved) in the short and long term.

Reducing the amount of pinyon/juniper has the potential to increase and prolong stream flows, while reducing erosion caused by bare soil, not a guarantee as some will claim but has the potential.  Given the multiple phases and large amounts of acreage completed over the years, we feel this project does have potential for short and long term water quantity and quality effects.

The species planted will help stabilize the soil and reduce erosion. Kormas et al (2017) in Rangeland Ecology 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.

Risk of fire will be reduced within multiple watersheds. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs, the planned aerial seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and reduce the risk of erosion. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated or chained tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion and protect the water quality throughout the watershed. By removing PJ this should allow for more precipitation to contact the soil and increase biomass on the ground. In areas where hand thinning will be used there should be adequate vegetation to avoid soil erosion but this should increase the amount of water into the system instead of evaporating before it reaches the ground. Wet meadows and upland plants benefit by utilizing the increase soil moisture, providing for better resiliency during drought years. This provides for an increase in water quantity for herbaceous plants on sites where PJ is removed.

Treatments on this project will be occurring in sagebrush, mountain mixed brush, wetland, and spring ecological communities. Restoring uplands within all of these ecological communities will reduce impacts from future wildfires along with reducing risks of future impairment to the watersheds. Working to improve/protect wet meadows, create wetlands, restore soil moisture, and protect springs from damage will have a direct impact on both water quality and quantity.

Sevier County: In Sevier County's Water Quality and Hydrology section under Desired Management Practices the statement below supports these types of projects. 3. Where water resources on public lands have diminished because grasses have succeeded to pinyon-juniper and other woody vegetation, a vigorous program of mechanical treatments should be applied to promptly remove this woody vegetation and biomass, stimulate the return of the grasses to historic levels, and thereby provide a watershed that maximizes water yield and water quality for livestock, wildlife, and human uses. (pg. 24).

Riparian, wetlands, and stream habitat is extremely important for filtering heavy sediment, ash, and other compounds from post-fire areas in adjacent upland and up stream habitat.  Protecting wetland and riparian habitat protects the watershed from off-site negative impacts to both rural communities and wildlife.

This project will help directly with water quantity and storage.  It is universal knowledge through many years of research that healthy, properly functioning wetland habitat has the capacity to store more water in the soil and below ground aquifer.  This storage capacity becomes even more apparent during the driest parts of the season or during drought when these areas put more water back into the aquatic system because of the "sponge effect" they have the ability to store larger capacities of water.

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.

USFS

In this phase of the project, planned treatment will include ~4,643 total acres (USFS ~4,643 ac)

Treatment methods will include the following: USFS 1) aerial seeding followed by a mastication contract for approx. 1,890 acres. (Fall 2024). USFS 2) USFS IDIQ hand thinning contract for approx. 2,753 acres to be completed Fall 2024/Spring 2025).

PRIVATE
Spring Protection: Contract a fence crew to build a rail fence using on site trees around a spring to protect from trampling and over utilization

Water Development:
Fix a spring already developed with a new headbox, pipe, and trough, and fencing

Meadow Pasture:
Put in a solar pump/trough system in meadow pastures along with additional post and wire fencing to facilitate grazing management.

Wetland Restoration:
Hire a contractor to do a diversity of structures in wet meadow/flood plain area of Lost Creek near Rex Reservoir.  Structures may be simple such as hand rock/BDA type structures and/or using a mini excavator to create shallow wetland depressions and berms.

Previous phase of this project (WRI 5314) and WRI funding completed surveys for mastication areas on the USFS. Slopes over 40% and/or areas classified as phase I PJ expansion will be hand thinned utilizing chainsaws, and/or lopped/scattered. Slopes under 40% or classified phase II or III PJ expansion will be thinned utilizing mastication and chaining methods by machine.

A mosaic treatment pattern combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. This diversity will help create a mix of life cycle benefits for a variety of wildlife and insect species. Curl-leaf mahogany and other key brush species will be designed away from fire opportunities to maintain browse integrity. The seeding will be a mix of brush, grass and forbs, predominately native, if not all native.

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.

Throughout implementation of this project, elk, deer, and other Management Indicator Species along with range conditions will continue to be monitored annually, following USFS wildlife and range protocols (vegetation monitoring cages and vegetation transects).

Long-term avian surveys have been conducted in the Gooseberry and Salina Creek drainages. Electronic survey instruments to detect bats and birds were introduced in Gooseberry Creek in 2019. These surveys will continue through the Richfield RD wildlife department. Monitoring for neo-tropical migratory and local avian populations will be established with electronic monitoring and on the ground surveys. Project area consists of both riparian, PJ, mountain brush, and sage communities.

Over years of conducting post-season deer counts in The Rocks and Triangle Mountain areas of the lower Gooseberry complex, big game are commonly seen in past mechanical or burn areas on winter range. Post season deer counts in The Rocks area in 2018 show a 37% buck:doe ratio and a 79% fawn:doe ratio; however, the sample size was only 63 total deer. Post season deer counts within The Rocks in 2019 show a 46% buck:doe ratio and a 64% fawn:doe ratio; however, the sample size was only 59 total deer. In 2021 UDWR and USFS Biologists counted less that 10 head of deer on the Rocks route. In 2022 UDWR and USFS Biologist counted over 80 head of deer with very positive buck to doe ratios and excellent fawn to doe ratios. We used to count 200-250 deer on this same route. Improved habitat in the area will help improve and maintain mule deer populations and viability in the area. We will continue to conduct this route as well as the adjacent routes to monitor deer and elk use within the treatment areas.

Deer and elk are utilizing previous PJ areas that have been seeded. In 2018 and 2019 post-season deer numbers are positive on the Fishlake-Plateau Unit as a whole which would lead us to believe that vegetation projects on summer, transition and winter range are helping keep deer healthier on other parts of the range. Elk populations are doing well and are monitored and modeled by UDWR by conducting on the ground surveys and 5-year rotating helicopter aerial counts. Elk numbers currently are within plan guidelines.

Invasive and noxious weeds are known to occur in the treatment areas; however, treatment areas will be seeded and monitored post-implementation. Fuels treatment monitoring will take place involving multiple repeatable photo points.

Fuels monitoring plots will be established within the project. Plots will be visited 1 year, 3 year, and 5-years post treatment to monitor vegetation response and ground cover. This will be accomplished by the Forest Service SCA Monitoring Crew.

Bonneville cutthroat trout and Southern leatherside chub monitoring will occur to assess project impacts and ensure they are at levels conducive to population recovery. Southern leathersides will be accounted for in this monitoring effort. Population and condition factor changes will be analyzed, as well as limited aquatic habitat monitoring. Monitoring will also provide information to improve design of future large-scale treatments to reduce aquatic impacts.

WETLAND MONITORING
The Ecogeomorphology and Topographic Analysis Lab (ETAL) at Utah State University's Department of Watershed Sciences, working with the landowner and USFWS, will collect and process drone imagery and resulting maps and analysis for Phase II of the Wet Meadow/Wetland restoration on Salina Creek, Utah. We will map a pre-restoration "snapshot" of the following features:

1. Valley Bottom
2. Valley Bottom Centerline
3. Floodplain (riparian/uplands)
4. Rock restoration structures
5. Active Channel
6. Inundation Types
7. Thalwegs
8. Confluences/Diffluences

We will provide these outputs as a shapefile and as a map atlas with associated drone imagery and geomorphic mapping.  See attached budget and scope of work in the document section.

USFWS will conduct annual site visits to assess successes and future needs with the landowner/land manager as part of the USFWS contract.

Clint Wirick is in the process of working with the USFS and UDWR to monitor fish populations on the private land. USFWS will do site visits and visit with the landowner annually for duration of 10-year agreement to look at success, future needs, and need for implementation of other conservation work.

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.

One of the main goals of this project is to promote treatment efforts on federal and private lands located in the Gooseberry Creek, Salina Creek and Lost Creek areas with a collaborative effort between USFS, UDWR, USFWS, UDAF, and private landowners. Coordination meetings are taking place between USFS, UDWR, USFWS, UDAF, and private landowners to plan collaboratively treatments that will mutually benefit all agencies and private landowners along with promoting landscape-level restoration.

This project is located on USFS and private lands and will compliment previously accomplished treatments on both USFS and private lands with the overall benefits being at a landscape scale. Some across boundary work has already been completed on private lands.

The private property in this years phase is part of the Forest Legacy Program and this phase of the project is planned to continue with further treatments on private. The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is a conservation program administered by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with State agencies to encourage the protection of privately-owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases. A FLP project involving defensible space treatments on private property has been recently completed in the Gooseberry area on the Ranch. This proposed phase of the Gooseberry Project will directly compliment these FLP treatments. Future phases of this project will include additional FLP mechanical treatments along with mechanical treatments on other private lands through cross boundary collaboration jointly through the USFS, UFFSLs, and private landowners.

Meetings with private landowners have been held to discuss planned treatments during this phase and additional meetings with them are planned to discuss further treatments on private property.

The expansion factor of the PJ also contributes to the problem of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. If acres of national forest lands are returned to properly functioning condition it is possible that big game animals will also spend more time on these lands and not as much on agricultural lands. During project planning the local UDWR biologists offered suggestions that were incorporated and offered support for the project.

The Sevier County Commissioners are supportive of this project. Local ranchers/livestock grazing permit holders are also supportive of this project. During project scoping, no opposition from the public was shared.

Interagency agreements with the BLM and UFFSLs are in place. These agreements will allow for an interagency effort during implementation.

USFWS will be providing funding/planning/implementation support and is one of the project managers working closely with the private landowner to implement the private lands portion of the project.

The National Wild Turkey Federation regional biologist has been added as a partner and will be briefed on project and asked for input to further benefit the robust population of wild turkeys in the area.

The previous phase of the project was presented to Sportsmen groups and received funding support from NWTF, Safari Club, RMEF, MDF, and SFW.  Additionally, project managers reached out to some of these groups prior to this meeting to discuss the project.

USFWS, UDAF GIP, and the landowner have met on several occasions and identified cross-program practices for this phase of the project.

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.

By continually promoting a collaborative effort between USFS, UDWR, USFWS and private landowners landowners, it is anticipated that a long-term level of success will be obtained on all the current and future treatments in the Gooseberry Creek/Salina Creek and Lost Creek areas. Future maintenance of projects to protect investments made by USFS, UWRI, BLM, SITLA, and Private landowner have been addressed and allowed through the project planning document (NEPA). Adaptive management has been allowed for in the NEPA documents. Many tools have been analyzed in the NEPA planning process to allow other methods in the future.

Treatment areas will be monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. The District has seen success (Dixie Harrow transects) in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheatgrass response, but after the reseeding has time to establish, cheatgrass has decreased dramatically.

Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs, seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and forage opportunities.

Implementation of this project will reduce the risk of catastrophic high severity wildland fire; thus reducing the risk to the public and firefighters. This also reduces the risk to private property. Health and public safety are improved. To maintain these treatment areas, the desire is future naturally caused fires within or near the project area can be managed (if possible, not suppressed). With this reduced risk, future management of naturally caused fires may be possible to allow fire to play greatest feasible natural role in the environment, thus potentially further reducing risk to public and firefighters.

Bonneville cutthroat trout monitoring will provide information to improve design of future phases of treatments to reduce aquatic impacts overall on the Gooseberry Project. As habitat is improved for ungulates (deer, elk, cattle, sheep) and additional forage becomes available, the USFS expects the flexibility and management of ungulates will improve; hopefully with less controversy. It is a goal of this project to help minimize depredation of private land crops, grass pastures and fences by improving available vegetation for big game on Forest System Lands. Maintaining healthy populations of wildlife while also responding to the needs of livestock permittees is expected to become easier.

The District will seed the project with a mix of brush, sagebrush, grass and forbs, the District will ensure the temporary resting of treatment areas (2 to 3 growing seasons, especially seeded areas) which will be incorporated into Annual Operating Instructions. These actions will help ensure that permittees are in the communication loop and will give them enough time to plan for the resources they need to continue their operations. Impacts to permittees may be minimized by the use of herding and temporary electric fences so that treatment areas can be temporarily rested for 2-3 growing seasons while non-treatment areas can continue to be grazed.

As future PJ expansion occurs, maintenance/re-treatment of this project via additional entries of prescribed fire, hand thinning of new PJ growth/whips is expected to be implemented to maintain the integrity of this project and the anticipated continued PJ expansion.

Additional restoration type projects in this area is currently underway. Multiple projects have been and are currently being implemented and more are being planned in this area and are part of the Fishlake National Forest Pinyon and Juniper Project. Collaborative efforts between USFS, UDWR, USFWS and private landowners is occurring to learn of future projects in the area that will help enlarge the footprint of the planned USFS treatments, by treating additional acres on private lands as well.

This low to mid-level elevation phase of the project compliments completed and future planned prescribed fire treatments that will be occurring in the Gooseberry Creek/Salina Creek, and Lost Creek areas. Thousands of acres are available for treatment in these areas through the Fishlake National Forest Pinyon and Juniper Project. This project will already directly compliment completed treatment on both private property and USFS land in the area. This phase along with future planned phases of this project have the potential to treat upwards of 20,000+ acres of USFS and private land in the gooseberry area. This planned landscape-scale project will also directly compliment planned future treatments on Gooseberry private property.

Adaptive management is authorized. Many tools have been analyzed in the environmental analysis to allow a wide variety of treatment methods to occur. The private property in the Gooseberry area is already part of the Forest Legacy Program (FLP). Discussions between additional private landowners and the UFFSLs are occurring about additional private property in the Gooseberry area increasing the FLP in the future. This will provide additional protection of privately-owned forest lands through conservation easements and enlarge the amount of privately-owned areas within the FLP and the numerous benefits that are associated with this.

The private property is part of a livestock grazing operation. Working with the private landowner will provide more upland grazing opportunities for livestock and wildlife through increasing management options and rest.

The private landowners will enter into a 10-year contract with USFWS. As part of the landowner agreement with USFWS the landowner agrees to leave the habitat restored in place for a 10 year period and during that time will work with the USFWS biologist to monitor and access needs, success, and any needed adaptive management.

With this proposed habitat improvement project when once completed we hope deer populations will benefit and overall herd numbers will improve. Since deer are a management indicator species for the Fishlake NF habitat improvement acres continues to be our contribution for deer populations increase overtime. As recognized above the habitat improvements will help sustain viable wildlife populations across a variety of species.

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.

Quite honestly, this area is one of the most heavily recreated areas in the region.  Heavy use come not only from locals but from all over the state, country, and world.  The list of uses could go on and on from fishing, camping, hunting, day tripping, scenic driving, wood cutting, trapping, etc. The visitation is also a major economic driver of nearby communities.  This area is also a gateway to several national parks and state parks.

PUBLIC and ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY: The project areas are very popular for camping, hiking, sight-seeing, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and ATV trail riding. Miles of hiking and prominent ATV trails exists. Treatments will promote a renewed resilient beautiful sustainable forest that will be enjoyed by future generations. Multiple contracts are planned during this phase of treatment along with future planned phases. This project benefits the local communities by providing private companies work and associated economic benefits. Efforts are being made to promote commercial sale of Juniper fence posts from project areas. This project promotes sustaining hunting of big game such as elk and deer along with upland game such as a variety of grouse and wild turkey. Treatments like this have potential to increase wildlife numbers and potential hunting opportunities to future generations. A main goal of these treatments is to enhance habitat at a landscape scale rather than at a jurisdictional level to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands. Other sustainable uses towards this project will be the use of additional firewood that will be available, cutting of cedar post, access to additional hunting opportunities for big game such as mule deer and elk. Additional opportunities will be opened up for turkey hunting and upland game hunting as well. With the Sevier County ATV Jamboree each year, riders from across the country enjoy riding trails in this area and enjoy camping and recreating.

FORAGE PRODUCTION or IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION: Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. As PJ is thinned, understory vegetation increases, wild and domestic ungulates will experience an increase in foraging habitat. Through the mechanical thinning, PJ expansion is addressed, and sagebrush, grasses, and forbs are promoted. This in return moves the sage/grass/forb ecosystems in the area on a trajectory toward improved forage conditions thus improving ecosystems for both wildlife and livestock. Portions of the project are currently not being grazed due to the lack of understory and PJ expansion. This project has the potential to improve distribution of domestic livestock into new areas. The amount of forage available to livestock and wildlife is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of PJ, the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the and sagebrush is expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates.

The private lands were recently acquired in the last few years and their goal is to set up a more sustainable grazing management plan that allows increased control and management while providing vegetation rest.

LOCAL ECONOMY As stated above this project will boost local rural economies by enhancing recreational and agricultural opportunities. Much of the local culture and identity is tied up in natural resources. This project is working across boundaries to boost and enhance local recreational opportunities and provide jobs. Additionally, it will boost the landowner's ability to remain sustainable and profitable keeping him on the landscape and avoiding the threat of selling the property and developing. A continued hunting and trapping scenario will be able to continue for furbearers, mountain lion and bear.

CLINT'S CHRISTMAS TREE 
Clint cut 2 Christmas trees from the leave areas in phase 2 so that is a sustainable use too!

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.