Project Details

Pinyon-juniper densities have increased and competition between trees is strong. Tree stand densification has reduced available browse and forage, reducing carrying capacity. There is a need to reduce stand densities to improve stand health and improve age class diversity. There is a need to improve browse and forage conditions for mule deer. In a collaborative effort, UDWR and BLM have deployed radio collars on mule deer to provide insight on mule deer movement for identification of important habitats within limited winter and transitional range. This project will assist in the evaluation of the immediate impacts to wintering mule deer in relation to habitat restoration efforts. The implementation of this project will provide a unique opportunity to acquire movement data associated with treatments prior to, during, and after implementation. Currently, treatment areas do not provide much stop-over habitat value during migratory movements. By thinning treatment areas, this project aims to provide deer higher quality habitat on limited winter and transitional ranges. This project will also improve elk habitat and promote healthy pinyon jay habitat.

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.

This project is consistent with The Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Land Use Amendment (2004) for management of woodlands for commercial and noncommercial values. Wildlife and range objectives of improving habitat will be met with removal of PJ and increased production of forage. By reducing stand densities, this project meets objectives of the National Fire Plan (2000) and Healthy Forest Restoration Act (2003) for reducing hazardous fuels and improving forest health. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management plan (2019) Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. Panguitch lake Deer Herd Unit Management Plan (#28) 2015 The mid elevation upland site supports a pinyon-Utah juniper community and is generally considered to be in very poor condition for deer winter range. This community is prone to infilling from pinyon-juniper trees which can reduce understory shrub and herbaceous cover if not addressed. It is recommended that work to reduce the pinyon-juniper cover should continue in this plant community.

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.

PJ can have a major impact on hydrology. The distribution and quantity of water that reaches the soil and other vegetation can be altered by the presence of PJ through many different avenues such as PJ canopy interception of precipitation, evapotranspiration, transpiration, and competition with understory vegetation for nutrients and water (Thurow and Hester 2015). This competition with understory vegetation can increase the amount of bare soil, which can lead to an increase in runoff, soil loss and erosion (Thurow and Hester 2015). Erosion can lead to a reduction in soil productivity and can also increase non-point source water pollution, thus having the potential to affect water quality within a watershed over time (Thurow and Hester 2015). Reducing stand densities of PJ would increase ground cover (shrub, grass, and forbs) that would result in an increase in water quality.

In the lop and scatter process much of the bare soil will be covered by limbs and woody debris which will aid in the establishment of vegetative cover, which will reduce water runoff and decrease soil erosion. Implementation of this project will also greatly increase water infiltration into the soil, recharging groundwater systems in the area. 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. 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.

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.

Stands will be hand thinned to approximately 15% of maximum stand density (Page, 2008). This will create an open stand where trees generally do not compete. A substantial amount of area will be available for understory grass/forb/shrub. Species preference will be to retain pinyon over juniper and to retain trees of best form. Larger pinyon above 10 inches diameter will be retained for cone production. Larger juniper (trees above 14 inches diameter) will be retained to reduce slash and maintain potential old growth. This will create an open stand with larger trees in clumps and smaller trees throughout with spacing between individual trees of approximately 20-30 feet. Spacing range is variable, that is, two or more trees can be left in clumps to meet desired trees per acre, however, the target trees per acre shall not be materially increased. Stump heights will not exceed 6 inches. Slash height will be lopped and scattered as to not exceed 24 inches. In addition, radio telemetry data from wintering mule deer will be used in the evaluation of this project. The data may be used to identify future treatments that may provide valuable stopover habitat during migratory movements.

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.

Monitoring will include a walkthrough as well as established plots on a five-by-five chain (330 ft.) grid during and following treatment to monitor compliance and to certify objectives for proper tree selection, spacing, stump, and slash heights. Percent quality will be recorded on inspection forms and can be loaded into the reporting section of the WRI data base upon completion. In addition, this site will be monitored on 5 - 10-year intervals using stand exams and walk thru exams to determine stand densities and stand structure. When a determination is made that the existing tree cover has exceeded desired densities (25% SDI) a re-treatment will become necessary. At such a time both trees that have in-filled along with trees retained from the first thinning may be removed to reach desired densities. In addition, Radio telemetry data from wintering mule deer will be used in the evaluation of this project. The data may be used to identify future treatments that may provide valuable stopover habitat during migratory movements.

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.