The overall goal is to improve sagebrush habitat for mule deer and nearby sagegrouse by removing juniper and seeding where necessary. Healthy sagebrush ecosystems should consist of a diverse array of plants and support a wide variety of wildlife species. However, sagebrush habitat on the eastern slopes of the Onaqui Mountains, which has been identified by UDWR as crucial mule deer habitat, is becoming degraded due to juniper encroachment. Where junipers dominate they outcompete understory species for light, moisture, and nutrients eventually resulting in nearly complete removal of the understory. Without understory vegetation the native seed bank is depleted and the site becomes susceptible to soil erosion and invasion by cheatgrass. Excessive fuel buildup can eventually lead to catastrophic wildfire which may threaten property and further degrade the ecosystem by promoting the growth and expansion of cheatgrass. Once established, cheatgrass becomes a major obstacle preventing the recolonization and growth of native perennial vegetation. In order to curb this process of degradation it is essential that action be taken. Degraded sagebrush habitat can be improved by removing junipers and reseeding with perennial species. This proactive approach reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfire and possible cheatgrass encroachment by decreasing fuel loads and replenishing the seedbank with desirable species. The Salt Lake Field Office of the BLM will treat the encroaching juniper to decrease the risk of high severity wildfire, restore ecosystem function, and improve wildlife habitat. This project ties in with multiple other fuel reduction projects that have occurred on the east facing slopes of the Onaqui Mountains.

Remove approximately 80% of existing junipers from occupied sage grouse habitat crucial mule deer habitat leaving a mosaic of uneven aged stands and old growth.

This project focuses on juniper removal as a means to maintain healthy sagebrush habitat. Sagebrush is at risk of being lost due to excessive juniper, subsequent wildfire, and high potential for cheatgrass invasion. The lower portion of the project area is within occupied sage grouse habitat.

See attachment for full list: 1) Utah Greater Sage grouse Management Plan, 2009 Publication 09-17, State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, - Specifically the plan addresses goals outlined in part B-1.3 Public land habitat objectives; A Vegetation management, D Fire Management, and E Conifer Encroachment - 1. Reduce conifers that are encroaching on sagebrush habitats using appropriate methods, which may include: masticators, chains, chain saws, prescribed fire, etc (pp45-48). In addition it addresses goals in section B-2.3 Public land habitat restoration objectives (p 49-50). 2) Bureau of Land Management - Greater Sage-Grouse Interim Management Policies and Procedures (2011) – This plan meets the guidelines for conservation policy and procedures in both the “Preliminary Priority Habitat” (PPH) and “Preliminary General Habitat” (PGH). Which call for implementation of vegetation treatments (e.g., pinyon/juniper removal, fuels treatments, green stripping) and associated effectiveness monitoring between Resources, Fuels Management, Emergency Stabilization, and Burned Area Rehabilitation programs to promote the maintenance of large intact sagebrush communities. 3) Utah Conservation Strategy (Utah Wildlife Action Plan), 2005 Publication Number 05-19, State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, Effective 2005-2015 - The General Threat of Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat loss due to Pinyon -Juniper succession in sagebrush habitats should be addressed by the conservation actions of enhancing fragmented and degraded habitats [Juniper removal] (6-27). Habitat problems and conservation actions (8-8) by addressing fire cycle alteration with methods to disturb decadent [Pinion-Juniper] vegetation. 4) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule deer. Section IV Statewide management goals and objectives. This plan will address Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2013 (p11-12). Strategy C. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that are being taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats. Strategy f. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages. 5) Oquirrh-Stansbury Deer Herd Management Plan, Deer Herd Unit # 18 (2006) - Habitat - At present, the availability of high quality summer range may be more limiting to this deer population than winter range. Range condition, however, of winter ranges is a long-term problem. Encroachment by juniper trees and the resultant loss of forage production, diversity and quality is very widespread. Habitat Management Strategies; Continue to restore and improve sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to DWR’s Habitat Initiative, Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvements such as reseedings, controlled burns, [mechanical juniper removal], and water developments on public lands.

2 PMArchaeology, A cultural resource inventory for this area was completed in 2010. , Dec 21 2011 / 6 NEPA, The proposed action is authorized under the Joint Fire Science Hazardous Fuels EA UT-020-2006-0008, Dec 7 2011

Bullhog approximately 1,179 acres of juniper leaving a mosaic pattern and travel corridors for wildlife. Seed would be applied to 643 acres prior to mastication. Non-seeded areas have sufficient understory to respond to tree removal without requiring supplementary seeding. Old growth will be avoided. The BLM will contract the work which will likely be done in fall of 2012.

Several 3-spoke monitoring plots will be established and read within the project area. Vegetation and ground cover data will be collected using the line-point intercept method and nested frequency. Photos will be taken and a qualitative site condition assessment completed. Sagegrouse occupancy will also be assesed within our plots. Data will be collected pre, 1, 3, and 5 years post treatment.

The project area falls within 3 different allotments: Onaqui Mountain East, Onaqui R.C.A., and South Clover. Seeding will occur on about half of the project area with portions of all 3 allotments being affected. The Onaqui groups of allotments are used for summer cattle grazing, with the exception of the East Onaqui RCA which is used for winter grazing on the lower pastures. The East Onaqui RCA and the Onaqui Mountain East allotments both have grazing management systems in place. The South Clover allotment is used by winter sheep grazing and fall/spring cattle grazing. An AMP is implemented on the allotment which outlines a grazing management system. The BLM will work with the permitees to keep animals away from seeded areas but fencing will not be constructed as part of this project.

08/15/2012

12/19/2012

2013

1,179 acres of juniper were masticated using wheeled tractors with Fecon mulching heads. Juniper >20" diameter at ground level were also left as well as trees along corridors and trees with wildlife nests. Where there were no trees that met the criteria of "leave" trees, 4-6 of the larger trees were left per acre.

Skyline Reclamation was awarded the contract for $225/acre. They started work in August 2012 and were finished in Dec 2012. They were able to keep 3-Tiger Cat machines with Fecon heads running the entire time, averaging between 9-10 acres per day. The equipment operators were experienced and did a very good job of meeting the contract specifications. 643 acres were aerially seeded in early October. The contractor was not allowed to mulch trees in the seeded area until after the seed had been applied.

This area will be managed as sagebrush habitat in the long term. Follow up treatments will occur periodically to remove juniper regrowth in order to maintain the project objectives of minimizing crown fire potential and maintaining a healthy, diverse, perennial understroy. Grazing management will occur in the short term to ensure the success of the treatment but long term changes in grazing management are not necessary.