Cheatgrass occurs in high densities within portions of the area burned in the Faust Fire. Fire rehab efforts will likely be minimally successful where cheatgrass dominates. Plateau herbicide will help control cheatgrass and promote perennial species establishment by reducing competition. Seeding after the herbicide treatment will help the establishment of a desirable plant community.

-Stabilize soil, slow down cheatgrass invasion, and establish a desirable plant community. - Establish fuel breaks that would help minimize wildfire in the future - Enhance fire rehab effort by minimizing competition from cheatgrass

Some areas burned in the Faust Fire will undoubtedly convert to a cheatgrass monoculture without rehab efforts. Once cheatgrass dominates it is very difficult to reclaim the site. Cheatgrass also promotes cyclic degradation by increasing fire frequency which continually eliminates perennial species. Plateau herbicide has been shown to be very effective at decreasing cheatgrass. Without the use of Plateau it is unlikely that perennial species will establish. The site would remain in a degraded state indefinitely. Without seeding, this burned area would likely become dominated by undesirable annual vegetation. As such, that annual vegetation could create a perpetual wildfire regime with short fire return intervals and larger, hotter fires that kill additional native perennial vegetation, and subsequently both the density and acreage of annual vegetation would increase.

-Salt Lake Field Office Fire Management Plan. 2004. "Minimize cheatgrass invasion", "enhance sagebrush habitat". -Pony Express RMP.

2 PMArchaeology, Archaeolocial Clearance to be completed prior to begining of work. Field survey to be completed by October 12, 2013 so that mechanical treatments can start. , Sep 13 2012 / 6 NEPA, The proposed action is covered under the normal year fire plan EA., Aug 10 2012

Aerially apply Plateau herbicide at a rate of 4 oz/ac plus 1 qt MSO/ac in 7 gallons of water/ac. Application would occur in early September 2012. It is also proposed to drill seed 2,875 acres, aerial seed and chain 4,797 acres, aerial seed only 708 acres and aerial seed Kochia and Sage Brush on 1,358 acres and Kochia on 2,182 acres. This will help to stabilize soil, slow down cheatgrass invasion, and establish a desirable plant community. Plans were changed and acres reduced following funding issues with BLM ESR.

Photo points and qualitative assessments will be done within areas sprayed with Plateau and seeded compared to areas that are seeded and do not receive the Plateau treatment. Vegetation treatments would be monitored for three years by a BLM ESR monitoring specialist.

Area will be rested from grazing

08/31/2012

04/05/2013

2013

Seed was purchased by the BLM from the consolidated seed buy conducted by the BLM. This seed was then augmented by the DWR to include species that they considered critical for wildlife habitat. The seed was mixed at the GBRC and delivered to the site for drill and aerial applications. An Archaeological Site Survey was completed upon 4,610 acres and was completed in late November. Drill seeding operation commenced while the CRI was ongoing on prtions where the survey was completed. Drill seeding began in mid to late November and was conducted by BLM crews using three triple cart drill sets and three rented tractors. All three tractors were contracted through WRI from Buttars Tractors. Drill seeding continued into late December until the snow became too deep and the ground became frozen enough that the drills were no longer penetrating the soil. Drill seeding was then suspended until conditions were acceptable to begin again. Conditions were improved enough to start drilling again by early March and the drilling operations began. Drill seeding again was conducted by BLM crews using three triple cart drill sets. The tractors used this time were BLM owned. Approximately 2875 acres were drilled and completed on 3\30\2013. The primary seeding of the BLM stabilization mix combined with the DWR species was flown on in December upon 4,532 acres and was completed on 12\19\2012. The secondary seeding flight of Kochia and Big Sage was flown upon 1358 acres in March and was completed on 3\5\20113, as well as a third flight of Kochia only, which was flown upon 2,182 acres over the area that was drill seeded. The Kochia seeding was completed on 3\5\2013. The aerial seeding was contracted through WRI and was conducted by Morris Ag Air. The areas which were seeded with the stabilization\DWR mix were then chained wherever the terrain allowed. Chaining was scheduled to start in the fall, but funding was received late in the fall and by the time the Cultural Survey was completed the weather turned bad and caused the chaining to be postponed until conditions were more favorable. Conditions improved and chaining was able to start on 3\11\2013. The chaining was contracted through WRI and was conducted by TTCI (Truck Transport Chaining Contractor). The chaining was completed on 4\5\2013 and a total of Approximately 4,068 acres.

Before ground treatments were able to begin, all funding was pulled for BLM ESR projects Nation wide because of the Federal Government Sequestration. Federal funding was then relocated based on a ranking system for all BLM projects throughout the Nation and none of the Salt Lake BLM project were re-funded. The DWR deemed this project critical for wildlife habitat, and through the WRI partnership most of the planned treatment were funded. Because this process was taking place during the critical time that treatments should have already begun, all treatment started later in the season than what would be considered ideal. This delay pushed back the start of ground treatments and pushed work into bad weather, where no treatments could continue. The conditions were tracked closely and as soon as conditions were good enough work proceeded. Even though the treatments did not proceed under ideal conditions, the work did eventually get completed mostly as planned, and the site will be monitored to track the success of the treatments.

The burn area is under a two year rest period from cattle grazing to allow for plant recovery. Following the rest period, the areas will continue under a rest rotation grazing regime. Assessment of success will be completed in subsequent years to determine if additional restoration/recovery actions need to be implemented.