This is the third phase of a multi phase project to improve sagebrush habitat on the western foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains. Shrubs and understory vegetation throughout much of the proposed treatment area is completely gone due to pinyon/juniper infilling. Healthy sagebrush ecosystems should consist of a diverse array of plants and support a wide variety of wildlife species. However, sagebrush habitat on the western foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains is becoming degraded due to pinyon and juniper encroachment. Where trees dominate they out compete 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 private 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 pinyon and 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 pinyon/juniper to decrease the risk of high severity wildfire, restore ecosystem function, and improve wildlife habitat. The bullhog contract cost for the BLM partnership is Fuels Management funding. 2,429 acres have already been treated and several miles of non-designated routes were obliterated and reseeded to discourage cross country OHV use.

- Remove approximately 80% of existing junipers from occupied sage grouse habitat and crucial mule deer habitat leaving a mosaic of uneven aged stands and old growth. - Reduce crown fire potential and fuel loading by decreasing juniper cover to less than 15% immediately post treatment. - Improve ecosystem resiliency by increasing perennial grass and forb cover (>15% and >5% respectively by 3 years post treatment) by reducing juniper and seeding where necessary. - Reestablish shrubs where depleted

This project focuses on juniper removal as a means to maintain healthy sagebrush habitat. Sagebrush habitat is at risk of being lost due to excessive pinyon and juniper, subsequent wildfire, and high potential for cheatgrass invasion. High severity wildfire could lead to an Increase in cheatgrass and loss of perennial native species. This project will decrease the risk of high severity wildfire by reducing fuel loading and promoting the growth of perennial understory species which are critical to maintaining ecosystem resilience.

See Relation to Management Plans attachment.

2 PMArchaeology, Cultural clearance was completed for this area in 2010., Nov 29 2012 / 6 NEPA, NEPA was completed for this project in March 2011. Refer to Stockton Bullhog Phase 2 (WRI #2208) to download NEPA documents., Nov 29 2012

Use mechanical shredding (bullhog) to decrease pinyon and juniper. Remove up to 80% of existing juniper through mastication; avoid old-growth and leave a mosaic pattern. Aerial Seed desirable shrubs and perennial herbaceous species prior to mastication.

Multiple, 3-spoke monitoring plots will be established and read within the project area during summer 2013 prior to implementation. Vegetation and ground cover data will be collected using the line-point intercept method and nested frequency quadrats. Photos will also taken. Data will be collected 1, 3, and 5 years post treatment.

This project falls within both the the Mercur Canyon-West Ophir and Ophir allotments. Both are active cattle and sheep allotments. The size of the allotments combined is about 56,000 acres with the majority of grazing occuring outside the proposed treatment area due to lack of water development within the treatment area. Because the area will be seeded, the BLM will work with the permittees to keep livestock out of treated areas for two growing seasons. This area will be maintained as sagebrush habitat. Potential threats include noxious weed invasion, cross country OHV use, and reinvasion of juniper. Periodic visual inspection, photo points, and vegetation monitoring will occur to assess current conditions and track trends over time. The longevity of the treatment will be maintained by slashing young junipers that resprout within the project area. Slashing could occur between 10 and 15 years post-treatment.

09/03/2013

12/13/2013

2014

680 acres of pinyon and juniper were masticated using tracked excavators with Fecon mulching heads. Juniper >24" diameter at ground level and pinyon >14"DBH were left as well as old-growth, trees along corridors and trees with wildlife nests. Where there were no trees that met the criteria of "leave" trees, 2-6 of the larger trees were left per acre. 622 acres were aerially seeded prior to mastication (419 acres included shrubs in the mix). A secondary aerial seeding of sagebrush occurred on 419 acres on 2/15/2014 after mastication was completed.

Giles Construction based out of Tooele, UT was awarded the contract. Our cost estimate was $240/ac and they came in at $239.50/ac. They used tracked excavators with Fecon heads to accomplish the work. They began work on 9/3/13 but were only allowed to work in areas that were not identified as needing seed. They started work with 6 machines and quickly ran out of acres to treat due to the fact that the rest of the project had not been seeded and we would not allow them to proceed until the seeding was done. Once the site was aerially seeded in early October they were allowed to move ahead. By this time they had decided to move 4 machines to other projects and did the rest of the acres with only 2 machines. Overall, the quality of work was consistently good but they did have a hard time grasping the "leave tree" concept and following the contract specifications as written. A secondary aerial seeding of sagebrush occurred on 419 acres on 2/15/2014 following completion of the mastication.

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.