The need for the project is derived from existing conditions which are too dense for sage grouse to use, currently with cover values around 40-50%. Sage-grouse management recommendations for brood-rearing specify desirable sagebrush canopy cover at levels of 15-25% (UDWR -Utah Sage-grouse Conservation Plan). The need for this action is also identified in the sage-grouse conservation strategy of the Strawberry Valley Adaptive Resource Management Local Working Group (SVARM 2006 local conservation plan).

Create openings in the thick sagebrush cover. Reduce sagebrush canopy cover to 10%-15%. Improve brood rearing habitat by increasing cover and abundance of grasses and forbs. Increase aerial cover of perennial grasses to 30% and forb cover to 20%.

Without treatment, the area will continue to decline as sagebrush continues to choke out valuable forb species. Currently this area is not being effectively used by sage-grouse, and will not be beneficial to the species without treatment.

This area is one of the UDWR sagebrush improvement focus areas. Specific conservation actions listed in the Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy includes "identify and enhance fragmented and degraded habitats". This project is consistent with the recommendations outlined in the Utah Sage-grouse Conservation Strategy. Early brood-rearing habitat generally occurs relatively close to nest sites, but movements of individual broods may be highly variable (Connelly 1982, Gates 1983). Early brood-rearing habitats may be relatively open (≤ 14 percent canopy cover) stands of sagebrush when compared to optimum nesting habitat (Martin 1970, Wallestad 1971), but sage-grouse prefer > 15% canopy cover of forbs and grasses (Sveum et al. 1998, Bunnell et al. 2000). High plant species richness with abundant forbs and insects characterize brood areas (Dunn and Braun 1986, Klott and Lindzey 1989, Drut et al. 1994, Apa 1998). Insects, especially ants and beetles, are an important food component of early brood-rearing habitat (Drut et al. 1994, Fischer 1996, Baxter 2003). As herbaceous plants mature and dry, hens usually move their broods to mesic sites during June and July where more succulent vegetation and greater insect abundance is available (Gill 1965, Klebenow 1969, Connelly and Markham 1983, Connelly et al. 1988, Fischer et al. 1996, Bunnell et al. 2000). Sage-grouse broods occupy a variety of habitats during summer including sagebrush, relatively small burned areas within sagebrush, wet meadows, farmland, and other irrigated areas adjacent to sagebrush habitats (Savage 1969, Martin 1970, Connelly and Markham 1983, Gates 1983, Connelly et al. 1988, Pyle and Crawford 1996). Late brood-rearing habitats are highly variable. Patterson (1952) reported that sage-grouse move from summer to winter range in October but during mild late fall weather some birds may still use summer range. Fall movements to winter range are slow and meandering and occur from late August to December (Connelly et al. 1988). Wallestad (1975) documented a shift in feeding habits from September, when grouse were consuming a large amount of forbs, to December when birds were feeding only on sagebrush. The need for this action is identified in the sage-grouse conservation strategy of the Strawberry Valley Adaptive Resource Management Local Working Group. Strategy 2: Maintain and where possible, improve grass/forb component in the understory in nesting and brood-rearing areas. Action 2.3: Conduct vegetation treatments to improve forb diversity. This project is consistent with the following sub-goals of the 2003 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Uinta NF: • Sub-goal 2-6: “Ecosystems on the Forest provide and maintain viable and well-distributed populations of flora and fauna. New listings of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species as a result of Forest Service management activities are avoided.” • Sub-goal 2-8: “Ecosystem resilience is maintained by providing for a full range of seral stages and age classes (by cover type) that achieve a mosaic of habitat conditions and diversity to meet a variety of desired resource management objectives. Recruitment and sustainability of some early seral species and vegetation communities in the landscape are necessary to maintain ecosystem resilience to perturbations.” • Sub-goal 2-10: “Management actions maintain ecosystem health and encourage conditions that are within the historic ran

1 Archaeologist, USFS NEPA, Feb 11 2013 / 2 PMArchaeology, This project has recieved archeological clearance, Dec 11 2012 / 6 NEPA, NEPA is completed, Dec 11 2012

Treatment polygons will be 2-way harrowed with a 50 ft buffer of 1-way harrow treatment around each polygon. Slopes greater than 15% will be untreated to minimize soil erosion. Treatments will be limited on south and east-facing slopes because they currently provide more snow-free habitat in winter. Other design features include: 1. A 50 foot Riparian Habitat Conservation Area (RHCA) buffer of no treatment should be maintained on Strawberry Reservoir and tributaries. A 300 foot RHCA buffer will be maintained to minimize soil disturbance and for adherence to Forest Plan standards for the high shoreline of Strawberry Reservoir and for the Road Hollow drainage. Within the 300 foot RHCA buffer, the first 50 feet will be a no-treatment buffer zone on Strawberry Reservoir and tributaries, and then the next 250 feet will be protected by using only a Brush Hog mower to minimize surface soil disturbance. All of the other tributary drainages to Strawberry Reservoir in Chicken Springs and Sage Creek Bay treatment units will also have a 50 foot RHCA buffer of no treatment. 2. Equipment will not be permitted during the wet season (April 1 – July15) in seasonally wet drainage bottoms and Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas. 3. Harrowing will be accomplished between July 15 – Aug.15 each season to minimize spread of rabbitbrush. 4. To minimize impacts to nesting birds, including Brewer’s sparrows, treatment will occur outside of the primary nesting season (April 15 – July 15). 5. Vegetation treatment will occur at least 50 feet from a designated road or trail to discourage additional impacts from illegal vehicle activity. 6. Noxious weeds will be treated within and adjacent to the treatment area, by grubbing, to prevent additional spread. To further reduce noxious weed spread, including musk thistle, no treatment will occur within 600 feet of active musk thistle infestations.

Photo points will be established prior to treatment. Sagebrush canopy cover will be estimated pre and post treatment at photo point locations. Sage Grouse monitoring will be done by Brigham Young University as part of an ongoing research project.

There is no grazing in this area. Property is managed by the USFS to ensure the long term success of the project.

07/29/2013

10/01/2013

2014

Treatment polygons were 2-way harrowed with a 50 ft buffer of 1-way harrow treatment around each polygon. Slopes greater than 15% were left untreated to minimize soil erosion. Treatments were limited to mainly south facing slopes with some east and slightly west facing slopes because they currently provide more snow-free habitat in winter.

The polygons were treated with a 24' chain harrow. The treatment began mid-September and was completed on September 23, 2013. The polygons were irregularly shaped to provide maximum habitat improvement. With the exception of two of the polygons, they were all harrowed 2-ways with a 50 ft buffer of 1-way harrowing around each polygon. The other two polygons were located in an area with dense silver sagebrush. In the past we have found that these areas grow back very quickly so we wanted to test whether or not a more aggressive treatment would be more effective. One of the polygons was harrowed 3 ways and the other polygon was harrowed 4 ways. Photo point monitoring was established in both of these polygons to monitor the effect.

Several photo point transects were established in various locations throughout the treatment. These will be monitored over time to determine if additional treatments will be necessary. Monitoring and control of musk thistle within the treatment areas will also take place.