One key factor for stream enhancement projects to be successful is the establishment of woody riparian vegetation. Woody riparian vegetation helps to stabilize stream banks, create valuable instream and near-stream habitat, directly and indirectly increase food production for fish and wildlife, and other numerous benefits.

The main goal of the project is to improve the condition and function of riparian corridors in the Southern Region. The main objective is to establish a healthy, diverse woody riparian vegetation community where none currently exist along important stream corridors in the Southern Region.

If the project is not funded, it will take longer for woody riparian vegetation to establish or some areas may never have the diversity of trees and shrubs necessary to significantly benefit wildlife and users. The absence of important woody riparian vegetation negatively impacts wildlife (e.g., poor habitat for sensitive species and game fish), reduces recreational opportunities (e.g., poor habitat related to riparian vegetation can be a limiting factor for popular game fish), leads to poor water quality (e.g., no buffer for nonpoint source of pollutants from overland flow), puts past stream enhancement efforts at risk (e.g., elevated rates of erosion could cause the loss of structures or other past enhancement work), etc. If the project is funded, there are no notable threats or risks. Similar projects have been funded and implemented in the past without any major problems and positive results.

The project would address General Conservation Actions listed in the Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy: 1. "Restore Degraded Habitats" - promote natural, healthy stream sinuosity and channel profiles, plant desirable vegetation, improve aquatic habitat for a variety of fish species, etc. 2."Control and Monitor Contaminants" - buffer nonpoint source contaminants from overland flow and reduce contaminant inputs from bank erosion (e.g., phosphorous). 3. "Increase/Secure In-stream Flow & Conservation Pools" - despite water loss associated with evapotranspiration, riparian plantings would have a positive impact on in-stream flow by promoting less variable, more natural stream flows and ground water recharge. 4. "Habitat Monitoring and Research" - riparian plantings would occur in areas that are being monitored and add to the knowledge base about the effects of habitat restoration on different species. The project would help to meet goals and objectives listed in the Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan: 1. "Maintain or improve water quality and quantity for local needs while providing for the needs of recreation, fish and wildlife" - establish woody riparian vegetation where needed, decrease sediment flow into the river, etc. 2. "Provide suitable habitat for a diversity of wildlife species" - provide and protect quality fish habitat and recreational angling opportunities. 3. "Maintain and restore desired vegetation that is resilient and sustainable" - move vegetation communities closer to desired conditions. 4. "Maintain ranching and agricultural as sustainable economic, cultural and lifestyle components of the Upper Sevier Watershed" - riparian plantings along the Sevier River are done on private land in a manner that helps to "address potential and real conflicts between wildlife management goals and private land use". The project would help to achieve water quality and beneficial use goals cited in the Otter Creek -- East Fork Sevier TMDL Study: 1. "Stabilize channel banks" - reduce streambank erosion and promote stability. 2. "Increase filtering capacity" - buffer nonpoint sources of phosphorous (pollutant of concern) from overland flow. 3. "Protect waters for cold water species of game fish and other cold water aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain" - shift and maintain temperature and dissolved oxygen at suitable levels for cold water aquatic species. The project would implement conservation elements called for in the Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Southern Leatherside (Lepidomeda aliciae) in the State of Utah: 1. "Habitat Enhancement" - restore habitat conditions within the historical range of southern leatherside. 2. "Restore Hydrologic Conditions" - restore natural hydrologic characteristics and water quality (e.g., riparian buffer of nonpoint source pollutants). 3. "Range Expansion" - create suitable habitat conditions for potential reintroduction of southern leatherside to the lower Beaver River. The project would help to meet habitat-related objectives in the Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah: 1. Riparian plantings would promote a healthy, functioning riparian habitat along the upper Sevier River and benefit late brood-rearing habitat for greater sage-grouse.

This project encourages a healthy riparian zone, which can provide a vegetation community and microclimate that may reduce the risk of fire to a limited degree and increase the potential use of these areas as control points and fuel/fire breaks.

The project has the potential to improve water quality. The project would occur in areas where a healthy community of riparian vegetation is currently lacking; such areas that are more likely to contribute pollutants to streams via both direct inputs (e.g., total phosporous in soil from eroding stream banks) and indirect pathways (e.g., pollutants entering streams from overland flow are not buffered, stream temperature fluctuations are greater because the microclimate associated with dense, healthy riparian vegetation does not exist). The project would help to establish and increase woody riparian vegetation abundance and diversity along important stream corridors in the Southern Region, which would then help with decreasing pollutants and improve water quality. There are limited pathways by which as project like this can impact water quantity. However, the project does promote reconnecting the stream with the floodplain and increasing water infiltration, both leading to ground water recharge and more consistent flows later into the season.

Archaeology clearance and NEPA would not be required. All planting would be done by hand and only involve small plants (e.g., willow stakes and bare root stock), the areas being planted are already highly disturbed from flooding and land use, and the majority of the project would occur on private land.

Bare root trees and shrubs would be purchased from various nurseries depending on stock availability and price. The Utah Conservation Corps would be contracted to plant bare root stock and willow cuttings along stream corridors where past stream enhancement projects have been completed and woody riparian vegetation is still lacking. Planting projects would begin in April of 2017.

Surveys of vegetation and fish population in the project areas are already being done and would be continued. Specifically, the UDWR monitors vegetation through periodic visual assessments of plantings and vegetation, game fish populations (i.e., brown trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout) through electrofishing surveys, and native fish populations (e.g., southern leatherside) through seining surveys. Additionally, UDWQ has initiated multiple indicator monitoring (MIM) of stream channels and streamside vegetation at sites within the project areas. Fisheries biologists with the UDWR plan to work with UDWQ to aid and expand their monitoring efforts within the project areas.

Multiple private landowners, agencies, and other stakeholders have been contacted, involved, and/or expressed support for the project. These partners were first contacted to gain input and support for the initial stream enhancement work (installation of in-stream structures, bank sloping, riparian fencing, etc.) and continue to be engaged in efforts to maintain and further improve upon the initial stream enhancement project. Specific examples of partners include multiple private landowners, local water users, BLM, UDWQ, and USU.

All of the areas are fenced and fences area actively maintained. Grazing is excluded along the riparian corridor in most of the areas. There are also grazing plans in place with the landowner or permittee in all areas to manage for establishment of woody riparian vegetation. Planting locations will be monitored and it will be determined if additional plantings are needed.

Livestock grazing occurs in the form of managed springtime grazing at most of the project locations. While the woody riparian vegetation that would be planted is intended to be beneficial for fish and wildlife and not necessarily high value for livestock (e.g., willow, cottonwood, water birch, red-osier dogwood, chokecherry, golden currant), it would help to provide some forage for livestock.

03/27/2017

04/20/2017

2017

Bare root trees and shrubs were be purchased from various nurseries. The Utah Conservation Corps was hired to plant the bare root stock and willow cuttings on stream enhancement projects that have been completed in the past and other appropriate areas that have proper livestock grazing management in place. Planting projects were completed in April 2017.

The project was implemented as planned. There were no significant problems, difficulties, etc. The partnership with landowners was beneficial to the project and utilizing a UCC crew to do the plantings seemed to be effective.

All of the areas are fenced and fences area actively maintained. Grazing is excluded along the riparian corridor in most of the areas. There are also grazing plans in place with the landowner or permittee in all areas to manage for establishment of woody riparian vegetation. Planting locations will be monitored and it will be determined if additional plantings are needed.