Bighorn sheep have been reintroduced to the Flaming Gorge area. However, vegetative habitat conditions have changed in many areas of the canyon to the detriment of bighorn sheep requirements. Wild fires were historically a common component in plant community dynamics in the Green River Corridor (Goodrich 2008). The natural fire regime of the Upper Green River Corridor in Utah was altered following the impoundment behind the Flaming Gorge Dam. Fires historically originated in woody vegetation types in the canyon bottom and ran up slope along canyon walls. The result was periodic removal of shrub and tree vegetation and maintenance of more open and grassy communities. The periodic fires created differing vegetation type and age class mosaics resulting in more diverse canyon plant communities. Altered fire regimes (longer periods between fires) created conditions that favor the slow displacement of open grass habitats by taller shrub, woodlands, and conifer species. Similar vegetative community type changes contributed to the decline and extinction of 36 bighorn sheep populations in Colorado (Wakelyn 1987). Singer et al. (1999) also reported similar habitat condition influences upon bighorn sheep populations. Conversely, fire and habitat improvement efforts that create or maintain open vegetation types have been associated with bighorn population increases and range expansions (Bentz and Woodard 1988, Smith et al. 1999, Seip and Bunnell 1985, Greenwood et al. 1999). Reduced visibility by bighorn sheep due to large tree and shrub encroachment contribute to higher levels of cougar predation (McKinney 2006). Tree and shrub management actions were recommended for improving visibility and reducing cougar predation. The advancing site dominance by pinyon and juniper closed canopy woodlands will also decrease vegetative understory. Large, intense, wildfires that may result from more monotypic vegetation classes in the future will also contribute to exotic noxious weed (cheatgrass) expansion and site dominance. Results of such events would contribute to increased soil movement through lost permanent ground cover and a resultant decrease in reservoir water quality. Bighorn sheep are an Ashley National Forest Sensitive Species. Since their reintroduction, they have become an iconic species for the public. The Forest Land Management Plan encourages actions that maintain and improve bighorn habitat, herd health, and population viability. Vegetative treatments are now needed to mimic and replace the historical canyon fire regime. If no action occurs, vegetative seral conditions will continue to advance toward a more shrub and tree dominated landscape and bighorn sheep habitat will decline.

The project intent is to: 1. Maintain and improve habitat for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep; 2. Maintain and improve vegetation diversity and stand structure of grass and shrub vegetation types; 3. Reduce the likelihood of large fires through decreased fuel loads and stand densities, and; 4. Maintain a viable population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and preclude ESA listing. Ancillary to the bighorn herd and vegetative community health objectives, the National Recreation Area management intent is to provide diverse recreational opportunity. A well distributed bighorn herd, with viable population numbers and good vegetative diversity provides a unique addition for public enjoyment.

Small and periodic fires have declined in the Flaming Gorge Reservoir canyons. Vegetative communities within the Green River Corridor of the Flaming Gorge area are at risk of moving toward a more monotypic community, structure, and age class. Tall shrub and conifer species are increasing in both distribution and density. Native understory species will diminish under this seral stage advancement. Reduced ground cover and more extensive and intensive wildfires can result in long term watershed and habitat loss. The Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a municipal watershed for the local rural communities. Habitat loss, change, and altered fire regimes are all widely noted as threats to local and national bighorn sheep populations (NatureServe 2015). Bighorn sheep rank N4 and S3 for National and Utah State conservation needs, respectively (UWAP 2015). The Utah Bighorn Sheep Statewide Management Plan (UDWR 2013); current North Slope, Uinta Mountains Unit #8 Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (2004); and the draft update Uinta Mountains, North Slope/South Slope, WMUs #8 and #9 Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (April 2015, pending administrative Wildlife Board adoption) all address vegetation management practices to offset habitat losses. This project addresses habitat losses to altered fire regimes and subsequent loss of open habitat to conifer species. It also promotes improved bighorn range distribution and subsequently reduces disease interaction risks from high density population interactions.

The project supports: 1. Entire project is within the "Rangeland" WRI NER focus area. 2. Ashley National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986). The Forest Plan mandates actions that "manage pinyon-juniper to provide for maximum wildlife habitat and esthetics. Sage-grass-browse and openings of various sizes and shapes should be maintained and expanded where slopes, watershed conditions, soils, and esthetics considerations permit." (p. A-5, Vegetation Section 5.(2,3,5); Wildlife and Fish Section 6.(1,2,12,15), p. A-9 Esthetics Section 2.(1,3,4,5,13,17). Bighorn sheep are also considered an Ashley National Forest Sensitive Species and mule deer are a Management Indicator Species. Both management status categories receive local management level considerations for both the species and their habitats. 3. The Utah Statewide and local bighorn sheep herd management plans (North and South Slope Units 8 & 9, respectively) recommend vegetation management actions to offset habitat losses or degradation. 4. The Utah Statewide and local mule deer herd management plans (North Slope, Unit 8) both recommend vegetation management actions to offset habitat losses or degradations. 5. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2015) (WAP) includes bighorn sheep as a Species of Greatest Conservation need (SGCN) with a National and Utah State ranking of N4 and S3, respectively. The project includes portions of 3 key habitats defined in the WAP: lowland sagebrush, mountain sagebrush, and mountain shrub (true mountain mahogany) communities. Specific key habitat types are dependent upon local site slope, aspect, and elevation within the treatment polygons.

The project area is within the Dutch John municipal watershed. Fire events such as the Mustang Ridge and Bare Mountain west slope fires resulted in large scale and nearly complete vegetative community conversions. Fuel build up in the form of high crown canopy and fuel density contributed to these large fire scales and high intensity impacts. The altered fire regime within the Green River corridor is allowing vegetative communities to advance in seral stage toward high fuel density and canopy height. This project will mimic the historical fire regime to some extent and will help maintain vegetative community mosaics. This will also provide a level of protection for the Dutch John municipal watershed. Small scale prescribed fire is not included as a treatment method in this project proposal because of potential impact concerns to cultural/historical sites and visual impacts to recreation. Therefore, lop and scatter hand cutting is being used as a substitute. One of the project objectives is to reduce the potential of large scale wildfires by reducing crown canopy and lowering fuel density and height levels. Threats to scenic and cultural values as well as vegetative communities and a municipal watershed will be reduced.

The Ashley National Forest NEPA Hydrologist Specialist Report (Plunkett 2015) evaluated the project for municipal watershed, wetland, water quality, floodplains, and other hydrological considerations. No measureable impacts to water related resource categories is anticipated from lop and scatter treatments.

The project fits as a Forest Service Categorical Exclusion (CE) under NEPA planning guidelines. The Decision Memo is signed and the project is ready to be implemented. Concurrence consultations support the NEPA analysis project determinations for: Endangered Species - Canada lynx - USFWS concurrence. Cultural Resources - SHIPPO concurrence. Treatments are compliant with Utah Forest State Water Quality guidelines.

Hand cutting of encroaching conifer species including pinyon, juniper, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine will occur on approximately 1,100 acres. Lopped vegetation and stumps will be reduced to a 24" height maximum and left in place. Work sites within the treatment polygons will require foot hiking and boat access from the reservoir shoreline to complete. The project is designed to be completed over a period of up to 20 years to help reduce and offset impacts to scenic values of the NRA. The extended treatment period also provides time for completing treatments in the remote access locations and to facilitate project implementation funding. Design features are included to mitigate potential impacts to other area resource values.

Treated sites will be photographed immediately pre and post treatment (USFS). Bighorn animal use and population response will be monitored via telemetry, ground, aircraft, and boat based annual surveys (UDWR). Observed bighorn distribution into treated areas and herd population trend will both be surveyed and recorded. Periodic reports can be produced as warranted.

The Utah Foundation for Wild Sheep and Goats has offered financial support for implementation. UDWR and USFS have been working together for several years to coordinate project planning and are providing both personnel and implementation funding through individual agency budgets and WRI funding solicitation. The project is located on Forest Service land with no potential for adjacent landowner participation.

Future management will focus on implementation of additional project phases until all proposed polygons are completed. Monitoring and evaluation will guide adaptive management toward future project planning. Objectives are to improve and maintain vegetative diversity, maintain scenic values, and enhance bighorn herd health and population distribution.

No domestic livestock grazing occurs within the project area. Canyon slopes contain steep cliffs and are generally unsuitable for domestic livestock grazing. Grazing does occur on the top of Dowd Mountain. However, the actual project area around Dowd Mountain does not receive grazing use due to terrain and slope conditions that make it unsuitable for livestock grazing.

05/01/2017

06/03/2017

2017

Summitt Forests, Inc. of Ashland, Oregon completed 524 acres of conifer lop and scatter work on the Flaming Gorge Ranger District of the Ashley National Forest. Hand crews accessed the area by foot and boat along the rim, canon wall, and shoreline in Carter Creek and Flaming Gorge Reservoir around Dowd Mountain. Cutting included prescriptive cutting of Douglas fir and ponderosa pine as well as encroaching pinyon and juniper in sagebrush, grass, and mountain shrub communities. Summitt Forests was the sole bidding entity with an accepted bid price of $310.79 per acre.

The project is the first phase of work designed to mimic historic fire regimes along the Green River. Historic fires kept mosaic patterns of conifers, shrublands, and grassland communities along the river. Bighorn sheep benefitted from these fires through the creation of open habitat communities that the species relies upon. The terrain is difficult with steep and rocky cliffs from the reservoir and creek shorelines to the rim of the Dowd Mountain plateau. Access was also difficult with two cutting units requiring access through boat crew delivery. Crew safety was also provided through the boat escort in that part of the work. Conifer cutting prescriptions included wholesale cutting of pinyon and juniper trees within open shrub and cliff communities but also included creating stand age class diversity through thinning. Douglas fir and ponderosa pine were also cut by prescription to alter stand age classes and tree density. Bighorn sheep are found within the project area.

The entire bighorn habitat enhancement project as approved includes a total of 1,415 acres. Treatment logistics precluded treating the full planned acreage of 1,100 acres in the first Project Phase. Consequently, the first phase treated 524 acres and served as an experimental approach for establishing methods and anticipated goal achievement. Future project phases will apply similar prescriptions and methods in various approved polygons along the Green River/Flaming Gorge Canyon areas. Upon completion of this project, further bighorn sheep habitat enhancement projects will be planned and evaluated. The goal is to maintain bighorn sheep habitat to support the existing herd and potentially expanding herd distribution. Project photo points are included in the images section.