Beavers have been removed from many drainages and watersheds where they have historically occurred. Beavers contribute important benefits to watersheds such as recharging and raising ground water tables, improving riparian vegetation, expanding wetlands, slowing flood waters, reducing erosion, improving water quality, providing habitat for aquatic species and other wildlife, and providing more biodiversity to the landscape. Landowners, USFS employees, BLM employees, and local communities have expressed interest and support in relocating nuisance beavers and restoring beaver populations in historic, suitable habitat (as explicated in the Statewide Management Plan). Specifically sites identified for translocation in this proposal encompass portions of the headwaters of the East Fork Sevier River on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, streams draining the east side of Mount Dutton and lakes that maintain recreational sport fisheries on Boulder Mountain. The Paunsaugunt Plateau locations are within current and historic habitat for boreal toad, which has seen a dramatic decline in density, distribution and breeding activity over the past 20 years, at least some of which has been attributed to the loss of active and maintained beaver ponds throughout the drainage. WRI project "3631 Paunsaugunt boreal toad habitat improvement project" highlights the need for beaver and beaver habitat to benefit boreal toad populations on the Paunsaugunt. Streams draining the east side of the Mount Dutton were all affected by the 2002 Sanford Fire. Vegetation loss and subsequent flooding led to major erosion and incision on many of these streams. Deep Creek contains a remnant population of Bonneville cutthroat trout, which was extirpated after the fire. Deer Creek and Cottonwood Creek contained nonnative sport fisheries that were extirpated following the fire.Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT) to have been reintroduced into all three of these streams and are persisting at some level; however, habitat has been slow to recover. Habitat and riparian vegetation have recovered faster where beaver have been able to colonize and maintain themselves (particularly in Deer Creek, see attached images). There is a need to increase habitat complexity and reconnect the floodplain of streams incised following the Sanford fire on Mount Dutton. Re-establishing beavers into approved and suitable watersheds will restore these lost benefits and values, as well as provide an opportunity to diminish or obliterate nuisance issues resulting from beaver damage on private property, without resorting to lethal methods. Some issues associated with nuisance beavers include: impeding flow of irrigation water (blocking pipelines or culverts), flooding property, cutting cottonwoods/aspen/willow. In these circumstances, nuisance beavers would be an excellent source for live trapping and relocating to desirable and suitable locations. If a nuisance area's ecosystem is critically dependent on beaver activity, or is an excellent environment for beavers, flow-control devices may be implemented to sustain beaver activity while resolving the associated nuisance issues.

Improve riparian habitat and biodiversity via re-establishing beavers in approved and suitable watersheds, consequently alleviating nuisance per Statewide Management Plan. Improve boreal toad breeding habitat on the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Improve habitat complexity and help to halt incision and reconnect streams to their floodplain on the east side of Mount Dutton. Improve the holding capacity in Moosman Reservoir and Deer Creek Lake, which should improve the ability of trout to overwinter. Improving habitat for boreal toad, Bonneville cutthroat trout and other riparian and aquatic species will support the WRI arm to enhance Utah's Wildlife and Biological Diversity. Reconnecting the floodplain and raising the water table using beaver supports the WRI arm of Water Quality and Yield for all Uses. To work cohesively with BLM, USFS, NGO's, and any other federal, state, or non-government agency that may be involved with riparian restoration.

Beaver may transport Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). To eliminate this issue, a 72-hour quarantine period will be required for any beavers from waterways that remain "unknown" in regards to AIS. Beavers from watersheds contaminated with AIS will be held in quarantine for 120 hours. Furthermore, beavers will not be relocated within a four mile radius of a fish hatchery, and those from sources of AIS will not be released in areas designated "critical habitat" for native cutthroat trout. Due to the delicate nature of live trapping, the UDWR has previously attended a workshop with Sherri Tippy to ensure the most meticulous and expedited process is implemented. As highlighted in WRI project 3631 "Paunsaugunt boreal toad habitat improvement project" without continued habitat improvement projects and other conservation actions there is the risk that the Paunsaugunt population of boreal toad may be listed as threatened or endangered which would threaten the WRI arm of "Opportunities for Sustainable Uses" in this area. Additionally, streams on the eastern side of Mount Dutton are slowly recovering from the Sanford Fire the reintroduction of beaver offers a low cost, low risk method of stabilizing those streams and reconnecting their floodplains. Without beaver it could take decades to centuries to regain floodplain connection and habitat complexity unless significantly more costly active stream restoration methods were employed.

Utah's Wildlife Action Plan: The goal/purpose of Utah's Wildlife Action Plan is to "To manage native wildlife species and their habitats, sufficient to prevent additional listings under the Endangered Species Act." As discussed above, the Paunsaugunt Plateau population of boreal toad appears to fit the criteria that could lead to it being evaluated as a Distinct Population Segment under the current petition to list an "Eastern population" of boreal toad as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Similarly, Bonneville cutthroat trout have been petitioned for listing threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act multiple times and translocating beaver to streams on the east side of Mount Dutton would improve their habitat. The WAP has an objective to reduce the scope and severity of channel downcutting for aquatic forested and riverine habitat. It also identifies the following conservation actions to achieve these objectives: 1) Restore aquatic habitat complexity. 2) Restore floodplain connectivity. 3) Increase cover and extent of native riparian vegetation by restoring beaver on the landscape where social and environmental factors permit (per beaver Restoration Assessment Tool). This project will help achieve goals outlined in the Dixie and Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plans by increasing diversity of plant and animal communities (Diversity IV-3), protecting and improving aquatic habitats (Wildlife and Fish, IV-3), improving habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species (Wildlife and Fish, IV-4), and maintaining or improving water quality and the productivity of streams and riparian areas (Soil and Water, IV-4). Other multi-agency plans this project will directly benefit include: State of Utah Beaver Management Plan, Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, Range-wide Conservation Agreement for Southern leatherside chub and the Boreal Toad Conservation Plan in the State of Utah. Examples of specific plan objectives include: UTAH STATEWIDE BEAVER MANAGEMENT PLAN The overall goal of the plan is to "Maintain healthy, functional beaver populations in ecological balance with available habitat, human needs, and associated species." Population Management Objective 1: Maintain reproducing beaver populations within their current distribution in appropriate habitat through 2020. Watershed Restoration Objective 1: Work to improve riparian habitats associated streams and wetlands in a minimum of 10 tributaries through translocating beaver into unoccupied suitable habitat on public and/or private land by 2020. Strategy 9) Encourage land management agencies and private landowners to manage riparian habitat to support translocated beaver populations. Boreal Toad Conservation Plan for the State of Utah: The goal of the Boreal toad Conservation Plan is to "maintain or restore multiple, viable breeding populations in nine of the 14 mountain ranges or geologic areas in Utah where boreal toad historically occurred ." The Plan identifies seven key Conservation Strategies including: "Identify and reduce threats from habitat loss and degradation (Habitat Management). Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville cutthroat trout (Lentsch et al. 2000): Strategy Objective II A) 1) Maintain or restore water quality to a degree that provides for stable and productive riparian and aquatic ecosystems; 2) Maintain or restore stream channel integrity, channel processes, and the sediment regime (including the elements of timing, volume, and character of sediment input and transport) under which the riparian and aquatic ecosystems developed; 5) Maintain or restore the diversity and productivity of desired plant communities in riparian zones; 6) Maintain or restore riparian vegetation to: c) help achieve rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration characteristic of those under which the communities developed; Conservation Agreement and Strategy for southern leatherside (Lepidomeda aliciae) in the State of Utah (UDWR 2010): Objective 3 - Identify, prioritize, and implement actions to reduce threats to southern leatherside populations and habitat and evaluate the effectiveness of these actions. Conservation Element B) 2) - Restore habitat where possible, creating habitat complexity and connectivity for southern leatherside. Conservation Element B) 3) - Implement habitat enhancements that may include some or all of the following: removal of diversion structures, modification of barriers to allow fish passage, bank stabilization, enhancement of native vegetation, riparian fencing, nonnative removal and implementation of compatible grazing practices. Conservation Element D) 4) -- Maintain natural hydrologic conditions. This project will also help Forestry Fire and State Lands accomplish objectives, according to the Utah Statewide Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy Guide 2010.

This project is not directly tied to fire or fuels benefit. However, the benefits of increased riparian vegetation communities may make an area more resilient to wildlife or at the least act as an efficient fire break. Additionally, beavers are taken to areas that have experienced fire damage for landscape rehabilitation.

The very function of beaver dams exemplifies increased water quality and quantity. The creation of ponds decelerates run off and stream flow, curtailing erosion and allowing stabilization of the stream banks. The pooling water additionally raises the water table, consequently creating meadows and riparian vegetation. This also keeps stored water cool underground, releasing water during drought conditions and extending the season of water flow. Finally, filtering out sediment will leave cleaner watersheds downstream, which also benefits multiple species.

UDWR will consult with Federal partners if NEPA is required for installation of flow control devices on a case-by-case basis. Beaver relocations alone will not necessitate any archaeological clearances, and any NEPA is covered by the UDWR Beaver Management Plan. UDWR has juridiction over beaver in Utah as it is considered a furbearer. UDWR also has a statewide Stream Alteration Permit that allows action related to beaver trapping and translocation permissible under state law

The UDWR employees will be assessing the impacts of the project through visiting all sites where beaver are transplanted and communicating with other agencies (USFS, BLM, FFSL, etc.), local residents and trappers, as well as other volunteer agencies to ensure beneficial results. The UDWR will monitor the relocation sites that are utilized and address any unforeseen conflicts that may have occurred due to the translocation.

The UDWR employees will be assessing the impacts of the project through visiting all sites where beaver are transplanted and communicating with other agencies (USFS, BLM, FFSL, etc.), local residents and trappers, as well as other volunteer agencies to ensure beneficial results. The UDWR will monitor the relocation sites that are utilized and address any unforeseen conflicts that may have occurred due to the translocation. Repeat photography will be used to illustrate changes to the landscape due to beaver activity. The request for VHF transmitters will assist in the monitoring process. Though two receivers have been requested so both seasonals will have full access to receivers to monitor when possible, other sections of the DWR and other agencies may also have receivers to be utilized at times. In addition, DWR performs classification flights for big game, and we could capitalize on that opportunity to have biologists on the flights perform some telemetry as well. In addition, the Dixie has Riparian Level II inventory sites along many of the potential translocation sites and can assess changes in greenline vegetation related to reintroductions. UDWR and Forest Service annually monitor boreal toad breeding activity and distribution on the Paunsaugunt. UDWR and Forest Service just completed BCT sampling in the East Fork Sevier River drainage in 2015 and will reassess BCT populations in the drainage by 2022.

Forest Service, BLM, NGO's as necessary and Division of Wildlife Resources agree to work together to translocate, monitor, and any other trapping/translocation needs as necessary. In the development of the Beaver Management Plan, advisory committee members included: Utah Trappers Association, Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Utah Cattlemen's Association, Utah Farm Bureau, Grand Canyon Trust, BLM, Wildlife Services, DWR. This committee developed this plan including the relocation processes and suitable translocation sites. It was then taken to the RAC and Wildlife Board for approval. Before deciding a relocation site, DWR contacts the pertinent public lands agency, county commissioners, irrigation owners, and any other private property owners that might be affected.

As the Statewide Beaver Management Plan is instated until 2020, the UDWR will continue to apply for funding to transplant beavers every year. Future management in terms of monitoring are explained in the Monitoring section, and any other future management regarding population, AIS, nuisance issues, harvest management, watershed restoration, and/or research is illuminated in the plan. Additionally, the Paunsaugunt is closed to trapping until future recommendations are made. UDWR and the Dixie National Forest are in the process of developing a Conservation Action Plan for the Paunsaugunt Plateau population of boreal toad, which will have a large focus on increasing and maintaining beaver populations on the Plateau. Additionally UDWR and the Forest Service are signatories to the BCT and Southern leatherside chub Conservation Agreements and Strategies. As such both agencies are committed to healthy watersheds, riparian areas and stream habitats where these species occur and encouraging and maintaining beaver support those commitments.

Beaver as ecosystem engineers can increase the amount of forage for wild and domestic ungulates. This project is not designed specifically to benefit livestock but may provide secondary benefits by improving the diversity and availability of riparian vegetation. Range conservationists from the USFS adjust stocking rates based on conditions. If conditions of the stream improve, there is no justification for lowering AUMs as the area will have became more resilient and productive.

07/01/2016

06/30/2017

2017

Three seasonal technicians were hired during this process; Selena Yardley, Hunter Mecham, and Jennifer Batty. Hunter was provided a seasonal vehicle through motorpool, Selena already has a DWR permanent truck, and Jennifer used vehicle reimbursements. From July first through August 15th, traps were set in Hatch, North Escalante, Hoosier Lake, Mammoth Creek, and Kingston Canyon. From May 17th through June 30th, traps were set in LaVerkin, Black Canyon, Fish Lake (Bowery Haven), Virgin, Monroe (private pond), and Bicknell Bottoms. Beavers were taken to the following translocation sites: Fish Creek and Cottonwood Creek (July-August), Deer Creek, Baker Spring, and Shingle Creek (May - June). The live traps used were Hancock or Koro style traps. Each trap was secured with a cable and rebar stake, and baited with gland or lure and vegetation. Traps were checked each morning, and reset for the following evening. Before each site was trapped, notes were made about the complaint in a Google Form as well as an Excel spreadsheet for record keeping. Heather contacted Forest Service, county commissioners, water masters, irrigators, and/or animal control depending on the trapping and release site, to gain support for the activity. Once a beaver was attained, Heather was called for instruction for which quarantine facility to utilize, which pens within the facility to use for pairing beavers, updates to those relocating if quarantining was extended, etc. Beavers were fed each day, had water changes done each morning, and mister systems turned on during the day. Once beavers were caught, arrangements were made with technicians and Forest Service to relocate the beavers. Beginning in May, all beavers were "processed;" meaning they were given tail transmitters, oxygen levels monitored, identified gender, measured, weighed and given an approximate age. We hope the VHF tail transmitters will show us survival and movement post translocation.

A total of 27 beavers were moved during this fiscal year, which is an increase over the 18 that were moved the previous year. With three technicians, we were able to trap a substantial increase in locations, allowing for more beavers to be trapped and an increase in public satisfaction since we were able to cater to all nuisance complaints.

Since we've acquired the VHF transmitters, we plan to continue to track the signals to better assess survival and telemetry. Though we would like to utilize GPS telemetry, it would be almost completely ineffective (ATS quotes "three percent success rate") due to beavers being under water and in lodges so much of the time. If beavers move to nuisance locations, we will attempt to live-trap and release them in a low-conflict area. Other considerations for ameliorating nuisance situations could be flow control devices, and disseminating other information about avoiding conflicts with beavers.