The White River corridor has become increasingly dominated by Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis). These invasives replace native plant communities by creating dense monocultures that prevent native plant species from establishing or re-establishing along the riparian corridor. The impacts from these monocultures include the reduction and elimination of native plant communities that directly reduces plant community diversity, insect diversity, wildlife habitat diversity, and aggressive fuels accumulation and river channel narrowing. Additionally, these monocultures can trap more sediment, armor the stream bank preventing lateral dissipation of stream energy, effectively narrowing and deepening the channel. This disconnects the stream from the riparian zone, and reduces the amount floodplain and backwater habitat available to juvenile fish; which is important habitat for many of the native fishes found in the White River. Control and removal of both Russian-olive and tamarisk infestations is critical to a healthy and functioning riparian system which directly affects the overall health of the watershed. The goal of this project is to reduce Russian-olive and tamarisk densities and infestations along the White River.

The objective is to improve habitat across 174 acres by removing invasive tamarisk and Russian olive, along with decreasing the hazardous fuel loading. Specific objectives are: 1) Improve the water quality of the White River 2) Decrease the stems/acre of Russian olive and tamarisk 3) Reduce hazardous fuel loads 4) Restore natural geomorphic process

The main risk is the continued expansion and dominance of Russian-olive and tamarisk in plant communities along the White River. These species are reducing native plant diversity and densities in riparian areas. A secondary risk is the continued expansion of these invasive species into other connected tributaries and subsequent increases in fuel accumulations that could result in a more intense and extreme fire events. Large fires would ultimately lead to a loss of cottonwoods and willows and the wildlife habitat they provide and increasing the potential for more infestations of these invasive species. This cycle can then repeat all but eliminating the native riparian plant communities form the river system.

Vernal BLM Fire Management Plan *Chemical treatments would be utilized in conjunction with prescribed fire and mechanical treatments to achieve desired objectives, and to also control invasive species. Vernal RMP ROD Works towards Goals and objectives for Special Status Species in the Vernal RMP (pg. 128) Vegetation Management Decisions; *VEG-4; Manage the vegetation to attain the ecological stage that will benefit wildlife in crucial habitat and livestock grazing. Manage vegetation in remaining areas that results in high vegetation species diversity. *VEG-5; Allow mechanical, fire, biological, cultural or chemical methods for vegetation manipulation, using the type of manipulation appropriate to and consistent with other land use objectives, and incorporating standard operation procedures and BMP's, as applicable, to protect other resources. *VEG-9; Manage the vegetation to attain the ecological stage that will: ensure sustainability, meet authorized use allocations (wildlife,livestock),ensure species diversity. Elk Statewide Management Plan *Population Objective 1, Strategy C; Support objectives and strategies in this plan to protect elk habitat and mitigate losses, *Strategy D; Support habitat improvement projects that increase forage for both big game and livestock. *Habitat Objective 1, Maintain elk habitat throughout the state by identifying and protecting existing crucial elk habitat and mitigating for losses due to human impacts, Habitat Objective 2, *Strategy A; Continue to support the interagency big game range trend study of crucial ranges throughout the state, *Strategy J; Support land management agencies in the proper management of crucial elk habitats. Deer Statewide Management Plan *Population Objective, Strategy B; Support all habitat objectives and strategies in this plan to protect and improve mule deer habitat *Strategy E; Work with Federal and state land management agencies to adopt seasonal closures or travel restrictions to minimize human disturbance of wintering mule deer, *Habitat Objective 1, Strategy B; Work with land management agencies and private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats. Strategic Management Plan for Wild Turkey 2000 Objective 2; Strategy E and F *E. Develop a list of habitat management projects that might be applied throughout Utah turkey habitat. *F. Design and implement at least one turkey habitat project per DWR region per year. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, A Technical Conservation Assessment Utah-Conservation Strategy *Improve existing habitat quality and decrease habitat degradation National Wild Pheasant Conservation Plan *increase acreage by 117,000 acres to achieve rooster harvest.

Russian-olive alters the structure of plant communities by increasing vertical and horizontal canopy density, increasing fuel continuity, and creating volatile fuel ladders (Zouhar et al. 2008, Katz and Shafroth 2003). Tamarisk and Russian-olive can form dense, fire-prone thickets that develop into monospecific stands because of vigorous root-sprout growth following fire. The potential for more extreme fires will intensify as the density and cover of the tamarisk and Russian-olive encroachment increases, by reducing the hazardous fuel load we will be reducing the possibility for fire events. Increased fire frequency and intensity favor tamarisk and Russian-olive re-establishment over less fire-adapted native riparian species, such as willow and cottonwood, which are slower to re-sprout post-fire (Zouhar 2003).

Tamarisk and Russian olive have a major impact on hydrology and soils. Removal of tamarisk and Russian olive has been linked to saving water and over time water quality increases (Friedman et al. 2009).

2 PMArchaeology, Archaeology clearance will be completed by the VFL BLM , Dec 18 2014 / 6 NEPA, NEPA has been completed by VFO BLM in 2014. , Dec 18 2014

The removal of the Russian olive and tamarisk is planned to be accomplished by the use of chain saws. Crews will cut, pile, and treat stumps with herbicide. The project will be contracted out, and the contract administered by the Northeastern UDWR region, with daily contract supervision completed by Vernal BLM office. The project is planned in the spring of 2017.

To determine the effectiveness of the treatments, long-term monitoring plots will be established at a number of sites along the White River Corridor and the densities of invasive and native plants (number of individuals per unit area) will be measured. Densities will be measured pre- and post-treatment. The goal is to reduce densities of Russian-olive and tamarisk. In addition photo plots will be established before and after treatments will be taken. The BLM is in the process of hiring a hydrologist and will create a monitoring plan that will measure possible benefits of project when that person comes on board. I have informed the Division of Water Qualilty about this project, and I have asked DWQ to keep this project in mind as DWQ plans for future monitoring needs on the White River.

Working with UDEQ and UDWR on water quality monitoring. Working with Colorado BLM specialist to coordinate efforts across state line. Working with SITLA to treat SITLA portions of the project. Working with NRCS and private landowners to treat private lands. Work with Ute tribe to treat tribal lands. Coordination with Tamrisk Coalition and UDWR will continue. All above mentioned parties support this project.

Since no seed is being applied, there would be no need for any grazing deferment. Coordination through BLM range-cons and permittees has already taken place on all active allotments within the project area. Ongoing grazing would continue as presently managed.Existing management of the project area is determined to be adequate to ensure the success of the project. It is expected that over the next 10 years that cutting and herbicide maintenance will be needed to remove encroaching russian olive and tamarisk to ensure the continued productivity of the native habitat. The proposed project is expected to ensure the continued availability for forage in the future for livestock which will result in the continued viability of the ongoing grazing system.

Tamarisk and Russian olive can decrease the availability of water for livestock (Hill pers. comm. 2009). By eliminating large stands of tamarisk and Russian olive in this riparian system livestock will be able to utilize this system and vegetation diversity benefits this project will bring.

06/01/2017

08/30/2017

2018

The work entailed using a "hack and squirt" method of treatment to apply herbicide to the targeted trees. This method placed herbicide into the internal structure of the tree with the intent that the herbicide will travel natural pathways in the tree and distribute itself throughout the tree. This technique is intended to kill the tree over time while avoiding the time consuming process of cutting, piling, and buring slash in addition to treating the cut stumps of each tree.

American Conservation Experience (ACE) cr ews wor ked for 21 days treating Russian Olive within specified polygons along the banks of the White River, south of the city of Vernal, Utah. The work entailed using a "hack and squirt" method of treatment to apply herbicide to the targeted trees. This method placed herbicide into the internal structure of the tree with the intent that the herbicide will travel natural pathways in the tree and distribute itself throughout the tree. This technique is intended to kill the tree over time while avoiding the time consuming process of cutting, piling, and buring slash in addition to treating the cut stumps of each tree. The polygons identified are extremely thick with Russian Olive undergrowth and cutting the trees and removing the slash would prove to be not cost effective or efficient. River conditions played a challenging role for the crew this year. High flows in the White River negated the safe use of a watercraft so treatment sites were accessed by foot. The proximity of these sites to the crews spike camp provided quick and safe access for the crew. Utah Conservation Corps treated Russian Olive on the White River from Bonanza Bridge to Asphalt Wash on 69.32 acres of public lands. The crews treated 100% of the standing Russian Olive with a frill cut method, leaving the biomass in piles or lopped and scattered. Crews cut on remote sites which were accessed by rafting on the White River. During hitches, crews were based out of remote backcountry spike camps. The crews started the project with three weeks of training and an orientation rafting trip down the White River. The crews treated the stands of Russian Olive in order to restore the sustainability and biological diversity of these riparian corridors.

Polygons will have to be monitored for regrowth and secondary weeds. Eventually polygons will be seeded if needed.