: Fire severity was very high across the entire burned area and most existing perennials were killed. Without seeding, most of this burned area would likely be invaded by cheatgrass and the noxious squarrose knapweed. The entire fire occurred within occupied Greater Sage-grouse (GRSG) habitat and the majority of the fire is also located in priority brood-rearing GRSG habitat in the Sheeprocks Population Area. The fire killed Wyoming Big Sagebrush that is needed to provide feed and cover for GRSG. The draft Greater Sage-grouse planning EIS identifies wildfire and invasive species as the leading threat to the Sheeprocks GRSG Population.

: 1. Stabilize exposed soils of the North Moore Fire area. 2. Re-establish native and preferred grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 3. Prevent invasive and noxious weed species from establishing in the burned area. 4. Improve the habitat for sage-grouse, mule deer, elk, and other wildlife.

The fire burned hot and removed most of the soil's protective cover. The bare soils pose risks to wind and water erosion, roads, and the watershed. This fire has opened a window of opportunity for noxious and invasive weeds. Squarrose knapweed the most signifcant noxious weed concern in different areas of the North Moore Fire. This knapweed typically increases logarithmically after fire disturbances, such as the nearby 2011 Desert Mountain Fire (GEL6). Cheat grass is found in many of the surrounding areas of the fire and will likely dominate the landscape if other plants are not seeded.

Because squarrose knapweed has been a long-term problematic noxious weed for the Fillmore Field Office (FFO) in the northern portion of the office area, the Squarrose Knapweed Management Demonstration Area (SKDMA) was established in 1997. SKDMA is a multi-partner organization made up of various government and private entities that were organized to help tackle the squarrose knapweed problem. Partners involved include two BLM offices, one Forest Service office, Utah State University, U.S.U. Extension Service, APHIS, Utah Dept. of Natural Resources, Utah Division of Wildlife esources, and four county governments. SKDMA has been making collaborateive efforts to educate the public on the problem and work with its partners to control knapweed since its inception in 1997. Each year SKDMA and other BLM efforts are carried out through Integrated Pest Management to control the spread and proliferation of squarrose knapweed. The most important factor in the control of weeds is aerial seeding treatments, which would establish perennial plants that are needed to occupy space and compete with noxious and invasive weeds.

This project will help to prevent the establishment of a monoculture of annual grasses and weeds that are more prone to fire and will change the fire frequency. This will also help to reduce the risk of future fires by having vegetation that holds more moisture later into the summer.

The fire has removed all vegetation and the soil is exposed and vulnerable to erosion. This project will help to establish vegetation that will stabilize the soil and help to reduce the amount of sediment that will enter streams and washes. This will help to improve the water quality of the watershed. Also, currently moisture will move across the soil more quickly and water quantity will be lost. This project will help establish vegetation that will hold more moisture in the system and allow for it to soak into the soil and enter under ground water storage.

All the necessary archaeological clearances will be conducted to ensure that no cultural resources are damaged by the soil disturbance.

We will drag an ely chain one way across sections of the fire where slopes will allow to knock down standing tree snags. We will then fly seed over aerially with seed. We will then do a second pass with the chain where possible to help incorporate the seed into the soil.

BLM will establish a vegetation trend study that will be read after each growing season for five years after the fire (2016-2021).

BLM, SITLA, and UDWR are all partnering to help rehabilitate this area after the fire.

Fences are being built to help keep livestock from grazing the areas that will be seeded for at least two growing seasons. The BLM and SITLA will work with permittee to also ensure that this happens.

: Re-seeding and chaining this area will help to establish perrennial grasses and forbs that will have greater value for livestock especially in the later summer months.

10/03/2016

03/24/2017

2017

Flew seed on 2,028 acres of the West Government creek fire in early November of 2016, using a helicopter. Seed consisted of some native perennial grasses and forbs. Contractor started the one-way chaining treatment on December 12th using an Ely chain. Dribblers were used on the cats to plant bitterbrush and fourwing saltbrush. The BLM drill seeded about 681 acres of flatter terrain in November of 2016 using rangeland drills. A secondary shrub seed mix was flown on 2,028 acres of the fire in mid January of 2017.

Project got a late start due to contractor's work load and equipment break downs. Some of the chaining took place when there was over 1 foot of snow on the site. As a result, soil disturbance was not adequate in some areas. In addition, some areas were not chained due to inability of contractors to cross gullies and work on steeper slopes. Approximately 2,000 acres of chaining were flagged, but only 1,325 ares actually got chained. A lot of dribbler seed was sent back and did not get put out via the dribblers on the bulldozers. Not sure how much dribbler seed actually got planted with the dribblers. Shrub seed was planted with ATV via flex planters and an ATV mini drill in March of 2016. An area of about 34 acres was planted north of the Log canyon road on Forest Service property.

The project treated both BLM and USFS managed lands. The burned areas will be rested from grazing for at least 2 years.