The Bitter Creek WMA is located in the Book Cliffs of Eastern Utah. The WMA is located along the Bitter Creek canyon bottom and is 912 acres. A narrow riparian corridor exists along an incised stream channel with old agricultural fields and greasewood covered alluvial fans representing the upland habitats. Upon acquisition in 1994, UDWR found the property had been heavily used by livestock for many years, and habitat conditions were degraded. The emphasis in the first years of ownership was to constuct fences to contol cattle. Annual fence maintenance has been completed and kept fences in good condition. However, the lower fence has been impacted from some alluvial deposition, resulting in the fence being buried over half way. The rest of the fence is showing age with pole top rails and posts exceding 20 years in age. Whe rebuilding the the segment impacted by alluvial deposition, UDWR proposes to rebuilt the remaining portion of the aging fence. The upper boundary of the WMA was never fenced. Historically, a large marsh and beaver dam complex flooded the entire canyon bottom above UDWR ownership, and prevented cattle access. However, in the past few years, this wetland complex has become increasingly dry, and the beavers have moved up the drainage. Cattle are now accessing the WMA through the former flooded areas. The new fence location will prevent these drifting cattle from accessing the WMA. Cattle contol allows UDWR to work on improving riparian habitat conditions and forage for big game species.

Objectives: Contol unauthorized use by cattle Improve riparian habitat conditions Maintain available forage for big game species including mule deer, elk, and bison.

Failure to control unauthorized grazing by cattle will lead to degraded riparian and upland habitat conditions. Loss of forage will impact use by big game species.

This project relates to the Bitter Creek WMA management plan goal: Protect, improve and restore watershed and soil stability, vegetative communities, forage and escape/security for wildlife, emphasizing elk and mule deer fall, winter, and spring range. Objective A: Reduce negative livestock impacts by controlling trespass and by developing a grazing program that meets wildlife habitat needs. Once vegetative treatments have matured, grazing opportunities with domestic livestock will be evaluated. Objective D: Complete a survey of needed livestock fences. Maintain necessary fences, construct required new fencing and remove unnecessary fences. Statewide Deer Management Plan Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. c. Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering and migration areas. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019. j. Work with local, state and federal land management agencies to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges Statewide Elk Management Plan B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. B. Habitat Management a) Coordinate with land management agencies and private landowners to properly manage and improve elk habitat, especially calving and wintering areas. Book Cliffs Bison Management Plan B. Habitat Management Goal: Provide quality habitat to establish and maintain a healthy bison population in the Book Cliffs. Objective 1: Maintain or improve sufficient bison habitat to allow herds to reach population objectives. 1. Identify critical bison use areas and work with land managers and private landowners to improve or maintain habitat quality in these areas.

This project will not influence fire and fuels.

The proposed project will help improve water quality. Intense grazing on riparian areas will lead to degraded stream conditions and increase sedimentation. Unauthorized grazing in the fall of 2016 resulted in damage to the riparian area. A healthy riparian area will lead the way for beavers and healthy riparian habitat and subsequently, improved water quality and lowered water temperatures.

The fences are located on UDWR ownership and will not require NEPA. Fences are located within previously disturbed areas (old ag fields). UDWR archeologist will consult with SHPO.

UDWR will secure a contractor to construct the two fences. 2 3/8" steel pipe posts will be installed on 12' spacing. A 2 3/8" steel top rail will be welded on the posts. Two runs of sucker rod will be secured to the posts below the top rail and secured with metal clips to allow for shifting and flex in the sucker rod. Gates will be installed to allow for foot and horse access.

The fences will be inspected and monitored at least once annually to ensure functionality and to determine maintenance needs.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation helped UDWR purchase the Bitter Creek WMA.

The fences will be inspected annually in the future to ensure functionality and to conduct maintenance. The fences will allow for better management of the WMA and new activities where uncontrolled livestock grazing may be harmful.

This project will allow for better livestock management in the area by preventing unauthorized use on the Bitter Creek WMA.

09/04/2017

06/22/2018

2018

Fences were rebuilt along existing alignments. 2 3/8" steel pipe posts were installed on 12' spacing. The posts were 7 feet long and pushed in the ground 3 feet. A 2 3/8" steel top rail was welded on top of the posts. Two runs of sucker rod were be secured to the posts below the top rail and secured with metal clips to allow for shifting and flex in the sucker rod. Gates were be installed to allow for foot and horse access.

UDWR personnel ended up completing the construction on this project rather than using a contractor. The remote nature of the project and the challenge of getting materials to the sites made this project a better fit for UDWR staff to construct. Contractor pricing because of these challenges further directed this project to UDWR construction. The first fence was built in September 2017, and the second fence in June 2018.

These fences will be routinely inspected annually to ensure that maintenance needs are met and to make sure they are functional. Additional measures that are identified will be carried out by UDWR staff.