Meadow Creek has been severely impacted by flash flooding and trespass cattle issues over the past 20 years. Over the past 3 years, we've made significant progress to minimize and eliminate cattle issues. Unfortunately, in response to these stressing elements, the stream has cut below its surrounding floodplain, and has exposed banks, decreased water exchange/transfer between stream and water-table, and habitat types are simplified (fewer deep pools/riffles/runs). Previous project proposals have addressed in-stream issues that included solidifying stream crossing on access road, head cuts, cut banks, decreased stream sinuosity, decreased stream complexity (riffle, run, pool complex), lack of spawning gravel, and lack of fish cover. Previous project for this area stated a separate proposal to fund riparian work/plantings to be filed in FY2018 (this proposal). This proposal will be used to fund 2.5 miles of riparian plantings on Meadow Creek on DWR administered lands, with special focus on the upstream portion of the stream. Currently there are limited woody riparian plants within this reach that include only 3 coyote willow trees (in approximately 3 miles). Willow vegetation is well established immediately downstream of the Moon Canyon road crossing, along the entire corridor to the Willow Creek confluence. This proposal will advance tree growth upstream to provide much needed plants to stabilize stream banks, provide in-stream shade, provide big game wildlife with an additional winter forage, and provide non-game wildlife with additional habitat, forage, and refuge. Cattle/wildlife exclosures will need to be constructed in certain areas to protect fragile areas or high-risk plantings. Long-term goal is for beaver to take advantage of and colonize the area. An exciting response to keeping cows out of the Meadow corridor in 2015 was the colonization of lower Meadow Creek by a beaver family. With no cow depredation, willow trees that were already present but beat down within the lower reaches of the stream were able to survive, grow, and multiply well within this area where roots were already established. In response, beaver have moved up into Meadow Creek from elsewhere in the Willow Creek drainage without human intervention to bring them to this new home. Beaver dams have proven to increase stream complexity and resiliency, while providing permanent surface water, and water exchange in drought. Beaver dams have also proven to be excellent solutions for alleviating channel downcutting and moderating massive sediment transport. Both actions can be devastating to a proper functioning aquatic ecosystem, and surrounding riparian area dependent on perennial water. Willow trees will be planted within the upper reach to encourage natural tree growth and dispersal, but additional native tree species will be added as well. This will increase tree diversity, which will increase the value of the habitat types that can exist in this currently devoid area. Several other tree species can grow much larger than willows and thus have increased shade value to Meadow Creek. Several tree species may tolerate drier soils that are further away from the stream, thereby increased capacity and diversity of habitat. Several of the tree species we will plant will have varying benefits for wildlife in terms of habitat and forage. Tree species will include: coyote willow box elder western cottonwood buffalo berry currant bush hawthorne elderberry chokecherry aspen

1. Plant 2.5 miles of riparian corridor with native tree species along Meadow Creek to supplement prior in-stream and riparian restoration to promote better wildlife habitat value. 2. Install 6 temporary cattle/wildlife exclosures in key areas to promote better tree survival. Remove in the future to allow all wildlife benefit to trees. 3. Continue to monitor trespass cattle; identify and implement improvements as necessary to mitigate problems. 4. Promote further upstream beaver migration in the future when conditions allow, if necessary 5. Continue to monitor habitat and biological conditions in the future for other possible improvements

Threats to mule deer, elk, bison, and bear are addressed by adding forage, including winter forage. Forage includes trees themselves as an opportunistic menu item. Also, in the long term, this project focuses on increasing water availability to the riparian area. A healthy riparian area will provide a rich, thick abundance of forage much better than the current status of the surrounding canyon bottoms that are more arid. Threats addressed to bat species include additional roost availability and habitat diversity. Beaver will greatly benefit through increased forage availability and dam building materials. Thus, this will introduce new, currently unavailable habitat. Currently there is little to no habitat in the upper portions of Meadow Creek for beaver. Thus beaver populations are limited in forage availability rather than having an anchor point with which to create a dam. BDAs (beaver dam analogues) are commonly used in areas where a) there are no beaver, and b) as an attempt to get beaver to construct a dam in a particular place by providing an anchor point. BDA's may be used in the future if beaver are not having the desired effect, or if we wish to attempt to get a beaver to create a dam(s) in specific areas. However, the construction of BDA's at this point have the potential to cause more harm than good. Colorado River cutthroat trout + Northern leopard frog threats addressed include increased water temperature concerns (short term = shading, long term = increased baseflow through groundwater discharge/recharge processes), sedimentation (increasing ground canopy and tree rooting, thus soil stability), and habitat complexity (short term, provides shade and erosion relief characters after a flood event; long term, trees provide log jams and beaver dam materials). Wild turkey will benefit from increased roost capacity near a water source, which is a bit scarce in this neck of the woods. Habitat types in the Meadow Creek bottom include aquatic-forested (limited to a few areas of close-by PJ and willow stands), aquatic scrub/shrub, desert grassland, and lowland sagebrush. Within the direct riparian corridor are the aquatic types. These areas will benefit from habitat complexity created through this project. These areas will continue to benefit by having a rich, diverse, healthy stream to support. By stopping erosion and ensuring persistent, perennial water, these areas will be enhanced and supported in perpetuity. Beaver dams are proven to moderate massive flood events, while capturing some of this flow as ground water, which then leans to increasing baseflow. Decreasing soil erosion only serves to maintain a balance for a healthy riparian. Similar benefits to grassland and lowland sagebrush. These areas will benefit from having a healthy stream/riparian corridor. Soil moisture is the most important component to maintain these eco-types. If soil moisture diminishes, then vegetation will change to more tolerant species, which usually means vegetation will shift to an invasive-dominated landscape, or forage species that are less desirable.

Colorado River Cutthroat trout: CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT. This proposal greatly enhances habitat quantity and quality in terms of diversifying presently occupied habitat, and maintaining that habitat quality into the future. Beaver: UTAH BEAVER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2010-2020. This proposal increases habitat quantity. WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN (WAP): proposal increases habitat suitability (quality and quantity) for listed terrestrial and aquatic species.

This proposal does not address fire/fuel concerns. By promoting a more green, healthy riparian corridor, this area may serve as a fire break to potential ground fires.

1. enhance water quality by promoting sediment deposition in key areas in order to slowly rebuild channel height with reference to surrounding floodplain; this will also be accomplished in a long-term goal of establishing beaver in the upper system 2. enhance water quality by vegetating erosive areas that contribute sediment to stream 3. enhance water quality by installing woody vegetation, which will have long-term shading benefits 4. if beaver are able to establish, beaver dams have a proven ability to moderate floods into better baseflow conditions, and through a series of surface to groundwater connections/links, increase baseflow capacity by holding soil moisture in

much of the area of impact has already been cleared by State Archaeologist. I have discussed this particular project in person with DWR staff Archaeologist Monson Shaver on November 16, 2016, since a significant number of plantings will be planted outside the area that was covered in previous projects. I will continue to communicate with Monson about future needs through email, and he has stated that he will review this project automatically due to entry into WRI database. The general jist of our discussions was that there was no cultural significance or value due to the affected area being below ordinary high water mark and completely vegetated with grasses. If additional archaeological clearance is deemed necessary, Monson has stated we could complete a site visit in a day. Stream alteration permit already obtained for upper reach of Meadow Creek, no stream alteration permit required for planting trees along riparian corridor. No NEPA required, all work will be completed on DWR WMA lands.

1. Continue to monitor cattle trespass in WMA 2. Restore/enhance Meadow Creek riparian area with tree plantings. Plantings will be completed by multiple methods, depending on accessibility, but will include a) hand digging b) post-hole digger method and c) bobcat auger 3. Construct cattle exclosures by hand and with heavy equipment (bobcat) where available to assist 4. Purchase trees when available, collect willow cuttings in advance of plantings

1. Monitor trespass cattle, compromise and police as necessary to prevent further resource damage and damage to past stream restoration work. 2. Monitor tree survival and stream rehabilitation on an annual basis for at least 5 years. Replant as necessary. If certain species do not do well, replace with species that are excelling. If certain planting locations or methods work better than others for tree survival, explore those options in re-planting events. 3. Once tree survival and establishment deemed adequate, remove exclosures.

1. Discussed project and what we have planned for the Meadow Creek bottom with BLM biologist Jerrad Goodell. However, BLM only manages a very small portion (less than 300 meters) neighboring the project area. Thus this project will benefit BLM lands through respective tree dispersal and beaver colonization. The BLM land already has well-established willow growth. Much of the project area is upstream of the BLM allotment. 2. SITLA lands are neighboring the project. Stream and riparian corridor improvements will continue to benefit from this project through tree dispersal, as well as the current CRCT and other target species occupation. Project discussion with SITLA management staff has been limited to the UPCD meeting and project comments. Hands-on implementation of this project will only occur on the DWR managed sections. Most of the SITLA managed land occurs within the lower portions of Meadow Creek, where there is already a well-established willow population. 3. This project has been discussed with our local chapter of Trout Unlimited, and brought forward to the group to lend a helping hand with labor needs. This small but active group has assisted on numerous DWR stream habitat improvement projects. 4. This project has been discussed with Wade Moulton, Blue Ribbon Council member. He is impressed with how well trout thrive in this system, both in terms of population and growth (i.e., we've surveyed fish >18 inches numerous times). If we are successful in continuing this trend to have additional water holding capacity, and increased trout populations while maintaining the fish sizes that occur in Meadow Creek, it is possible that this could be included as a Blue Ribbon water, much like neighboring West Willow Creek.

Monitor habitat improvements. Continue to explore options for wildlife suitability and habitat quality characteristics to focus on improving this area to benefit all wildlife.

Eliminating, downgrading, or mitigating trespass cattle issues on DWR land; less conflict between wildlife and domestic cattle. Per comments received, I will clarify this benefit: 1. This project does not address or increase any fencing. The only interaction with livestock is to ensure that they are not in conflict with our land management on the WMA by increasing our presence and awareness to be able to communicate to the rancher about these conflicts. By having this presence we are also better able to document any conflicts happening on our neighbor's lands as well. 2. The DWR does not typically allow grazing on wildlife management areas unless there is a benefit to wildlife. Our current agreement with the rancher is for a trailing right through the WMA. By having a presence here, we can be more vigilant about watching for conflict while being better able to enforce current agreements. The important thing is to be able to minimize this conflict during the project's infancy when it is most vulnerable. 3. If there are some neighboring locations on BLM and SITLA that need additional watch, I'm happy to have a list of problems to look out for and report on as part of this project.

03/21/2018

05/24/2018

2018

Riparian plantings along Meadow Creek were successfully planted along 1.2 miles of stream. Plantings included: 150 coyote willow cuttings planted 250 green willow cuttings planted 200 Fremont cottonwood cuttings planted 250 narrowleaf cottonwood cuttings planted 250 red dogwood cuttings planted 70 native chokecherry, 5 gallon planted 70 douglas hawthorne, 5 gallon planted 35 boxelder, 10 gallon planted 5 woods rose, 5 gallon planted 200 silver buffaloberry, bareroot planted 100 golden currant bareroot planted Plantings were successfully leafing out at last site visit. Future site visits will be needed to determine success of riparian plantings. Work completed 5/2018. Trips to the site were taken at various times to police the area from trespass cows. Completed August-October 2017; March-May 2018. Several fencelines were repaired during this project May 2018. 4 temporary exclosures were constructed around densely planted areas to assist tree survival May 2018. One - 200 foot section of middle Meadow Creek was repaired via trackhoe to stabilize riparian area, key rock grade control structures in better May 2018. Two large bank toewood structures were installed during this project to create fish habitat May 2018 while stepping back erosive banks and preventing further lateral stream migration One - 60 foot section of Kelly Canyon was repaired via trackhoe to stabilize riparian area, key rock grade control structures in better, and install geoweb textile at stream crossing to futher stabilize the area from futher down or side erosion May 2018 Log jam, overhead style fish cover was installed in upper sections of Kelly Canyon to promote better fish habitat and shading in this reach May 2018 Equipment rented included several weeks of mini excavator and dump trailer for the purposes of gathering native materials (logs, trees, rootwads, and large rocks), and renting an auger attachment for the mini excavator for fast, efficient tree planting. April - May 2018. 5 beaver dam analogues were installed as trial run to observe their capacity for holding water behind the structures, ability to raise ground water table - in support of riparian tree plantings, and ability to hold sediment to achieve some channel aggradation with the goal of reconnecting the stream with its floodplain. April - May 2018.

1.2 miles of stream corridor were improved by adding woody vegetation that included numerous species of native trees; several species have the potential to be large deciduous shade trees, several other woody species will function as fruit bearing trees that will benefit other wildlife, and several other woody species may function as winter forage in areas that are devoid of any such habitat. Completed April-May 2018. Several key areas of riparian section and stream section were improved by erosion control structures and/or re-shaping/re-sloping the existing channel. Prior work completed March-May 2018, additional work completed May 2018. Several fish habitat structures were installed for increased fish capacity and fish shade/cover. Beaver dam analogues were constructed to 1) increase available fish habitat 2) raise groundwater table to better naturally irrigate riparian vegetation 3) provide additional stream water storage capacity and buffer capacity 4) provide a sediment sink that may allow the stream to aggrade and better connect with the floodplain. Prior work completed April-May 2017; additional work completed May 2018.

No further habitat work is planned for this section of Meadow Creek. We will continue to monitor this stream to gauge success of the prior 3 years of work as well as make repairs as possible. We expect that within the next decade, our work will bear further fruit as beaver make their way into our restoration section and will speed up restorative processes through natural flooding.