Wildlife management areas (WMAs), conservation easements (CEs) and sportsman access points provide some of the most critical wildlife habitat in the state. They also provide recreational opportunity for the Division;s constituents. As such, DWR has an obligation to maintain, improve, and manage these lands to meet the goals/objectives for which they were acquired. Specific maintenance needs are varied depending on property location and WMA type, but include such activities as fencing, signage,access management, noxious weed control, trash removal, erosion control, and habitat restoration. The Central Region maintains and manages 42 Wildlife Management units and 6 conservation easements totaling nearly 111,000 acres.

1)Secure and post property boundaries 2) Implement a noxious weed control program by inventory and spraying on an annual basis 3) Maintain public access and recreational opportunities on authorized roads/trails through road maintenance activities 4) Maintain water developments for wildlife and livestock grazing 5) Implement habitat restoration activities to improve wildlife habitat values on WMAs.

Failure to maintain WMAs and CEs will result in habitat degradation and loss; conflicts with counties, local municipalities, and adjacent landowners; and failure to meet and/or comply with legal obligations.

Many of the WMAs and CEs lie within key habitats identified in the WAP, including sagebrush-steppe, mountain brush, and riparian. WMAs and CEs support many of the sensitive species listed in the WAP including Columbia spotted frog, leatherside chub, June sucker, least chub, Bald Eagle, Greater sage grouse, mule deer, raptors, and neotropical migratory birds. WMAs and CEs also support a variety of important game species not previously listed including bighorn sheep, elk, wild turkey, and Chukar. WMAs and CEs lie within conservation focus areas identified by the Central Region UPCD team. The proposed maintenance activities will help address strategies outlined in the WDARM and SVARM sage grouse conservation plans which include: Reduce pinyon/junpier stands from sage-grouse use areas; reduce the threat of conversion of sagebrush stands to invasive/noxious weed communities; and work with public and private partners to implement livestock management plans that address seasonal needs of sage-grouse and livestock operations. The proposed project will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. Objective 3: conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for Division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah. Objective 2: improve communication with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners, and government agencies to obtain support for Division programs. The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans in the Central Region which include: continue to restore and improve sagebrush steppe habitats; cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvements such as seedings, controlled burns, water developments etc; and maintain and/or enhance forage production through direct range improvements throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives.

Not applicable

Not applicable

No ground disturbing activities are planned with normal WMA maintenance activities except for road maintenance.

The habitat manager and maintenance specialist will coordinate maintenance activities in the region with other regional personnel. Habitat section personnel will coordinate with the regional Dedicated Hunter (DH) Coordinator to find projects where volunteers can be used. Weed control will be done under the supervision of the lead maintenance specialist with work completed by the assistant maintenance specialist and seasonal employees. Fencing and signing of WMA boundaries will be done by maintenance personnel with assistance from seasonal and volunteers where appropriate. Large fencing projects will be contracted out. Road maintenance will be completed by maintenance specialists where possible.

Many of the WMAs within the Central Region contain existing range trend studies. These will be read on the regular 5 year rotation by the Divisions range trend study crew. Additional monitoring, including line intercept and/or photo points will be done by regional personnel on an as needed basis. Wildlife monitoring conducted under the direction of the wildlife section includes aerial flight counts, fall/spring population classifications etc.

DWR MDF FNAWS SFW WTF RMEF

Lands owned and managed by the Division will continue to be managed for wildlife according to individual Habitat Management plans.

Grazing is a tool used by the Division to reach habitat management goals/objectives. Many of the Region's WMA are grazed annually. Grazing will be used on an as needed basis on WMAs following the grazing plans contained in the HMPs for each WMA. Grazing will be permitted under the Divisions Land Use Rule.

07/01/2017

06/30/2018

2018

Routine maintenance activities were carried out primarily by the CRO habitat section including: weed spraying, hanging signs, road maintenance, and fence and guzzler maintenance and construction. Major accomplishments include: * Major fence repairs on Wallsburg WMA, Manti Meadows, White Hill WMA and Lasson Draw WMA. * Working with mountain bike and other user groups to sign and close trails on Timpanogos WMA * New Whitehill WMA boundary fence * Sagebrush seedling transplants on the Santaquin and Timpanogos WMA * Watered new seedlings to improve survival using volunteers and Dedicated Hunters. Most of these projects were done with the help of volunteers enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter program.

Many WMAs receive considerable recreational use and user established roads are a major problem. Shooting is also common on many WMAs and long range shooting is a continuing issue on the 6-Mile and Santaquin WMAs.

WMAs in the Central Region will continue to be managed as specified in HMPs.