This are is critical for wildlife such as mule deer and elk, over the past several years we have been identifying several areas on the Monroe Mountain Unit that will allow additional forage value for wintering big game, this area is one that the local Area Biologist has looked at and see's a real possibility to open up this area by reducing the pinyon-juniper trees that are starting to encroach on an existing treatment. Removal of these pinyon-junipers will allow for UDWR to reseed this area in conjunction with the two-way chaining to add additional forage that will be utilized by the big game animals on an annual basis. Pinyon-juniper trees are encroaching and the understory over time is lacking. The opportunity to implement a two-way chaining project will allow for reduction in pinyon-juniper trees on site, creating a seed bed allowing the reseeded species of grasses, forbs and shrubs to become established and take hold. UDWR will also be looking to add funding into repairing and replacing parts of the boundary fencing to control cattle from trespassing on the project site. This is something that has happened in the past and we would like to make the necessary repairs to protect our investment and benefit wildlife into the future during critical time of the year.

Through the use of a two-way chaining method we would like to remove encroaching pinyon-juniper trees in the treatment area, this will be done by contracting out with a company who has experience doing this rangeland type work with years of experience working with heavy equipment in in these types of work and conditions. Project manager will identify areas of treatment by flagging the pinyon-juniper removal sites. Treatment will reduce pinyon-juniper trees in the area while allowing for reseeding efforts to increase understory of grasses, forbs and shrubs and stimulating the existing shrub and browse species that are present on site. Removal of pinyon-juniper competition will also allow for increased grasses, forbs and shrubs within the treatment site along with the increased utilization of big game animals such as mule deer and elk in the area. Removal of Pinyon juniper trees is critical to sustaining the initial treatment. Also additional browse species maybe planted allowing for new seedlings to become established, this will be done through local efforts from schools and non-profit groups, in the form of bitterbrush plantings through hand planting methods.

If the trees continue to mature removal will be significantly more expensive and the understory species of shrubs, grasses and forbs will become stressed and even not existent due to the overgrowth of pinyon-juniper encroachment. Losing understory species effects both the carrying capacity of elk, mule deer and wild turkey populations, increased soil erosion, and may include the invasion of invasive plant species such as cheatgrass or thistle within the area project area. Other threats would be the event of wildfire in the area, with that being said removal of the encroaching pinyon-juniper trees will allow for less fuels for fire to carry in the event a fire does occur. Invasion of noxious weed species is critical in this area, cheatgrass will become present if we loose our understory of perennial grass species, having the understory in good shape and a healthy plant community will allow for future success of the project.

The pinyon-juniper and big sagebrush areas lie within the Lowland Sagebrush Steppe Habitat type which is one of the key habitats identified in the 2015 WAP. The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit 23 (Monroe Unit ) including: *Continue to improve and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to DWRs Habitat Initiative. *Maintain habitat quantity and quality at a level adequate to support the stated population objectives while at the same time not resulting in an overall downward trend in range condition and watershed quality. *Work cooperatively with land management agencies and private landowners to plan and implement improvement projects for the purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat and range resources in general. *The project also helps fulfill the state mule deer management plan section IV Habitat Goal: Conserve and improve mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. *The proposed projects 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. *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. *UDWR SR critical big game winter range are important browse communities that need to be enhanced and improved. The Division will employ a variety of methods to achieve this including prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, reseeding and seedling transplants, also mechanical treatments. Priority areas will include sagebrush-steppe and mountain browse communities. Falls within the rangeland focus area for WRI wildlife species for mule deer and elk. Also associated with the Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan Newly treated areas through fire or mechanical means will attract use by wild turkey which are abundant on Monroe Mountain. Insects and new growth will be readily available to support turkey populations. *This plan is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement and fuels management to improve habitat, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire. This project is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement, and fuels management. This project is part of a larger effort by the Forest Service to improve big game habitat, conserve sage-steppe, improve watershed condition, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire. *Other project have been completed by the Forest Service and BLM in past years within the HUC 12 area. *Project within the are also benefit the management plans objectives of the lower Sevier River Watershed, as this will reduced sediment run off and create a healthy rangeland communities. *Management Plans are also in conjunction with NRCS overall goals of healthy rangelands and communities, improving watersheds and reducing erosion and sediment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment *FFSL CWPP Process is a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative plan created by the fire department, state and local forestry, land managers, community leaders, and the public.The planning process maps values at risk, and requires actions to reduce risk, such as prescribed burning, fuel reduction, or other measures that adapt a community to better confront their wildfire threat. Area is also part of the Sevier RWPP FFSL Plan which was implemented in 2014, there are Wildfire Codes and Ordinances associated with this plan. Project would also be relevant to NCS Goals and supported through the FS National Cohesive Strategies. CAT FIRE Objectives and Strategies: In 2013, the State of Utah developed the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (CAT FIRE) in response to the severe 2012 fire season. Reducing the catastrophic wildfire requires attention to three interdependent goals identified in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy -- Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Wildfire Response. These goals have been embraced throughout the development of the state's CAT FIRE strategy. Mitigation of hazardous fuels can change fire behavior making it easier to suppress. The effects of the mitigation, however, are not limited to life and property safety but will also affect forest health, water quality, vegetative species abundance, etc. As we continue to implement projects across the landscapes in Utah, the only way to truly be successful is to integrate existing programs, utilize local and federal partners and continue to educate the general public to create the desired shift towards more resilient communities and ecosystems.

This project will have the ability to reduce fuel loading through the process of removing the pinyon-junpier trees with a two-way chaining treatment, reduction of pinyon-juniper trees within this treatment will allow for improved understory of grasses forbs and shrubs That will be reseeded. Treatments like this have been proven to prevent wildfire from spreading during an event, this treatment will create several barriers or buffers between treated and non treated areas that is critical for controlling or containing wildfires. This project will help protect valuable rangeland communities from Catastrophic Wildfires, this treatment will reduce fuel loads and improve critical habitat for mule deer, elk and turkeys in the future, along with providing additional forage for livestock if applicable in the future on our WMA. Chaining projects will allow for fuels to be reduced, removing the overhead threat of topping of trees and spreading sparks during a wildfire, these treatment allow for support teams to be safer during suppression and allow for firefighters to work in areas that are more open and visual during the fire.

This proposed project is a two-way chaining of a late phase I early phase II pinyon-juniper stand, within these phases will have a typically good understory that is comprised of grasses, forbs and shrubs, but that is lacking on this site. By implementing this project we will have the opportunity to increase overland water quantity by reducing the encroaching stands of pinyon-juniper trees. Removal of these trees will result in improved stream flow, more water discharge for soil availability for desired plant and shrub species. Estimated that 1 acre of pinyon-juniper will utilize during the year 23% of the water within a 1 acre foot. Quality of water will not be overwhelming the first year but in and over time it will become improved. This type of treatment will benefit the soil over the long term, due to increasing plants that will utilize the excess water, overland flows of rills will be filled in, chance for overland flooding will be minimized allowing for springs and seep to start appearing and improved rangeland conditions will benefit overall, we believe that the water quality and quantity will increase in this treatment area due to the fact that we will be reseeding a diversity mix of grasses, forbs and browse species that are lacking on this site.

This treatment is a maintenance project for the removal of late phase I phase II pinyon-juniper trees. No Clearance or Archaeological survey is needed due to an existing treatment that has taken place in the past. UDWR Project Manager will consult with SITLA as to their policies and procedures on a maintenance treatment, along with the UDWR Archaeologist for future consultation.

This project will consist of using two (2) D-8 cats to pull and Ely anchor chain on the first pass, with the second pass pulling a smooth anchor chain. In between chaining the project will be aerial seeded with a mixture of grasses and forbs. We would also like to use a dribbler attached to each D-8 cat to allow the planting of browse species. Travel corridors will be kept intact allowing for thermal and escape cover for wildlife in the area. Culture Resource issues may need to be addressed on this project this maybe worked as a joint effort through the UDWR personnel. This treatment area has been treated in the past but additional acres maybe treated and need a clearance. This will be addressed with the UDWR Archaeologist.

Monitoring methods will be studies looking at the increase in forage production and growth on browse species as it pertains to the removal of encroaching pinyon-juniper trees in the treatment area. This will be done with photo points and vegetation studies that will be taken over time. Possible monitoring site maybe established by GBRC Range Trend Crew. Area Wildlife Biologist will conduct survey for mule deer post season and conduct flights for elk within the treatment site location when conducting annual big game surveys on the Monroe Mountain. In addition to this project the UDWR has the grazing lease on this portion of the treatment area, we would like to work with the livestock permittee and SITLA to accommodate a beneficial grazing if we need it in the future for a grass bank type situation. Additional time may need to be spent by UDWR employees, Dedicated Hunters or other volunteers to remove whips that maybe present after the treatment has been completed. This will be addressed by the Area Biologist and the habitat Restoration Biologist as to improvement made after the treatment. We will expect to see additional forage value with this treatment elevating elk and deer from depredation issues toward the town of Monroe.

UDWR BLM SITLA Local Sportsman Groups In working with the different partners on this project we would like to involve them in the early planning stages and work across landownership boundaries to make this project successful for all parties, in doing so from the survey work to the flagging of the treatment areas along with the contracting we will be partnering with one another to meet the goals and objectives stated above within this project proposal, so both wildlife and livestock have future benefits.

Future management on this treatment may consist of monitoring the regrowth of small saplings that will become present in the future, the need to remove them maybe done through local Sportsman Chapters, Dedicated Hunter Program, local youth or scout groups that maybe willing to help the UDWR out with service projects to benefit wildlife in the area. Future management will be to maintain the existing fencing we have around the project site, to eliminate trespass grazing issues, that will allow for increased use of deer and elk due to improved forage value during critical times of year.

Domestic Livestock may be used in the future to graze the WMA property to reduce old vegetation allowing for improved production of seeded plant species along with natural vegetation to be improved. UDWR does pay SITLA for the grazing fee but in the past we have had trespass livestock in the WMA. If grazing is warranted on the WMA, UDWR will work with the Southern Regional Office along with the State Office to put together a grazing Management Plan for this area that can offer local producers the chance to graze the property in a timely manner, accomplishing the goals and objectives that will benefit big game and upland game species during critical times of year. This UDWR WMA is not currently being grazed but the opportunity to utilize it in the future is an option as a necessary "Grass Bank" if the need arises and UDWR is willing to explore, also if other restoration projects can be identified for the benefit or livestock and wildlife this property may be used as other areas are being deferred from grazing.

10/17/2017

02/01/2018

2018

Final methods for this project included renting two D6 Dozers from Wheeler Machinery in Salina, Utah. UDWR personnel used the two dozers to chain the treatment areas, this was a two-way chaining done with an "Ely" chain and cover approximately 315 acres. Seed for this project was applied before the chaining occurred. We applied a shrub seed mix after the chaining was complete this happened in February of 2018, total acres seeded on this project was 417 acres. The contractor who flew the seed on the project was Hammond Helicopters, he did a great job and the results are showing good establishment. We also installed two cattle guards on the project and fixed a mile of fence to exclude cattle from trespassing on the property.

This project was identified by the local Wildlife Biologist Vance Munford, with the help of SFW, MDF and UDWR we where able to implement a two way chaining project on this site. The original site had been chained in the past, but the understory was lacking in good grass and forb cover.

Future Management of this project will be to insure that the cattle guards are kept cleaned out, repair and fix fences that are damaged or cut to exclude livestock grazing in the treatment area. UDWR along with SITLA and the BLM will monitor this project and work together to make it a success. The seeding looks great in the first year of growing, the hope is to benefit wildlife in the area and allow them additional places to reside and forage on the Monroe Mtn Unit.