Brigham Face WMA Guzzler
|
Project ID: 4091
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2018
Submitted By:
291
|
Project Manager: Nathan Long
PM Agency: U.S. Army
PM Office: Dugway
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northern
|
|
Description:
To install a big game guzzler on the top of the property.
|
|
|
Location:
East of Brigham City on the WMA.
|
|
Project Need
Need For Project:
There is a lack of water in the "middle" of the Brigham face WMA. Installing a guzzler will provide a water source for deer and elk where none has been previously.
Objectives:
To get a water source at the top of the WMA property between Perry Canyon and Sardine Canyon.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
That the guzzlers will be vandalized and no longer function.
Relation To Management Plan:
Statewide Mule Deer Plan
B. Water Distrabution
Water is also a fundamental need for mule deer. When browse, forbs, and grasses consumed by mule deer have high water content, mule deer likely don't need to drink as they can obtain
adequate amounts of water from their food. However, when forage contains only limited
amounts of water, access to water sources becomes important. The spatial distribution of mule
deer populations is often positively associated with availability of water in arid regions of
western North America (Hervert and Krausman 1986, Boroski and Mossman 1996).
Consequently, recent work by state wildlife agencies depicts large expanses of the Intermountain West ecoregion as water limiting to mule deer (Wasley et al. 2008). Wildlife water developments (i.e., guzzlers) can help provide water to mule deer in arid areas, but need to be designed and placed in areas conducive to use by mule deer. To maximize benefits to mule deer, guzzlers should be built in areas used by females with young, spaced less than 5 km from other water sources, and fencing needs to be constructed of sufficient size to allow access (Krausman et al. 2006, Larsen et al. 2011, Shields et al. 2012).
H. Depredation
Depredation of private croplands is an ongoing challenge and, in some areas, can be a significant problem for deer to reach their management objectives. DWR has committed substantial resources to address depredation concerns, and there are numerous programs designed to assist landowners with depredation situations. Depredation problems need to be addressed within the sideboards of state code, rule, and policy, and in a timely and efficient manner so that landowners will better tolerate migratory mule deer populations on their lands.
Deer Unit # 3 Management Plan
Habitat Management
The following are some of the areas that have been targeted for habitat projects within the unit over the next three to four years.
* Brigham Face
Statewide Elk Management Plan
Habitat
Water is also an important component of elk habitat, and the lack of sufficient water distribution could limit the number of elk we can have in certain areas of Utah. In Utah, Jeffrey (1963) found that elk on summer range preferred areas within 0.33 miles of a permanent water source. Other studies have shown elk use of summer range declined markedly beyond 0.5 mile from water (Mackie 1970, Nelson and Burnell 1975).
Fire / Fuels:
None
Water Quality/Quantity:
This will provide an additional water source on the mountain.
Compliance:
Guzzler will be on top of ground but will clear area in house for disturbance due to concentration of animals.
The rainwater collection will be filed for a sub 2,500 gallon structure.
Methods:
The guzzler will need to be flown up to the site with a helicopter and there DWR staff will level and install it.
Monitoring:
The guzzler will be inspected annually to insure proper function.
A game camera will be installed in a lock box to monitor guzzler usage.
Partners:
None
Future Management:
Monitor water level and use of guzzler.
Install additional guzzler if merited.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
None
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $10,600.00 | $0.00 | $10,600.00 | $2,000.00 | $12,600.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials and Supplies | 1800 Gallon big game guzzler. | $6,250.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2018 |
| Contractual Services | To hire helicopter to transport guzzler | $4,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2018 |
| Materials and Supplies | Game camera with utility lock box. | $350.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2018 |
| Archaeological Clearance | To be cleared in house. | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2,000.00 | 2018 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $10,600.00 | $0.00 | $10,600.00 | $2,000.00 | $12,600.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) | NS6523 | $10,600.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2018 | |
| Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2,000.00 | 2018 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | R2 | |||||
|
||||||
| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
|
||||||
Habitats
| Habitat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Listed | ||||
|
Project Comments
| Comment | 01/26/2017 | Type: 1 | Commenter: Jimi Gragg |
| Do you think Drought would be a threat you could cite to deer & elk, which you are doing something to address? I mean, forage moisture content is low during drought, right? Maybe these tanks will run dry fast, every time there's some precip. If not though, well...(?) | |||
| Comment | 01/27/2017 | Type: 1 | Commenter: N/A |
| It seems like a stretch, maybe if it was bigger than the 1800 gallons I would claim it. Thanks for looking at it though. | |||
| Comment | 08/14/2018 | Type: 2 | Commenter: Alison Whittaker |
| Nate - After reviewing several of your completion reports I have noticed that I always feel like the report drops in in the middle of what the project is. There are a lot of details of what you are doing that are missing. For example, What are you dong? Was this a rebuild, or a new one. Did you build and apron? Was it installed by hand? The other comment I have on this report is about your thoughts on the purchasing contract. While I don't disagree with you on this your comment is noted and it doesn't really need to be a part of your report. Be sure to enter any missing expenses on the finance page. Also, I will be deleting all guzzler points so make sure you have that location saved somewhere. Be sure to click on the finalize button on the completion report when you have your completion report ready to be reviewed by WRI Admin. Don't forget to upload any pictures of the project you have of before, during and after completion. Thanks. | |||
Completion
Start Date:
09/18/2017
End Date:
09/18/2017
FY Implemented:
2018
Final Methods:
On the BFWMA there are water sources on both ends but nothing in the middle. This new guzzler was installed to create a water source in the middle of the WMA that provides an option for deer to utilize instead of traveling into town for water. The tank was purchased from Boss Tanks from Elko. They really are the best.
After the guzzler arrived I coordinated with UHP and we flew it in. The flight went smooth and the pilots were great to work with. Despite being fairly windy they were able to place it right where we needed it. The guzzler was installed by hand and no apron was constructed.
Project Narrative:
Using "i" bolts in the 4 corners to lift the guzzler with the helicopter is the only way to go. The nets and straps of old are a pain in comparison. It was pretty windy on the ridge where it was placed but the pilot was able to get it into position and it worked great. A camera was placed on it but I haven't been able to check it yet.
Future Management:
Inspect tank annually and post pictures of visitors utilizing the guzzler.
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
N/A