In 1995 in order to provide water to the South Canyon, Rock Canyon, and Sagehen Hollow allotments a well was drilled, equipped with a solar pump, 40,000 gallons of storage, 10 miles of pipeline and 8 troughs. The well only has ever produced 1/2 gallon/minute not ever coming close to reaching the needed demand. In 2005 a 22,000 sq/ft apron and an additional 80,000 gallon storage tank was added. From 2009-2017 more than 20,000 acres have been treated through WRI and the success of the seedings have been phenomenal producing millions of lbs of additional forage and opening up a whole new area for livestock and wildlife grazing. Currently water distribution across the South Canyon project area is lacking. During summer months livestock operators haul 4,000 gallons of water per day to supplement the existing system and distribute livestock and wildlife to these new areas.

1. Provide reliable, year around, water to sage grouse, mule deer, elk, pronghorn, and other wildlife species. 2. Provide reliable water for livestock in the South Canyon, Rock Canyon, and Sagehen Hollow grazing allotments 3. Provide reliable water for sage brush obligates such as sage thrashers, bewicks wrens, etc.. and other wildlife species year round

Currently water is not distributed evenly across the project area and grazing pressure is not distributed as evenly as it could be. By not adding to the current water system we continue to graze in an uneven pattern.

This project is in conformance with the Kanab Field Office Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan (RMP), signed October 31, 2008. Numerous other management plans have identified the need for these projects, including the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule Deer (2008). Utah Wildlife Conservation Strategy (2005). Of particular concern within this area are: Mule deer, and shrub steppe (key habitat). Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule Deer (2008). Other plans that relate to the proposed project are: Utah Wildlife Conservation Strategy (2005), and Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Utah (2005).

The project would provide for proper distribution throughout the project area, which would reduce fuel loads throughout the affected allotments.

Improvements to the Standards and Guidelines for Healthy Rangelands (Standard 1 and Standard 3) are expected through project implementation. It is expected that Standard 1 (Soils) will improve by allowing soils to exhibit permeability and infiltration rates that will sustain/improve site productivity throughout the area. This will be accomplished by making improvements to the Biotic Integrity of the community by ensuring proper distribution of livestock throughout the affected allotments. Indicators will include sufficient cover and litter to protect the soil surface from excessive water and wind erosion, limiting surface flow and limiting soil moisture loss through evaporation, which will promote proper infiltration.

Most of the affected are has been surveyed for Archeolgy as a part of the WRI vegetation work that has taken place. BLM will complete the survey on the remaining portions and complete SHPO consultation before implementation of the project. NEPA for this project was started on June 1, 2017 and should be complete in the early fall. BLM holds water right number 61-1695 that the existing well and catchment are tied to. Upon word that this project is funded a change application to add a point of diversion out of as a new well will be submitted

A contract would be let to drill, case, and equip with a solar pump a new well up to 300 ft.

Availability of water for use by wildlife and livestock and the pipeline functionality will be conducted regularly by the grazing permittee, BLM, and UDWR employees. Vegetative monitoring will be conducted by BLM on BLM lands as it relates to prescribed grazing program

Partners include- UDWR Mac Hatch (permitee) Dave Hatch (permitee)

After the instllation of the well BLM will assign the maintenance to the Permitees through a Cooperative Range improvement agreement. The Permitees on each allotment will then be responsible for maintenance on the system.

Domestic Livestock will see a large benefit from this project as it will serve the Rock Canyon allotment with reliable water. Currently permittees have to haul large amounts of water in the fall months to supplement the well and catchment that dry up or produce limited water in the late summer and fall.

07/18/2018

10/16/2018

2019

Canyon Country Drilling completed drilling the well, installing the pump and solar panels on 9/7/2018. BLM ripped in a mile of pipe using a dozer and a Ripper tooth. Permitees completed tank and trough installation including all of the hookups using a backhoe and a skidsteer.

This project got a late start because of the amount of time involved with drilling another well before this one and slow contracting. The money was carried over from 2017 and the project was completed in early 2018. The well drilling went as planned, Final depth of the well was 305 feet with approximately 10 GPM flow of water at the surface. The tank, troughs and pipeline were all completed without incident and the system was ready to be used in the fall of 2018 by livestock permitees. Over all the project went good however we did learn that contracting and having affordable contractors available can be a bottleneck when it comes to drilling wells. In the future we will plan accordingly. Partnerships were key to getting this project complete, livestock permitees shouldering a large amount of the labor, UDWR doing contracting and paying the bills and BLM facilitating and providing labor to make the project happen.

The system has been assigned to the Grazing permitees to maintain. Future management actions should be limited because the system seems to be very well designed and constructed. It should last in a functioning state for many years.