Historically there was more water on the Manti Meadows WMA property that filled several ponds for the benefit of wildlife. This water has dried up and so we are going to do some work to fix an existing well that is no longer functioning and build a trench system and excavate ponds to spread that water across that property. We will also spray cheatgrass with herbicide and plant shrubs and trees to improve the uplands. Lastly, We will build a fence and build north parking area.

1. Restore water to property that has been lost from upstream use. 2. Increase ability to water livestock on property by having water and distributing it across the property. 3. Increase available habitat for upland game birds. 4. Increase available habitat for waterfowl. 5. Improve habitat for WAP and other high interest game species.

Currently there is little water reaching the property that historically occurred. This loss of water has made the property lose its value for wildlife and ability to graze livestock effectively. If we do not do this project we will continue to lose the value of this property. Undesired weeds such as cheatgrass and undesired shrubs such as greasewood have filled the property where water once occurred. Negative impacts can occur to wildlife that are unable to use this property. As well as loss of opportunity for grazing which will result in lost income for the division and lessees.

The Wildlife Action Plan One of the main key habitats that we would be increasing would be open water. Our plan is to not only water livestock, but to improve ponds where many species of wildlife can benefit. The water at this property has been impacted by usage which is one of the very high threats identified in the plan. By improving wells we will be addressing this issue by bring water back to this area that has been lost likely from usage up stream. 2. The WAP identifies several species that will be benefited by this project. -Northern Leopard Frogs, addressing threat of habitat loss from piped irrigation. -Columbia Spotted Frog, addressing threat from habitat loss from water usage - Little Brown Myotis, addressing threat from water loss to livestock watering. We will have open water ponds and troughs that are open and allow drinking and feeding for bats. Mule Deer Management Plan- 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). This project will help to increase the availability of water and help to distribute mule deer across the landscape. Among the UDWR's directors office priorities are to increase waterfowl and pheasant hunting opportunity in the state. This project will increase the available habitat for waterfowl and pheasants and help to reach these priorities. North American Waterfowl Management Plan Habitat Objectives- 1. Acquired areas should be managed to improve habitat Quality, minimize risk of disease and increase carrying capacity of overwintering sites. 2. Agricultural and industrial practices that impact migration and wintering areas should be examined and alternative practices developed that benefit waterfowl and complement other land uses. 3.Private landowners should be encouraged to continue their important contribution of maintaining habitat for migrating and wintering ducks.

Increasing the water on this property will allow us to better manage it to keep cheatgrass from establishing and spreading. The spread of cheatgrass drastically increase the fire risk to the property and neighboring property owners. There are several buildings within in close proximity to the property that could be lost from fire.

The salinity in the remaining water on the property is likely higher due to the reduction in water. There are only a couple of seeps and springs that are very low that remain. Improving wells and springs wells will increase the amount of water available for use as well as help dilute the mineral content in the little water that exists, thus improving the quality.

All necessary cultural clearances will be conducted prior to work being done. All water rights and other permits required will be taken care of prior to project implementation as well. We have inspected the property with Eric Andersen, UDWR water rights specialist, and he believes that we will be able to work under existing water rights that we own for the property.

We will dig out an existing well and spring to try and get water flowing again into ponds and to flood fields to grow more wetland and upland vegetation. We will remove the pipe for the existing well that is clogged with dirt. We will then dig down about 20' and add a new perforated pipe. The existing ditches and ponds will be excavated to allow more water storage and to reach portions of the property that we desire. We will spray cheatgrass with plateau herbicide aerially. We will build a post and rail fence and improve a parking area. We will plant shrubs and trees along wetted areas on property.

The UDWR has full time employees who manage the Manti meadows property and will ensure that water systems are working properly and continue to maximize benefit for wildlfie and livestock. Photo points will be established before implementation of the project.

The UDWR is the landowner of the property. This project will benefit those who in the future will lease grazing rights on the property. We will work with sportsman groups like Ducks Unlimited to help with implementation of the project.

The property will continue to be managed to maximize the benefit for wildlife and livestock. These water improvements will be maintained with wildlife management area maintenance budgets and personnel as needed.

Domestic livestock will have water available for there use. Water will be more distributed across the property and allow for more effective grazing. Water will also be used to irrigate field which will increase the available forage for livestock. By removing cheatgrass and replacing it with perrennial grasses it will increase the amount of available forage.

08/01/2018

06/27/2019

2019

We first sprayed 8 oz. per acre of Plateau herbicide in August of 2018 with a helicopter. We sprayed this herbicide over the entire area that was identified to be sprayed in the project. The next thing we did is built a parking area for sportsman to better access the property. We placed gravel and built a post and rail fence. Following this we worked with the heavy equipment crew in November of 2018 to excavate an old well that was not flowing. We dug down about twenty feet and then placed a 4" perforated sewer pipe standing vertically in the hole. We then filled the hole around the pipe with gravel. This allowed water to seep into the pipe and had enough pressure to flow out on the surface of the ground. We then planted shrubs and trees along the areas that flooded that fall and the following spring. In the spring of 2019 we also dug out two more wells. We were unable to get water flowing from these two wells but hope to get some solar pumps for them in the future. We also did some fence repair work to prevent livestock from trespassing and damaging our new plantings.

Historically there was more water on the Manti Meadows WMA property that filled several ponds for the benefit of wildlife. This water has dried up and so we did some work to fix an existing well that is no longer functioning and some new wells to try and get more water on the property again. We sprayed cheatgrass with herbicide and planted shrubs and trees to improve the uplands for pheasants and quail. Lastly, We will built a fence and a north parking area to improve access for sportsman.

We will continue to try and get water flowing from the wells we have dug. We may need to do some more digging and perhaps purchase some solar pumps. We will monitor the plantings we did and continue to do more plantings as needed. The success of the herbicide treatment will be monitored and we will do more spraying as needed.