Bighorn sheep were reintroduced to Flaming Gorge. Vegetative conditions have changed in many canyon areas to the detriment of bighorn sheep requirements. Wild fires were a historic component of canyon plant community dynamics in the Green River Corridor (Goodrich 2008). The natural fire regime of the Upper Green River Corridor in Utah was altered with the Flaming Gorge Dam impoundment. Fires historically originated in woody vegetation types in the canyon bottom and ran up slope along canyon walls. The result was periodic removal of shrub and tree vegetation and maintenance of more open and grassy communities. The periodic fires created differing vegetation type and age class mosaics resulting in more diverse canon plant communities. Altered fire regimes (longer periods between fires) created conditions that favor the sow displacement of open grass habitats by taller shrub, woodlands, and conifer species. Similar vegetative type changes contributed to the decline and extinction of 36 bighorn sheep populations in Colorado (Wakelyn 1987). Singer et al. (199) also reported similar habitat condition influences upon bighorn sheep populations. Conversely, fire and habitat improvement efforts that create or maintain open vegetation types have been associated with bighorn population increases and range expansions (Bentz and Woodard 1988), Smith et al. 1999, Seip and bunnell 1985, Greenwood et al. 1999). Reduced visibility by bighorn sheep due to large tree and shrub encroachment contribute to higher levels of cougar predation (McKinney 2006). Tree and shrub management were recommended for improving visibility and reducing cougar predation. The advancing site dominance by pinyon and juniper closed canopy woodlands will also decrease vegetative understory. large, intense, wildfires that may result from more monotypic vegetation classes in the future will also contribute to exotic noxious weed (cheatgrass) expansion and site dominance. Results of such events would contribute to increased soil movement through lost permanent ground cover and a resultant decrease in reservoir water quality (a USFS recognized municipal watershed). Bighorn sheep are a designated Ashley National Forest Sensitive Species. Since their reintroduction, they have become an iconic species for the public. The Forest Land Management Plan (1986) encourages actions that maintain and improve bighorn habitat, herd health, and population viability. Vegetative treatments are now needed to mimic and replace the historical canyon fire regime. If no action occurs, vegetative seral conditions will continue to advance toward a more shrub and tree dominated landscape and bighorn sheep habitat will decline.

The project intent is to: 1. Maintain and improve habitat for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep; 2. Maintain and improve native vegetation diversity and stand structure of grass and shrub community types; 3. Reduce the likelihood of large fires through decreased fuel loads and woodland stand crown densities; 4. Maintain a stable watershed for water quality and municipal water use, and 5. Maintain a viable population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and preclude ESA listing. Ancillary to the bighorn herd and vegetative community health objectives, the National Recreation Area management intent is to provide diverse recreational opportunity. A well distributed bighorn herd, with viable healthy population numbers, and good vegetative diversity provides a unique addition for public enjoyment.

Woodland and conifer displacement of low, open, vegetative community types along the Green River Corridor present threats to bighorn habitat, bighorn population resiliency, native vegetative diversity, and watershed stability and water quality. Habitat loss, change, and altered fire regimes are all widely noted as threats to local and national bighorn sheep populations (NatureServe 2015). Bighorn sheep rank N4 and S3 for National and Utah State conservation needs, respectively (UWAP 2105). The Utah Bighorn Sheep statewide Management Plan (UDWR 2013) and North Slope Uinta Mountains Unit 8 Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (2004) both address vegetation management practices to offset habitat losses. This project addresses habitat losses to altered fire regimes and subsequent loss of open habitat to conifer species. It also promotes improved bighorn range distribution and subsequently reduces disease interaction risks from high density population interactions.

The project supports: 1. The "Rangeland" WRI NER focus area. 2. Ashley National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986). The plan mandates actions that "manage pinyon-juniper to provide for maximum wildlife habitat and esthetics. Sag-grass-browse and openings of various sizes and shapes should be maintained and expanded where slopes, watershed conditions, soils, and esthetics consideration permit." (p. A-5, Vegetation Section 5.(2,3,5) Wildlife and Fish Section 6.(1,2,12,15), p. A-9 Esthetics Section 2.(1,3,4,513,17). Bighorn sheep are also considered an Ashley National Forest Sensitive Species and mule deer are a Management Indicator Species. Both management status categories receive local management level considerations for both the species and their habitats. 3. The Utah Statewide and local bighorn sheep herd management plans (North and South Slope Units 8 & 9, respectively)recommend vegetation management actions to offset habitat losses or degradation. 4. The Utah statewide and local mule deer herd (North Slope, Unit 8) management plans both recommend vegetation management actions to offset habitat losses or degradations. 5. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2015) (WAP) includes bighorn sheep as a Species of Greatest Conservation need (SGCN) with a National and Utah State rating of N4 and S3, respectively. The project includes portions of 3 key habitats defined in the WAP: lowland sagebrush, mountain sagebrush, and mountain shrub (true mountain mahogany) communities. Specific key habitat types are dependent upon local site slope, aspect, and elevation within the treatment polygons.

The project area is within the Dutch John municipal watershed. Fie events such as the Mustang Ridge and Bare Mountain west slope fires resulted in large scale and nearly complete vegetative community conversions. Fuel build up in the form of high crown canopy and fuel density contributed to these large fire scales and high intensity impacts. The altered fire regime within the Green Rive corridor is allowing vegetative communities to advance in seral stage toward high fuel density and canopy height. This project will mimic the historical fire regime to some extent and will help maintain native vegetative community mosaics. This will also provide a level of protection for the Dutch John municipal watershed. Small scale prescribed fire is not included as a treatment method in this project proposal because of potential impact concerns to cultural/historical sites and visual impacts to recreation. Therefore, lop and scatter hand cutting is being used as a substitute. One of the project objectives is to reduce the potential of large scale wildfires by reducing crown canopy and lowering fuel density and height levels. Threats to scenic and cultural values as well as vegetative communities and a municipal watershed will be reduced.

The Ashley National Forest NEPA Hydrologist Specialist Report (Plunkett 2015) evaluated the project for municipal watershed, wetland, water quality, floodplains, and other hydrological considerations. No measureable impacts to water related resource categories is anticipated from lop and scatter treatments.

The project fits as a Forest Service Categorical Exclusion (CE) under NEPA planning guidelines. The Decision Memo is signed and the project is ready to be implemented. Concurrence consultations support the NEPA analysis project determinations for Endangered Species - Canada lynx (USFWS concurrence) and Cultural Resources (SHIPO concurrence). Treatments are also compliant with Utah Forest State Water Quality guidelines.

Conifers will be removed through standard lop and scatter hand cutting with prescriptions for ponderosa pine and Douglas fir inclusions and for mature woodland sites on approximately 515 acres. Lopped vegetation and stumps will be reduced to a 24" maximum height and left in place. Work site access will require foot hiking and/or reservoir boat use. Design features are included to minimize impacts to other resources.

Treated sites will be photographed immediately pre and post treatment (USFS). Bighorn animal use and population response will be monitored via telemetry, ground, aircraft, and boat based annual surveys (UDWR). Observed bighorn distribution into treated areas and herd population trend will both be surveyed and recorded. Periodic reports can be produced as warranted.

The Utah Foundation for Wild Sheep and Goats has offered financial support for implementation. UDWR and USFS have been working together for several years to coordinate project planning and are providing both personnel and implementation funding through individual agency budgets and WRI funding solicitation. The project is on FS land with no potential for adjacent landowner participation.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area mandates and associated management plans will dictate future project area management. There is no domestic livestock grazing on the project area. High use recreation is mostly watercraft based with some hiking on the peripheral areas of the project area. This is not expected to change in future years. The municipal and water quality management parameters are not likely to change in future years. If change comes in water resources, it will likely become more conservative. The project areas are also in steep terrain and in roadless area designation. Therefore, no changes are anticipated.

No domestic livestock grazing occurs within the project area. Canyon slopes contain steep cliffs and are generally unsuitable for domestic livestock grazing. Grazing does occur on the top of Dowd Mountain. However, do to the project area terrain the actual project area around the base of Dowd Mountain does not receive domestic grazing use.

06/19/2019

08/01/2019

2020

Removal of expanding conifers was done with hand crews using chainsaws. Cut materials were left on the site or lopped and scattered. There was no piling, slashing, or burning of cut materials. Due to the rugged terrain some cut materials rolled downhill into the Flaming Gorge reservoir.

June 19 - The 3B's company crew began treatment of the project beginning with the central large polygon near the Dowd Mountain overlook. June 22 - The crews have reached most of the upper parts of the polygons accessible by foot and will now begin accessing the project by boat. June 24 - The crew took today off and will be starting to work on the Northern most polygon tomorrow, the first part of the project looks good except the Northwestern edge of the first polygon needs to be thinned to not have an abrupt cut edge. June 25 - Met with the boat operator and was told the main foreman left to go to another job, I let him know about the need to feather the previously mentioned edge and to make sure and let the crew know they needed to remove more of the small trees at or near the waterline. June 27 - Met with the crew again today, they are starting on the polygons near Carter Creek, reminded them they are still leaving too many small trees near the water. July 2 - Tried to get on the water today to check on the project since the project will be completed this afternoon, but my boat has been pulled out of the marina for the big holiday weekend. I met with a new temporary foreman at their motel after the job was finished and he assured me they went back and removed the small trees near the water. July 9 - Was able to finally get my boat back in the water and check on the project. The trees I wanted removed near the water are not done and I cannot see any treatment done on one of the polygons. Talked with the DWR contracting officer and we are requesting the company send a crew back to complete the work. July 31 - 3B's finally got back in touch with me about finishing the project, they want to be here tomorrow. August 1 - Met the crew at the Sheep Creek launch and shuttled them out to the areas that required some touch-up. The crew worked until about 4:00 PM finishing up the cuts needed near the waterline.

The original 515 acres proposed for treatment was reduced to about 405 after the cutting prescription was complete. It will take the next several years of observations to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment for determining success of Bighorn habitat improvement and hazardous fuels reduction. As Bighorn use is determined and rate of regrowth is gauged, the treatment will be evaluated for possible re-treatment and/or treatment expansion. If the next cutting phase proceeds on this project the Northernmost polygon should be included with a more aggressive cutting prescription.