In the past shrubs and trees have been planted on both Gordon Creek and Desert Lake WMA's. At this point several of those shrub rows have taken however they have not filled in the interspace between rows. The desired outcome is a hedgerow that will provide both thermal and hiding cover for multiple species. While enhancing current shrub rows we would like to establish several new rows to create more edge habitat and diversify the species of shrubs on the WMA's. It was also noticed during the summer of 2017 that some sections of the shrub rows had died off. With the replanting we would like to intermix species to allow the shrub row to continue to thrive if one species is severely effected by disease or herbicide At Desert Lake some of the best upland game cover consists of Russian olive thickets. This is considered a noxious weed so we would like to get some other form of habitat created so that eventually some of the Russian olive could be removed without negatively affecting upland game species.

-The overall objective of this project is to improve the quality and quantity of upland game bird habitat and big game habitat while increasing public hunting opportunity in areas close to population centers. This will be fulfilled by: 1.) Increase hiding cover and forage productivity through planting new tree lines. 2.) Increase recreational wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities by creating better habitat. 3.) Increase thermal bedding cover for wintering mule deer 4.) Increasing the habitat for wintering turkeys. 5.) Increase the habitat for upland game. 6.) Increase shrubs for wintering mule deer browse 7.) Increase the amount of edge on the fields

Invasive species -With Russian olive being on the noxious weed list is should be removed however this is the majority of the quality habitat for upland game species. Establishment of new shrub rows prior to Russian olive will allow the populations of upland game species to thrive. Wildlife -Gorden Creek wildlife management area is managed first with big game in mind with upland game being a nice second use for the property. Mule deer are less likely to utilize forage if it is too far from hiding cover. The center fields at Gorden creek are pushing that limit of 660 feet. Deer will seldom be seen feeding in the wide open fields as they feel vulnerable. Creating these tree and shrub lines would break the fields up and create more cover for wintering mule deer. -Creating tree and shrub lines would also decrease the predation rate on upland game species on the WMA. Varied cover types on the landscape causes the scent of these species to swirl in the wind making it difficult for predators to locate prey. This varied cover will also create a better hunting experience as it makes it harder for bird dogs to locate birds creating a more challenging fulfilling hunt.

State wide Mule Deer Management Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019. d. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species. Deer herd unit #16bc/12 Limiting Factors Habitat -- Winter range is a limiting factor for deer on this unit. Portions of critical winter ranges are in poor condition (see range trend summary below). Factors contributing to poor range conditions include recent droughts and range use by deer and domestic livestock. This has resulted in a reduction of winter range carrying capacity. Utilization of key shrub species on critical winter ranges will be closely monitored. HABITAT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES Protect, maintain, and/or improve deer habitat through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives. Statewide Elk Plan Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. C. Watershed Restoration Initiative a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. Elk herd unit #16 Unit habitat objectives will include;  Enhance elk habitat on a minimum of 20,000 acres during the next 5 years through direct range improvements. Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan Goal A. Maintain and Improve Wild Turkey Populations to Habitat or Social Carrying Capacity Objective1.Stabilize populations that are declining outside of natural population fluctuations; especially through catastrophic events (i.e. following fires, severe winters, etc.). Strategy c: Conduct habitat projects to address limiting factors. Objective 2.Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. Strategy d: Conduct habitat improvement projects in limiting habitat(s). Western Quail Management Plan: - Increase plant diversity in early successional habitats. - Maintain or Increase availability of dense escape and roosting cover. - Manage stands of brush species for diversity of structure, seral stage and optimal edge effect National Wild Pheasant Conservation Plan: - Increase small grain acreage and other beneficial pheasant habitat. Gordon Creek Habitat Management Plan A. Habitat Goal- Manage multiple ecosystems for the successional stages at which optimum numbers of high interest species are provided for. B. Wildlife Goal- Achieve and maintain optimum population levels of high interest species, with special emphasis on deer, elk, and moose. C. Habitat oriented objectives 1. Increase attractiveness and carrying capacity of lower fields, upper fields, and Bob Wright fields for big game and other species. Desert Lake Management Plan V. Strategies for Habitat Management 3. Continue to improve and provide nesting and feeding areas for upland species such as pheasants, quail, and cottontail rabbits. 4. Continue to provide feeding areas for deer and antelope.

This project does not directly or indirectly decrease the risk of fire. According to the Utah DNR Wildfire Risk Portal (Cat. Fire Map or UWRAP) the area has a risk score of low/moderate and a threat score of low/moderate.

Tree and shrub rows help to decrease erosion of the soil through both wind erosion and overland flows. On the WMA's the area is irrigated using flood irrigation. This causes the soil to slowly erode and end up on the bottom of the fields. Planting these tree and shrub rows will help hold the soil at the bottom of the fields instead of it running off the property. This may help with water quality however the increase in quality is debatable and indirect.

The project area will be reviewed by the DWR archaeologist for cultural resource compliance.

Existing shrub rows will be replanted or enhanced as needed. Establishment of new shrub complexes with nest, brood and winter habitat will also take place. Soil samples may be taken in all proposed areas and analyzed. Soil amendments will be added as recommended (Soil conditioner, nitrogen, phosphorus...etc.). Ditches will be dug in new areas and re-dug in established areas. Several days will be planned involving UDWR personnel and volunteers to plant all of the shrubs. The shrub rows will be irrigated as needed. The surrounding vegetation will be controlled to allow the shrubs to become established with either mechanical(mowing) or herbicide treatments. The majority of the plants will be planted with a tree planter in rows. Some will also be planted using hand tools or power augers to plant the interspace of already established shrub rows.

Photo monitoring will be conducted before and after the initial planting using UDWR protocol (document attached). Game cameras will be places near plantings to identify wildlife use and if there are additional needs for protecting the newly planted tree/shrubs. Survival rates will be monitored and replanting will take place in areas where establishment does not occur.

The Mule Deer Foundation volunteered and funded one of the previous shrub planting days at Gorden Creek WMA. We are going to enhance this work on Gorden creek that was completed in the past. In fy 18 meetings were held to discuss similar projects on other WMA's with National wild turkey federation and United States Fish and Wildlife Services. On those field tours all agreed at the benefit of such projects. Those entities have volunteered to help on other plantings and I assume that relationship will be carried into the future on these type of tree an shrub establishment projects.

Shrubs once considered established will be monitored to ensure they are filling in the interspace properly. If they are not filling in as desired they will either be hinge cut to create more cover or a controlled burn will take place to cause basal re-sprouting.

Currently Desert lake does not allow grazing and Gorden creek allows it on some areas of the property. The location that these trees and shrubs are going to be planted will not directly benefit domestic livestock.

04/27/2019

12/14/2019

2020

Two separate plantings occurred. One took place on the Gordon Creek Wildlife Management Area, the other on the Fuller Bottom Wildlife Management Area. Gordon Creek - The plan was for a dormant spring planting however many of the plants had broken dormancy. Most of what was planted was placed in existing shrub rows trying to enhance and thicken them. All plants were containerized ranging from 1 gallon to D-40 sized pots. The holes were either dug by hand or with a gas powered auger. There was some soil moisture when the holes were dug. Plant protectors were placed after plants had been planted. Fuller Bottom- Here a Fall dormant planting occurred in December. All plants were in 1-gallon containers and had been pruned for long stem planting. Holes were prepared with a gas auger then the holes and plants were watered to increase survival rates. No plant protectors were installed.

Gordon Creek- This planting was planned for the spring of 2019 and was designed to be a dormant planting. Due to muddy conditions we could not gain access until April. The planting occurred on 4-27-2019 and was completed by division staff, dedicated hunters, and a local boy scout who used it as his eagle project. Species planted included: three leaf sumac, Siberian pea shrub, woods rose, crab apple, choke cherry, buffalo berry. Most of the plants went to enhance current shrub rows trying to create more of a hedge row area. Holes were prepared using a gas powered auger, then plants were placed in the ground at grade, and the holes were filled in. Normal irrigation activities (flood and sprinkler) were used to provide supplemental water. Fuller Bottom- This planting was planned as a dormant fall planting. The planting occurred on 12-14-2019 being completed by division staff and a local Boy Scout troop who used it as an eagle scout project. All plants were 1-gallon pots including: New Mexico privet, three leaf sumac, four-wing salt bush. Plants were pruned by the nursery to have long stems where they could be planted as deep as possible leaving about 12'' of the stem above surface. The hole was dug with a gas auger and water was poured in the hole to help with soil moisture. Once the hole had drained the pot was planted and buried with a second bucket of water being poured over it. No other supplemental water was used or is planned.

Both areas will be monitored for shrub establishment. Future plantings will occur to further enhance the habitat that was created.