Beavers have been removed from many drainages and watersheds where they have historically occurred. They contribute important benefits to watersheds such as recharging and raising ground water tables, developing riparian vegetation, expanding wetlands, slowing flood waters, reducing erosion, improving water quality, providing habitat for aquatic species and other wildlife, and increasing biodiversity to the landscape. Landowners, USFS employees, BLM employees, and local communities have expressed interest and support in relocating nuisance beavers and restoring beaver populations in historic, suitable habitat (as explicated in the Statewide Management Plan). Specific sites identified for translocation in this proposal encompass portions of the headwaters of the East Fork Sevier River on the Paunsaugunt Plateau and lakes that maintain recreational sport fisheries on Boulder Mountain. The Paunsaugunt Plateau locations are within current and historic habitat for boreal toad, which has seen a dramatic decline in density, distribution and breeding activity over the past 20 years; at least some of which has been attributed to the loss of active and maintained beaver ponds throughout the drainage. WRI project "3631 Paunsaugunt boreal toad habitat improvement project" highlights the need for beaver and beaver habitat to benefit boreal toad populations on the Paunsaugunt. Streams draining the east side of the Mount Dutton were all affected by the 2002 Sanford Fire. Vegetation loss and subsequent flooding led to major erosion and incision on many of these streams. Deep Creek contains a remnant population of Bonneville cutthroat trout, which was extirpated after the fire. Deer Creek and Cottonwood Creek contained nonnative sport fisheries that were extirpated following the fire. Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT) to have been reintroduced into all three of these streams and are persisting at some level; however, habitat has been slow to recover. Habitat and riparian vegetation have recovered faster where beaver have been able to colonize and maintain themselves (particularly in Deer Creek, see attached images). There is a need to increase habitat complexity and reconnect the floodplain of streams incised following the Sanford fire on Mount Dutton. South Fork Box Creek has many historic beaver dams that are deteriorating and the associated pond habitat is shrinking or absent. Mature willows are abundant throughout the stream to sustain a beaver colony. Additionally, the North Branch of SF Greenwich Creek has copious amounts of forage for beavers near the locations of historic beaver dams, which no longer pond any water in the exclosure where Forest Road 068 crosses the stream. Toad sightings occurred upstream of this exclosure in 2001 and the state of ponds near those historic sightings is unknown. Monroe Creek has no current ponds, or historic beaver dams per the 2017 field season amphibian visual encounter surveys. There is a plethora of forage to sustain a beaver population. Re-establishing beavers into approved and suitable watersheds will restore these lost benefits and values, as well as provide an opportunity to diminish or obliterate nuisance issues resulting from beaver damage on private property, without resorting to lethal methods. Some issues associated with nuisance beavers include: impeding flow of irrigation water (blocking pipelines or culverts), flooding property, cutting cottonwoods/aspen/willow. In these circumstances, nuisance beavers would be an excellent source for live trapping and relocating to desirable and suitable locations. If a nuisance area's ecosystem is critically dependent on beaver activity, or provides a thriving environment for beavers, flow-control devices may be implemented to sustain beaver activity while resolving the associated nuisance issues. Summary of benefits to beaver dams: *Keystone species (or foundation species) - restoring degraded riparian communities which foments the recruitment of other wildlife including boreal toad and cutthroat trout *Helps to reverse the effects of erosion, road construction, etc. *Raises the water table, creating meadows and riparian vegetation *Decelerates snow melt and runoff, extending the season of water flow and curtailing erosion *Filtering out sediment, leaving cleaner watersheds downstream *Store and cool water underground *Releasing water during drought conditions helps to sustain healthy and productive aquatic and riparian communities *May provide overwintering habitat for fish in shallow, ice-covered streams

Improve riparian habitat and biodiversity via re-establishing beavers in approved and suitable watersheds, consequently alleviating nuisance per Statewide Management Plan. Improve boreal toad breeding habitat on the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

Beaver may transport Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). To eliminate this issue, a 72-hour quarantine period will be required for any beavers from waterways that remain "unknown" in regards to AIS. Beavers from watersheds contaminated with AIS will be held in quarantine for 120 hours. Furthermore, beavers will not be relocated within a four mile radius of a fish hatchery, and those from sources of AIS will not be released in areas designated "critical habitat" for native cutthroat trout. Due to the delicate nature of live trapping, the UDWR has previously attended a workshop with Sherri Tippy to ensure the most meticulous and expedited process is implemented. As highlighted in WRI project 3631 "Paunsaugunt boreal toad habitat improvement project" without continued habitat improvement projects and other conservation actions there is the risk that the Paunsaugunt population of boreal toad may be listed as threatened or endangered which would threaten the WRI arm of "Opportunities for Sustainable Uses" in this area. Additionally, streams on the eastern side of Mount Dutton are slowly recovering from the Sanford Fire, so the reintroduction of beaver offers a low cost, low risk method of stabilizing those streams and reconnecting their floodplains. Without beaver it could take decades to centuries to regain floodplain connection and habitat complexity unless significantly more costly active stream restoration methods were employed. The presence of beaver in the upper reaches of Deep, Deer, and Cottonwood creek will have a net benefit for sage grouse in John's Valley. Beaver dams can increase water quantity and riparian quality; these benefits cascade upstream and downstream. Dams slow spring runoff and make more water available in the dry summer months. In turn, the availability of herbaceous riparian vegetation is increased in the system which provides important forage in itself and attracts insects; both key sage grouse diet components during the brood rearing season. Furthermore, conservation agreements exist for both Colorado River Cutthroat Trout and Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, which directly benefit from the presence of beaver dams. The number one listed "problem facing the species" in the CRCT and BCT Conservation Agreement and Strategies is "The present or potential destruction, modification, or curtailment of habitat or range (HABITAT DEGREDATION)." Finally, any translocations to the East Fork Sevier above the current beaver dam analogues at Mill Creek and those that will be placed at the Seiler Creek confluence this spring, will further bolster the current WRI project, Paunsaugunt boreal toad habitat improvement project (3631). As beavers are have continued to rebuild abandoned dams in other relocation sites, they would be inclined to reinforce the current analogues, which would curtail or eliminate the need for any analogue maintenance.

Utah's Wildlife Action Plan: The goal/purpose of Utah's Wildlife Action Plan is "To manage native wildlife species and their habitats, sufficient to prevent the need for additional listings under the Endangered Species Act." As discussed above, the Paunsaugunt Plateau population of boreal toad appears to fit the criteria that could lead to it being evaluated as a Distinct Population Segment under the current petition to list an "Eastern population" of boreal toad as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Similarly, Bonneville cutthroat trout have been petitioned for listing threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act multiple times and translocating beaver to streams on the east side of Mount Dutton would improve their habitat. The WAP has an objective to reduce the scope and severity of channel downcutting for aquatic forested and riverine habitat. It also identifies the following conservation actions to achieve these objectives: 1) Restore aquatic habitat complexity. 2) Restore floodplain connectivity. 3) Increase cover and extent of native riparian vegetation by restoring beaver on the landscape where social and environmental factors permit (per Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool). This project will help achieve goals outlined in the Dixie and Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plans by increasing diversity of plant and animal communities (Diversity IV-3), protecting and improving aquatic habitats (Wildlife and Fish, IV-3), improving habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species (Wildlife and Fish, IV-4), and maintaining or improving water quality and the productivity of streams and riparian areas (Soil and Water, IV-4). Other multi-agency plans this project will directly benefit include: State of Utah Beaver Management Plan, Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, Range-wide Conservation Agreement for Southern leatherside chub and the Boreal Toad Conservation Plan in the State of Utah. Examples of specific plan objectives include: UTAH STATEWIDE BEAVER MANAGEMENT PLAN The overall goal of the plan is to "Maintain healthy, functional beaver populations in ecological balance with available habitat, human needs, and associated species." Population Management explains that we should "obtain/maintain a basic picture of distribution/density of beaver in Utah, understand we will be working in human-altered habitat which requires management, and consider beaver colony distribution and abundance. The Watershed Restoration section notes that beaver are a good tool that could be used to restore degraded riparian communities. Watershed Restoration Strategy Number 4 states that UDWR regional personnel will coordinate with local governments, land management agencies, private landowners, and any other affected parties that have an interest (positive or negative) in the establishment of beaver populations within the translocation watershed. In addition, the management plan states in Objective 1 of Damage Management: Increase consistency in the response options (lethal and non-lethal) currently in use and increase the frequency of use of non-traditional options (e.g. beaver deceivers, livetrapping) used by UDWR, governmental and non-governmental agencies and landowners for managing beaver causing property damage." BOREAL TOAD CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE STATE OF UTAH: The goal of the Boreal toad Conservation Plan is to "maintain or restore multiple, viable breeding populations in nine of the 14 mountain ranges or geologic areas in Utah where boreal toad historically occurred ." The Plan identifies seven key Conservation Strategies including: "Identify and reduce threats from habitat loss and degradation (Habitat Management). RANGE-WIDE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT AND STRATEGY FOR BONNEVILLE CUTTHROAT TROUT (Lentsch et al. 2000): Strategy Objective II A) 1) Maintain or restore water quality to a degree that provides for stable and productive riparian and aquatic ecosystems; 2) Maintain or restore stream channel integrity, channel processes, and the sediment regime (including the elements of timing, volume, and character of sediment input and transport) under which the riparian and aquatic ecosystems developed; 5) Maintain or restore the diversity and productivity of desired plant communities in riparian zones; 6) Maintain or restore riparian vegetation to: c) help achieve rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration characteristic of those under which the communities developed. CONSERVATION AGREEMENT AND STRATEGY FOR SOUTHERN LEATHERSIDE (Lepidomeda aliciae) IN THE STATE OF UTAH (UDWR 2010): Objective 3 - Identify, prioritize, and implement actions to reduce threats to southern leatherside populations and habitat and evaluate the effectiveness of these actions. Conservation Element B) 2) - Restore habitat where possible, creating habitat complexity and connectivity for southern leatherside. Conservation Element B) 3) - Implement habitat enhancements that may include some or all of the following: removal of diversion structures, modification of barriers to allow fish passage, bank stabilization, enhancement of native vegetation, riparian fencing, nonnative removal and implementation of compatible grazing practices. Conservation Element D) 4) -- Maintain natural hydrologic conditions. This project will also help Forestry Fire and State Lands accomplish objectives, according to the Utah Statewide Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy Guide 2010.

This project is not directly tied to fire or fuels benefit. However, the benefits of increased riparian vegetation communities may make an area more resilient to wildlife or at the least act as an efficient fire break. Examples of elements that could be protected by this kind of fire break include: permanent infrastructure, critical wildlife habitat, and private or government property via abating risk that fires will spread into urbanized areas. An additional fire-related component to the project is that beavers are taken to areas that have experienced fire damage for landscape rehabilitation.

The very function of beaver dams exemplifies increased water quality and quantity. The creation of ponds decelerates run off and stream flow, curtailing erosion and allowing stabilization of the stream banks. The pooling water additionally raises the water table, consequently creating meadows and riparian vegetation. This also keeps stored water cool underground, releasing water during drought conditions and extending the season of water flow. Finally, filtering out sediment will leave cleaner watersheds downstream, which also benefits multiple species.

UDWR will consult with Federal partners if NEPA is required for installation of flow control devices on a case-by-case basis. Beaver relocations alone will not necessitate any archaeological clearances, and any NEPA is covered by the UDWR Beaver Management Plan. UDWR has jurisdiction over beaver in Utah as it is considered a furbearer. UDWR also has a statewide Stream Alteration Permit that allows action related to beaver trapping and translocation permissible under state law.

Three temporary/seasonal technicians will be hired to live-trap, monitor, and possibly relocate beavers. The live-trapping and relocating is standard from June 1st through September 1st, unless otherwise approved through the UDWR Salt Lake Office (through proper procedure and written justification). Therefore, live-trapping and relocations may begin as early as late April. Monitoring will carry on through the end of September (or later if snowfall allows). Two technicians will work 40 hours per week, for the entire season; the third technician will work 20 hours per week, and other section seasonals may contribute when emergency situations arise. Some beavers may be sedated for the application of a VHF transmitter, at which time blood samples, gender identification, and other biological data will be gathered. Antibiotics, vaccines, and/or vitamin injections may also be administered.

The UDWR employees will be assessing the impacts of the project through visiting all sites where beaver are transplanted and communicating with other agencies (USFS, BLM, FFSL, etc.), local residents and trappers, as well as other volunteer agencies to ensure beneficial results. The UDWR will monitor the relocation sites that are utilized and address any unforeseen conflicts that may have occurred due to the translocation. Repeat photography will be used to illustrate changes to the landscape due to beaver activity. The utilization of VHF transmitters will assist in the monitoring process. Though two receivers have been secured so both seasonal technicians will have full access to receivers to monitor when possible, other sections of the DWR and other agencies may also have receivers to be utilized at times. In addition, DWR performs classification flights for big game, and we could capitalize on that opportunity to have biologists on the flights perform some telemetry as well. Furthermore, the Dixie has Riparian Level II inventory sites along many of the potential translocation sites and can assess changes in greenline vegetation related to reintroductions. UDWR and Forest Service annually monitor boreal toad breeding activity and distribution on the Paunsaugunt. UDWR and Forest Service just completed BCT sampling in the East Fork Sevier River drainage in 2015 and will reassess BCT populations in the drainage by 2022. As there are already active monitoring efforts for boreal toad and cutthroat trout species between the DWR and USFS, we can compile additional data about the benefits of beaver dams for these species. The DWR is also currently executing annual surveys to evaluate the success of overwintering trout in Deer Creek and Moosman relocation sites. Other issues already evaluated by USFS are incision and floodplain components; DWR will work with USFS biologists to identify where improvements have been made to these components via beaver dams. DWR will also continue to communicate with USFS regarding the results from the current forest monitoring for riparian health. For any locations that are not currently undergoing surveys, outside agencies such as GBRC and Wild Utah Project could be contacted to request monitoring on one or more relocation sites. Furthermore, the Fishlake National Forest will be conducting customary toad surveys, and are willing to utilize the telemetry equipment previously purchased to check on frequencies of translocated beavers in the area.

Forest Service, BLM, NGO's and Division of Wildlife Resources have worked together to develop the Beaver Management Plan and to formulate a list of translocation sites, translocations, monitoring, and other trapping/translocation needs as necessary. In the development of the Beaver Management Plan, advisory committee members included: Utah Trappers Association, Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Utah Cattlemen's Association, Utah Farm Bureau, Grand Canyon Trust, BLM, Wildlife Services, DWR. This committee developed this plan including the relocation processes and suitable translocation sites. It was then taken to the RAC and Wildlife Board for approval. Before determining a relocation site, DWR contacts the pertinent public lands agency, county commissioners irrigation owners, and any other private property owners that might be affected.

As the Statewide Beaver Management Plan is instated until the need for revision presents itself (changed from the 2020 end date this year), the UDWR will continue to apply for funding to transplant beavers every year. Future management in terms of monitoring is explained in the Monitoring section, and any other future management regarding population, AIS, nuisance issues, harvest management, watershed restoration, and/or research is illuminated in the plan. Additionally, the Paunsaugunt is closed to trapping until future recommendations are made, which increases possibility of survival for beavers released at those sites. UDWR and the Dixie National Forest are in the process of developing a Conservation Action Plan for the Paunsaugunt Plateau population of boreal toad, which will have a large focus on increasing and maintaining beaver populations on the Plateau. Additionally UDWR and the Forest Service are signatories to the BCT and Southern leatherside chub Conservation Agreements and Strategies. As such both agencies are committed to healthy watersheds, riparian areas and stream habitats where these species occur and encouraging and maintaining beaver support those commitments. The Forest Service is currently in the process of implementing additional vegetation management to increase woody brose for long-term maintenance and the expansion of beaver populations, subsequent to the short-term habitat priorities in the CAP for Paunsaugunt Boreal Toads. The short-term habitat projects were achieved via WRI Project 3631 and Forest Service funding, so the continuation of these strategies will bolster beaver habitat. In return, beaver translocations reinforce the CAP goals, creating a symbiotic situation between an action plan and WRI project. Fishlake National Forest translocation sites are highlighted in this proposal with the anticipation of replicating the outcome of the Dixie Forest sites where Boreal Toads are thriving as a result of beaver ponds (i.e. Sevier River; Podunk Guard Station - see images). Finally, the Boreal Toad Conservation Plan lists beaver ponds are one of the breeding habitats utilized by boreal toads in Utah. In addition, the Habitat Management portion of the Monitoring section explicates that minimizing habitat loss and degradation associated with water management and creating, restoring and maintaining new habitats through water management are key factors to the success of the plan. Translocated beavers have produced dams which have led to the breeding and egg laying habitat that boreal toads are currently utilizing on the Paunsaugunt, therefore bolstering the toad's conservation plan and increasing overall population health. This plan will continue to influence future management of this project.

Beaver, as ecosystem engineers, can increase the amount of forage for wild and domestic ungulates. This project is not designed specifically to benefit livestock but may provide secondary benefits by improving the diversity and availability of riparian vegetation. Range conservationists from the USFS adjust stocking rates based on conditions. If conditions of the stream improve, there is no justification for lowering AUMs as the area will have become more resilient and productive.

07/01/2018

06/30/2019

2019

Four seasonal technicians were hired for the project; Russell Gardner, Tiana Vroom, and Jennifer Batty worked during the entire season, and Bryce Griffin worked the latter portion of the season, beginning on July 1st. Two seasonal vehicles were provided, and the other two technicians either borrowed a different fleet vehicle from another section, or drove their personal vehicle and received mileage reimbursements. From July 1st through August 29, traps were set at Fish Lake, Bicknell Bottoms, Barker, near Hatch, Gooseberry, LaVerkin, and near Kolob Reservoir. From May 6th through June 30th, traps were set in Panguitch irrigation canals, Black Canyon, Kingston Canyon, Circleville, Santa Clara, Virgin River, Hurricane, Mammoth Creek (Cedar Mountain), Webster's Flat (Cedar Mountain), and Shivwitz Indian Reservation. The live traps used were Hancock or Koro style traps. Each trap was secured with a cable and rebar stake, and baited with gland or lure and vegetation. Traps were checked each morning, and reset for the following evening. Before each site was trapped, notes were made about the complaint in a Google Form as well as an Excel spreadsheet for record keeping. Heather contacted Forest Service, county commissioners, water masters, irrigators, and/or animal control depending on the trapping and release site, to gain support for the activity. Once a beaver was attained, Heather was called for instruction for which quarantine facility to utilize, which pens within the facility to use for pairing beavers, updates to those relocating if quarantining was extended, etc. Beavers were fed each day, had water changes done each morning, and mister systems turned on in the morning to keep the ambient temperature cooler. During the heat of the day, beavers congregate under a ramp or inside a metal barrel, which allows them to dry out completely, so they are utilizing clean water each evening. Once beavers were caught, arrangements were made with technicians and Forest Service to relocate the beavers. The Forest Service spent approximately $15,000 in-kind dollars assisting with beaver translocations and monitoring efforts. The Division of Wildlife spent approximately $10,000 in-kind dollars with processing, translocations, and monitoring efforts. Throughout this project, most beavers were "processed;" meaning they were given tail transmitters, oxygen levels, respiration rate and heart rate monitored, identified gender, measured, weighed and given an approximate age and body condition score. The VHF tail transmitters have shown us survival and movement post translocation. Kits were not given tail transmitters because of the size of their tails relative to the transmitters. On rare occasions, we are unable to coordinate a time for our wildlife veterinarian to assist with the processing. If we have access to the proper equipment, we can process without the vet, but if not, we have to release unprocessed beavers to avoid them staying in quarantine for an extended amount of time. We have identified some beavers as live and some that have died throughout this process. However, there are still multiple beavers we have been unable to locate since VHF transmitters were attached; we are still actively searching for these frequencies through surveys performed by Forest Service, Division of Wildlife biologists and seasonal technicians.

A total of 36 beavers were moved during this fiscal year, which is a decrease from the 48 that were moved the previous year -- this may have been due to the very wet spring allowing for beavers to disperse more efficiently compared to the previous year. With four technicians, we were able to accommodate more nuisance locations and increase our trap-set days. We have noticed an increase in public satisfaction since a technician can usually meet with a landowner within one business day, and trap more locations simultaneously.

Since we've acquired the VHF transmitters, we plan to continue to track the signals to better assess and document survival and telemetry. Though we would like to utilize GPS telemetry, at this time, it would be almost completely ineffective (ATS quotes "three percent success rate") due to beavers being under water and in lodges so much of the time. However, we will continue looking for new transmitters with a GPS capability and a higher efficacy rate as a more reasonable cost.