One key factor for stream enhancement projects to be successful is the establishment of woody riparian vegetation. Woody riparian vegetation helps to stabilize stream banks, create valuable instream and nearstream habitat, directly and indirectly increase food production for fish and wildlife, and other numerous benefits.

The main goal of the project is to improve the condition and function of riparian corridors in the Southern Region. The main objective is to establish a healthy, diverse woody riparian vegetation community where none currently exist along important stream corridors in the Southern Region.

If the project is not funded, it will take longer for woody riparian vegetation to establish or some areas may never have the diversity of trees and shrubs necessary to significantly benefit wildlife and users. The absence of important woody riparian vegetation negatively impacts wildlife (e.g., poor habitat for sensitive species and game fish), reduces recreational opportunities (e.g., poor habitat related to riparian vegetation can be a limiting factor for popular game fish), leads to poor water quality (e.g., no buffer for nonpoint source of pollutants from overland flow), puts past stream enhancement efforts at risk (e.g., elevated rates of erosion could cause the loss of structures or other past enhancement work), etc. Furthermore, the project sites have had substantial investments in restoration work done and not funding can either set back or put at risk habitat goals and objectives. If the project is funded, there are no notable threats or risks. Similar projects have been funded and implemented in the past without any major problems and positive results.

The project would help to address "Threats" listed in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan: 1. "Improper Grazing (current)" - the project would utilize riparian fencing and an agreement with landowners for a rest period followed by short duration, high intensity grazing during spring time only (i.e., Potential Conservation Action Code 2.1.2). 2."Channelization / Bank Alteration (direct, intentional)" - the project would use riparian planting to promote a more diverse riparian plant community (i.e., Potential Conservation Action Code 2.3.6). 3. "Sediment Transport Imbalance" - the project would use planting to reduce the rate of streambank erosion, which can cause imbalance in sediment transport and elevated levels of nutrients (e.g., total phosphorous) (Potential Conservation Action Code Not Listed). 4. "Increasing Stream Temperatures" - the project would use planting to establish a more robust and diverse community of riparian vegetation (i.e., Potential Conservation Action Codes 2.3.5, 2.3.6, 2.3.15). The project would help to meet goals and objectives listed in the Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan: 1. "Maintain or improve water quality and quantity for local needs while providing for the needs of recreation, fish and wildlife" - establish woody riparian vegetation where needed, decrease sediment flow into the river, etc. 2. "Provide suitable habitat for a diversity of wildlife species" - provide and protect quality fish habitat and recreational angling opportunities. 3. "Maintain and restore desired vegetation that is resilient and sustainable" - move vegetation communities closer to desired conditions. 4. "Maintain ranching and agricultural as sustainable economic, cultural and lifestyle components of the Upper Sevier Watershed" - riparian plantings along the Sevier River are done on private land in a manner that helps to "address potential and real conflicts between wildlife management goals and private land use". The project would help to achieve water quality and beneficial use goals cited in the Otter Creek - East Fork Sevier TMDL Study: 1. "Stabilize channel banks" - reduce streambank erosion and promote stability. 2. "Increase filtering capacity" - buffer nonpoint sources of phosphorous (pollutant of concern) from overland flow. 3. "Protect waters for cold water species of game fish and other cold water aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain" - shift and maintain temperature and dissolved oxygen at suitable levels for cold water aquatic species. The project would implement conservation elements called for in the Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Southern Leatherside (Lepidomeda aliciae) in the State of Utah: 1. "Habitat Enhancement" - restore habitat conditions within the historical range of southern leatherside. 2. "Restore Hydrologic Conditions" - restore natural hydrologic characteristics and water quality (e.g., riparian buffer of nonpoint source pollutants). 3. "Range Expansion" - create suitable habitat conditions for potential reintroduction of southern leatherside to the lower Beaver River. The project would help to meet habitat-related objectives in the Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah: 1. Riparian plantings would promote a healthy, functioning riparian habitat along the upper Sevier River and benefit late brood-rearing habitat for greater sage-grouse.

This project encourages a healthy riparian zone, which can provide a vegetation community and microclimate that may reduce the risk of fire to a limited degree and increase the potential use of these areas as control points and fuel/fire breaks.

The project has the potential to improve water quality. The project would occur in areas where a healthy community of riparian vegetation is currently lacking; such areas are more likely to contribute pollutants to streams via both direct inputs (e.g., total phosporous in soil from eroding stream banks) and indirect pathways (e.g., pollutants entering streams from overland flow are not buffered, stream temperature fluctuations are greater because the microclimate associated with dense, healthy riparian vegetation does not exist). The project would help to establish and increase woody riparian vegetation abundance and diversity along important stream corridors in the Southern Region, which would then help with decreasing pollutants and improve water quality. The project promotes reconnecting the stream with the floodplain and increasing water infiltration, both leading to ground water recharge and more consistent flows later into the season. In relation to water quality/quantity and the Upper Sevier River Watershed TMDL, the project would "Maintain or improve water quality and quantity for local needs..." by establishing woody riparian vegetation where needed, decrease sediment and nutrient load sources from streambank erosion, and create a buffer from phosphorous-rich overland flow into the river. In relation to water quality/quantity and the Otter Creek - East Fork Sevier TMDL Study, the project would "Stabilize channel banks" by reducing streambank erosion and promoting stability, "Increase filtering capacity" by buffering nonpoint sources of phosphorous (pollutant of concern) from overland flow, and "Protect waters for cold water species of game fish and other cold water aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain" by shifting and maintaining temperature and dissolved oxygen at suitable levels for cold water aquatic species.

Archaeology clearance and NEPA would not be required. All planting would be done by hand and only involve small plants (e.g., willow stakes and bare root stock), the areas being planted are already highly disturbed from flooding and land use, and the majority of the project would occur on private land.

Bare root trees and shrubs would be purchased from various nurseries depending on stock availability and price. A conservation corps crew would be hired to plant bare root stock and willow cuttings along stream corridors where past stream enhancement projects have been completed and woody riparian vegetation is still lacking. Planting projects would begin in April of 2019. Because where and how planting occurs is so important (particularly where planting occurs relative to the vertical height of the plant on the streambank), a UDWR Biologist would work with the crew for the first day showing them how and where to plant and then a UDWR technician familiar with the area and how to plant would also works with the crew the entire duration of the project. This project has been a yearly maintenance project of older stream improvement projects since FY15 and there has been a lot of planting work done in this time. However, the amount of riparian corridors in the SRO where stream improvement work has been completed is great (~ 9 miles of stream proposed for the FY19 project). Specific sites for planting are determined by selecting localized areas within past projects where woody riparian vegetation is lacking (e.g., a particular outside bend that has seen improvement in terms of herbaceous riparian vegetation reestablishment, but an absence of willow). The reason woody riparian vegetation is lacking in most of these locations is because it has either never been planted (e.g., initial stream improvement project lacked resources) or there was an initial failure that we don't think will be repeated (e.g., initial failure to implement grazing manangement plan).

Surveys of vegetation and fish population in the project areas are already being done and would be continued. Specifically, the UDWR monitors vegetation through periodic visual assessments of plantings and vegetation, game fish populations (i.e., brown trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout) through electrofishing surveys, and native fish populations (e.g., southern leatherside) through seining surveys. Additionally, UDWQ has initiated multiple indicator monitoring (MIM) of stream channels and streamside vegetation at sites within the project areas. Fisheries biologists with the UDWR plan to work with UDWQ to aid and expand their monitoring efforts within the project areas.

Multiple private landowners, agencies, and other stakeholders have been contacted, involved, and/or expressed support for the project. These partners were first contacted to gain input and support for the initial stream enhancement work (installation of in-stream structures, bank sloping, riparian fencing, etc.) and continue to be engaged in efforts to maintain and further improve upon the initial stream enhancement project. Specific examples of partners include multiple private landowners, local water users, UDWR, USFWS, BLM, UDWQ, and USU.

All of the areas are fenced and fences actively maintained or are not currently being grazed. Grazing is excluded along the riparian corridor in most of the areas. There are also grazing plans in place with the landowner or permittee in all areas to manage for establishment of woody riparian vegetation. Planting locations will be monitored and it will be determined if additional plantings are needed.

Livestock grazing occurs in the form of managed springtime grazing at most of the project locations. While the woody riparian vegetation that would be planted is intended to be beneficial for fish and wildlife and not necessarily high value for livestock (e.g., willow, cottonwood, water birch, red-osier dogwood, chokecherry, golden currant), it would help to provide some forage for livestock. Landowners working with USFWS are in different stages of resting the riparian treatments for 5 years after which a riparian specific grazing plan will be developed. Most of these projects have divided the riparian areas into several separate pastures so that grazing management can be maximized.

03/18/2019

06/20/2019

2019

Bare root trees and shrubs were be purchased from various nurseries. A five-person conservation corps crew was hired for three weeks to plant the bare root stock and willow cuttings on stream enhancement projects that have been completed in the past and other areas that have proper livestock grazing management in place. Areas that were planted include the lower Beaver River between the town of Minersville and Minersville Reservoir, the upper Sevier River near the town of Hatch, East Fork of the Sevier River in Kingston Canyon, and Otter Creek upstream of the reservoir. Planting projects were completed in March, April, and June of 2019.

The project was implemented as planned. There were no significant problems, difficulties, etc. The partnership with landowners was beneficial to the project and utilizing a conservation corps crew to do the plantings seemed to be effective.

All of the areas are fenced and fences area actively maintained. Grazing is excluded along the riparian corridor in most of the areas. There are also grazing plans in place with the landowner or permittee in all areas to manage for establishment of woody riparian vegetation. Planting locations will be monitored and it will be determined if additional plantings are needed.