The general project area includes all or portions of 8 subwatersheds. The total project area is approximately 56,000 acres with approximately 9,000 acres receiving treatment. The area has, and continues to, experience a significant level of tree mortality. A mountain pine beetle epidemic killed many lodgepole pine throughout the area. A spruce beetle epidemic followed, and killed additional trees. There has been a minor amount of Douglas-fir killed by Douglas-fir beetles. The concern of a large, destructive wildfire that could cause irreparable damage to the watershed, wildlife, aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and vegetation. The major goal of the project is to maintain, restore, and prevent large scale damage to the watershed condition and functions. Most of the project area is considered a municipal watershed. The Ashley National Forest recognizes that this area is at an ecological threshold and would like to begin the NEPA process and add this area as a UWRI Focus Area. Due to the Ashley National Forest undergoing Forest Plan Revision a Silviculturist is needed to for the the NEPA process. Time is considered critical, right now the timber has value and has not completly dried out.

Objective 1: Reduce fuel loading and improve fire management in the event of wildfire through vegetation management. Objective 2: Prevent potential severe damage to Duchesne River water quality caused by severe fire and/or lack of treatments. Objective 3:The project will also include various other watershed improvements projects (road relocations, meadow enhancements, and gulley repair) that will benefit long term water quality. Objective 4: Reduce conifer encroachment into area of established aspen. Objective 5: Pre-commercially thin area of dense (dog-hair) conifer.

Over time dead conifers will dominate the vegetative community leading to high fuel loads and the potential for an ecologically devastating wildfire. The loss of the conifer and aspen communities would have negative impacts to numerous components of the existing watershed and habitat, and may drastically alter ecological function of the area. The widespread mortality of conifer will also leave the area without a productive seed source leading to a complete vegetative community change. Failure to complete any action will impact duration and timing of surface water runoff and sedimentation patterns(which causes soil erosion and poor water quality). Removing impacted conifers will reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and increase the likelihood of fire suppression if a fire occurs and shelter other ecological functions.

Ashley National Forest Management Plan: Timber Objective 3: Accomplish timber stand improvement consistent with silvicultural needs and management prescriptions. Soil, Water, and Air Objective 2: Maintain or improve soil stability, site productivity, and repair or stabilize damaged watersheds. The Utah Division of Wildlife plans for Elk and Mule Deer: Elk Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. This project area is fully encompassed by Elk habitat. Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. The project area occurs completely within Mule Deer habitat and borders crucial habitat for restoration according the the State plan for Mule Deer.

The dead and dying conifer located throughout the project area is quickly becoming a major fuel/fire hazard. The project aims to reduce, sometimes drastically, widespread fuels that would lead to a catastrophic wildfire across approximately 9000 acres and create fuel breaks. Beetle infested conifer has proven to be a devastating fuel source if left untreated throughout the west and the State of Utah.

Conifer stands prevent snow and moisture from reaching the forest floor which then can be lost through evaporation and sublimation. Minor increases in water quantity may be seen when reducing the amount of conifer in an ecosystem, but must be balanced with water quality concerns. These concerns are mitigated through proper planning and will almost always be better than influences from wildfire. The Duchesne River is already listed on the 303(d) list as an impaired water body. As conifer continue to die due to insect epidemics the risks to water quality increase. It is proven that dead conifer stands lead to high risk fire conditions that can lead to devastating wildfires with equally devastating effects on water quality. This projects aims to reduce risk of such an event.

Due to the heavy workload at the Ashley National Forest on Forest Plan Revision a silviculturist is needed for the NEPA process. Assistance is also needed to complete the archeological survey. The Ashley National Forest is requesting assistance in these two respects to meet NEPA requirements and comply with applicable laws and regulations.

The project includes the hand and mechanical treatments of various conifer stands to increase long-term forest health and improve wildlife habitat of the area. Implementation of the treatments will be varied across a wide project area, but will mainly consist of traditional skidder logging. After the logging is completed seedling trees will be planted where it has been determined that tree mortality is high enough that no viable seed source exists. Also, part of this project includes smaller watershed restoration projects including trail and road re-routes out of sensitive areas, meadow restoration, and gulley repair.

The Forest Service has vegetative study sites throughout the project area and will create new sites. Each of these sites will be reviewed every 3-5 years to assess the vegetative cover and species abundance. Photo points will also be placed in the treatment areas to monitor changes over time. Project implementation will be monitored to ensure project is completed and implemented appropriately.

At the early onset of planning a Duchesne County Commissioner was contacted regarding county support for the project he voiced strong support and the forest will continue to involve the commission as the project moves forward. The Mule Deer Foundation has been contacted about being a potential partner when the implementation phase begins. As always public outreach and chance for comment will be conducted in accordance to the National Environmental Policy Act.

The widespread mortality of conifer in this area may lead to future management changes that may be detrimental. The forest service would like to prevent negative future issues by beginning the NEPA process and implementing positive action before the loss of conifer and a potential wildfire dictate future management.

The whole project area is open to livestock grazing. As timber is harvested it will open up areas for larger amounts of forage. The goal of the project is also to prevent wildfire that could potentially lead to widespread soil erosion severely inhibiting the soils ability to produce forage.