Upland game hunting areas that are easily accessible and close to population centers are limited. To recruit, retain and reactivate hunters within Utah, areas need to be available within a reasonable distance to population centers to provide accessible hunting opportunities. At Ogden Bay we are currently conducting one of the largest pheasant and quail habitat restoration projects in the state, in order to offer the highest quality & quantity of pheasant/quail habitat in Utah. In many areas division properties are available, but may not have the needed habitat components to support populations of pheasant and quail, and hold released pheasants for hunts. Adding shrub rows to increase habitat complexity, provide hiding cover, and provide forage will potentially allow quail populations to persist, improve over winter survival of pheasants and provide huntable hiding cover for pen-reared pheasants. Improved woody cover will improve hunt quality and retain released pheasants on the property so that they can be harvested. In order for shrub rows to be successful irrigation is vitally important to the shrubs survival through the growing season. To irrigate this projects complex shrub row systems we need to be able to pump water out of the Weber River at a high volume in several different locations in order to fill the ditches that the shrubs are being planted along for successful irrigation and shrub survival. A 6" trailered diesel pump will allow managers to efficiently fill ditches and successfully irrigate shrub rows in various locations on the WMA. In addition to the shrub rows/ditches, the pump could be utilized in growing diversity among food plots that will provide a variety of food types for a variety of species using the WMA. The mix of forage types will also insure a certain amount of availability in the event of one of the forage elements fails that year. Plants will also be utilized that provide cover as well as forage benefits. The need to add heavy cover in the form of woody vegetation will expand quail range and improve pheasant hunt quality within the WMA. Additionally, this pump would be used further after the growing season to fill and flood seasonally dry playas and ditches at Ogden Bay WMA. This will help restore many lost acres of wetlands and upland habitat benefiting not only waterfowl, shorebirds, and upland birds, but increasing huntable area and hunter opportunity as well.

The objective of this project is to improve the quality and quantity of upland game bird habitat for pheasant and quail as well as other species with the ultimate goal of increasing public hunting opportunity in areas close to population centers. Specifically, this project would establish shrub plantings bordered by an inner strip of bunch grasses with seed producing forbs and outer strip of food crops. The habitat complex would provide nesting, brood and winter habitat for California Quail and pheasant. Shrub rows will also provide hiding cover for released pheasants to improve retention on public properties and improve the overall hunting experience. The key part for success of these shrub rows and other plantings will be the irrigation component. A 6" trailered diesel pump will allow managers to efficiently fill ditches and successfully irrigate shrub rows in various locations. As well as filling and flooding seasonally dry playas and ditches that will help preserve many acres of wetlands and upland habitat benefiting not only waterfowl and upland birds, but increasing huntable area and hunter opportunity, ultimately successfully maximizing the utilization of the habitat. This project will also build upon previous upland habitat improvements at the WMA.

The vegetative structure for good production and retention of upland game birds is not present in all areas of the WMA and without improvement the WMA will fall short of its full potential. There is a risk that pheasant and quail survival will be low without adequate cover and forage. There is a risk of failed previous planting projects without an adequate irrigation component for the area.

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. This project relates directly to the primary purpose of Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area as stated in the Ogden Bay WMA Habitat Management Plan: To preserve, restore, and enhance both aquatic and terrestrial habitat for wildlife; increase wildlife populations to meet wildlife management objectives; conserve, protect, and recover sensitive wildlife species and their habitats; protect cultural resources; and provide for recreational opportunities that are compatible with the purpose of upland and wetland ecosystems. In relation to WAP:Objective #1 for Droughts Terrestrial SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought condition over that past several years has reduced the resilience of highly functional upland habitats. In order to maintain, and rehabilitate these upland habitats, renovation and reseeding is necessary in order to minimize the impacts of drought. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 3.3.1 Develop list of priority reintroduction species and locations Objective #1 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-native plant problems remain free from the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants. Actions to achieve objective: 2.2.2 Survey, inventory established, and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Develop public information and educational programs aimed at encouraging attitudes and behaviors that are positive for wildlife conservation. Objective #2 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Invasive plant dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically). 2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.5 Conduct mechanical control of invasive/problematic species. Other Ecosystem Modifications Objective #2 for Other Ecosystem Modifications Land management agencies and agents develop vegetation management projects that avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to species and habitats identified as vulnerable to these threats such as brush eradication. Habitat modification and loss is being mitigated by perennial plantings, food plots and shrub rows.

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

Existing shrub rows will be replanted as needed. The majority of the project will establish new shrub complexes with nest, brood and winter habitat. Soil samples will 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. This is a long term commitment that we are making to establish the finest pheasant habitat on public lands.

Plant survival will be monitored annually. Any dead plants will be replaced. If we notice a particular species that doesn't do well, then we obviously won't plant it anymore and will replace that species with one that does well. Photo points will also be established.

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Future management of these shrub rows will consist of monitoring, replanting if any die, irrigating when needed, adding any fertilizer that might be needed.

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07/01/2018

07/30/2019

2020

A 6" diesel pump was purchased to allow managers to more efficiently water the thousands of trees and shrubs as well as food plots at Ogden Bay WMA. The pump allowed managers to also flood up playas and provide some moist soil management that was full of bugs for quail and pheasants. A high pressure sprinkler on a hose reel was also purchased and this was used on our perennial plantings as well as to give an initial watering to a golden millet field. The golden millet should benefit both waterfowl and upland birds. Over 3,000 shrubs and trees (mostly rose) were planted in May.

Upland game habitat is being degraded throughout the state. However, on WMA's the habitat is improving everywhere that you look. A lot of habitat work is being done at OBWMA and HSWMA. Thousands of shrubs and trees were planted in May and irrigated all summer. Survival is looking very good. Soil samples are taken from the areas that are planted and the proper soil amendments are added, to give plants as good of a chance at success as is possible.

The pump and sprinkler will be maintained and repaired as needed. These are a huge addition to the area and will be used to enhance the uplands as well as some of the wetlands at Ogden Bay WMA. The pump allows us to irrigate shrub rows and food plots. The sprinkler will allow us to provide irrigation to perennial plantings.