Vegetation: The need for this project in this area at this time is to reduce existing vegetation density, live fuel loads/fuel continuity and ladder fuels within the project area to reduce wildfire risk and diversify vegetation structure. The proposed treatments would improve habitat quality and productivity for big game and other wildlife and livestock by creating mosaics of vegetation composition and age class structures, and increasing forage production. The Gambel oak and pinyon-juniper zone in the La Sals is becoming degraded due to increasing pinyon and juniper density and dense, aging oakbrush stands. In areas where trees have become dominant, they have out-competed understory species for light, moisture and nutrients. This eventually results in a loss of many understory species and sagebrush openings. The lack of understory species will deplete the native seedbank, increase soil erosion, and increase non-native weed invasion. When the oak becomes overgrown it is inaccessible for livestock and wildlife to utilize as forage. Excessive fuel build up can result in catastrophic wildfires, which further degrades the habitat. Removing pinyon/juniper and mulching oak brush will improve site conditions. It will ensure the seedbank maintains desirable species, reduces the chances of catastrophic wildfires, and decrease the risk of weed invasion. Wildlife: The La Sals deer herd is at approximately 50% below the population objective for the area. These population declines can be attributed in part to habitat quality and quantity on both summer, transition and winter ranges. High quality mule deer summer and transition range on the La Sals is found in the oak zone. With the lack of disturbance in the oak brush community, pinyon/juniper trees are encroaching and the oak is over grown, which can impact wildlife that use this habitat type and reduce the amount of forage for deer during important times of the year. The carrying capacity for mule deer and other wildlife species has been reduced. Removing trees in a mosaic pattern will improve forage conditions, because pinyon-juniper trees do provide valuable thermal and hiding cover for deer. Removing some pinyon and juniper trees will improve the quantity and quality of habitat in the area. This would provide valuable forage for mule deer with hiding and thermal cover in close proximity. This should aid in both overall deer health as well as fawn production.

1) Promote a healthy understory of grasses, forbs and shrubs to provide quality habitat for wildlife and range species. 2) Reduce the encroachment of pinyon/juniper trees and bring the oak brush to a level that can be utilized, but leave patches of trees and older oak stands for wildlife corridors and cover. 3) Reduce the density of pinyon/juniper trees and older stands of oak brush as a hazardous fuels treatment to protect habitat at risk from a catastrophic wildfire event. 4) Reduce overland flows of water from rain/snow events where there are heavy pinyon/juniper stands, allowing water to be infiltrated into the soils and slowly released back into the system. 5) After mechanical treatments have occurred it has been shown that 2 to 3 years post treatment there is a decrease in bare ground on the site. This increase was from grasses, forbs and litter left on site from mechanical treatment (Miller et al. 2014). 6) Increase available forage for livestock and wildlife. 7) Help bring this plant community back into a more natural state with a variety of age classes of oak. 8) Maintain and improve ecological site description as described in the NRCS Ecological Site Description, 39-41% Shrubs, 4-6% forbs and 29-31% grasses.

This project focuses on pinyon/juniper removal and oak disturbance as a means to maintain diverse, healthy mountain brush habitats. The herbaceous understory and sagebrush openings are at risk of being lost due to the increasing density of pinyon and juniper trees, overly dense oakbrush and subsequent wildfire. Wildfire may also reach the canopy of the scattered ponderosa pine trees. The summer/transition range has been declining due to a lack of disturbance, fire suppression and over-utilization by wildlife and livestock. As the conditions in these areas decline so does herd health for wildlife and livestock in the area. A Conservation Assessment of the Colorado Plateau Ecoregion prepared by The Nature Conservancy in 2002 identified Beaver Creek as a Conservation Target, an important area to manage for conservation to retain native biological diversity and ecosystem function. It had a High ranking for Biodiversity Values, and a moderate ranking (includes the whole watershed) for fire regime alteration. The Assessment does not provide management direction, but highlights the importance of the area and serves to focus future planning efforts. Project activities will improve and maintain diversity and improve ecosystem functions in the area. The majority of the area is ranked as well-suited for mechanical treatment on the NRCS Web Soil Survey. The project will help native plants found in the ecological sites described on the NRCS web soil survey to maintain and to increase vigor of shrubs described. If no treatment occurs the site will continue to lose components of the ecological site description. 39-41% Shrubs, 4-6% forbs and 29-31% grasses.

1. The project is consistent with the Standards and Guidelines of the Manti-La Sal Forest Land and Resource Management Plan of 1986, as amended. *Minimize hazards from wildfire - reduce fuel loading, stand and crown/canopy density, and resultant fire hazard to vegetation, the public, private property, and firefighters (LRMP III-5). *Maintain/improve habitat capability through direct treatment of vegetation (LRMP III-23). *Provide habitat needs for deer and elk (LRMP III-19), especially improving the cover:forage ratio. *The Utah Fire Amendment has a goal to reduce hazard fuels. The full range of fuel reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and management area emphasis and direction. *Certain vegetative types are to be managed such that varying successional stages will be present to provide for a high level of vegetative diversity and productivity (III-2). Pinyon-juniper stands on gentle slopes and on lands with good soils will be treated periodically to maintain early successional stages (III-8). Intensive management practices would maintain structural diversity within the woody species in at least 25 percent of the area covered by the Gambel oak and mountain shrub type. In some cases, the Gambel oak would be encouraged to successionally develop as an open savannah or in a high seral stage (III-9). 2. National Fire Plan *Designed to manage the potential impacts of wildland fire to communities and ecosystems and to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fire *The NFP focuses on strategies for improving fire preparedness, restoring and rehabilitating burned areas, reducing hazardous fuels, assisting communities, and identifying research needs 3. Grand County Master Plan *Public Lands Policy 2- Grand County will work to protect watersheds. Public agencies are encouraged to adopt policies that enhance or restore watersheds for Moab *Public Lands Policy 11- Grand County contains a number of damage areas and the County encourages public land agencies to restore these lands *Sensitive Lands Policy 1- Sensitive lands are defined as watersheds; seen areas of elevated benches, mesas, ridges and slopes; and significant geological, biological and archeological sites. *Implementation Actions- Encourage responsible re-vegetation, preservation of existing native plant communities and control of noxious weeds 4. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule Deer 2014-2019 *Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range. *Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that are being taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats. *Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages. Convert habitats back to young, vigorous shrub-dominated communities *Work with land management agencies and private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning and wintering areas. 5. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Elk 2015-2022 *Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. *Reduce adverse impacts to elk herds and elk habitat. *Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. *Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. *Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages. 6. DEER HERD UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN Deer Herd Unit # 13 La Sal October 2015 *Protect, maintain, and/or improve deer habitat through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives. *Work with federal, private, and state partners to improve crucial deer habitats through the WRI process. 7. Elk Herd Unit Management Plan Elk Herd Unit #13 La Sal *Support habitat improvement projects that increase forage for big game and livestock. Improve forage and cover values on elk summer ranges. * Remove pinyon-juniper encroachment into winter range sagebrush parks and summer range mountain brush communities. Over 500 acres per year will be targeted using primarily mechanical treatments. 8. Utah Wildlife Action Plan Gambel Oak and mountain sagebrush are Key Habitast in the 2015-2025 Plan Recommendations to improve condition include: 1)Promoting policies and management that allow fire to return to a more natural regime. 2)Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the uncharacteristic class, including cutting mulching of invading pinyon and juniper trees, and herbicide or mechanical treatment. 3)single tree mulching/cutting invading conifer in the mountain sagebrush type. 9. MLNF Watershed Assessment 2011 Moderate priority watershed for treatment 10. Willow Basin Community Fire Plan (2010) Goal B. Community will work with county, state and federal fire officials to decrease fuels on adjacent public lands to reduce wildfire intensity and impact in and around the community. 11. Utah's Wild Turkey Management Plan *The plans objective is to maintain and improve wild turkey populations. One of the strategies identified to reach this objective is to do habitat projects. This project will help to achieve this objective. *The plan also identifies as an objective increasing habitat quantity and quality for turkeys by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. This project will help to achieve this by increase herbaceous foraging habitat for turkeys. *Another objective in the turkey management plan is to increase hunting opportunity. This project will help to accomplish this because the project is located on SITLA administered lands where hunters have access. *Enhance appreciation for wild turkeys in Utah. This project will help to allow easier access to turkeys by the public and greater opportunity to observe these animals. This will help to achieve this objective.

The project is bordered on the south and west sides by private lands and SITLA, with Forest Service lands on the north and east. All proposed treatment locations are within 1.5 miles of private inholdings/Forest boundary. The area is mapped as moderate risk and threat by the Utah DNR Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (Cat. Fire Map).It is adjacent to the Willow Basin communities at risk (FFSL), which has an overall score of 11, with the potential for adverse impacts to buildings and other infrastructure, such as key communication systems (Willow Basin communication site/radio towers) and utility lines if wildfire occurred. This proposal will reduce the continuity of vegetative crown and ladder fuels, serving to modify fire behavior, reduce fire intensity and severity and therefore reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and damage to natural and cultural resources while restoring the fire regime condition class (FRCC) to low on approximately 1250 acres. It will also provide fire fighters the opportunity to suppress fires under conditions that allow for fire fighter safety and protection of life, property and improvements. This improved condition class and reduced fire risk will benefit National Forest lands and improvements by aiding in protection from fires (natural and man-caused) which spread from private lands, dispersed recreation areas, and other areas of the National Forest. It will also aid in the protection of private infrastructure from fires that initiate on and spread from the National Forest. National policy directs the Forest Service to consider whether climate change is affecting forest health, and where applicable, implement adaptation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of landscapes to expected climate change effects. This includes building resistance to climate-related stressors (drought, wildfire, insects, and disease) and increasing ecosystem resilience by minimizing the severity of climate change impacts, reducing vulnerability, and/or increasing the adaptive capacity of elements of the ecosystem. Increased resistance of ponderosa pine, sagebrush and mountain brush vegetation types in the project area to climate-related stressors (drought, wildfire, insects, and disease) would result from encouraging a mosaic of vegetative conditions (species, age, and density) and treatments that mimic natural fire effects in areas where the use of fire is limited. The 2015-2025 Utah Wildlife Action Plan identified Gambel Oak as a key habitat. A threat associated with this habitat is inappropriate fire frequency and intensity. This project will help to achieve the goal of mitigating this threat.

It is the Forest Service's responsibility to ensure that activities implemented by the Forest include appropriate best management and other practices to protect water resources. Project design, site specific recommendations and the incorporation of SWCPs during project implementation mitigate concerns for watershed and water quality. By reducing the risk of severe, large scale wildfire in the project area, the actions will protect watershed values from damage to soils that result in reduced infiltration and increased runoff in the short term and loss of top soil and subsequent reduction in soil productivity in the long term. The additional treatment of drainages that could act as funnels during a wildfire protects these riparian areas in the long term. The project is designed to increase percent effective ground cover, reduce soil loss due to erosion and reduce the potential amount of area in detrimental soil condition (as from severe fire, compaction or displacement). Monitoring of similar treatments on other areas of the Manti-La Sal National Forest with similar equipment found no detrimental soil compaction from several passes of the machine on the soil surface. The chips from the mulching added additional ground cover. Soil bulk density following use of the Brush Hog was similar to non-treated or control areas. The total effective ground cover in the Brush Hog (Pinyon-Juniper chipped) areas was higher due to wood chips than non-treated areas. Areas dominated by pinyon-juniper produce limited understory vegetation and the bare soil inter-spaces are prone to soil loss by erosion. Herbaceous vegetation is important in impeding overland flow and is effective at reducing soil erosion. Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion and protect the water quality throughout the watershed. Pinyon-juniper trees alter the amount and distribution of water that reaches the soil, intercepting 10-20% of precipitation according to Horman et al. 1999. By removing PJ this should allow for more precipitation to contact the soil and increase biomass on the ground. Pinyon-juniper expansion into areas that historically had greater forbs and grasses present impedes streamflow for off-site (downstream) uses (Folliott 2012). Because PJ is very competitive for water this often reduces grasses and forbs within the area, leading to bare soil. "The increase in bare soil, particularly in the spaces between trees, typically leads to increased runoff and soil loss as the juniper infestation increases" (Thurow 1997). Increased runoff and sediment load, decrease water yield and water quality within the watershed. Studies have shown that an evaluation of alternatives using conversion treatments to enhance stream-flow in the PJ should be made (Barr 1956). According to the Ecological Site Description the soil is in hydrologic groups b and c. The runoff curve numbers are 61 through 86 depending on the condition of the watershed. Results of the Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative study in Nevada (Desatoya Mt.) found that by removing (lop and scatter) P/J (130 trees/acre) there is the potential to increase water recharge yields 4% on wet years. On wet years this will increase recharge, but does not increase stream flow. Wet meadows and upland plants benefit by utilizing the increase soil moisture, providing for better resiliency during drought years. This provides for an increase in water quantity for herbaceous plants on sites where p/j is removed. A recent publication by Roundy et al. 2014 showed that phase 3 juniper removal can increase available moisture for more than 3 weeks in the spring. And removing juniper from phase 1 and 2 stands can increase water from 6-20 days respectively. Because juniper are prolific water users they readily out compete understory species which eventually die off.

The North End project falls under authority of 36 CFR 220.6 (e)(6) - Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities which do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than one mile of low standard road construction. The Decision Memo for this project is expected to be signed at the end of March 2018 (NEPA funded by WRI #4034). Proposed activities meet the goals and management direction provided by the Forest Plan. Management emphasis includes: *Production of forage and cover for domestic livestock and wildlife (III-64) - range condition is improved or maintained through range and/or silvicultural improvement practices, nonstructural restoration practices include a full spectrum of vegetation treatments *Use mechanical treatment or prescribed fire in combination with harvest methods as appropriate to alter timber stands and increase herbaceous yield or cover (III-65) *Wildlife habitat diversity may be enhanced by vegetation manipulation (III-67) This project conforms to these sections of the Plan and is consistent with other portions relative to these types of activities. The project also complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including regarding archeological resources, and has received SHPO concurrence.

Treatments for this phase of the North End project will utilize a combination of mechanized bull hog (fecon head) mastication of pinyon/juniper and Gambel oak, hand-thinning with chainsaws to remove encroaching pinyon pine and juniper trees from sage and mountain brush areas, and thinning around ponderosa pine. Group selection regeneration treatments will be applied to Gambel oak, serviceberry, and birch leaf mountain-mahogany to regenerate a portion of the mid-aged and mature vegetation to diversify stand structure and provide more palatable plants for wildlife forage. There will be a mosaic of larger oak left to provide forage (acorns) for wildlife, including black bears, turkeys and band-tailed pigeons. The treatment of the basal re-sprouting shrubs (oak and other mountain browse) will create diverse age classes, better vigor and increased leader growth for forage for big game. There will be no seeding since the area has good understory already. Thinning and woodland regeneration treatments will emphasize retention of ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, larger mature trees, and clumps/groups of woodland trees. Designation of openings and clumps/corridors will be coordinated with the District Wildlife Biologist. Owl boxes will be installed to benefit flammulated owls in the area as well as artificial bat bark. The results of this type of treatment are well-understood, and have been successful in similar areas on the La Sal Mountains.

*Day-to-day monitoring of contract or force account operations will be completed during implementation by a designated Contractor Officer's Representative (C.O.R.) or by a qualified Forestry Technician (force account). *FS Range personnel will monitor for weeds post-treatment. Existing or new weed populations will be treated in accordance with existing noxious weed management decisions. *An interdisciplinary review will be conducted following implementation (within two years) to determine if project objectives have been met and to determine whether implementation of SWCPs has been effective. *Photo points will be established (by USFS personnel) to identify pre and post-treatment conditions, as well as long-term monitoring points for future reference. Post-treatment photos will be taken within 3 years post-treatment. *Monitoring nests of raptors (golden eagle) in the project area will be continued annually by the USFS.

This project is a multiple phase project. The project was originally brought to the attention of DWR by the Mule Deer Foundation. There was a day in the field with BLM, Forest Service, MDF, DWR and landowners in the area. The project was designed to treat lands in the north Beaver Creek area across multiple ownerships. The initial phase private lands were treated and in a mosaic pattern, in the second phase we have partnered with the NRCS. The landowner was granted funding from the NRCS to supplement project funding. The partnership grew as we reached out the National Wild Turkey Federation to help gain support and help in project design. The NWTF has partnered with us to help develop the project to make sure it will benefit turkeys and all wildlife. In phase 3, the Forest Service lands that were funded to be analyzed under phases 1 and 2 will begin treatment, continuing the work that has happened over the past phases. The project is consistent with proposed management in the Southeastern Utah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan (Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands 2007).

The area being treated is federal lands that area managed for multiple use. The area will continue to be managed for multiple uses such as grazing, recreation including hunting, wildlife and overall ecosystem health. While fire is an important part of this ecosystem, due to WUI, multiple landowners and the proximity to ownership boundaries, the use of fire is limited in the project area and mechanical treatments will continue to be a way to maintain diverse age classes and vegetation communities in the area. The oak, mountain brush and sagebrush areas have an herbaceous understory component, so the need for seeding is not anticipated. No changes to livestock management are anticipated at this time, but utilization and trend monitoring will continue and adaptive management can be applied if required. The La Sal deer herd is well under 50% of population objective. Elk on the La Sals are at objective. Turkey populations are increasing on the La Sals. DWR will continue to strive to achieve and maintain objectives for big game and turkeys according to management plans on the La Sal Mountains.

The project area is part of two cattle allotments. The proposed treatment would decrease the amount of woody vegetation (especially pinyon-juniper and oak) within much of the grazed areas in these allotments. This would likely lead to an increased production of herbaceous vegetation (grass and forb species) on up to 890 acres. Noxious weeds are not expected to increase or spread as a result of the treatments as best management practices will be implemented. Site visits found little cheatgrass in the areas to be treated and the risk of cheatgrass being established as a result of the project is very low, due to the existing diversity and healthy grass production of most of the understory layers and because of the elevation. Any other noxious weeds in the area would continue to be treated. In the short-term there could be some interruption of grazing operations; however the long-term benefits to the range resource outweigh the short-term negative impacts that may have to occur to individual permit holders such as resting pastures or exclusion of livestock from areas.

11/13/2018

06/07/2019

2019

The 747 acre project area was masticated with a tigercat bullhog. The project started on 11/13/2018 and due to harsh winter conditions it was not completed until 6/7/2019. Oak was the primary species that was masticated but pinyon and juniper was also masticated within the treatment areas. No seeding was needed in the treatment areas since the understory is still in good condition. Forest Service hand thinning was not completed but is still planned for implementation in 2020.

The project area is dominantly gambel's oak with some encroaching pinyon and juniper. The area is very important for wildlife. The goal of the project was to provide different age classes of oak brush. Mastication of oak brush produces leader growth and leaf material that available to wildlife for foraging. This is phase 3 of this project, with all other phases combine there has been 2,292 acres of oak brush/pinyon/juniper mastication on the north east side the La Sal mountains. The bat bark has been purchased and will be installed in the project area fall of 2019.

The project area will be most likely need maintenance in 10 to 20 years. The area will still be managed as multiple use with the allowance of recreational hunting and grazing. Grazing will be distributed through the project area with additional areas open for forage. Mule deer and elk populations will be monitored annually and will be managed as outlined in the species plans.