This project would address the need to start the reduction of heavy fuel loads near critical areas, while also continuing the efforts of the previous Mill Creek/Pack Creek restoration over the years. The Mill Creek Watershed is an important area providing domestic and irrigation water to Grand County and the City of Moab and recreation uses in the warmer months. Mill Creek is a perennial stream with its headwaters in the La Sal Mountains on USFS lands, flowing through BLM-managed land in Mill Creek Canyon before entering the City of Moab and finally flowing into the Colorado River near the Matheson Wetlands. Mill Creek Canyon is rich in ecological and archaeological resources, and is an important recreation area for Grand County residents. Mill Creek was added to the State of Utah List of Impaired Waters (303d list) for high stream temperatures and other water quality concerns in 1998. A Total Maximum Daily Load report (TMDL) was completed by UDWQ in 2002 which included recommended management actions to improve water quality and overall watershed conditions which are incorporated into this proposal. Mill Creek Canyon is a heavily used recreation area, with many social trails and swimming spots. The Mill Creek riparian corridor has an increasing amount of woody invasive species, which are starting to out-compete the native riparian vegetation. This project proposal would address multiple threats to watershed health and water quality conditions including increasing invasive species as well as increasing social trails and disturbed areas. The USFWS recognizes this area as potential habitat for Southwest Willow Flycatcher, Mexican Spotted Owl and Yellow Bill Cuckoo. BLM completed sec 7 consultation with USFWQ who concurred that project would benefit these species by including seasonal avoidance measures and by restoring the riparian vegetation community to greater than 85% native species composition within 90% of the riparian areas. Short term impacts from the loss of cover as tamarisk are removed may negatively impact wildlife but as willows and other native plants return a more diverse vegetative community is expected, resulting in improved nesting and foraging habitat for birds including the listed Southwest Willow Flycatcher. As cottonwoods and other native shrubs and forbs return, turkey roosting areas and forage habitat may improve. Increased vegetative diversity may improve nutrient levels in streams that would benefit the aquatic community and residing native and sensitive fish species.

The main objective of this project is to decrease the percentage of woody invasive plants from 20-30% to less than 5% in private lands in the City of Moab along Mill and Pack Creek to reduce the fuel load of the priority areas and improve habitat.

The main threat to Mill Creek Watershed is increased invasive woody and non-woody plant concentrations and decreased riparian diversity and native plant densities, impacting wildlife habitats and increasing fire hazards. These conditions contribute to degraded terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitats. This threat will continue to increase in severity without these treatments. Ravenna grass, in particular, is a critical plant to address while densities and distribution are relatively low. While this plant is not yet on the noxious weed list Grand County would like to keep it off the list - and it is currently at levels that can be eradicated over a relatively short timeframe. A second threat is to the water quality conditions in Mill Creek. The stream is currently listed for high stream temperatures and high levels of Total Dissolved Solids, and is impacted by surface disturbances within the riparian corridor especially in Mill Creek Canyon. By reducing erosion and revegetating disturbed areas, water quality conditions will be improved along with aquatic habitats. Without this project water quality conditions may not improve and may continue to degrade. There are no threats or risks expected from implementing this project. Follow-up maintenance is important, and would be conducted over the next several years to ensure the success of the treatments

Management plans: This riparian restoration project advances the objectives set forth in the following management plans as described below. The BLM Moab Field Office 2008 Resource Management Plan (RMP) identifies several objectives that would be accomplished by implementing this project. Goal/ Objective #VEG-9 states "reduce Tamarisk and Russian olive where appropriate using allowable vegetation treatments". This project would reduce Tamarisk using manual removal techniques. Goal/ Objective #VEG-9 also states "restore riparian habitat to native willow and cottonwood communities". This project would restore these sites to a more native plant community including willow and cottonwoods. Goal/ Objective #VEG-10 states "where appropriate, replant cottonwoods and willows subsequent to wildland fire or other disturbance in riparian areas". This project would conduct restoration in several areas disturbed by wildfires, primarily in the wetlands area near SR-313. Goal/ Objective #WL-8 states "prevent the spread of invasive and non-native plants, especially cheatgrass, Tamarisk, and Russian olive. Strive for a dense understory of native species in riparian areas with a reduction in Tamarisk and improvement of cottonwood and willow regeneration." This project would help restore a dense understory of native species by allowing the existing native vegetation to flourish without being dominated by Tamarisk. By manually removing Tamarisk, this project would improve cottonwood and willow regeneration by providing space and resources for passive restoration. The BLM Utah Riparian Policy states riparian areas are to be improved at every opportunity. This project would implement improvements to these riparian areas, improving the diversity of native plant species and the density of these plant species on these treatment sites. The Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership's (SURP) Colorado River Woody Invasive Species Management Plan was developed through a collaboration of many local partners including Tamarisk Coalition, Grand County Council, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Dept. of Transportation, The Nature Conservancy, BLM and the NPS. The plan's main objective is to reduce non-native plant species through mechanical, cultural and biological means within 80% of high priority side streams and canyons by 2020. The Mill Creek Watershed is identified as a high priority area in this plan. Since this project proposes to reduce Tamarisk to less than 20% of the plant community at the treatment sites, the project would help to achieve this plan's main objective. The Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS), published by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in 2005, identifies several key actions needed to protect lowland riparian habitats including restoring degraded habitats. This project would restore degraded habitat along one mile of Mill Creek Canyon for several important bird species including the Southwest Willow Flycatcher and neotropical birds. This project would restore degraded habitat by manually removing no more than 30% of the noxious Tamarisk and Russian Olive trees and planting locally-sourced native plant materials, with existing native plants flourishing with more water, light and room to grow. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan identifies the removal of exotic plants and replacing with equal or higher value plant species as important for the recovery of this bird species. This project would help achieve these objectives by manually removing Tamarisk and planting locally-sourced native plant species along one mile in Mill Creek Canyon. The Grand County Weed Dept. Invasive Species Control Plan identifies an objective of controlling noxious exotic plant species in Grand County. This project would help to achieve this goal/ objective by manually removing Tamarisk and Russian Olive which are considered noxious weeds in Grand County. The Utah Strategic Tamarisk Management Plan identifies several objectives including the protection of Utah's natural resources including native plant communities and wildlife habitat from the impacts of tamarisk through early detection, control and restoration efforts. This project would help to achieve these objectives by reducing the Tamarisk and the associated wildfire hazards in Mill Creek Canyon. The Grand Conservation District Resource Assessment cites a need to improve stream banks and riparian areas by removing invasive species and re-vegetating with native plant species. This project would address this need by removing tamarisk and planting locally sourced native plants and allowing passive re-vegetation of native plants to occur over time. The Tamarisk Coalition's Riparian Restoration Plan identifies the need to restore priority riparian areas to reduce woody invasive plants and to increase the diversity and density of native plant species. This project would address this need by removing tamarisk and planting locally-sourced native plant species and allowing native plants to increase in density and diversity through passive restoration. Through participation with the SE Utah Riparian Partnership, the City of Moab is interested in drafting a comprehensive riparian areas plan for Mill and Pack Creeks during 2017. This plan will create continuity in riparian lands management between the City and County and federal land management agencies.

This project has the potential to improve water quality and increase water quantity both over the short term and the long term. By removing denser stands of invasive plant species from the riparian corridor, more water would be available to native plants. With a more open riparian plant community there would be better floodplain connectivity and less flood damage during high flow events. By reclaiming disturbed areas and minimizing surface disturbances within the watershed, soil erosion would be reduced and soil conditions including infiltration rates would be improved. Increase water infiltration and reduced overland flow during rain events would reduce erosion rates and therefore would improve water quality conditions and overall watershed conditions.

This project has the potential to improve water quality and increase water quantity both over the short term and the long term. By removing denser stands of invasive plant species from the riparian corridor, more water would be available to native plants. With a more open riparian plant community there would be better floodplain connectivity and less flood damage during high flow events. By reclaiming disturbed areas and minimizing surface disturbances within the watershed, soil erosion would be reduced and soil conditions including infiltration rates would be improved. Increase water infiltration and reduced overland flow during rain events would reduce erosion rates and therefore would improve water quality conditions and overall watershed conditions.

Project work on private lands and in the City of Moab would be coordinated with the Grand County Weed Dept, and would not need any compliance approvals. This project has been designed to minimize impacts to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, native fish populations and habitats, etc.

This project involves local youth corps chainsaw crews cutting invasive plants and applying herbicides. The slash materials will be cut into smaller pieces, then scattered or piled or chipped near the treatment sites as site conditions require. Some Ravenna Grass plants may be dug up by hand, and the entire root ball removed from the stream bank.

Monitoring will be conducted to evaluate the success of this treatment, and to determine what other work is needed to achieve project objectives. This monitoring work will involve long term photo points, vegetation monitoring, multiple indicator monitoring (MIM) and water quality sampling. Water quality investigations will be conducted in cooperation with the Moab Area Watershed Partnership and the local UDWQ watershed coordinator, as part of a watershed wide water quality study. A comprehensive monitoring report will be completed after project implementation is done. Rim to Rim has been running vegetation transects at 14 locations on Mill and Pack Creeks since 2007, with the most recent data collected in 2016. A comprehensive report will be produced in 2017 showing the results of over 10 years of invasive removal work and follow up active regeneration in areas where passive native plant regeneration has not occurred.

Project partners include Utah Division of Water Quality (UDWQ), Moab Area Watershed Partnership (MAWP), Moab Solutions, Grand County Weed Dept, Rim To Rim Restoration, City of Moab, Grand County School District, Utah State University and many private landowners.

Rim to Rim is working with the City of Moab now to generate a riparian plan for the City. This plan will not only integrate riparian management with circulation, stormwater drainage and other city functions, but will provide Best Management Practices information to private landowners along the creeks, and continuity between federal and state-managed properties with the city and privately owned parcels in town. From Rim to Rim's work over the past year with them, the City is committed to ensuring the riparian areas have long-term resiliency and connectivity.

There are no domestic livestock benefits from this project, as there is no grazing within the City of Moab.

07/02/2018

06/30/2019

2019

In July and August 2018 UCC removed 12 acres of fire fuels at two high priority sites in collaboration with the School District and City of Moab. In March 2019 Team Rubicon returned to Moab and used a sawyer training operation to clear 2.5 dense acres of russian olive at high priority sites. In June 2019 UCC returned and performed follow up herbicide treatment on olive resprouts in these areas and removed an added 1.5 acres of russian olive near a high density residential area in town. Initial removal in 2018: The removal of trees was priorities for burned trees that were certified to not grow back (Fremont Cottonwoods) and the total removal of all invasives wood plants in the drainage to improve native plant propagation as well to remove excessive fuel loading near structures and homes. All invasive plants were cut down, treated with herbicide and the material was chipped or hauled away. The cinema court fire area was treated to the boundaries indicated in the attached document. The treatment of the grand county school site was performed in part for the restoration of a heavy infested section of pack creek as well as for fire mitigation of vital infrastructure (school bus port). The site contained 80-90% thickets of Russian Olive and Tamarisk, and future follow up planting and treatment will happen with funding from Grand County School District. ADDITIONAL WORK BY Rim to Rim and Team Rubicon performed in Spring 2019: Team Rubicon removed russian olive on 2 acres of fire fuels removed, within 200 m of the hospital, 50 homes, and about 150 m south of Grand Oasis one of the highest density neighborhoods in Moab (approx 250 homes on 35 acres). 1/2 acre was on private land as a part of a training operation. In addition, UCC performed follow up work in June 2019 at the Team Rubicon Site and also at the Bus Shed site and the Cinema Courts Fire site. Backcountry.com provided approximately 400 volunteer hours fire lining firewood out of the creek bottom and a school group from Idaho provided 20 students for 2 hours to spread the wood chips from the Team Rubicon work.

In July and August 2018: UCC provided a four-person hand crew has been working to remove both the fuel loading, burned trees and invasive trees along the Pack Creek area near the Cinema Court fire area and behind the Grand County Highschool Bus Shed. The project has included five 40 hour weeks of work, and herbicide weeks of match work including volunteers, the city of Moab and Grand County roads department. The area has been cleaned up of dead burnt trees, which were cut and chipped. And any invasive wood plants were cut and treated with herbicide. The area that burned was the remaining area along pack creek that was not treated in previous projects along the creek. Both areas are now considered a high priority for riparian restoration and a Pack Creek Fire Community has been formed with the help of a local collaborator, FFSL and the City of Moab along with others. A total of 12 acres of treatment and fire clean up was performed between both sites, along with 4 acres of retreatment of the site near the Grand County High School was performed on a previous treatment polygon. In addition, Team Rubicon provided a work crew to clear approximately 2.5 additional areas at 500 W and a few out of area volunteer groups assisted with clean up from that effort. In June 2018 UCC provided another crew for 2 weeks to clear an additional acreage behind the Bartlett Subdivision as well as treat any olive resprouts at other sites. Below is a break down in the work that was accomplished by the Utah Conservation Corps Crews: 7/2/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Busport 7/3/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Busport 7/4/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Bus port 7/5/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Bus port 7/6/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Bus port 7/7/2018 -Crew of 4 worked with 30 Team Rubicon Volunteers to remove 2 acres of burned trees and debris near La Sal Ave 7/8/2018 -Crew of 4 worked with 30 Team Rubicon Volunteers to remove 2 acres of burned trees and debris near La Sal Ave 7/9/2018 -Crew of 4 removed .5 acres of invasive trees including RO and Elm 7/10/2018 -City of Moab cleared dead trees and debris from Grand County School site with heavy Equipment 7/16/2018 -City of Moab cleared dead trees and debris from Grand County School site with heavy Equipment 7/17/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Bus port and chipped and sprayed stumps 7/18/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Bus port and chipped and sprayed stumps 7/19/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Bus port and chipped and sprayed stumps 7/20/2018 -4 person Crew Removed RO and other Invasives on Grand County School Site behind Bus port and chipped and sprayed stumps 7/21/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated from Bridge at La Sal Ave down to Cinema Court as Per Prescription (See attached Docs) 7/22/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated from Bridge at La Sal Ave down to Cinema Court as Per Prescription (See attached Docs) 7/23/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated from Bridge at La Sal Ave down to Cinema Court as Per Prescription (See attached Docs) 7/24/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated from Bridge at La Sal Ave down to Cinema Court as Per Prescription (See attached Docs) 7/29/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated From Cinema Court to Edge of the Burn site on Pack Creek 7/30/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated From Cinema Court to Edge of the Burn site on Pack Creek 7/31/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated From Cinema Court to Edge of the Burn site on Pack Creek 8/1/2018 -4 Person Crew Treated From Cinema Court to Edge of the Burn site on Pack Creek 8/29/2018- 8/30/2018- A 6 person crew removed the remaining standing trees on the Cinema Court Fire site for no cost as a volunteer effort to keep the standing dead trees from later falling on the business

At the end of this project collaboration between Moab City, Grand County, Moab Valley Fire District and Rim to Rim Restoration has been solidified and will continue into 2020 and beyond. In 2020 plans include organizing neighborhoods by creek reaches to not only better identify areas in need of fire fuels removal and riparian vegetation regeneration, but also to ensure long term follow up maintains a fire resilient riparian area with a low fire hazard for the community. The section of Pack Creek near the Cinema Court fire will be part of the future DWQ project, and plantings, as well as seeding, will be necessary for the restoration of the section. Additionally, the public awareness from this project has sparked the future management of sites owned by the Southeast Housing authority to pay for private treatment of invasive plants along their sections of the creek. As well as the aforementioned committee will focus on this site as well as other sites along the creek that could benefit from invasive plant management in conjunction with fuels loading mitigation near the riparian/urban interface. The site by the Grand Country High School bus shed will have more treatments performed next year, along with a followup retreatment of the Russian Olive, Elm and Tamarisk resprout. Seeding and plantings will also be considered for the area that was heavily removed. Additionally a transect of the site and the adjacent site that was treated next it to will be performed as a side by side comparison of heavy equipment used to clean up cut debris and only hand crew thinning. The sites will also be included in future WRI and other Mill Creek/ Pack Creek projects to continue the restoration process and follow treatments needed to provide long-lasting success of the initial implementation.