The Trail Mountain fire was a prescribed fire that escaped the perimeter. The fire burned on to East mountain in the steep slopes that lead into Huntington canyon. Huntington canyon is important for wildlife as well as the local communities of Emery county. Huntington creek tributaries specifically Crandall canyon has a population of Colorado cutthroat trout that is important to genetic diversity of the overall population. Downstream of Huntington creek into the San Rafael and Green river there are populations of threatened and endangered fish as well as other sensitive fish species such as the "3 species". After the Seeley fire the burned in 2012, upstream of the Trail mountain fire, there were heavy rain events that created large debris and ash flows that killed fish downstream as far as San Rafael river. Noxious weeds are present in the burn area and have been seen to drastically increase after fire, seen after the 2012 Seeley fire. Areas that were seeded after the Seeley fire were observed to have had less establishment of noxious weeds. Noxious weeds can out compete native vegetation that is an important forage source for wildlife such as big game as well as livestock. Springs found in the canyon affected by burn areas are 70-90% of the culinary water supply for communities in Emery County. Culinary water from springs is also used for water hydrants and could impair fire protection in local communities. There are 3 springs, all in different canyons, that were affected by severe and moderate intensity burns. Much of the slope in these canyon is over 60%, if any heavy rainstorm occur ash and debris could contaminate the culinary water supplies. Monsoonal rain events occur in July and August in the burn area and heavy rain events are anticipated.

*Seed and apply mulch to slopes where burn intensity was severe to moderate to gain root mass to stabilize soils as well as create ground cover to dissipate energy from rain events. This would protect streams with sensitive fish as well as be first line of defense for important culinary water supplies. *Seed slopes to reduce the establishment of noxious weeds that are present in the area. Areas that were seeded after the 2012 Seeley fire were observed to have a lower establishment of noxious weeds. *Create concrete water diversions to divert water away from spring boxes and other culinary water structures. *Create water retention basins above springs to hold and settle ash and debris flows. *Create protections to hwy. 31 with creations of water retention basins and seed/mulch to stabilize slopes.

Severe to moderate burn intensity along with steep slopes that mostly over 60% can create large ash and debris flows that could impact wildlife, culinary water supplies, highways and infrastructure as well as contribute to an increase in noxious weeds. Looming monsoonal rains which occur in the area during July and August the risk of debris and ash flows off slopes with limited vegetation is a possibility. Seeding and mulch would be used to stabilize slopes that lead to areas where culinary water supply/infrastructure, irrigation water supply/infrastructure, power plant water supply/infrastructure, highway systems, and streams where sensitive and threatened/endangered fish are found. Ash and debris flows from the 2012 Seeley fire created events large enough to kill fish downstream as far as the San Rafael river. Threatened and endangered fish were as well as sensitive fish species such as the "3 species" were observed to have been killed or severely impacted. There is a know population of Colorado cutthroat trout in Crandall canyon. This isolated populations provides genetic diversity to Colorado cutthroat trout in the Colorado river basin. Noxious weed establishment and spread. Noxious weeds are found in some of the burn areas and within a close proximity of other areas of known infestations. Areas that were seeded in 2012 after the Seeley fire were observed to have less establishment of noxious weeds. Noxious weeds can limit the amount of native vegetation for wildlife and livestock in the areas.

Utah's Wildlife Action Plan (WAP): The WAP identifies the following key habitats: Riverine, Mountain sagebrush and Aspen-Conifer. The WAP lists Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity a high level threat for Colorado Cutthroat trout and Aspen-Conifer Ecosystems with the following as potential conservation actions. 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense. This project will design riparian and upland treatments to restore characteristic vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings with the end goal to be able to allow natural ignitions to be managed for resource benefits in the future. The WAP lists Problematic Plant Species -- Native Upland as a Very High level threat to Mountain sagebrush communities with the following as potential conservation actions. Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the Uncharacteristic and surpluses of older age class, including: Dixie/chain harrow, brush mowing or other treatments that reduce the older age class and stimulate the younger/mid age classes; herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such smooth brome; single tree mulching/cutting of invading conifer. Post fire all of these types of treatments are being considered in our restoration efforts and we are trying to apply the best restoration practices to the landscape. A post fire evaluation of the conifer succession into mountain sagebrush communities allows us to design treatments to restore earlier seral stages within these plant communities. The WAP identifies that Improper grazing is a High Threat for Riverine habitats and Colorado cutthroat trout and recommends: 2.1.2 Adjust grazing practices -- per the grazing principles of timing, duration, and intensity -- to improve conditions of habitat, water and wildlife. An objective for this planning process would be to evaluate potential improvements to reduce pressure on key emergent and riverine habitats where livestock use is causing damage. Manti-La Sal National Forest Land Resource Management Plan- UTAH MULE DEER STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN This project is designed to help meet Habitat Objective 2 to improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer habitat (p. 19). Specifically the strategies to Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats improve aspen communities that provide crucial summer/winter habitat by increasing regeneration and reducing conifer encroachment, improve aspen communities that provide crucial summer habitat for mule deer and manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest. Specifically this project addresses the winter range for mule deer and has specific reseeding efforts that help to restore these critical areas. UTAH ELK STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN This project is designed to help meet to meet Habitat Objective 1 - Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. Specifically the proposed treatment will contribute toward increasing forage production by treating elk habitat, and will be conducted on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat and will manage portions of forests in early succession stages through logging. CONSERVATION AGREEMENT FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT in the States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming GOALS To assure the long-term viability of CRCT throughout their historic range. Areas that currently support CRCT will be maintained, while other areas will be managed for increased abundance. New populations will be established where ecologically and economically feasible, while the genetic diversity of the species is maintained. The cooperators envision a future where threats to wild CRCT are either eliminated or reduced to the greatest extent possible. Secure and enhance conservation populations Secure and if necessary enhance all known and suspected genetically pure CRCT populations. These efforts might include, but are not limited to: - Restricting introduction of non-native fish species - Restricting spread of disease and invasive species - Removing non-native fish species - Regulating angling and enforcing regulations - Constructing in-channel barriers - Maintaining sources of genetically pure CRCT Objective 4: Secure and enhance watershed conditions Strive to improve watershed conditions for CRCT, including development of protocols for monitoring.

There is limited fuels in the area, with the reduction of current fuels in the burn area fuel loading should be reduced for many many years to come.

Water quality could be impacted drastically over the next 3 to 5 years. There are steep slopes, mostly over 60% with a majority of the area burning at severe to moderate intensities. If heavy rain events occur before vegetation is re-established then ash, debris and soil could deposit into streams and water developments such as culinary, agricultural and power plants systems. After the area has re-vegetated water quality will increase since herbaceous vegetation will allow water to infiltrate into the ground and less sediments will be deposited into streams and water systems. Water quantity will increase into the system, with the removal of conifers more water from rain and snow events will infiltrate into the soils. Conifers can hold moisture in the limbs and before it can make it to the ground it will evaporate. With the removal of conifers over a long period of time water quantity will be increased.

Project areas will be on Forest Service, private and SITLA lands. Coordination will be completed and all compliance related items will be competed before project related activities begin.

Annual and perennial seed and mulch will be applied aerially. Annual seed and mulch will be applied as soon as possible. Perennial seed will be applied fall of 2018. Spring protection will begin as soon as possible, preferably before monsoonal rains begin. Spring protection will include: clean retention basins, add manhole extensions, rock deflection structures, geofabric to protect infiltration basins and spring box reinforcement.

Perennial seeding will be monitored using photopoints setup before seeding. Spring protections will be oversee by water companies.

Forest Service NRCS Local Water Companies SITLA FFSL UDAF-GIP Emery County

If extensive soil erosion occurs in the area, after 5 years, more intensive methods will be used to stabilize soils. Wildlife populations will continue to monitored by the Forest Service and DWR. Wildlife management goals and objectives will continue to managed for. Forest Service, forest plan objective will continued to be manged for.

The areas impacted will have a long term benefit for livestock. Once areas have re-vegetated they will provide forage for livestock. Area where conifer trees were burned had little to no vegetation in those areas, those could have palatable forage in the future. Areas where perennial seeding will occur have seeded species that will benefit livestock.

11/27/2018

12/08/2018

2019

A plane was used to fly the annual seed on the 1,500 acres that were identified as the highest priority areas and then a second flight was used to apply the perennial seed mix to the same areas. Priority areas were determined by using high burn and moderate severity burn areas that were less than 30% slope. There were more acres than the 1,500 treated that fit within that criteria, so from that point areas where infrastructure and other high values like fisheries were used to create the 1,500 acre treatment area.

Aerial seeding began 11/27. We had to stop seeding a few hours in because of high winds. There were storms multiple days after and then the plane had mechanical issues. We then began seeding again 12/7. We finished aerial seeding mid-day on 12/8. Castle Valley Special Service District (CVSSD) provided protection to springs that provide culinary water to residents of the local community (Cleveland, Elmo, and Huntington). They were concerned that post fire flooding would damage and affect spring heads. The road into the spring was not passable for large equipment, road improvements completed. This allowed for concrete trucks and crews to construct a shell around the spring to prevent any damage. North Emery Water Users (NEWU)- replaced air-vacs, along the culinary water source for all unincorporated residents of northern Emery County, that melted during the fire. Funding was only used for equipment and materials only.

The forest service installed monitoring plots to assess seeding success. All burn areas will be monitored for aspen regeneration as well as herbaceous establishment. There is concern that noxious weeds will become dominate in burn areas and seeding will be monitored as well as non seeded areas to see if there is a difference.