There is a need to conserve, enhance and restore sage-grouse habitat in order to move toward desired conditions and avoid further impacts to the viability of existing and future sage-grouse population. These needs have been identified by the Fremont River Ranger District resource management team through comparison of specific Fishlake Land and Resource Management desired condition to the natural resources under National Forest Management.

Conduct archaeological survey on portions of the approximate 40,000 acres project areas. Surveys would focus on the areas where the propose prescribed fire and timber sale may take place. Surveys have already been completed for the mechanical treatment areas.

The National Forest lands have to have an archaeological survey before the proposed treatments can be conducted. Due to the retirement of the forest archaeologist we have not had the capacity to complete the needed archaeological surveys. To meet the proposed timeline, and have the treatments done at the same time as the adjacent areas, archaeological surveys should be conducted in FY18. The project was proposed to help conserve, enhance and restore sage-grouse habitat.

The proposed action has been reviewed for compliance with the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), as amended) and the Greater Sage-grouse Record of Decision. Proposed activities meet the goals and management direction: 1) Protect, enhance and restore sage-grouse and its habitat and to provide sufficient regulatory certainty such that the need for listing the species under the ESA can be avoided (GRSG ROD, page 12). 2) Integrate vegetation management with resource management to maintain productivity and provide for diversity of plant and animal communities (LRMP, page IV-3). 3) Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plant and animals (LRMP, page IV-4).

N/A

N/A

2 PM/Archaeology, Archaeological survey is to be provided. NEPA would be conducted upon completion of the archaeological survey. The expected level of NEPA is a CE (Categorical Exclusion for wildlife habitat improvement).

To complete a timely and economical archaeological survey, we could use the state-contract archaeologist to conduct the survey. The district would supply information on previous surveys and known sites. The final report and maps would be reviewed by the Forest Archaeologist, and submitted for concurrence to SHPO.

N/A

N/A

If the deciding official moves forward with the decision future management would include conducting the proposed prescribed burning, hand cutting, mastication and timber sale. While the current pase involving archaeological survey will not have direct effects to the vegetation or watershed conditions, the activity is necessary to move the proposed treatment forward, eventually resulting in benefits to sage-grouse and it's habitat; and the watershed as a whole.

N/A

03/01/2019

02/01/2021

2021

For the archaeological survey, methods include a background file search; pedestrian survey spaced at 15-meter intervals; and site recording using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, written description, and photography. GPS data was collected using differentially corrected, handheld Trimble GPS receivers using datum and projection UTM Zone 12N NAD-83. Sites were described on Utah Archaeology Site Forms (UASFs) and photographs were collected with 16-megapixel digital cameras. The Class III survey of the Last Chance Wildlife Habitat Project area resulted in the revisit and updating of 20 previously recorded sites (42SV953, 42SV1006, 42SV1145, 42SV1150--42SV1152, 42SV1156, 42SV1246, 42SV1247, 42SV1472--42SV1475, 42SV1490, 42SV2147, 42SV2150, 42SV2151, and 42SV2153 - 42SV2155) and the recordation of 30 newly recorded sites (42SV4005 - 42SV4034) and 46 isolated finds (IFs). One site (42SV1473) could not be relocated. During the revisit of eight previously recorded sites, several sites were found to be in close enough proximity, with a continuous scatter of artifacts in between their original boundaries, that they were combined. These included sites 42SV1150, 42SV1151, 42SV1152, and 42SV1156 (combined under the 42SV1156 site number); sites 42SV1474 and 42SV1475 (combined under the 42SV1475 site number); and sites 42SV2154 and 42SV2155 (combined under the 42SV2155 site number). Twenty sites (42SV1006, 42SV1145, 42SV1156, 42SV1247, 42SV1474, 42SV2147, 42SV2150, 42SV2151, 42SV2155, 42SV4008, 42SV4010, 42SV4011, 42SV4017, 42SV4020--42SV4022, 42SV4026, and 42SV4030--42SV4032) are recommended eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. One site (42SV4006) was recommended eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A. The USFS and DWR were provided GIS shapefiles for all site boundaries. All NRHP-eligible sites will be either treated by hand thinning, incorporated into natural corridors, or avoided entirely if located along the project area boundary. All decisions regarding treatments of NRHP-eligible sites were done in consultation with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The remaining 23 sites were recommended not eligible for the NRHP and did not require avoidance by project activities. With the exception of one IF (IF-44), the IFs were all recommended not eligible for the NRHP. IF-44 was a possible Contra Costa series projectile point, which would represent a unique projectile point from outside the region and may represent a trade good. Although no associated artifacts were observed, Logan Simpson recommended that IF-44 be considered eligible for the NRHP under the historic property category of "Object." No additional research or preservation was recommended for the remaining 45 IFs.

The USFS Fishlake National Forest, in coordination with the WRI, plans to conduct a habitat restoration project in the Last Chance Wildlife Habitat Project area, located approximately 13 miles northeast of the town of Fremont in Sevier County, Utah. The project area is approximately 1,429 acres in size. The purpose of this project is to protect, enhance, and restore sage-grouse habitat. Proposed project activities include a combination of prescribed burning, chaining, hand cutting, mastication, and possible timber sales. These actions have the potential to adversely affect cultural resources in the treatment area. Because the project is located on federal land, involves federal funding, and includes ground-disturbing activities, it is considered a federal undertaking subject to compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The DWR requested that Logan Simpson conduct a cultural resources survey of the 1,429-acre project area, record any cultural resources encountered to USFS standards, and prepare National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) recommendations for each site.

No ongoing management from the WRI is required. The Forest Service may require archaeological site monitoring for eligible sites - but this is outside the scope of this current WRI project.