The Dollar Ridge Fire burned approximately 65,000 acres of USFS, Private, and DWR managed lands near the Strawberry River between Soldier Creek Dam and Red Creek. The areas targeted for rehabilitation include conifer areas that had a limited understory component prior to the fire and slopes around the Strawbrerry River. Stabilization of these slopes is important for reducing potential runoff into the Strawberry River. One storm event has already produced major debris flows and erosion into the river. Re-seeding efforts are needed to minimize the potential for further erosion.

Stabilize slopes surrounding the Strawberry River to reduce run-off potential. Increase vegetative diversity in burned areas to benefit big game species such as elk, deer, and bighorn sheep.

The largest threat to the project area is soil erosion. Re-seeding burned areas will help reduce erosion potential during storms. Additional threats to habitats include the establishment of weedy species following fire. Threats to wildlife include loss of forage and cover due to the fire. Re-seeding efforts will replace some of the lost forage.

The Utah Wildlife action plan identifies Lowland sagebrush, Mountain Sagebrush, and Mountain brush as key habitats. The WAP identifies "Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity" and "Soil Erosion and Loss" as threats to these habitats. The Utah Elk Statewide Management Plan has an objective to improve the quality and quantity of forage on elk habitat by initiating broad scale vegetative treatment projects. The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan has an objective to improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on crucial ranges by initiating broad-scale vegetative treatment projects. The Utah Bighorn Sheep Statewide Management Plan has a habitat management goal to provide good quality habitat for healthy populations of bighorn sheep. The Strawberry River WMA Habitat Management Plan's goals are to protect, improve, and restore watershed, soil, and vegetative resources for the benefit of fish and wildlife.

This project is focused on rehabilitating areas that already burned, rather than to reduce risk of fire.

On July 22, a storm event over the Dollar Ridge burn scar produced major debris flows and flooding along the Strawberry River. Ash and sediment was carried downstream and deposited in Starvation Reservoir. Future storm events are predicted to produce further erosion. Re-seeding burned areas and getting vegetation re-established should help reduce the erosion potential.

No ground disturbance is anticipated, so archaeology surveys should not be necessary.

Seed will be applied aerially using a helicopter. Steep slopes and difficult terrain preclude any mechanical treatments on the ground. Some areas of low burn severity or areas in vegetative types that are likely to recover without additional seeding will not be treated. A youth crew (UCC, ACE, etc.) will be hired for four weeks to spray emerging weeds on the Wildcat WMA.

USFS and DWR personnel will regularly monitor for weed infestations on USFS and DWR managed property.

A Burned Area Emergency Response team from the USFS provided data regarding soil burn severity and erosion potential. The USFS is cooperating with the UDWR to seed areas of public lands. The NRCS and Duchesne and Wasatch Counties are coordinating efforts on private property with in the burned area. UDWR will take the lead on contracting efforts and on providing seed. The Bureau of Reclamation and the Utah Mitigation Reclamation and Conservation Commission own lands along the Strawberry River, under management of UDWR, and have cooperated in discussions of rehabilitation efforts and plans.

It is anticipated that the Strawberry River corridor will require further restoration efforts for some time. As partners have met to discuss strategies and priorities, the general consensus is that seeding on the slopes above the river should take place first. Storm events are predicted to produce more erosion for a period of two or three years. Once the slopes stabilize and the probability of major erosive events is reduced, restoration efforts will shift to the river corridor itself. These efforts may include riparian planting, bank stabilization, and in-stream habitat work. Due to the massive debris flow in July 2018, and from concerns of similar events in the future, Duchesne county has determined to close the Strawberry River Road upstream from Timber Canyon for a period of at least one year. This closure will allow the Duchesne County road department to make necessary repairs to the road, and will mitigate concerns relative to emergency response.

Areas on USFS lands are grazed and should benefit from the re-seeding efforts there.

11/05/2018

11/09/2018

2019

This project represents the first efforts to restore areas burned by the Dollar Ridge Fire. Planned treatments included aerial seeding and weed treatments. Seed was applied aerially via fixed-wing aircraft to the project sites shown on the project map. Due to difficult terrain and access, no ground disturbance occurred. Sagebrush seeding on the project area was initially planned but cancelled due to lack of availability of sagebrush seed at the ideal time for seeding. Weed spraying on other parcels was initially planned but cancelled due to late snow-melt and contracting and funding deadlines that didn't allow time for weed spraying to occur before the end of the State fiscal year. The only treatment that took place was aerial seeding.

The aerial seeding contract was awarded to Hammond Helicopter at a price of $4.95/acre, which included seed transport costs. Seed application began on November 5, 2018 and concluded on November 9, 2018.

Areas that were seeded will be rested from grazing to allow seed to establish. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will monitor areas burned by the Dollar Ridge Fire for weed infestations and will treat as needed. The UDWR, along with many partners, are meeting regularly to discuss restoration plans for the Strawberry River, which was severely damaged due to erosion events following the fire. Necessary steps include reconstruction of the Strawberry River road; replacement or reconstruction of bridges, diversions, ditches, parking areas; probable stream channel work on up to 10 miles of river channel. The UDWR is working on finalizing a management plan for the Strawberry River WMA, which will include the majority of the burned area.