Utah's many wildlife management areas (WMAs) are vital in helping the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources achieve its mission of serving the people of Utah as trustee and guardian of the state's wildlife. The WMAs help the UDWR achieve its resource goal of expanding wildlife populations and conserving sensitive species through protecting and improving wildlife habitat. Hardware Ranch WMA is a popular recreation area for many people from Cache and Ogden valleys. It is utilized for camping from Easter weekend through the hunts in November. The Wapiti Area, in particular, is very popular due to it's location near the upper and more huntable end of the WMA, as well as it's proximity to the Blacksmith Fork River and the highway. On busy weekends such as Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day camping outfits (RVs) can exceed 30 units with every conceivable spot holding a tent, trailer, or passenger vehicle. Allowing camping has come at a cost, though. To protect the river in this area from human contamination, reduce the damage caused by years of excessive use, and restore the riparian and upland habitats, the Wapiti area will be developed into the Wapiti Day Use Area. The new Wapiti Day Use Area will continue to provide access for hunters and anglers, including those requiring ADA access, while protecting and improving wildlife habitat along the Blacksmith Fork River.

This project meets Objectives 4 and 6 in the HRWMA management plan in the following ways: 1) Protect sensitive areas by adjusting high-use recreation patterns away from these areas. 2) Concentrate development of proposed facilities in areas where previous disturbance is heaviest. 3) Remove existing toilet, and replace it with a toilet facility located on the upper terrace. 4) Improve the riparian corridor and upland terraces through fencing. The fencing will protect the area and allow both active and passive restoration to happen.

The Wapiti Camping area currently has a pit toilet located in the southwestern area of the site. The toilet is over 40 years old and has not been functional for over 5 years. The toilet is currently closed to any kind of use due to the lack of structural integrity of the building as well as the toilets location on the lower terrace where a high water table threatens to transport human waste from the toilet into the Blacksmith Fork River. In spite of the structure being closed and signage indicating the toilet is not to be used, evidence of use has been frequently observed by WMA staff. High observable visitation at the site and no operative restroom facilities means that visitors are using the surrounding landscape as a restroom facility. The proximity of the site to the Blacksmith Fork River and the high water table at the western end of the site creates a vector for contamination.

Per the 2018-2023 HRWMA Management Plan: Wildlife Goal - Objective 4: Decrease habitat impacts in controlled and dispersed camping sites by a minimum of 25% over the life of the plan. -Strategy 2: items c, e, g & h. c) Reduction or elimination of approved camping locations. e) Develop a site plan for Camp Wapiti. g) Provide a pit toilet at Camp Wapiti to prevent campers from using the trees along the river as a latrine. h) Improve and maintain campground roads to reduce disturbance to other areas. Objective 6: Maintain existing riparian and aquatic habitat and explore opportunities to enhance these habitats during the life of the plan. - Strategy 1: Identify riparian areas that require habitat enhancement...

We will prevent the possibility of camping related wildfire by removing campfire rings and converting the site to a day use area.

The Blacksmith Fork River is designated a class 2B: (Infrequent primary contact recreation (e.g. wading, fishing), 3A: Cold water fishery/aquatic life, and 4: Agricultural uses, stream. The Blacksmith Fork river at the location of the site is currently is on the EPA and Utah Division of Water Quality 303d list of waterbodies that do not meet water quality standards pursuant to their designated class (2016 designation). The cause of impairment was identified per class was: 2B: E.coli, 3A: Dissolved Oxygen. This project seeks to be a source of improving the E. coli issues through removing potential human waste contamination sources, and improving dissolved oxygen through increased shading of the stream channel.

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The Wapiti area is a series of floodplain terraces that cascade from the road to the river. The highest terrace contains a drier, upland vegetation community and heavy existing vehicular travel paths and widespread disturbance from camping. 1) Formalize established paths by laying a gravel road to create a one-way loop system with gravel parking lots with ADA parking areas and installing a new vault toilet. 2) Areas that used to be used for camping will be reseeded with upland vegetation seed and trees. The lower terrace is highly sensitive riparian area with a high water table. This area is frequently impacted by vehicles cutting large ruts when the ground is too soft, and limiting the natural growth of the surrounding riparian vegetation through trampling and compacting the soil. 1) Fence off this sensitive area and restore the existing riparian corridor with grass seed and shrubs.

Use will be monitored by both WMA staff and DWR law enforcement, both to inform and enforce recreation that is consistent with a day use area.

USU Extension - Landscape Architecture consulted and helped with the design and concept development of the plan. Cache County, Road Department - providing expertise, equipment, and labor in the development of roads and parking lot.

Annual application of a herbicide sterilant to gravel roadway and parking lot to reduce invasive weeds and fine fuels which can promote recreation sourced wildfire.

This development will continue to permit hunting and angling activities associated with Hardware Ranch WMA while enabling the protection and restoration of sensitive habitats for the future.