Through WRI project #3953-UKC Glendale Bench, 1,134 acres were seeded and chained. As part of the permittee's NRCS contract a required Lop and scatter is scheduled for 2019. The NRCS is required to have all live trees (whips) and fallen trees reduced to no greater than 6 feet in height (NRCS Utah Bulletin No. UT 300-16-02). NRCS plans follow up lop and scatters to ensure the successful chainings and enhance wildlife habitat.

1. Reduce all woody residue to less than 6 feet in height to meet NRCS Utah Bulletin No. UT 300-16-02. 2. Remove all live trees (whips) that fall within the treatment area that were not removed during the chaining, due to the nature of the practice.

NRCS standards, which the permittee has been contracted on, calls for piles, and fallen trees to be reduced to less than 6 feet in height to reduce threats to greater sage grouse (see NRCS Utah Bulletin No. UT 300-16-02). With the removal of all whips left during the chaining practice; lop and scatter treatment will increase the lifespan of the treatment and while enhancing sage grouse habitat. The risk of perching areas for birds of prey would pose an increased risk on the greater sage grouse that has been considered for listing on the Endangered Species list by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Referring to NRCS Utah Bulletin No. UT 300-16-02 reducing pile(s) height and downed trees to 6 feet for "best grouse habitat possible" and removal of all whips or live standing trees is just not NRCS standard, but "ideal sage grouse habitat has no trees". "SGI strive for 100% juniper control with 0% juniper remaining post treatment"(NRCS Utah Bulletin No. UT 300-16-02). As to date there has been $183,794 invested by the permitee to complete the chaining portion of this project. NRCS contracts' that have chaining schedule in greater sage grouse habitat require a follow-up hand thinning treatment. Costs allocated by NRCS do not fully cover the cost of the hand-thinning, due to current costs for similar treatments. Not funding this small additional investment, WRI will increase the likelihood of the trees re-encroaching, as well as increase risks to the permittee, should they default on the contract because the hand thinning cannot be completed.

Following the Paunsaugunt Mule Deer Management: - "Coordinate with federal and state partners in designing projects that will improve fire resiliency and protect areas of crucial habitat." - "Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvement projects. Protect deer winter ranges from wildfire by reseeding burned areas, creating fuel breaks and reseed areas dominated by cheat grass with desirable perennial vegetation." - "Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects." Regarding UDWR Elk Management Plan for Paunsaugunt Unit #27: - "Continue to be committed to the statewide goal of supporting habitat projects that increase forage for both big game and livestock." - "Work with private, state and federal agencies to maintain and protect critical and existing range from future losses. Continue projects with USFS, BLM, state and private entities to enhance wildlife habitat." - "Discourage the encroachment of Pinyon and Juniper (PJ) trees into sagebrush and other habitats. Seek opportunities to improve habitat through grazing practices, prescribed burning, and mechanical treatments to improve habitat where PJ encroachment is occurring." Great Sage Grouse Conservation Plan: - "5.4.1 Aggressively remove encroaching conifers and other plant species to expand greater sage grouse habitat where possible." Those involved in this project and other Upper Kanab Creek Projects continue to work with the local sage grouse working group (Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Local Working Group) to help fulfill those items identified in the Local Conservation Plan. This plan also ranks a variety of threats to sage grouse populations in the Upper Kanab Creek Area. Fire, vegetation management and invasive species are three aspects ranked as important considerations in this plan. The limiting factors for mule deer on the Paunsagunt is winter range and Highway mortality. This project will likely not help with either of those issues, as it is transition or summer range for mule deer. However, it is a popular area for public hunting, wildlife viewing and supports the overall "Habitat Management Objectives" for this unit by, "maintaining mule deer habitat throughout the unit," and "enhancing existing crucial habitats due to natural and human impacts." Additionally, the Management Plan #27 calls for the continued work to reduce pinyon-juniper encroachment in the Kanab Creek portion of the unit. Mule Deer are seen and harvested frequently throughout this area. Frey, S. N., S. G. Lupis, K. Heaton, T. A. Black, T. A. Messmer, and D. Mitchell. 2006. Color Country Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan. Utah's Community Based Conservation Program. Unpublished Report. Logan, Utah. http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/planning/SG_RMP_rev/ARMPA.html This project falls under the Paunsagunt Elk Management Plan (Unit 27). Habitat management objectives for elk in this area include supporting those projects that improve habitat through treatment of p/j and increased forage for both wildlife and livestock.

The removal of the pinyon/juniper will reduce the fuel loads and the threat of large scale wildfire in the treated area by adding fuel breaks. Fuels in this area consist of Fire Regime 1-2 (35%) and FRCC 3 (65%). Values at risk for this area include the town of Glendale, highly valuable wildlife habitat, and risk of conversion to an annual grass site following wildfire. Losing sage grouse in this part of the PHMA is also a value at risk.

Reducing the amount of pinyon/juniper will increase and prolong stream flows, while reducing erosion caused by bare soil. The species planted will help stabilize the soil and reduce erosion. Kormas et al. found that drainage's dominated with juniper experience "snow water equivalent peaks higher, snow melts out earlier, and more water is lost to evapotranspiration in catchments when compared to sagebrush steppe vegetation". In a study from 2008, Deboodt, et. al (2008) mentions that juniper trees can use up to 30 gallons of water a day, when adequate moisture is present. It also state that Vegetative modeling has shown that 9 to 35 trees per acre are enough to utilize all the precipitation delivered to as site in a 13-in annual precipitation zone. In their study researchers monitored two watersheds 12 years prior to treatment (cutting). After the treatment analysis indicated that juniper reduction significantly increased late season spring flow by 225%, increased days of recorded groundwater by an average of 41 days , and increased the relative availability of late season soil moisture to soil depths of .76 meters. It was also noted that managing vegetation for water yield may be obtainable at a much lower precipitation threshold than what was previously understood. Baker, et. al (1984) found a 157% increase in stream flows over a 147 ha pinyon and juniper treatment. Recent research Roundy, et. al. (2014) has shown that mechanical treatments to remove pinyon and juniper increase time that soil water is available. Even four years after treatment, treated areas showed from 8.6 days to-18 days additional water availability at high elevation sites. Roth, et. All (2017) stated snow pack is deeper and last longer in the open site at the low and mid sites (4-26 and 11-33 days, respectively). Additional research by Young, et. al. (2013) also showed a relationship between tree removal and soil climates and wet days on these sites, which while providing more available moisture for desired vegetation could also provide moisture for weeds. Numerous studies have shown that increased infiltration rates and less overland flow improve both water quality and quantity. As demonstrated by the above studies, water quantity will be increases by removing pinyon and juniper trees. The newly planted grass, forbs, and brush become established, infiltration of water will increase. Sheet and rill erosion will decrease, reducing the amount of sediment that will be deposited into water sources, decreasing the amount of top soil lost and sedimentation in drainages Loch, et al. 2000; Pierson et. al 2007.

The National Environmental Policy Act requires Federal agencies to consider and disclose the effects of proposed actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This project is authorized under the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Plan NEPA UT- 040-09-03, (Decision signed in 2011 and Upheld by IBLA September 6, 2012), as well as the Skutumpah Terrace Sagebrush Steppe Enhancement Project NEPA UT-0300-2017-0003, (Decision signed in February 2019). The Records of Decision for these projects analyzes the alternatives and displays the effects in conformance with The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 USC 1701 et seq); Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-514) Section 14 (b); Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations: a) Sections 4120.3-1 -- Conditions for Range Improvement; b) Section 4180.1 -- Fundamentals of Rangeland Health, c) Section 4190.1 Effects of Wildfire Management Decisions, and d) Section 5003.1 -- Forest Management Decisions. The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) documents the analysis of environmental effects associated with a suite of restoration treatments on approximately 52,043 acres of BLM administered land within the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Project, and 30,500 acres on the Skutumpah Terrrace area, encompassing the upper portion of the Kanab, Arizona-Utah 4th level, 8-digit HUC (#15010003). This watershed, and treatments identified at this level, is a recent focus of numerous partner groups, including Utah Partners for Conservation and Development, because of declining mule deer and sage grouse habitat and risk from high intensity wildfire. This project area consists of BLM administered land that by itself does not have international or national importance. The land does, however, have value on a regional or state-wide importance as potential wildlife habitat, rangelands and for recreational use. Lands proposed for treatment are similar in nature and have similar resource considerations.No environmental effects meet the definition of significance in context or intensity as defined in 40 CFR 1508.27 and do not exceed those effects described in the Kanab Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (2008) and the BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Plan (2000) Class III archaeological clearances will be completed on 5,362 acres prior to the FY2020 Wildlife clearances will be completed prior to the 2020 Fiscal Year.

This is a "lop and scatter". All trees within the project boundaries shall be completely severed from the stump(s). No live limbs shall be left on the stump of cut trees. All main branches or stems shall be cut from the trunk of the tree to meet scattering requirements Additional treatment specifications (applies to all cutting units): 1. Cut material will be lopped and scattered so that slash height does not exceed 24" above the ground. 2. Cut material left on site shall not exceed 48" in length. 3. Cut material will be spread in ephemeral washes and draws where possible to help reduce erosion. 4. Live browse species, shall not be cut or damaged. 5. Only established roads shall be used. No overland travel by vehicle will be allowed. 6. Any trees identified as bearing trees, or any tree blazed or tagged to mark the line of any Government survey, shall not be cut or destroyed under penalty of the law. Trees with reference tags will be left uncut.

Using the BLM's Assessment Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM). This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. Additionally, this project falls within sage grouse habitat. Habitat Assessment Framework monitoring is a multi-scale, sage grouse habitat assessment tool that can be integrated with the AIM. This monitoring is done from a broad-to fine scale. The data set at the site scale (which includes this project) describes habitat indicators, such as sagebrush cover, sagebrush height, grass and forb cover, riparian stability, and/or proximity of detrimental land uses and structures. These data will ensure appropriate project implementation, as well as guide future actions in sage grouse habitat. Sage Grouse will continue to be monitored over the next 5 years (5 birds) which will help to determine how this area is used by grouse before/after treatment. There are also range trend monitoring studies in this area that have been established by the Kanab Field Office. These are read every 5-10 years. AIM and HAF monitoring will provide long-term, consistent data across the Color Country District.

Bureau of Land Management, Permittee, NRCS, and UDWR. In the past projects near this area have been funded by the Mule Deer Foundation, National Turkey Federation and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Forestry Fire and State lands have also put some project money into the previous treatment. Private lands just south of this project area have already been treated. This project also borders a recently-completed BLM mastication project to the East and some BLM work to the west. This project will tie those private lands to the BLM lands, providing a landscape benefit.

The permittee is being rested of livestock grazing for a minimum of 2 years as part of the NRCS range land planting conservation practice followed by upland habitat management conservation practice, which will determine the health of the management practice. This area will likely have a grazing permit review in the near future in conjunction with BLM's IM No. 2016-141, which requires the prioritization and review of grazing permits for allotments in greater sage grouse habitat. BLM will conducted assessment to adjust grazing, plan for re treatment, and over ecological health.

This project has the potential to increase available forage for not only wildlife, but also livestock. Such decisions will be made during the 10-year permit renewal. This area is part of the Glendale Bench grazing allotment. It is grazed as follows: 43 Cows 8/1-10/31 130 AUM's. The management of the mule deer population on this unit, promotes not only hunting, but wildlife views also. This treatment provides more available feed for mule deer, elk, sage grouse, and other game and non game species. Beside feed this treatment also provides the space needed for sage brush obligates. The unique geologic formation of Kane County and Paunsaugunt Plateau attaches thousand of recreationist and tourist, these treatments provide open space, for site seeing and ATV recreation.

05/06/2019

05/23/2019

2019

All pinyon and juniper trees standing within the project boundaries were completely severed from the stump(s). No live limbs were left on the stump of cut trees. All main branches or stems were cut from the trunk of the tree to meet scattering requirements. All downed pinyon and juniper trees that have branches standing greater than five (5) feet were be cut, from stump and scattered. Some downed trees needed to lop and scattered to meet the five (5) feet height standard; if so all downed trees that lay greater than five (5) feet off the ground were lopped and scattered. Additional treatment specifications (applies to all cutting units): 1. Cut material will be lopped and scattered so that slash height does not exceed 24" above the ground. 2. Cut material left on site shall not exceed 48" in length. 3. All pinyon and juniper trees that are partially down must cut to standing lop and scatter standards. 4. Cut material will be spread in ephemeral washes and draws where possible to help reduce erosion. 5. Live browse species or tree species other than pinyon and juniper, shall not be cut or damaged. 6. Only established roads shall be used. No overland travel by vehicle will be allowed. 7. Any trees identified as bearing trees, or any tree blazed or tagged to mark the line of any Government survey, shall not be cut or destroyed under penalty of the law. Trees with reference tags will be left uncut. Root balls were not required to be cut to the 5' height requirement.

Through the fast track project proposal process in the FY19, I submitted this project for funding, this is a follow-up treatment to meet the NRCS requirements after a chaining treating using SGI funds. The permittee ended up paying for the project in full using his NRCS cost share. A contract was developed and sent state purchasing for bid. After being out to bid for 7 days the contract was award to Summit Forestry INC. On May 6 we had our pre-work meeting and Summit started working. They continued cutting through May 21, and I did the final inspection on May 23,2019.

With 2019's winter and wet spring the original treatment looks great, and the lop and scatter has extended the lifespan of the treatment. BLM will determine if livestock grazing can take place in 2021, will continue to management to BLM grazing standards and specification. NRCS will check stubble height this fall to determine growth and certification of Upland Wildlife Habitat Management practice.