#1-Pinion/Juniper Treatment: The purpose of this project is to improve wildlife habitat; including big game transition and winter range. To accomplish this purpose, the Richfield Ranger District of the Fishlake National Forest has determined there is a need to seed and mechanically thin pinion/juniper from approximately 7,000 acres of sagebrush/grass/forb areas on the east side of Monroe Mountain from Pine Canyon/Koosharem Creek area up to Bell Rock Canyon along with maintaining and improving an existing chaining treatment. The pinion/juniper expansion and fading understory in this area is having negative impacts to big game wildlife species (primarily Mule deer; which is a Fishlake National Forest Management Indicator Species) dependent upon this area and these ecosystems. On the ground surveys and site visits have allowed staffs from the Richfield Ranger District to see the lack of understory plants in the pinion/juniper complex on the east side of Monroe Mountain. A good majority of the PJ in the project is in phase 2 transitioning to phase 3. Some understory brush, grasses, and forbs still exists but is about to cross the threshold into phase 3 dominated PJ and lose the remaining understory. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the pinion/juniper expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. This pinion/juniper expansion largely results from reduced occurrences of natural disturbance. As pinion/juniper has become dominate on the landscape and the loss of understory vegetation increases, big game and small game animals are experiencing a loss of foraging habitat. This compression of more pinion/juniper and less sage/grass/forb habitat has contributed to the overall decrease in Mule deer populations and other wildlife species on the mountain. This expansion factor also contributes to the issue of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. Depredation of crops by big game in the valleys on the east side of Monroe Mountain has caused much contention between landowners and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Improving the habitat in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations, reducing the risk for large scale, uncharacteristic wildland fires, which in turn creates a fire resilient environment with less risk to public and firefighter safety. These treatments will create a better balanced ecosystem diversity that will enhance population viability for a variety of big game, small game, neo-tropical migratory birds, upland game, raptors, small mammals, insects and key pollinator species. A reduction of pinion/juniper encroachment into sagebrush communities on the east side of Monroe Mountain will also help enlarge habitat use opportunities for sage grouse populations established in the area. #2-Sagebrush/Old Chaining Treatment In addition to treatment of pinion/juniper acres a re-treatment of an old chaining (766 acres) WNW above the town of Koosharem that serves as winter range for deer and elk is in desperate need of improvement. Regrowth of pinion/juniper is increasing and causing a decrease of understory vegetation for wildlife and livestock. Sagebrush in the old chaining has reached densities above 30% and understory vegetation is in low percentages. The inter-spaces are basically void of vegetation thus allowing advanced soil displacement. If not treated soon all habitat integrity gained from the old chaining will be totally lost costing even more in the future to bring it back into a desired condition. Over years of conducting post-season deer counts in the Blue Peak area it is rare to see deer using the old chaining in early and late winter months. They use the area above the old chaining or below in the BLM Dixie harrow areas. This may indicate lack of quality browse in the old chaining. UDWR Range Trend Study 23-06 (Koosharem Canyon) is set up just north of the main canyon road on FS Land. Trend studies dealing with PJ area summarized as follows: 1985: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 1991: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 1998: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 2003: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 2008: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I transitioning to Phase II 2012: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I transitioning to Phase II 2017: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I transitioning to Phase II UDWR Range Trend transects for the area show the area is transitioning into Phase II and we have found areas that are transitioning into Phase III. Mule deer studies conducted by UDWR-BYU on Monroe Mountain show that winter range is not providing enough quality forage to maintain proper body condition for winter survival. For this reason it is imperative that we treat as much winter range by seeding and mulching or burn acres that will produce quality winter range forage for wintering big game. Careful consideration has been taken in designing projects with a balance of forage and cover. Not only will treatments enhance habitat for big game but increased diversity will also benefit small game, raptors, rabbits, turkey, as well as predator species (See attached table in documents showing species listed and benefits associated with this project proposal).

The overall resource goals and objectives are listed below: 1) Improve and/or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter and transition ranges. 2) Improve and expand habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species. 3) Improve or maintain quality of habitat for wild turkeys. 4) Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion. 5) Reduce risk of catastrophic fire by reducing hazardous fuels while maintaining and improving fire resilient landscapes. 6) Increase overall forage production, habitat quality, and species diversity by treating in a mosaic pattern that will create biodiversity across the landscape. 7) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre. - Enhance habitat on Forest Lands to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands east of the highway. *Currently this phase of the project is estimated to treat ~4,500 acres. Overall the total estimated cost/acre is $244/acre for this phase of implementation. WRI funding only cost/acre for investment into this project is estimated at $163/acre. #1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment Objective Phase 2 implementation on this project is currently underway and will be completed by spring 2019. Approx. 2,000 acres have been mechanically thinned during phase 2 so far and work is continuing. Phase 3 treatments have already began for this project. During phase 3, mechanical treatments would be implemented on approx. 3,678 acres utilizing chainsaws and/or mastication by machine to cut and mulch pinion/juniper trees that are expanding into the sagebrush/grass/forb areas. Pinion/juniper trees would be thinned to approx. 5-10 pinion trees per acre and cut as close to the ground as possible along with aerial seeding of grasses and forbs prior to mechanical implementation. This proposal and treatment method would help maintain the existing sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area and it would allow for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. This would also help improve age class and species diversity and it would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs. Hazardous fuel loading would be reduced with a more fire resilient ecosystem being promoted while reducing the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires to communities and watersheds located on or adjacent to Monroe Mountain which include Burrville, Koosharem, Greenwich, and Glenwood. Mechanical treatments using mastication would occur on slopes less than 40% and only within Phase 2 and 3 PJ encroachment, while mechanical treatments with chainsaws would focus on slopes greater than 40% and with Phase 1 PJ encroachment.. To maintain these treatment areas, the desire is future naturally caused fires within or near the project area can be managed (if possible, not suppressed) and allowed to play the greatest feasible natural role in these ecosystems. A mosaic treatment pattern combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. This diversity will help create a mix of life cycle benefits for a variety of wildlife and insect species. Curl-leaf mahogany and other key brush species will be designed away from fire opportunities to maintain browse integrity. The District anticipates the pinion/juniper areas that currently have very little understory will likely need to be reseeded. #2 Sagebrush/Old Chaining Treatment Objective Completed hand thinning (through contract and force account) combined with brush saw cutting of Phase 1 pinion/juniper within the Blue Peak Chaining will now allow treatment to occur for an improvement of a depleted understory of grass and forbs. Mechanical treatments using a chain harrow and seeding would be implemented on 766 acres. Seed would be flown on the project site and where we will use a 25 foot chain harrow pulled by a D-6T dozer to lightly thin sagebrush and till seed into the soil. Because of old stumps and dead trees left behind from the original chaining, use of a rubber tired tractor to pull the chain harrow would probably result in many flat tires and restrict access to areas of the treatment which would not allow us to achieve our design goals. Mechanical treatments would occur on slopes less than 40%. This proposal and treatment method would help maintain existing (even though rated as "poor condition") sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area while allowing for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. A well designed treatment would also help improve age class and species diversity and would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs. A more fire resilient ecosystem would be promoted while reducing the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires to communities and watersheds located on the east side of Monroe Mountain near the community of Koosharem. Also an improved vegetation component throughout the old chaining will reduce flash flooding potential for the town of Koosharem. Soil erosion from the site will be greatly minimized. Having experience using both chain and chain harrow we have opted select to use the chain harrow as a tool for this project because of the stratified scouring action it produces and will create a diversity of sage thinning and seed planting using narrower passes. Our intent here is to introduce seed back into the soil while preserving younger healthier sage brush. The original chaining seed source (which looks like predominately crested wheat) appears mostly in the shelter canopy of older sage brush on the site. Our goal is to introduce a variety of grass and forbs to the site which will aid in soil stabilization. A mosaic treatment pattern combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. This diversity will help create a mix of life cycle benefits for a variety of wildlife and insect species Areas needing to be re-seeded would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow new vegetation time to establish. In June of 2018 Boss Tank Guzzler kits with fencing were installed in the Blue Peak and the Wood Hollow project areas. Water sources in the lower elevation pinion juniper zone prompting big game animals to cross BLM ground to the east, cross State Highway 62, to seek water in agricultural areas north of Koosharem. Vehicle/big game accidents are frequent north of town due to elk and deer crossing the highway seeking better forage and water. The guzzlers should help minimize the need for big game to travel to the valley for water. These two guzzlers in the area should be more effective providing water for wildlife needs. Installation of these two guzzlers was funded by RMEF through the WRI process. RMEF and Dedicated Hunters assisted the Richfield Ranger District to install both guzzlers in a single day (with a few days of preparation time from RRD).

#1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment The greatest risk to this project's success is the possibility of cheat grass invasive species post treatment. This risk is somewhat elevational dependent on this project. The lowest elevations near valley floor pose the greatest risk. As treatments occur further up slope and/ or on northern slopes, the risk decreases. Seeding will occur on the project to promote grasses and forbs in the effort to outcompete the cheat grass. Ungulate browse pressure also poses a risk/threat on project success. Multiple projects have been implemented and more are planned to be implemented in the near future in this area. The combination of all these projects are in effort to increase the pace and scale of implementation to help disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates. Over half of the PJ in the project is in phase 2 transitioning to phase 3. Some understory sage/ grasses/forbs still exists but is about to cross the threshold into phase 3 dominated PJ and lose the remaining understory. Ground surveys and site visits have allowed us to see the lack of understory plants in the pinion/juniper complex on the east side of Monroe Mountain. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the pinion/juniper encroachment continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. Some areas within the project have lost a majority of the understory sage/grasses/forbs, but other areas have not completely lost the understory. If left untreated these areas with some remaining understory of sagebrush/grasses/forbs left will eventually be gone as well. The other half of this project is in phase 1 with portions transitioning to phase 2. Most of these areas have a good understory still present but pinion/juniper encroachment continues on a yearly basis into these more productive sage/grass/forb communities. If left untreated these areas with productive sage/grass/forb communities will degrade in productivity treatment costs in the future will go up dramatically. As pinion/juniper has become dominate on the landscape and the loss of understory vegetation increases, big game and small game animals are experiencing a loss of foraging habitat. This compression of more pinion/juniper and less sage/grass/forb habitat has contributed to the decrease in Mule deer populations and other wildlife species on the mountain. This encroachment factor also contributes to the problem of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. Depredation of crops by big game in the valleys on the east side of Monroe Mountain has caused much contention between landowners and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In some cases contention has been so high that landowners have taken it upon themselves to kill unwanted big game animals from their fields. If acres of national forest lands are returned to properly functioning condition it is possible that big game animals will spend more time on national forest lands and not as much on private lands. The District expects that long-term cumulative effects from this project will be positive. The pinion juniper zone on the east side of Monroe Mountain has such a depleted understory from the invasion of pinion/juniper that the condition is overall "poor". The area serves as transition range and winter range for big game and because it is in poor condition animals fail to remain in this zone for the season of use that should be normal. Big game, because of the lack of good forage have a tendency to migrate to the lower part of the valley in the winter and return to the higher elevations in early spring before range readiness. This project is located in multiple watersheds located along the east side of Monroe Mountain such as Greenwich Creek, Box Creek, Koosharem Creek and Water Creek. All of these watersheds are perennial water bodies/riparian systems. Lower Box Creek Reservoir, Box Creek, Greenwich Creek and the portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir are all TMDL's and 303d listed. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Restoring uplands will reduce impacts from future wildfires by reducing risk of future impairment. Aspen restoration at a large scale on Monroe Mountain is in the implementation stage. Big game use on regenerating aspen sprouts has proven to be a problem on the mountain. Projects that will minimize and distribute ungulate pressure away from aspen regeneration are a positive strategy. The District will seed with a mix of brush, sagebrush, grass and forbs. The District has seen success (Dixie Harrow transects) in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheat-grass response, but after the re-seeding has time to establish, cheat-grass has decreased dramatically. #2 Sagebrush/Old Chaining TreatmentThreats realized in this area come from on the ground surveys and site visits that have allowed us to see the lack of understory plants in the old chaining treatment area. The site is trending toward "poor" condition. Re-growth of young PJ had started to dominate the site (contract and force account pinion/juniper cutting occurred within the project area summer 2018). Summer rain storms have started to dramatically wash soil down slope. Another threat is realized as monsoon rain water collects in the lower portion of the treatment area large washes are starting to form causing more soil erosion. The town of Koosharem has experienced flooding conditions the past few years as the main channel that collects all the run off from above town receives run off water from the project area. Re-treatment in the old chaining combined with other ongoing vegetation projects will help minimize flooding and soil dispersion. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the pinion/juniper encroachment continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. Some areas within the project have lost a majority of the understory sage/grasses/forbs, but other areas have not completely lost the understory. One of the biggest threats realized in this area is if left untreated these areas with some understory of sagebrush/grasses/forbs left will eventually be gone as well. This will continue to be "poor" habitat and range for ungulate animals as well as pose a threat of flash flooding for the town of Koosharem and surrounding agricultural lands.

This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986) (LRMP). The purpose and need for this project is consistent with Fishlake National Forest goals and objectives found in Chapter IV of the Forest Plan. The proposed treatment units are within management areas 5A- Big Game Winter Range (majority of proposed acres) and 4B - Habitat for Management Indicator Species. This proposal is consistent with and it responds to Fishlake Forest Plan direction for wildlife management in areas 5A and 4B. The relevant goals and objectives are listed below: * Improve or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter ranges. (Forest Plan IV-4) * Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plants and animals. (Forest Plan IV-4) * Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion (Fishlake LRMP p. IV-99) *Reduce hazardous fuels; the full range of reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and MA emphasis and direction (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Elk Management Plan. This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (elk). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit elk. B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. C. Watershed Restoration Initiative a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex Elk Management Plan (2016) lists range improvements in the habitat objectives section. This project specifically addresses the components listed under range improvements in that it enhances forage production and habitat quality through direct range improvements on winter range within the unit. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex goes on to mention that "focus will be on high use areas especially where we can entice animals away from agricultural areas..." This project falls under the focus areas described in the plan as one intended outcome is to entice animals away from the agricultural production surrounding Koosharem, Utah. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mule Deer Management Plan This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (deer). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit mule deer. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019. (p. 19) d. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species. e. Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah. g. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire. Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan Newly treated areas through fire or mechanical means will attract use by wild turkey which are abundant on Monroe Mountain. Insects and new growth will be readily available to support turkey populations. Objective 2. Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. (p.16) UDWR Wildlife Action Plan This project is geared toward meeting the goals found within this plan for a variety of wildlife species from large to small. The entire proposed project area is found within a UWRI conservation focus area. Threat - Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity: Objective #1 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Fire is excluded from habitats in which potential burns now would be frequent, large, and destructive to soils and native vegetation; the habitats are being actively managed (treated) to reduce components or factors that promote risk of catastrophic fire, such as cheatgrass, excessive conifer encroachment, or unnaturally large stands of mature Gambel oak. (pg. 103) Actions: 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. (pg. 104) 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 104) 2.3.20 Conduct post-fire rehabilitation. (pg. 104) Objective #2 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Fire is returned to habitats from which it had been unnaturally excluded; the fire regime (frequency and intensity) in these habitats generally approximates a natural, pre-settlement regime. (pg. 105) 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 106) 2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense. (pg. 106) National Cohesive Strategy By means of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning at a landscape scale, the resulting mosaic of early and late successional forests will work toward the goal of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, one of the three goals described in the National Cohesive Strategy. 1. Resilient Landscapes General guidance regarding vegetation and fuels management include * Use and expand fuel treatments involving mechanical, biological, or chemical methods where economically feasible and sustainable, and where they align with landowner objectives. (pg. 58) State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy The Pine canyon to Koosharem Creek Project aligns with the mission of the State of Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The project has developed a comprehensive and systematic approach toward reducing the size, intensity and frequency of catastrophic wildland fires on Monroe Mountain through a collaborative process. The project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence negatively affecting property, air quality and water systems. The Mission: Develop a collaborative process to protect the health and welfare of Utahns, and our lands by reducing the size and frequency of catastrophic fires. (pg. 4) 5. Adopt Key Recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. (pg. 15) * Encourage federal land management agencies to expedite fuels treatments. (pg. 15) * Prioritize landscapes for treatment (irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries). (pg. 15) Grazing Allotment Plans for 4 Different Allotments The amount of forage available to livestock within 4 allotments on Monroe Mountain is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of pinion/juniper, the amount of grasses and forbs in the sagebrush is also expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates. Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP Goal 1: Minimize the potential wildland fire threat to life safety (Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP). This project works to achieve Goal 1 of the Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP by reducing fuel loading and lowering the potential of wildland fire spread across Monroe Mountain. Sage Grouse Management The Parker Mountain-Emery Sage Grouse Management Area is located less than one mile east of the project area. This project aligns with the Parker Mountain Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan, October 1, 2006. Specifically, the project corresponds with section 2.5. in the plan, which states as follows: "Action: Treat areas where undesirable vegetation has become, or is at risk of becoming a factor in sage-grouse habitat loss or fragmentation." It also follows the Conservation Plan for Greater Sagegrouse in Utah, February 14, 2013. Specifically section 5.4.1: "Aggressively remove encroaching conifers and other plant species to expand greater sage-grouse habitat where possible." There is a documented lek (Hell's Hole) on the south end of Monroe Mountain and telemetry studies show migration from collared birds to sage brush at lower elevations on the east side of the mountain. As state above in the Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse this project will reduce numbers of acres of pinion juniper encroaching into sage habitats, therefor meeting opportunities to enhance sage grouse habitat. Bald Eagle Management Bald Eagles: Bald eagles are protected by the Utah Wildlife Code, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Although the bald eagle is no longer listed on the Endangered Species List, the species remains listed as a Species of Concern in Utah, a subset of the State Sensitive Species List. State and federal laws prohibit harassing, injuring or killing eagles, or damaging their nests. Midwinter surveys of bald eagles within the lower 48 states were initiated by the National Wildlife Federation in 1979. Wintering Bald Eagles utilize the project area and treatments would improve life cycle opportunities for them. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d) is a United States federal statute that protects two species of eagle. The bald eagle was chosen as a national emblem of the United States by the Continental Congress of 1782 and was given legal protection by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940. This act was expanded to include the golden eagle in 1962.[1] Since the original Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has been amended several times. It currently prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from "taking" bald eagles. Taking is described to include their parts, nests, or eggs, molesting or disturbing the birds. The Act provides criminal penalties for persons who "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle ... [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof."[2] The purpose of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection act is to not agitate the bald and golden eagle to the extent of not 1.) Abusing an eagle, 2.) Interfering with its substantial lifestyle, including shelter, breeding, feeding, or 3.) Nest abandonment.[3] The eagle feathers have been collected and incorporated into clothing, art, jewelry, etc. In addition, having the possession, exchange, or sale of bald eagle feathers violates the act if no permit is obtained. The basic structure of the act resembles the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. California Condor Management California Condor: This project lies south of I-70 and is therefore within the 10j experimental non-essential area for the California condor. We are to monitor if any of this species were to show up on Monroe Mountain. State of Utah Forest Action Plan This project addresses all three of the key goals laid out in the Forest Action Plan: conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses, protect forests from threats and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Wood products will be available through firewood or post/pole permits. This project will also reduce threats to the surrounding public and private lands. Sevier County In Sevier County's Water Quality and Hydrology section under Desired Management Practices the statement below supports these type of projects. #3.Where water resources on public lands have diminished because grasses have succeeded to pinyon-juniper and other woody vegetation, a vigorous program of mechanical treatments should be applied to promptly remove this woody vegetation and biomass, stimulate the return of the grasses to historic levels, and thereby provide a watershed that maximizes water yield and water quality for livestock, wildlife, and human uses. (pg. 24).

Enhancing the habitat in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and breaking up the continuous fuel bed of pinion/juniper that currently exist along the east side of Monroe Mountain. This treatment will promote a fire resilient environment that reduces the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires, with less risk to public and firefighter safety. Fire risk would be reduced to multiple watersheds and communities located on Monroe Mountain along with those that are located along the east side of the Monroe Mountain. The communities of Burrville, Koosharem, Greenwich, and Glenwood are located in close proximity to the project boundaries. Existing wildfire risk index in the project area ranges from moderate-high to very-very low. This low to mid level project compliments completed and future planned treatments located in the upper elevations as part of the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystem Restoration Project. It also compliments completed BLM treatment located in the valley bottoms at the base of the Monroe Mountain. All these projects combined reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level to to multiple communities and watersheds across Monroe Mountain while promoting resilient landscapes. The majority of this project is within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project would be in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. The District has seen success (Dixie Harrow transects) in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheat-grass response, but after the re-seeding has time to establish, cheat-grass has decreased dramatically thus reducing this potential increased risk of fire.

#1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment This project is located in multiple watersheds located along the east side of Monroe Mountain such as Greenwich Creek, Box Creek, Koosharem Creek and Water Creek. All of these watersheds are perennial water bodies/riparian systems. Lower Box Creek Reservoir, Box Creek, Greenwich Creek and the portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir are all TMDL's and 303d listed due to phosphorus levels form sedimentation and erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Any project on the east side of Monroe Mountain that improves ground cover will greatly reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system. Water flow from the east side of the mountain includes Otter Creek which then flows into Otter Creek Reservoir and water from the Otter Creek Reservoir meets up with the Sevier River System near Junction and Paiute Reservoir. Both projects proposed will greatly reduce sediment transfer. Project design features avoid treatment in portions of the watersheds due to cumulative affects analyzed in the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project. Restoring uplands will reduce the impacts future wildfires and reduce the risk of future impairment. Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. By removing pinion/juniper it is anticipated that water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved) in the short and long term. Risk of fire will be reduced within multiple watersheds. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs, the planned aerial seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and reduce the risk of erosion. #2 Sagebrush/old chaining This project occurs in the Koosharem Creek watershed. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. By removing pinion/juniper that have encroached into the old chaining it is anticipated that water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved) in the short and long term. Risk of fire will be reduced within the Koosharem Watershed. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs, the planned seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and reduce the risk of erosion. This project is located in one main watershed that drains toward the town of Koosharem and the agricultural area north of town. Due to the lack of understory grasses and forbs in the the old chaining area heavy summer rain storms are washing soil from the site down drainage causing increased flooding potential for the community. Project treatment may result in short term (1 year) impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Sevier County: In Sevier County's Water Quality and Hydrology section under Desired Management Practices the statement below supports these type of projects. 3. Where water resources on public lands have diminished because grasses have succeeded to pinyon-juniper and other woody vegetation, a vigorous program of mechanical treatments should be applied to promptly remove this woody vegetation and biomass, stimulate the return of the grasses to historic levels, and thereby provide a watershed that maximizes water yield and water quality for livestock, wildlife, and human uses. (pg. 24). The installed (2018) guzzler on the project area will provide a clean water source for a variety of wildlife species thus minimizing their need to travel to upper and lower elevations for water.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to consider and disclose the effects of proposed actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This project was categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The applicable category of actions is identified in agency procedures as (6) Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities that do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than 1 mile of low standard road construction. Examples include but are not limited to: (36 CFR 220.6(e)(6)): (i) Girdling trees to create snags; (ii) Thinning or brush control to improve growth or to reduce fire hazard including the opening of an existing road to a dense timber stand; (iii) Prescribed burning to control understory hardwoods in stands of southern pine; and (iv) Prescribed burning to reduce natural fuel build-up and improve plant vigor. This category of action is applicable because of the wildlife habitat improvement activity of thinning to improve sagebrush/grass/forb ecosystems and to reduce fire hazard. In summary, NEPA was completed and a final decision for this project was signed. * Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species -- None are present within the project area. * Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds -- None are present within the project area. * Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas -- None are present within the project area. * Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas -- A portion of the treatment areas are within Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA) totaling 1,359 acres; 1,201 acres in the Langdon IRA and 158 acres in the Little Creek IRA. No new road construction will occur during implementation of this project. The District did a review and determined this project is compliant with the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (294.13(b)(1), tree cutting for wildlife habitat improvement could proceed if it is designed to maintain or help restore ecosystem composition or structure to conditions within the range of variability that would be expected to occur under natural disturbance regimes of the current climatic period). The Intermountain Regional Forester also concurred this project is compliant with the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (June 1, 2016 letter). * Research natural areas -- None are present within the project area. * American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites -- None are present within the project area. During project scoping, the Hopi Tribe provided comments. Their recommendations are included in the decision. * Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas -- Consultation occurred with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office (USHPO). The USHPO recommended a determination of No Adverse Effect. 1,100 acres are remaining that need archeology surveys. Funding is being requested to complete these surveys. No issues with this project were raised during scoping. This project is compliant with the Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan. Based on the Biological Assessments/Specialist Reports that were completed for this project, this decision is compliant with the legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 15369c)). This decision will not adversely affect any Threatened, Endangered, Proposed or Candidate species or habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The Wildlife Specialist Report considered impacts to migratory birds to be in compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act requirements and executive order 13186 through the process and intent of the National Memorandum of Understanding and the Utah Strategy, developed between the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Wildlife Specialist Report determined that no adverse impacts to migratory birds' resources are expected as a result of implementing this project. Based on the Wildlife Specialist Report, this project consistent with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. This project will meet the Utah State Smoke Management Plan requirements and therefore comply with the Clean Air Act. Based on the Hydrology/Soils Specialist Report, implementation of this project is in compliance with the Clean Water Act. The Hydrology/Soils Specialist Report determined that implementation of this project is in compliance with Flood Plains and Executive Order 11988. The Hydrology/Soils Specialist Report determined that implementation of this project is also in compliance with Wetlands and Executive Order 11990. This project is in compliance with Executive Order 12898 because based on public comments there is no indication that this project would adversely or disproportionately affect American Indians, other racialminorities, or low-income groups.

Mechanical treatments would continue to be implemented within approximately 3,678 acres of pj encroachment and 766 acres of chaining maintenance by sagebrush enhancement during this phase of the project. Implementation of this project can be split into various phases/units of treatment based on available funding. #1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment In this phase of the project completed PJ treatment methods include; 1) a Forest Service IDIQ mastication thinning contract that treated 516 acres in the Wood Hollow area, 2) a Forest Service IDIQ hand thinning contract that treated 640 acre in the Wood Hollow/Blue Peak chaining maintenance areas, and 3) force account thinning by operators and skid steer loaders that treated 191 acres in the Blue Peak chaining maintenance area. In this phase of the project planned uncompleted PJ treatment methods will include; 1) aerial seeding followed by a mastication contract for approx. 1,100 acres located near Indian Flat/Greenwich Creek areas, 2) hand thinning contract for approx. 1,350 acres near Indian Flat and Bell Rock, 3) lop and scatter contract for approx. 265 acres near the Bell Rock area, and 4) seeding followed by force account operators and excavators masticating approx. 250 acres near Pine Canyon. Slopes over 40% and/or areas classified as phase 1 PJ encroachment will be hand thinned utilizing chainsaws (approx 1,350 acres), and lopped/scattered (approx. 265 acres). Slopes under 40% will be thinned utilizing mastication by machine (approx 1,350 acres). A mosaic treatment pattern thinned to approx 5-10 pinion trees per acre combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. This diversity will help create a mix of life cycle benefits for a variety of wildlife and insect species. Curl-leaf mahogany and other key brush species will be designed away from fire opportunities to maintain browse integrity. #2 Sagebrush/Old Chaining Treatment The Blue Peak chaining maintenance area with completed PJ hand/skid steer thinning (completed field season 2018) will be aerially seeded and then chain harrowed on approximately 766 acres. We plan to use a 25 foot chain harrow pulled by a D-6T dozer to lightly thin sagebrush and till seed into the soil. Because of old stumps and dead trees left behind from the original chaining, use of a rubber tired tractor to pull the chain harrow would probably result in many flat tires and restrict access to areas of the treatment which would not allow us to achieve our design goals. Mechanical treatments would occur on slopes less than 40%. The dozer would be able to make some gully plugs in washes as well as fix road washing. The main road into the Blue Peak area is for hunting and livestock operators to check higher elevation troughs and pipelines. We have opted to use the chain harrow as a tool for this project because of the stratified scouring action it produces and it will create the diversity of sage thinning and seed planting using narrower passes. Our intent here is to introduce seed back into the soil while preserving younger healthier sage brush. The original chaining seed source (which looks like predominately crested wheat) appears mostly in the shelter canopy of older sage brush on the site. Our goal is to introduce a better variety of grass and forbs to the site and also stabilize soil erosion. A mosaic treatment pattern combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. This diversity will help create a mix of life cycle benefits for a variety of wildlife and insect species. The District anticipates the pinion/juniper areas that currently have very little understory will likely need to be seeded. The District will seed with a mix of brush, grass and forbs. Areas needing to be seeded would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow new vegetation time to establish. Instructions regarding temporary rest would be incorporated into the Annual Operating Instructions (AOIs) for the livestock permit holders. Consulting with BLM personnel has been done to learn of future projects in the area that will help enlarge the foot print of our pinion/juniper treatments. 1,100 acres are remaining that need archeology surveys. Funding is being requested to complete these surveys. The rest of the project area has had surveys completed.

#1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment and #2 Sagebrush/old chaining Throughout implementation of this project elk, deer, and other Management Indicator Species along with range conditions will continue to be monitored annually, following USFS Wildlife and Range Protocols (vegetation monitoring cages and vegetation transects). Areas as needed would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow vegetation time to establish. Trail cameras are being used to monitor wildlife use on the newly installed guzzlers at Wood Hollow and Blue Peak. Over years of conducting post-season deer counts in the Blue Peak area it is rare to see deer using the old chaining in early and late winter months. They use the area above the old chaining or below in the BLM Dixie harrow areas. This may indicate lack of quality browse in the old chaining. Post season deer counts in 2018 show a 22.1% buck:doe ratio and a 77.9% fawn:doe ratio. All deer were counted below and above the old Blue Peak Chaining. We will continue to conduct this route as well as the Koosharem Canyon route to monitor dee and elk use within the treatment areas. Deer and elk are utilizing the PJ areas that have been seeded and recently masticated. 2018 post-season deer numbers are very positive and area specific (not indicative of the unit as a whole) which would lead us to believe that vegetation projects on summer, transition and winter range are helping keep deer healthier than other parts of the range. We expect aspen in the higher elevation to indirectly benefit from this project; therefore, aspen will also continue to be monitored. Approximately 120 to 140 long-term aspen transects will be used to monitor status and trend of aspen following implementation. Monitoring would be in conjunction and coordinated with aspen monitoring/research currently being done on Monroe Mountain by Dr. Sam St. Clair from Brigham Young University. Monitoring will address aspen regeneration/recruitment and understory conditions. Approximately 90 of these transects have already been established and are currently being monitored. To compliment this monitoring, 11 exclosures have also already been built at various locations across Monroe Mountain. Invasive and noxious weeds are known to occur in the treatment areas; however, treatment areas will be seeded and monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. The District has seen success (Dixie Harrow transects) in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheat-grass response, but after the re-seeding has time to establish, cheat-grass has decreased dramatically. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and forage opportunities. Fuels treatment monitoring will take place involving multiple repeatable photo points. Several Fuels Monitoring Plots have already been established within the project. Plots will be visited post 1 year, 3 year, and 5 year, monitoring vegetation response and ground cover. This will be accomplished by the Forest Service SCA Monitoring Crew. Dixie Harrow data on Mormon Peak BLM treatment transects would show similar results expected on the Blue Peak-Chain Harrow treatment. Seed and mechanical treatment on Mormon Peak proved to be very successful and preventative against domination of cheat grass. See data set in documents.

#1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment and #2 Sagebrush/old chaining BLM across boundary work has already been completed adjacent to this project along and/or near the Forest Service boundary. This project is located directly across the fence and will compliment previously accomplished treatments and wildlife benefits from the BLM's project located in Grass Valley along the base of the east side of Monroe Mountain, along with in the Bell Rock area. The BLM is also planning on completing more treatment in the future along the forest boundary adjacent to this project. The encroachment factor of the pinion/juniper also contributes to the problem of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. Depredation of crops by big game in the valleys on the east side of Monroe Mountain has caused much contention between landowners and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In some cases contention has been so high that landowners have taken it upon themselves to kill unwanted big game animals from their fields. If acres of national forest lands are returned to properly functioning condition it is possible that big game animals will also spend more time on national forest lands and not as much on private lands. With two wildlife guzzlers in place big game will have alternative water sources to choose from possibly minimizing their need to travel to the valley and across a highway for water. Improved forage and water will help keep big game west of the highway. The Blue Peak project is located approximately 1 mile west of a BLM Dixie Harrow project and will compliment previously accomplished treatments along the base of the east side of Monroe Mountain. We have consulted with the BLM about future treatments in the area. The BLM is also planning on completing more treatment in the future along the forest boundary adjacent to this project. During project planning the local UDWR biologists offered suggestions that were incorporated and offered support for the project. The Sevier and Piute County Commission are supportive of this project. Local ranchers are also supportive of this project. During project scoping, no opposition from the public was shared. In 2018 the Six County Association of Governments had their annual natural resources tour on Monroe Mountain. Governor Herbert also attended for part of the day. Throughout the day this project area and other project areas on the Monroe were visited. Those in attendance expressed their support for active management.

#1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment and #2 Sagebrush/old chaining Increasing level success of all the restoration projects. Invasive and noxious weeds are known to occur in the treatment areas; however, treatment areas will be monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. Implementation of this project will reduce the risk of catastrophic high severity wildland fire; thus reducing the risk to the public and firefighters. This also reduces the risk to private property. Health and public safety is improved. With this reduced risk, future management of naturally caused fires may be possible to allow fire to play greatest feasible natural role in the environment, thus potentially further reducing risk to public and firefighters. As habitat is improved for ungulates (deer, elk, cattle, sheep) and additional forage becomes available, the Fishlake National Forest expects the flexibility and management of ungulates will improve; hopefully with less controversy. Maintaining healthy populations of wildlife while also responding to the needs of livestock permittees is expected to become easier. The District will seed the project with a mix of brush, sagebrush, grass and forbs. Areas needing to be seeded would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow vegetation time to establish. If needed, the District will ensure the temporary resting of treatment areas (2 to 3 years) which will be incorporated into Annual Operating Instructions. These actions will help ensure that permittees are in the communication loop and will give them enough time to plan for the resources they need to continue their operations. Impacts to permittees will be minimized by the use of herding and temporary electric fences so that treatment areas can be temporarily rested while non-treatment areas can continue to be grazed. Both the pinion/juniper project and the Blue Peak project are in the North Spring Pasture of the Koosharem Allotment and it is expected that 2019 will be the last year this pasture will be used in the planned rotation. Livestock will then be rotated to the South Spring Pasture for two years starting 2020 through 2021. As future pinion/juniper encroachment occurs, maintenance/re-treatment of this project via hand thinning of new pj growth/whips is expected to be implemented to maintain the integrity of this project and the anticipated continued pinion/juniper encroachment. Increased pace and scale of restoration type projects in this area is currently underway. Multiple projects have been, and are currently being implemented and more are being planned in this area. This project directly coordinates at a watershed and landscape level with the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project that is currently being implemented in the upper elevations across Monroe Mountain. This landscape level project covers a majority of the upper elevations located across Monroe Mountain and is planned to continue over the next 10 years in conjunction with a future wildlife habitat improvement project that is currently in the planning process. The planned project will include landscape level treatments in the majority of the remaining lower to mid level areas around Monroe Mountain that are not currently covered under this project or the Monroe Mountain Aspen Project. Also this is in effort to disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates and improve watershed health across the entire Monroe Mountain and BLM treatments occurring in the valleys surrounding the mountain..

Forage Production or Improved Distribution #1 Pinion/Juniper Treatment Forage Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the pinion/juniper expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. As pinion/juniper is thinned, understory vegetation increases, wild and domestic ungulates will experience an increase in foraging habitat. Through the mechanical thinning, pinion/juniper encroachment is addressed and sagebrush, grasses, and forbs are promoted. This in return moves the sage/grass/forb ecosystems on the east side of Monroe Mountain on a trajectory toward improved forage conditions thus improving ecosystems for both wildlife and livestock. Portions of the project are currently not being grazed due to the lack of understory and pinion/juniper encroachment. This project has the potential to improve distribution of domestic livestock into new areas within the Koosharem Allotment. The amount of forage available to livestock is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of pinion/juniper the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the and sagebrush is expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates. #2 Sagebrush/old chaining The Blue Peak chaining is experiencing a similar loss of productive understory due to an advancement of over-story sage brush and years of grazing (which has left the old treatment in "poor" condition). The proposed treatment would dramatically change the amount of available forage for all ungulate animals as well as species that rely on grasses and flowing plants for survival. Other Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources Efforts are being made to promote commercial sale of Juniper fence posts from the project areas. One small sale was completed on the previous phase of this project. This project promotes sustaining hunting of big game such as elk and deer along with small game such as wild turkey on the Monroe Mountain. Treatments like this have potential to increase wildlife numbers and potential hunting opportunities to future generations. A main goal of these two treatments is to enhance habitat on Forest Lands to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands east of the highway.

05/01/2019

08/13/2020

2021

4,345 total acres were mechanically treated via mastication, chain harrow and hand thinning treatment methods during this phase of the project. Areas under 40% slope were treated via mastication. A majority of the areas that were masticated were seeded prior treatment. Mastication was completed via contract services thru the 2 separate USFS IDIQ contracts for a total of 1,747 acres and a UDWR state contract for a total of 498 acres. In addition force account with USFS skid steer loader equipment and seasonal operators completed a total of 299 acres. This 299 acres was cut a piled, the piles were burned winter 2021. 766 acres were harrowed within the Blue Peak treatment. A combination of a traditional Dixie Harrow and Chain Harrow were used to meet objectives. Soil types varied on the site from rocky-gravely loam soil to a clay-loam soil. The Chain Harrow is more effective on the rocky sites where the chain can roll and tumble when it encounters larger rocks. The chain harrow worked well also to thin sage brush and scour the soil surface to bury seed. The traditional Dixie Harrow worked well in the clay-loam soils to thin sage brush and scour the soil to bury seed. Since this is deer wither range a once over harrow treatment method was use on 70% of the site while 30% of the site received a twice over harrow treatment. Both harrows were a 25 foot wide model designed by the Richfield Ranger District Wildlife section. A Caterpillar D6 was rented to pull the harrows for the project. The combination of dozer-harrow worked extremely well for the project. (VIDEO CLIPS added to Images/Documents section). To accommodate fuel access closer to the project a portable fuel tank was purchased an placed in the Koosharem Town maintenance yard and was filled as needed by a fuel distributor. On the ground work was completed by force account operators while aerial seeding was competed with UDWR contracting. Some additional acres were treated adjacent to the Blue Peak area that were PJ mastication/seeded sites for a total of 890 aces. Aerial seeding and cultural surveys were completed via UDWR State Contracts. The portions of this project that were Phase 1 PJ expansion were treated via hand thinning and lop and scatter utilizing contract services via USFS IDIQ contract (668 acres), and state contract (319 acres). Hand thinning was completed summer 2020.

Work on this phase of the project began Spring 2019 with a USFS IDIQ Hand thinning contract in the Indian Flat and Bell Rock areas, along with an USFS IDIQ Mastication Contract in the Wood Hollow area. PJ whips hand thinning was recently completed which allowed for the seeding and chain harrowing portion of the Blue Peak area to take place. -Seeding was completed on October 3, 2019 via UDWR contract. A seed mix was applied at a rate of approximately 14 lbs./acre. Seed was purchased and mixed at the Ephraim UDWR seed warehouse. Seed was delivered and staged at the Richfield Airport where a fixed wing airplane loaded and delivered seed to the site. Spring 2020 understory results are starting to manifest. New seed is showing up in some places and old understory grasses and forbs are doing well (see attached pictures). -The harrowing was completed fall of 2019. This area is a historic chaining treatment form the 1970's that was in need of re-treatment. -Cultural surveys and seeding of the Greenwich Creek and Pine Canyon areas were completed Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Phase 1 PJ Hand Thinning state contract was completed June 2020. The other mastication portions of this phase were completed winter and spring 2020. -Force account USFS equipment and operators mastication treatments in the Koosharem Creek area was completed winter 2020. -USFS IDIQ mastication contract in the Greenwich Creek area was completed spring of 2020. -State contract of the Pine Canyon area was completed summer 2020.

Guzzler installation near treated areas will allow areas to be utilized more for wildlife. Domestic ungulate use in harrow treatment areas will be rested for two growing seasons to allow treated site to establish new seeding and provide forage for decades. Line intercept transects established in harrow treated areas will be monitored over time. Range monitoring for seed and treatment response in vegetation will be conducted. Future phases of treatments are also planned and in progress for this project. The Burrville Collaborative WRI Project is a continuation of this project and will be expanding treatments onto BLM, State, and Private lands near the community of Burrville.