This project has multiple components intended to improve watershed conditions on the Lake Canyon WMA: 1) Removal of rubber rabbitbrush from meadows. Meadows in Lake Canyon are experiencing successional shifts to rabbitbrush. As rabbitbrush increases, it may start impacting perennial herbaceous vegetation. The plan is to treat the rabbitbrush with a wet-blade mower to reduce competition to desirable plants. Some areas planned for treatment include some greasewood as well. By treating these shrub species, we hope to improve the quality of forage in the area for mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. 2) Riparian plantings and exclosures. For several years, beginning in at least 2006, the DWR has made improvements to the stream above Lake Canyon Lake in an effort to improve habitat to support a self-sustaining population of Colorado River Cutthroat trout. Additional riparian plantings, and exclosures to protect those plantings from browsing ungulates, will help with shading the stream and providing cooler water temperatures for the fish. 3) Purchase of tree spade. As part of the effort to plant riparian vegetation, we would like to try planting larger trees and clumps of willows. A tree spade attachment for a skid steer will allow us to transplant willow clumps and larger trees (up to 3" diameter) with root balls of up to 30". With the tree spade we can obtain cottonwood trees from Steinaker reservoir while the water level is low for dam repairs (and which will be lost once the water level rises again) and transplant those trees to other riparian areas, including Lake Canyon. We are working with private landowners to locate willow clumps that can also be transplanted. We hope that being able to transplant larger trees and willow clumps with intact root systems will improve success in establishing riparian vegetation. 4) Gully plugs on ephemeral drainages. Limit down cutting on ephemeral channels and aggrade them to raise the water table and re-establish flood plains. 5) Boundary fence replacement. Two fences on the southern border of Lake Canyon WMA and the USFS are in need of replacement. These fences are vital to DWR's effort to control trespass cattle on the WMA. 6) Fish structure maintenance. During previous stream restoration efforts on Lake Canyon, fish habitat structures were created. Many of these structures are now in need of repair. 7) Lop and scatter of conifers. Pinyon and juniper trees are expanding into sagebrush areas in the bottom of Lake Canyon, below the lake. In order to push back the successional stage of these areas, and to preserve existing habitat in the bottom of the canyon, these trees will be removed. In addition, pinyon and juniper trees on the steep hillside adjacent to the canyon bottom will be removed. This will allow bighorn sheep to better avoid predators. 8) Control of phragmites. One wet meadow above the lake is dominated by phragmites. This grass out competes other wetland vegetation and forms dense thickets that are not suitable habitat for most species.

Rabbitbrush removal: -- reduce cover of rabbitbrush and increase cover of other perennial herbaceous vegetation Riparian plantings and exclosures: -- increase stream habitat complexity -- provide shade to cool the stream -- protect existing and new sensitive riparian vegetation from browsing through use of exclosures. Purchase of tree spade -- transplant larger trees and clumps of willow to increase survival of riparian vegetation -- owning a tree spade (vs. renting) will allow DWR to efficiently conduct further transplanting efforts in other years and other areas. Gully plugs -- catch sediment from flash-flood events -- protect restored riparian areas from damaging flood events. Boundary fence replacement -- better control trespass cattle on the Lake Canyon WMA Fish structure maintenance -- protect and improve fish habitat for Colorado River cutthroat trout Lop and scatter of conifers -- maintain stage of ecological succession in the canyon bottom and prevent conversion to pinyon/juniper habitat type. -- allow bighorn sheep increased safety from predators by reducing visual barriers. Control of phragmites -- reduce cover of phragmites and prevent further expansion in wet meadows. -- increase cover of other wet meadow vegetation.

There are a number of ecological conditions at play in this project. First of all, pinyon and juniper encroachment will increase if left untreated, and can deplete understory herbaceous vegetation reduce habitat suitability for bighorn sheep, and increase the fire risk. Removal of some of these conifers will help keep the successional process in check and limit the risks that pinyon and juniper encroachment presents. Rubber rabbitbrush, while a native species, can dominate sites. It limits the amount of herbaceous and desirable vegetation, prevents establishment of other shrubs, and does not provide much forage value for ungulates. Rabbitbrush came to dominate portions of the site a couple of decades ago while the area was under private ownership after several disturbances and overgrazing drove the vegetation community towards rabbitbrush. With recent success using wet blade mowers, it seems prudent to use this technique to push back the dominance of rabbitbrush in the project area. Phragmites can also dominate wetland habitats and limit vegetation diversity through its highly competitive nature. While the phragmites present on the site is likely the native variety, it is dominating one wet meadow area and limiting habitat quality. In an effort to keep the whole wet meadow complex from being dominated by phragmites, we propose to treat the main patch now to limit its spread and dominance. High stream temperatures impact native trout populations and can limit their distribution in streams. To ensure the stream can provide long term and sustainable populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout, sufficient riparian vegetation and habitat must be established to keep water temperatures low. Channel degradation and down cutting impacts the hydrology of the canyon and impacts the habitats. Areas above the perennial stream have incised channels that are eroding and slowly head cutting. This lowers the water table and leaves the adjacent areas as perched terraces. This drastically alters the vegetation community from more grassland areas to shrub communities dominated by greasewood and basin big sagebrush. Elements of this project will attempt to stop head cutting and begin to aggrade the channel to elevate the water table once again. Otherwise, the sites will continue to trend to dry vegetation types.

CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR COLORADO RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT. Objective 4 -- Secure and enhance watershed conditions. Strategy 7 -- Improve habitat conditions for CRCT (utilizing habitat improvement techniques including stream bank stabilization, and riparian management) WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN (WAP): This project addresses threats identified in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan to several aquatic and upland habitats, as well as multiple species that use those habitats. See the Species and Habitats tabs for more. UTAH ELK STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN. Habitat Management Goal, Objective 2, Strategy d -- Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve elk habitat with emphasis on calving habitat and winter ranges. UTAH MULE DEER STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN. Habitat Management Goal, Objective 2, Strategy d -- Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat.... UTAH BIGHORN SHEEP STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN Habitat Management Goal, Strategy d -- Initiate vegetative treatment projects to improve bighorn habitat lost to natural succession or human impacts. DUCHESNE COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN -- "Support bighorn sheep populations for hunting, viewing, and ecosystem support." -- "Projects that will protect water quality during periods of flash flooding shall be encouraged and supported. Such projects include installation of flood control structures, dams, retention basins, gully plugs and seeding of drainage ways." -- "Encourage the use of flood structures, dams, catch basins, gully plugs, and reseeding of grass ways to help reduce erosion during and after storm events. -- "Support the treatment of invasive species, e.g., Phragmites, tamarisk, and Russian olive, which can degrade habitat value and impact groundwater levels. --"Manage access of livestock, wild horses, and native ungulates to sensitive riparian areas using exclosures when appropriate...." --"Increase cover and extent of native riparian vegetation." --"Maintain, enhance, and expand sport fishing opportunities." --"Protect and preserve water quality and fish habitat...." --"Manage vegetation, specifically forage, to benefit livestock and wildlife and to contribute to the recreation and tourism industry." STATE OF UTAH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN. --The State will seek to protect, conserve, and improve Utah's fish and aquatic wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. --The State supports ensuring the persistence of the diversity of native fish and aquatic wildlife in Utah while at the same time providing excellent opportunities for anglers and other recreationists. --Managing for self-sustaining fisheries in Utah streams should be a priority. --The State supports implementing active management and restoration projects on federal lands to restore sinuosity, vegetation, and floodplain function which mimic the natural hydrologic system in suitable areas --Improve vegetative health on public and private lands through range improvements, prescribed fire, vegetation treatments, and active management of invasive plants and noxious weeds. --Active management should be used to improve and enhance riparian resources to provide for appropriate physical, biological, and chemical function. --Prioritize and manage riparian areas to attain desired future conditions for riparian- related resources --The State supports the use of structural and non-structural improvements in unstable water courses to restore riparian areas properly functioning/desired future conditions. --Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. --Conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. --Produce and maintain the desired vegetation for wildlife and domestic livestock forage on public and private lands.

The fire risk model for the project area itself shows low fire risk. However, it is likely that fire may start in the canyon bottom in the fine to moderate fuels. This leads to the potential for fire to run uphill and into higher risk fuel types (e.g. pinyon-juniper, Douglas fir). There are a number of structures to the east of the project area, including a number of oil and gas wells. Limiting the amount of fuel in the canyon bottom will reduce the likelihood of a fire starting there and running uphill. The reduction of rabbitbrush, and eventual conversion of some of the areas to more riparian based vegetation, will help reduce the risk of fire starting and leaving the canyon bottom.

Riparian plantings and maintaining/replacing fish habitat structures will directly improve water quality by shading the stream and reducing water temperatures. Gully plugs could help maintain or improve water quality as they could prevent damage to restored stream reaches and prevent excess sedimentation into the stream and lake. Exclosures to protect riparian plantings will also protect water quality by keeping ungulates away from sensitive stream areas where trampling could degrade the stream quality. Controlling trespass cattle will also help prevent damage to the stream and riparian area.

A stream alteration permit will be secured from the Division of Water Rights prior to any in channel improvements or modifications. Cultural resource surveys will be completed on any areas that have not been previously inventoried. Any elgible historic sites will be avoided.

1) Removal of rubber rabbitbrush from meadows. Approximately 54 acres will be mowed and Tordon herbicide will be immediately applied to cut stems. Herbicide will be applied by a wiper attachment to the cutting head. It is anticipated that mowing and herbicide application will be conducted in the fall of 2019. 2) Riparian plantings and exclosures. Plants and cuttings will be purchased and planted by hand along the stream corridor. Some larger plant material, including larger cottonwood trees and willow clumps will be collected using the tree spade planned for purchase. Planting these larger materials may require use of equipment. Fencing material will be purchased to protect portions of the stream corridor where vegetation has been planted. 3) Purchase of tree spade. 4) Gully plugs on ephemeral drainages. Various structures may be used, including beaver dam analogs, rock check dams, and water spreading fences. These structures will be used to prevent additional head cutting and also aggrade the incised channel. Brush and woody material will be placed in the drainages above the structures to aid in sediment deposition. 5) Boundary fence replacement. A contract will be issued to replace the fencing with pipe fences. The fences will be built using 2 3/8" oilfield tubing for posts and a top rail. Two additional rails of 7/8" sucker rod will be attached to the posts below the top rail. They will be attached with welded cable clips. The fences will be built according to wildlife friendly specifications used by UDWR. 6) Fish structure maintenance. The UDWR heavy equipment crew will use an excavator to perform channel maintenance and fish hotel improvements. Seasonal employees will also assist in the maintenance of the stream project. 7) Lop and scatter of conifers. PInyon and juniper trees will be removed by crews with chainsaws. Trees will be cut down, and all live branches will be removed from the stump. Slash will be cut up into smaller pieces and scattered, when necessary to reduce piles. Larger trees over about 12" diameter will be left on the steep slopes, while all conifers will be removed from the canyon bottom. Work will take place in either the fall of 2019 or the spring of 2020, depending on other work priorities. 8) Control of phragmites. A contract weed crew will apply Rodeo herbicide to the phragmites using a wand sprayer in the spring of 2019 and 2020. Future maintenance may be needed.

Photo points were established throughout the project area in 2002. These photo points will serve as a great way to look at the transition of the project area before and after the project is completed. Colorado river cutthroat trout are monitored using backpack shocking in the stream. Changes to the stream profile can be monitored with cross sections and longitudinal profile surveys. Gully plugs will be monitored through repeat photography to document changes over time. One range trend study site is located in the project area. The USFS also established range monitoring sites on the WMA in the early 2000's. These studies can be repeated to document change over time. Bighorn sheep are monitored with GPS collar technology and classification surveys. A great pre treatment data set of GPS points exist for bighorn sheep use in Lake Canyon. This can be compared to post treatment GPS points for bighorns to look for shifts in habitat use. Deer and elk will continue to be monitored through both ground and aerial classification surveys.

The entire project is on state-owned property managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Personnel from multiple sections worked together to identify priorities and develop plans. The USFS has been a partner in the Lake Canyon area because Lake Canyon lake serves as a brood source for the South Tavaputs strain of Colorado River cutthroat trout. Eggs collected from the lake are used to stock streams throughout the Tavaputs Plateau. The USFS has been a partner in this effort. Lake Canyon lake is identified as a Blue Ribbon Fishery and has received support from the Blue Ribbon Fishery Advisory Council.

UDWR will continue to manage the project area to maximize riparian and stream habitat values, while continuing to manage uplands for more desirable vegetation for bighorn sheep, mule deer, and elk. It is important to control trespass cattle from damaging the riparian habitats. UDWR will continue to work with private cattle grazers to limit trespass use. All project activities will be monitored and inspected routinely to help ensure the project is successful. For the next several years, cattle will continue to be excluded while habitat values are being worked on.

Lake Canyon has become a popular fishery and receives visitors on almost a daily basis. By protecting and enhancing the habitats, Lake Canyon will continue to provide a popular recreational fishery. Opportunities to hunt and view bighorn sheep, elk, and deer will continue and hopefully be enhanced with the future management of this project. While permitted grazing does not currently exist on the WMA, two ranchers trail through the WMA to reach adjacent private properties and USFS permits. UDWR has historically allowed limited grazing on portions of the WMA. Grazing is not permitted currently as continued restoration activities are in progress. There may be on option at some point in the future to utilize prescriptive grazing to aid in vegetation management goals.

10/14/2019

06/30/2020

2020

Sage brush, rabbitbrush, and greasewood vegetation community was wet mowed as prescribed in the project in order to re-claim meadow habitats and increase landscape forage opportunity for ungulates. Initial visual assessments indicate this part of the project was largely successful in addressing greasewood colonization issues within applied areas of the WMA. 53 acres of greasewood/rabbitbrush and 4 acres of phragmites were treated. 1 completely new exclosure and 2 exclosure enlargements were completed. Approximately 200 willow cuttings, 50 willow rootwads, and 150 potted plants consisting of buffaloberry, hawthorne, currants, and boxelder were planted in these exclosure areas. Despite record hot, dry conditions during summer 2020, as of late August many of these plants (especially the willow cuttings) were doing well. Exclosed areas were overall much healthier than non-exclosed areas in terms of forbes and trees due to browsing issues experienced this summer on the WMA. Approximately 1 mile of stream habitat work was completed in FY20 and involved deepening meadow/Rosgen E channel features to match the correct stream profile, rebuilding A channel features to step grade while providing fish habitat, providing approximately 50 overhead fish cover structures, and providing spawning gravel at appropriate glide stream features, and providing appropriate channel morphology to include constriction points, flow, narrowing of channel at overly widened features. An additional project has been funded in FY21 to continue with an additional exclosure, additional plantings, and additional stream enhancements and restoration.

Based on initial visual assessment conducted late-August 2020, the Lake Canyon watershed restoration project was very successful in meetings most of the intended purposes. Much of the stream enhancement and restoration has really benefited fish habitat requirements as well as replicated natural channel design specifications, the wet mowing has greatly increased forb production and reduced undesirable brush species in our meadow habitats, the exclosures have completed their purpose of assisting tree plantings to survive, and despite a really hot dry summer 2020, our tree plantings have had some survival.

Continue to monitor work completed in FY20. A follow-up wet mowing may be necessary to eradicate brush that has survived the initial treatment in FY22. This was expected given the brush density and methods used to suppress. We will continue to evaluate the potential for a lop and scatter along the steep slopes of the east side of Lake Canyon to benefit Big Horn Sheep. Future stream management will focus on addressing other parts of the 3 miles of Lake Canyon creek that are not performing as optimally as expected. Additional fish cover and habitat will be installed as part of a Phase II project in FY21. We also plan to install one more exclosure in order to have a distribution of trees and plants from which these can spread naturally after this project is completed in order to slowly reach toward a goal of riparian vegetation.