Technicians will assist the only two full-time employees at Ogden Bay WMA by completing necessary habitat improvement projects such as noxious weed control, phragmites control projects, irrigating food plots and shrub rows and assisting with water management. Habitat technicians will also be responsible for dike mowing and general maintenance on the WMAs. They will also assist in keeping W.I.M.S. updated, various seeding, habitat improvement projects and banding projects. We have asked for $20,000 in Personal Services.

The project objectives are to maintain and enhance habitat improvements at Ogden Bay WMA, Harold Crane WMA, and Howard Slough WMA. Technicians will assist with treating around 3,000 acres of Phragmites during the fall Phragmites project. During the spring and early summer, technicians will assist in treating around 500 acres of other noxious weeds such as: hoary cress, perennial pepperweed, Dyer's woad, poison hemlock, purple loostrife, salt cedar and various thistle species. Technicians will also assist with upland nesting enhancements, as well as ground preparation for fall food plots. Water management is essential on the wetlands to enhance our vegetation structure. Different areas will be monitored that will either be flooded or drought stressed. This task includes monitoring over 300 water control structures that require cleaning and maintenance. The technician will also help us with our UDWR mandated W.I.M.S. system that tracks facilities maintenance. Finally, the technician will assist with predator control.

Many habitat improvements have been made and many of the noxious weed species have been controlled. Without a technician, habitat that has been improved over time, due to noxious weed control, could deteriorate. When dealing with farming equipment there is always a physical risk if employees are not cautious in operating equipment. However, technicians will be trained in the use and safety of equipment. There is also a threat when working around water.

Habitat technicians assist managers in accomplishing most Ogden Bay WMA and Harold Crane WMA habitat management plan objectives. This project also relates to the WAP in the following ways:Other Ecosystem Modifications Objective #2 for Other Ecosystem Modifications Land management agencies and agents develop vegetation management projects that avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to species and habitats identified as vulnerable to these threats such as brush eradication. Habitat modification and loss is being mitigated by perennial plantings, food plots and shrub rows. Invasive and Other Problematic Species and Genes Threats from non-native and native plants, animals, pathogens/microbes, or genetic materials that have or are predicted to have harmful effects on biodiversity following their introduction, spread and/ or increase in abundance. Invasive Wildlife Species-Threat - Invasive Wildlife Species - Non-native: Invasive non-native animals are recognized as a critical threat in many of Utah's ecosystems. This project will address threats to two key terrestrial habitats listed in the WAP. These habitats include lowland sagebrush and desert grasslands. The threats to these habitats that this project will address include; invasive plant species, altered fire regimes, and soil erosion. Objectives identified in the WAP for invasive plant species are 1) Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-natve plant problems remain free from the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants. 2) Invasive plant dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically). Actions suggested by the WAP to achieve these objectives are 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. 2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Objective #1 for Sediment Transport Imbalance Opportunities are found and taken, to modify or remove reservoir infrastructure, or modify outflow management, to simulate or return natural sediment transport. The continual build-up of sediments in GSL wetlands is a major problem that can lead to decreased open water areas, shallower water depths that do not maximize the production of submerged aquatic vegetation, and promotes invasive plant species. The WMA's management relies on water control structures that can be used to help pass through unwanted sediments and maintain a highly diverse and functional wetland. Objective #1 for Droughts Terrestrial SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought condition over that past several years has reduced the resilience of highly functional upland habitats. In order to maintain, and rehabilitate these upland habitats, renovation and reseeding is necessary in order to minimize the impacts of drought. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 3.3.1 Develop list of priority reintroduction species and locations Objective #2 for Droughts Aquatic SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought conditions over the past several years has made it imperative that the WMA's have properly functioning water control structures to maximize water deliveries in order to maintain key wetland habitats. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.6 Restore aquatic habitat complexity 2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. Key aquatic habitats listed in the plan include riverine, emergent, and open water. Priority threats to emergent habitats include: channelization, drought, water allocation policy, Agricultural, municipal, and industrial, water use, and invasive plant species. Threats to open water habitats include: same as above, but also; sediment transport inbalance, roads, improper grazing, diversions, housing and urban areas. Threats to riverine habitats: same as above, but also, presence of dams and inappropriate fire frequencies. .Efforts are in place to secure water rights, protect water sources from exploitation and diversions, and secure appropriate buffers to urban and industrial development. Threats that are directly related to the WAP plan for this project include the control/eradication of invasive plant species. WAP plan objectives and actions. Objective #1 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-native plant problems remain free from the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants. Actions to achieve objective: 2.2.2 Survey, inventory established, and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Develop public information and educational programs aimed at encouraging attitudes and behaviors that are positive for wildlife conservation. Objective #2 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Invasive plant dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically). 2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.5 Conduct mechanical control of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.6 Conduct biological control of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.7 Conduct chemical control of invasive/problematic species. 2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 7.2.1 Support Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative. This project has, and will continue to address these SGCN and threats and promote the actions listed above. It also has and will continue to work collaboratively with several other agencies (Federal and State and County), private landowners, NGO's, and research universities (see partners section of proposal).

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Water quantity will be monitored daily.

We will contact the Archaeologist for any work done in areas that will disturb the soil.

Noxious weed control will be conducted with the use of the following: backpack sprayers, track machines, ATV's, airboats, trucks, and the various sprayers that go along with these machines. Technicians will be educated about plant I.D., sprayer use and maintenance, machine use, maintenance and safety.

Habitat assessments for Phragmites project success are done with a series of photo-point monitoring, and rapid habitat assessments through vegetation transects on treatment sites. Weed monitoring is done by recording the amount and then acreage of herbicide sprayed. The location and date of herbicide treatments are also recorded. Habitat technicians assist managers with waterfowl population monitoring by completing on-the-ground census. Habitat technicians assist managers with waterfowl harvest monitoring through hunter-bag-checks.

Many volunteer projects with sportsmen and various sportsmen organizations (Wasatch wigeons, SFW, Pheasants forever, D.U., etc.....)

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Domestic livestock will benefit from cattle grazing on Phragmites.