In 2018 a herbicide treatment (WRI Project ID 4545) was completed as well as cultural clearances associated with NEPA. SHPO concurrence is complete and the NEPA decision will be signed by March 15. This project is needed to follow up with the herbicide treatment by seeding areas vulnerable to cheatgrass invasion. To take advantage of the herbicide treatment implementation needs to occur fall of 2019.

The objective is to take an aggressive, proactive role to minimize or reduce the spread of cheatgrass to restore, or at least maintain, the current range condition and critical habitat by establishing competitive, perennial species. Additional objectives include a greater fire return interval, an increase in soil stability, an increase in forage for livestock and wildlife, and maintenance of species diversity. It is anticipated that this project will be a test for treatment success to assist in future vegetation management projects.

If seed is not established within the chemically treated areas, cheatgrass is likely to re-establish the open niches and possibly completely convert to cheatgrass in the near future. If left untreated, our monitoring shows that disturbances, especially drought, may cause the vegetation composition to cross the threshold from vegetation dominated by perennial grass with some infestations of cheatgrass, to a landscape dominated by cheatgrass and other annual weeds. A conversion to an annual dominated understory also threatens the current grazing management of the Mosby Mountain Allotment by potentially reducing the grazing season, cattle numbers and season of use flexibility because of the lack of perennial vegetation. Historically, the project area was not managed appropriately and when combined with wildfire, this area has become susceptible for invasion. Grazing practices are currently being adapted to improve conditions (see Sustainable Uses section below).

This proposal is in compliance with the Ashley National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan of 1986, as well as the Greater Sage Grouse Amendment to the Forest Plan. The proposal is also in alignment with the directions and objectives of the Range Management Handbook, the Mosby Mountain Allotment Management Plan and the Ashley National Forest Noxious Weed Management Plan. The proposed project is within crucial mule deer habitat and is identified in the UDWR Mule Deer Management Plan as a priority area for vegetation restoration projects (see also Habitat Objectives #2 b, d). This proposal addresses issues regarding habitat loss, invasive species and improper livestock grazing as outlined in the Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-Grouse in Utah (2013). This plan also addresses improving quality forage and important winter habitat for elk in the Mosby Mountain area (see Habitat Objective 1 b, c and Habitat Objective 2 c in the UDWR Elk Management Plan). This proposal supports fire management, noxious weed, riparian/wetlands and livestock/grazing objectives and policies in the 2017 Uintah County plan. Some of these objectives include: 17.4.1 "Reduce or eliminate noxious weed infestations and minimize the establishment of new weed species across jurisdictional boundaries using adaptive management and integrated weed management approaches." 15.4.3 "Manage lands to maintain or increase forage allocation for livestock grazing. Require annual checking and verification that lands are still up to standard." 20.4.11 "Modify grazing use to avoid overgrazing if appropriate." By reducing cheatgrass composition and improving the perennial plant composition this proposal also is supported by the 2018 State of Utah Resource Management Plan (RMP). The plans noxious weed objectives on pages 171-172 stress to "increase emphasis on prevention as a strategy to manage noxious weeds in the state." And that "post-treatment, areas that have been invaded by noxious weeds must be revegetated and rehabilitated. The goal after treatment is to return the area to a desirable species composition if possible. As native vegetation is reestablished, the risk of future invasions of noxious weeds decreases." Livestock objectives in the RMP also suggests to "improve vegetative health on public and private lands through range improvements, prescribed fire, vegetation treatments, and active management of invasive plants and noxious weeds."

The primary focus of Secretarial Order 3336, signed in 2015 in response to the USFWS status review, was to reduce threats to greater sage-grouse habitat by reducing the frequency and severity of rangeland fire. The objective is to create a situation where fire frequency is decreased to a point where sagebrush and perennial vegetation can get established, maintain habitat, cover and forage and resist the infestation of cheatgrass. The fire wise seed mix proposed is designed to out compete cheatgrass, provide habitat, cover and forage that remains greener longer in an attempt to break the cycle of conversion seen throughout the West.

With the establishment of perennial vegetation, water quality is expected to increase as soil is stabilized, infiltration increases and run-off is decreased. Water quantity is expected to increase in meadows as water is held by perennial vegetation. As part of this project, grazing practices have been adapted to improve rangeland conditions and allow for maintenance and recovery of key perennial species. As the project is implemented, grazing will continue to be adapted based on monitoring, to maintain the treatment, thus indirectly improving the overall water quality and quantity long-term. The Lyman Springs Pasture will be rested for at least the 2020 grazing season, to allow the seeding to become established. This will be documented in the Annual Operating Instructions. This project falls within the Tridell-LaPoint municipal watershed.

The NEPA process is near completion and waiting for a Decision to be signed once SHPO concurrence is complete. A draft report from the cultural clearance WRI contract has been submitted to the Forest Service for review. Once the final report is submitted and SHPO concurrence is complete, the decision memo can be signed and the project can be implemented. Expected decision is March 2019.

1. Drill seed 265 acres with rangeland drill in semi-wet to mesic meadows and roadside. 177 acres of this drill seeding will be contracted using a 10 ft rangeland drill. 88 acres will be reserved to be completed by the Forest Service (permittee or other in kind method) using a smaller drill in less accessible areas. 2. Broadcast 824 acres with either fixed wing or helicopter in rocky terrain to improve upland, perennial vegetation.

Approximately 230 permanent study plots are established within the project area, including two wildlife/cattle exclosures. Data, including repeat photography, will be collected immediately before and after treatments. The project will be monitored for three years intensively, and long-term monitoring will continue following the Ashley National Forest protocol. Photos and data will be input into the WRI completion report and stored at the Ashley National Forest.

WRI has funded the first stage of this project including herbicide treatment and cultural clearances to complete NEPA (WRI Project ID 4545). This funding has expedited the NEPA process and supported the Forest Service with funding otherwise not available. Partners and funding associated with this first grant included: RMEF, Safari Club, SFW, Utah Bowman's Assoc., USFS, MDF, DNR watershed. As part of this project, several water systems and other range improvements are currently being reconstructed by the permittee with help from the Utah Grazing Improvement Program and NRCS. The following partners have been consulted for planning and coordination purposes. They have added valuable input and will continue to shape the details of the project. -Forest Service resource staff and NEPA ID Team including Don Jaques, Ryan Mower, Nate Shinkle, Jeff Rust, Allen Huber, Dustin Bambrough -Utah Grazing Improvement Program-Terrell Thayne (assisted with UGIP grants on the Mosby Mountain Allotment and helped with drill seeding planning). -NRCS-Mark Ewell (planning and help with NRCS grant) -Pheasants Forever/NRCS-Charlie Holtz (worked with the permittee to develop water and helped fund 5-year NRCS grant to replace several water systems) -Grazing Permittee Nelson Farms, Inc.-Kent Nelson -Utah Division of Wildlife-Miles Hanberg, Tory Mathis (Planning, Mapping) -Utah State University-Eric Thacker (Consulted for seeding success and methods) -BIA-Gary Dean (discussed tribal lands that could possibly be treated adjacent to the Forest) This project occurs only on U.S. Forest Service administered land.

The Forest Service is committed to improving rangeland and this project is a high priority. Grazing management has been adapted to assist in the maintenance and, hopefully, improvement of the rangeland. Cattle numbers have been reduced, grazing rotation has been changed and reconstruction of water projects have been ongoing for the last few years in an attempt to maintain the perennial vegetation. Nevertheless, cheatgrass will continue to spread now that it has been established and the landscape is in need of drastic, aggressive treatment. It is anticipated that this project will be a test for treatment success to assist in future vegetation management projects. Additional seeding or other treatment may be necessary if this phase does not meeting desired conditions based on the monitoring results.

It is anticipated that vegetation rehabilitation will allow more flexibility in the grazing season of use, numbers and other management practices. Treatment will also provide improved cover, habitat and forage for wildlife and livestock. Improved habitat will potentially increase deer and elk in the area increasing positive hunting experiences as well as opportunities for viewing wildlife for campers and those recreating in the area.

10/01/2019

06/18/2020

2020

A total of 219 acres of the planned 275 were drill seeded by the contractor and the Forest Service. Some areas were too steep and rocky for access. The contractor used a large range drill and the Forest Service used the 6-8 foot baby drill pulled behind a UTV. The contractor did a good job covering most of the areas described. He did not come prepared with the GIS layers loaded on a GPS which hindered his ability to cover the exact polygons. The FS stayed on site and helped the contractor navigate. The 824 acres of broadcast seeding was completed as planned in October of 2019.

The South Slope Vegetation Rehabilitation Project was proposed after seeing an increase in cheatgrass in the lower areas of Mosby Mountain. A combination of an improved grazing system, reduced numbers of cows, herbicide, seeding and grazing rest has already shown improvements. Monitoring shows that the herbicide treatment in Phase 1 of this project was very successful. Seedlings from the drill seeding where seen in a few drill rows. Numerous seedlings of grasses and sagebrush where observed throughout the area but it was not known if they were a result of the drill or broadcast seeding.

Some cheatgrass sites were missed with herbicide in 2018. The Forest Service will follow up with spot spraying and seeding as needed. The Lyman Spring Pasture will be rested in 2020 and during the growing season of 2021. The Forest Service will also evaluate if there are any other areas that can be seeded that where missed due to steep slopes and rocks. Monitoring will continue to determine the effectiveness of the drill and broadcast seeding.