The Wolf creek ranches property is an exclusive low density rural housing development in Wasatch county. The property is excellent elk and mule deer habitat and the land owners have made improvements that have enhanced the habitat for wildlife. The property is classified as deer and elk summer and transitional range. With limited hunting access a large elk herd lives on the property most of the year and leave private cooperative hunting units surrounding Wolf creek ranches during the hunting season . As a result of the heavy elk use, aspen stands on the property are being degraded by browsing. In order to improve the aspen stands on the property, limited hunting permits are now being issued and some aspen treatments are being planned with help from Forestry Fire and State Lands personnel. Meadow habitats on the property are also in poor condition and dominated by thick sagebrush stands. The property has a long history of heavy sheep grazing which has allowed sagebrush to reach canopy cover values of over 40% which effectively limits herbaceous vegetation. This project will reduce sagebrush cover and allow the grasses and forbs to be released. It is hoped that the improved meadow habitat will provide elk with additional feeding areas outside the heavily impacted aspen stands.

Enhance herbaceous vegetation to a cover value of 70% by the 2nd growing season. Reduce sagebrush to a cover value of less than 5% in mowed areas.

noxious weeds may increase in mowed areas

The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer management plan for herd unit 17 (Central Mountains) including: Work cooperatively to utilize grazing, prescribed burning, mechanical and other recognized vegetative manipulation techniques to enhance deer forage quantity and quality. Elk Management Plan B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1. Maintain elk habitat throughout the state by identifying and protecting existing crucial elk habitat and mitigating for losses due to human impacts. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of forage and cover on 250,000 acres of elk habitat with emphasis on calving habitat and upper elevation elk winter range by the end of this plan. The proposed projects will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for Division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah. Objective 2: improve communication with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners, and government agencies to obtain support for Division programs.

Sagebrush mowing treatments will reduce fuels in meadow areas.

This project will not significantly affect water quality and quantity

No ground disturbing activities are planned. Mowing will only affect sagebrush and other vegetation above 6 inches from the ground surface.

Use the GBRC's bat wing mower to mow sagebrush in meadow areas on the project. Approximately 50% of sagebrush will be mowed in treatment polygons. The other half will be left untreated.

Photo points have been established to monitor the treatment.

The DWR in cooperation with FFSL and the private land owner are working together on this project.

The project is privately owned low density housing that will remain quality wildlife habitat in the future.

This project will improve meadow habitat and increase herbaceous forage for livestock and wildlife and potentially reduce utilization of aspen by elk.

08/18/2019

11/01/2019

2020

The Wolf creek project was done to improve overly thick sagebrush habitat and improve forage for wildlife by creating more meadow habitat. Wolf creek ranches maintenance personnel used the DWR bat-wing mower to thin 228 acres of thick sagebrush to enhance meadow habitat. Wolf creek ranches maintenance personnel used a rented tractor to do the work.

Individual private landowner lots were treated with the mower. Mowed areas were done in a mosaic pattern to maximize edge. Some of the lots were fairly rocky and one of the mower blades was damaged during the mowing treatment.

The Wolf creek ranches property is part of a conservation easement held by the Wild Utah project.