Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Areas (SCWMA/PSGWMA) are Division of Wildlife Resources managed areas located in Box Elder County, Utah. Management of these wetland/upland areas is primarily for waterfowl and pheasant production however, many of the 200+ species that use the areas have benefited as well. The purpose of this project is to create and maintain an area that meets life requisites and provides the best suitable habitats that will ensure the perpetuation and propagation of the wildlife species. These areas are also managed to provide waterfowl and upland hunting opportunity to the public.

The goal for the project is to protect, enhance and maximize the benefit for the wildlife resources and the public that use these WMAs. The management objective for this area is for species diversity and providing public use for those who enjoy Utah's wildlife. Management efforts are directed to provide a hunting opportunity for waterfowl and pheasant hunters to hunt in good quality habitat. This requires providing habitat that can sustain a viable population of diverse wildlife species. To develop habitat that will facilitate better over winter survival and recruitment of young wildlife species into the wild population of birds on the area. To provide a diversity of habitats in good functional condition for many of the 200+ wildlife species that visit the area. Maximize Productivity and Satisfaction: Habitat development, restoration, enhancement and maintenance are critical to conserving wildlife that use these areas. The wetland/upland habitats associated with these WMAs provide many needs for the 200+ species that use the area during some part of the annual cycle. Without continuous efforts these habitats decline in value and function. SCWMA is the only public land in Box Elder County that provides quality pheasant habitat and an adequate opportunity to hunt pheasants for pheasant hunters. This area provides an opportunity that is sought out by hunters from numerous counties within the state.

Reduced quality of habitat for wildlife use. More expensive methods will be required for long-term renovation and improvements. This project will address threats to two key terrestrial habitats (lowland sagebrush & desert grassland) and two key aquatic habitats (open water & emergent) that are listed in the WAP. The threats to these habitats that this project will address include; invasive plant species, altered fire regimes, sediment transport imbalance, invasive wildlife species, feral and domestic animals, and drought. This project will also address a number of SGCN and HIG/F species (see species list and threats for more details).

DWR Strategic Plan: Conserve, Protect and Enhance Wildlife and Ecosystems; Enhance Recreational Experience. The project as described above promotes this objective. WAP objectives and actions are described below. Invasive plant species 1) Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-native 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. Control of invasive plant species will continue mostly through chemical applications. Native perennials will be planted in select areas to help reduce cover of invasive plants. Continual monitoring of the WMA's will continue to help minimize spread and control of new invasions. Inappropriate Fire Frequency "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." Actions the WAP suggest for achieving this objective are 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. 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. 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 2.3.9 Conduct fuels reduction through targeted grazing. Fire breaks will be mowed where needed. Vegetation management through control of invasive plants that are highly susceptible to catastrophic fires (cheatgrass), planting of native perennials, and selected grazing will reduce this risk. Objective #1 for Droughts Terrestrial SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. 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 Drought condition over that past several years has reduced the resilience of highly functional upland and habitats. In order to maintain, and rehabilitate these upland habitats, renovation, reseeding, and in some cases, irrigation is necessary in order to minimize the impacts of drought. 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 and vegetation treatments. Habitat modification and loss is being mitigated against by native perennial plantings and food crops/plots and shrub-rows for cover and food resources for wildlife.

Fire is an important tool that is used on the WMA's to remove dead vegetation and open wetland areas for increased germination of native plant species. Due to the continuing air quality issues in northern Utah, this tool is not used as much as we would like to use it. Firebreaks are created each season, as needed, to protect the WMA's and adjacent private lands in the event an unplanned fire occurs in the area.

Perennial plantings help prevent erosion and sediment runoff into waterways and impoundments.

Archaeology, Covered by categorical exclusions and SHPO MOU NEPA. Waterfowl Management Areas are covered under categorical exclusion.

Vegetation manipulation is an effective way to stimulate new growth and extending the long-term value of many plant species. It has been demonstrated that renovation efforts can nearly double the duration that good quality habitat can be maintained on these areas. Complete replacement of these habitats through ground preparation, weed control and planting is time consuming and expensive, and establishment to the desired growth form may take two or more years. Without some manipulation efforts taking place, the value of these new plantings last for about eight to ten years. The plan is for annual restoration or enhancement by seeding of perennial habitat and planting of annual food plots. Perennial plantings of mixed species of grasses (Russian wildlrye, pubescent wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, Newhy wheatgrass, Great Basin wildrye), shrubs (forage kochia) and forbs (alfalfa, strawberry clover and yellow blossom sweet clover), will be planted throughout the area. Annual food plots consist of wheat, triticale, safflower, barley, corn, sorghum, sunflower, and/or millet. These areas are strategically located through the perennial habitats. Renovation techniques using fire, grazing, mechanical disturbance, chemical treatments, water regulation and re-seeding efforts will be used to improve existing habitats. Habitat manipulation will include the use of an agricultural tractor, light disking and/or spring tine tillage equipment for digging to remove annual grass. Burning will be used where conditions allow removing residual dead vegetation. Existing conditions at the time will determine the exact locations and acreage. A grazing plan has been completed and approved. Grazing treatments will be used to remove plant material, stimulate growth and remove non-desired competitive plant species. Paddock determinations will be determined based on fall assessments for the following winter/spring grazing period. Paddock formation is ongoing with the need to finish permanent gates and wings to be used in conjunction with removable electric fencing materials and natural barriers. Grazing has been used as a management tool on the areas for the past 19 years. Mowing up to approximately 100 acres may occur. Water developments will be developed and maintained for livestock and wildlife dispersion in order to reduce damage to riparian areas. Herbicide treatments will be applied in areas where noxious and invasive weeds are found to be competing with desirable plant species. Approximately 3000 acres throughout PSG/SCWMAs will be covered to detect undesirable species. These chemical treatments will be applied with backpack sprayers, agriculture equipment, track machines, UTV and/or ATV. The retention ponds and ditch systems that have been developed to collect return irrigation water will be maintained. This water is of higher quality and suitable for perennial cover, food crop and tree/shrub irrigation. Ditching systems also provide additional areas for tree and shrub planting. These areas provide travel lanes for wildlife movement and a degree of protection from avian predators. Predator control is an annual event prior to the nesting season. Trappers and DWR personnel remove Red Fox, Striped Skunk, Raven (by permit) and Raccoon to enhance the reproductive effort of numerous avian species.

Field observations and Standard Operational Procedures

N/A

Future management will follow directives and objectives listed within the WMA management plans.

This project will continue to improve upland conditions for all recreational activities. Hunter and watchable wildlife opportunities continue to be improved with this project. Both Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds are grazed with domestic livestock when it is deemed necessary/practical by the WMA manager.

07/01/2019

06/30/2020

2020

Vegetation was manipulated to stimulate new growth and extend the long-term value of many plant species. Renovation techniques using grazing, mechanical disturbance, chemical treatments, water regulation and re-seeding efforts were used to improve existing habitats. Habitat manipulation included the use of an agricultural tractor, MarshMaster, roller/packer, light discing and/or spring tine tillage equipment for digging to remove annual grass. Grazing treatments were used to remove plant material, stimulate growth and remove non-desired competitive plant species. Paddock determinations were determined based on fall assessments for the following winter/spring grazing period. Paddock formation is ongoing with the need to finish permanent gates and wings to be used in conjunction with removable electric fencing materials and natural barriers. Upland area conditions were not conducive to grazing cows during FY20. Sheep were allowed to graze parts of SCWMA in FY20 for a brief period of time. Herbicide treatments were applied in areas where noxious and invasive weeds were found to be competing with desirable plant species. Efforts were made to cover approximately 3000 acres throughout PSG/SCWMAs to detect undesirable species. These chemical treatments were applied with backpack sprayers, agriculture equipment, track machines, UTV and ATV's. The retention ponds and ditch systems that have been developed to collect return irrigation water were maintained. This water is of higher quality and suitable for perennial cover, food crop and tree/shrub irrigation. Predator control is an annual event prior to the nesting season. Trappers and DWR personnel removed Red Fox, Striped Skunk, Raven (by permit) and Raccoon to enhance the reproductive effort of numerous avian species. For FY20 we continued predator removal efforts for skunk, raccoon, feral cats and Ravens. Raven control was administered through USDA Wildlife Services.

The goal for the project was to protect, enhance and maximize the benefits for the wildlife resources and the public that use these WMA's. The objective was to maintain high value habitat for an extended period of time. The need was to maintain existing suitable habitat and improve marginal habitat with renovation techniques. There still is a need to continue maintaining one of the State's premier wetlands for the public's use and enjoyment in a productive, functional and aesthetically pleasing condition. Preparation for perennial seeding efforts were accomplished on approximately 75 acres within Salt Creek WMA in FY20. This area has been fallow since the fall of 2019 in an effort to minimize noxious weeds that have been a persistent problem in this area. Plateau herbicide was applied in the fall of 2019 with a follow-up application of glyphosate in the spring of 2020. Seeding will occur in the fall of 2020. Food plots that were planted during the fall of 2019 had varying success. Our sorghum/millet planting on the east side of Salt Creek did really well but was destroyed by livestock from a neighboring grazing operation. These livestock also impacted several of the winter wheat plantings in the area. Winter wheat that was planted in the fall of 2019 either failed or was only partially successful. It is unknown at this point if the failure was due to soil conditions, competition with noxious weeds, or a lack of early spring precipitation. About 24 acres of winter wheat were planted in the fall of 2019 and about 10 acres of irrigated sorghum and/or millet were planted in the spring of 2020. Continued irrigation of existing perennial plantings was carried out throughout SCWMA. Water pumps of different sizes were utilized to accomplish watering efforts. Several of the irrigation systems were repaired as needed. Continued maintenance will be crucial for our irrigation systems.

Future management will follow directives and objectives listed within the WMA management plans.