Approximately 77% of the Nebo Creek watershed burned in September 2019 resulting in the loss of all fish in Nebo Creek and it's tributaries.

1. Add Large Woody Debris (directional felling technique) to perennial stream reaches to create sediment deposition areas both within the active channel and to deflect debris flow onto the floodplain. a. Implement 1-2 miles on Upper Nebo Creek using UDWR heavy equipment crew. Utilize 1 week of heavy equipment crew for this reach. (Spring 2020 and/or fall 2020) b. Implement 1-2 miles on upper Holman Creek using Utah Conservation Corps. Utilize 2 weeks of 5 person UCC crew (Spring 2020 and/or fall 2020) 2. Install grade control structures: Install at existing grade to help prevent headcuts and/or identify areas of historic downcutting where aggradation is warranted. (Spring 2019). Utilize 1 week of heavy equipment crew to install 7-10 structures (Spring 2020 and/or fall 2020) 3. Establish photopoint monitoring sites, monitor every 6 months (Winter 2018-Winter 2022)) 4. Establish or locate pre-existing water quality monitoring sites. Coordinate with UDEQ on monitoring (Winter/Spring 2019) 5. Obtain NEPA/EA from Forest Service (Spring 2019) 6. Stream Alteration Permit (Spring 2019 and renew Spring 2020) 7. Identify intact stands of riparian community to "truth check" burn and debris flow models and to identify source areas for willow and cottonwood cuttings. (Spring 2019). Identify areas outside the watershed for harvest as well. 8. Start harvest and growth of cottonwood cuttings for future installation. Collection may take place in 2019 but planting probably not until fall 2020. 9. Install temporary fish barrier in lower section to keep brown trout out of system if there's angler and agency support for a BCT fishery (Spring/Summer 2019)

Burned watersheds are vulnerable to intense pulses of high duration and short intensity discharge events triggered by spring runoff and/or monsoonal rains. Burned watersheds have lost the roughness and vegetative cover needed to retain topsoil and have often become hydrophobic. Such conditions contribute to high volume runoff (discharge) events that are saturated with sediment and can cause cause significant channel downcutting and movement of sediment downstream. Approximately 77% of the 34,278 acre Nebo Creek watershed was burned during the Bald Mountain and Pole Creek fire of 2018. Preliminary estimates by NRCS suggest nearly 700 acre feet of sediment will be mobilized over the next 5 years. Sediment plumes in the fall of 2018 have already caused fish kills that have extirpated the trout population within the drainage. Downcutting of streams can cause significant damage to the aquatic and riparian community by decreasing its connectivity with the floodplain and leading to the decline of floodplain dependent species. Loss of floodplain connectivity reduces floodplain attenuation of sediments which increases sediment loading within the channel, which subsequently increases downstream sedimentation. Lowering of the water table also is a common symptom of loss of floodplain connectivity as groundwater recharge is reduced. Lowering of the watertable can cause a riparian community once composed of obligate wetland species (sedge, willows, cottonwoods, etc) to convert to a xeric community.

Restoration of riparian habitat within the Nebo Creek drainage addresses goals and objectives identified in the following management plan. 2003. Land and Resource Management Plan. Uinta National Forest. USDA Intermountain Region. 513 pages. See section 3-2, 5-136, and numerous other objectives relative to riparian habitat within the management plan. 2015. Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025. Project goals address major threats including "fire and fire suppression", "channel downcutting", "improper sediment balance", etc. and addresses threats to multiple WAP species, both aquatic and terrestrial. 2018. Bonneville cutthroat trout range-wide conservation agreement and strategy. Utah County RMP: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Cn80Wzst8eoa0o_BqoTBHOPfPm8M6MIe Document cites need and County support for: Fire Management (p31) Fisheries (p35) Floodplains and River Terraces (p39) Recreation and Tourism (p72) Riparian Areas (p75) Threatened, Endangered, & Sensitive Species (p78) Water Quality and Hydrology (p81) Wetlands (p90)

Several experts in range and fire science have identified the role healthy riparian systems play in wildfire dynamics by serving as fire breaks, safety zones, water sources, and burn out points. Numerous authors cite similar observations. Workshop on the multiple influences of riparian ecosystems on fires in western forest landscapes. Summary Report 2001. Kauffman, J.B. Riparian fuel treatments in the western USA: Challenges and considerations.Dwire, Kathleen A.; Meyer, Kristen E.; Riegel, Gregg; Burton, Timothy. 2016. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GT R-352. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 156 p.

There are three current TMDL's that are impacted by this project. Thistle Creek sub-watershed (of which Nebo Creek is a part) has a TMDL for sediment and TDS, Spanish Fork River has one for the same and Utah Lake has another. This project directly will potentially move the system to attainment, but will certain prevent further degradation cause by wildfire effects. The project will also directly benefit water quality in several ways, including the following: 1. Prevent channel downcutting and promote aggredation of sediments in entrained reaches. 2. Reduce sedimentation delivered further downstream (i.e. Thistle Creek, Spanish Fork River, Utah Lake, Jordan River and The Great Salt Lake) 3. Retain stream and floodplain connectivity (advantageous in many ways especially by promoting health riparian plant community) 4. Promote infiltration of precipitation and surface flow into the groundwater table. 5. Slow/buffer the flow of precipitation and overland flow into the river, thus extending the hydrograph but reducing its peak 6. Trap/filter sediment, nutrients, and contaminants thus prevent (reducing) its movement downstream. Riparian vegetation also can remove/alter organic nutrients through processes such as denitrification, absorption by clays, etc.

FS/DWR to complete cultural resources clearance DWR to complete stream alteration permit FS to complete NEPA compliance

1. Add Large Woody Debris (directional felling technique) to perennial stream reaches to create sediment deposition areas both within the active channel and to deflect debris flow onto the floodplain. a. Implement 1-2 miles on Upper Nebo Creek using UDWR heavy equipment crew. Utilize 1 week of heavy equipment crew for this reach. (Spring 2020 and/or fall 2020) b. Implement 1-2 miles on upper Holman Creek using Utah Conservation Corps. Utilize 2 weeks of 5 person UCC crew (Spring 2020 and/or fall 2020) 2. Install grade control structures: Install at existing grade to help prevent headcuts and/or identify areas of historic downcutting where aggradation is warranted. (Spring 2019). Utilize 1 week of heavy equipment crew to install 7-10 structures (Spring 2020 and/or fall 2020)

UDWR to conduct fish population and photopoint monitoring at numerous locations within the drainage. Partner with DEQ on water quality monitoring.

In the fall of 2018 CRO DWR and the Forest Service convened a regional streams fire rehab coordination team which was attended by over 30 people from numerous agencies. From this meeting a subgroup was put together to focus on restoration within the Nebo Creek Watershed. Numerous people have contributed to the group, but the major partners are UDWR, the U.S. Forest Service, Utah County, and NRCS. Other groups such as River Restoration and URMCC have provided valuable input.

Future mangement will be guided by the management plans mentioned in the "relation to management plans" section and the working group listed under partners. Restoration and monitoring efforts are anticipated to continue for the next 3-5 years.

The projects goal centers upon speeding the recovery of the riparian and aquatic community with the ultimate goal of restoring a self sustaining trout fishery for recreation and conservation purposes. Nebo Canyon is a moderate Use Recreational area for dispersed camping, hiking, hunting and ATV'ing, stream restoration efforts will speed desirability of the area for the public. Reseeding and reestablishment of watering areas and riparian forage will shorten post-fire rest periods on the two grazing allotments.

07/01/2020

06/30/2021

2021

1. Added Large Woody Debris (directional tree felling technique) to perennial stream reaches to create sediment deposition areas both within the active channel and to deflect debris flow onto the floodplain. a. Implemented 1.5 miles on Upper Nebo Creek. Fall 2020. b. Implemented 2 miles on upper Holman Creek. Spring 2021. Over 160 fire killed trees with a DBH over 14 inches felled. 2. Installed non-native fish barrier/grade control structure approximately one quarter mile upstream of the US Forest Service boundary. Completed fall 2020 with some maintenance work in the Spring of 2021. It was determined to postpone future grade control structures until future phases (if needed) to allow further stabilization of the surrounding uplands. Initial DTF monitoring suggests they may fulfill the same goals without the risk of failure and cost associated with installation of rock grade control structures in an unstable watershed. 3. Photopoint and effectiveness monitoring on a subset of directionally felled trees. Monitoring includes before/after photopoints and subsequent photopoints every 6-18 months for a minimum of 3 years. Structure effectiveness is also evaluated based upon sediment accumulation, stability of the structure (tree), creation of fish habitat, etc. See datasheet in images/documents section.

The majority of the project focused upon reaches of Nebo and Holman Creeks significantly impacted (burned) by the Fall 2018 Pole Canyon Fire. Approximately 160 fire killed trees over 14 inches DBH were felled within approximately 3.5 miles of stream. Photopoints (before/after) were established at a subset of these sites and the structure (tree) was visited approximately 6-12 months later to determine its effectiveness (see monitoring form in documents section). A rock fish barrier with a vertical drop of 6 foot was also constructed to prevent upstream movement of Brown Trout from Thistle Creek and to allow management of the upper portions of Nebo Creek for native Bonneville cutthroat trout (see photos) For more detailed information please see the "Project Details" portion of the proposal on the UWRI website https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/justification.html?id=4950

Future Management will include continued monitoring of DFT sites for a minimum of 3 years post implementation, fish population monitoring every 3-5 years, annual monitoring/inspection of the fish barrier, and continued evaluation of the need for future restoration tools/practices.