SRO WMA's provide some of the most critical wildlife habitat in the region as well as recreational opportunities for constituents of the UDWR. As such, UDWR has an obligation to maintain, improve, and manage these lands to meet the goals and objectives for which they were acquired. Specific maintenance needs vary from year to year and property to property but typically involve: access improvements, fencing, signage, habitat improvement projects, trash removal, and weed control. Additionally, UDWR has a complex of more than 300 guzzlers that have various maintenance needs each year typically including: turning big game guzzlers on and off in the spring and fall, minor repairs, and noting major repairs needed for future proposals.

1)Secure, maintenance of existing fence boundaries. Also property signage and maintenance; 2)Implement a noxious weed control program by inventory and spraying on an annual basis; 3)Maintain public access and recreational opportunities on authorized roads/trails through road maintenance activities; 4)Maintain water developments for wildlife and livestock grazing; and 5)Implement habitat restoration activities to improve wildlife habitat values of WMA's.

Failure to maintain WMA's, CE's, and wildlife guzzlers will result in habitat degradation and loss; conflicts with counties, local municipalities, and adjacent landowners and failure to meet and/or comply with legal obligations.

WMA maintenance will help achieve the recommendations and goals of each individual WMA Management Plan. In addition this project will help implement goals A-D of the UDWR's Strategic Plan. Improvements on WMA lands will help specific Tier I, II, and III species listed later in this proposal and identified in the WAP. Numerous key habitats (Shrubsteppe, wetland, riparian) as defined by the WAP will also benefit from improvement and protection of WMAs in the SRO. Water developments and their maintenance are called for in many of the Elk and Deer herd unit management plans.

Implementing annual noxious weed control programs by inventory and spraying will reduce the fire risk by reducing quick burning annual weedy species and maintaining more desirable fire resistant species. Maintaining fences also aids us in controlling grazing regimes; this further reduces weedy fire prone species. Proper grazing practices also help reduce annual fire prone grasses and weeds.

WMA maintenance (fencing, vegetation) of desirable healthy landscapes improves water quality and quantity. Also guzzler construction and maintenance provides critical water sources for wildlife throughout the southern region.

Archaeology, UDWR archaeologist will be contacted prior to undertaking any projects that may or are likely to require clearance. Survey required for project activities having the potential to impact the ground.

Primary tasks include; fence maintenance, construction of new fences, water developments, road closures, weed control, cattle guard construction, surveys, and sign construction. The habitat manager and maintenance specialist in the region will coordinate maintenance activities in the region with other regional personnel. Habitat section personnel will coordinate with the Dedicated Hunter Coordinator to find projects where volunteers can be used. Weed control will be done under the supervision of the lead maintenance specialist. Special attention will be given to Weed Control in the Richfield and Fillmore areas this year due to known weed outbreaks. Fencing and signing will be done by maintenance personnel with assistance from seasonal's and volunteers where appropriate. Road maintenance will be completed by maintenance specialist where possible and in conjunction with county road departments in some instances. Guzzler maintenance will be carried out by assistant maintenance position with assistance provided by other staff as requested.

Established range trend studies on WMA's will be read on regular rotation. Photos and documentation of specific maintenance duties will be collected as needed. Wildlife monitoring will be conducted on those WMA's in which specific surveys for game and non-game species are already in place. Many of the WMA's are included in big game classification routes.

The SRO holds several Conservation Easement Properties in conjunction with multiple NGO's. Several of those are maintained by the SR habitat staff. We work in conjunction with those groups to ensure the integrity of the objectives for which they were purchased. UDWR also works cooperatively with counties on management plan implementation and has partnered with them on activities such as road maintenance and weed contrl.

Lands owned and managed by the Division will continue to be managed for wildlife according to individual Habitat Management plans.

Grazing is utilized by the Division to reach habitat management goals/objectives within the southern region. Grazing will be used on an as needed basis on WMA's following the grazing plans contained in the HMP's for each WMA. Grazing will be permitted under the Division's Land Use Rule by SRO habitat section personnel. Hunting and wildlife viewing are also important recreation activities that are carried out annually on the various WMAs throughout the region.

07/01/2019

06/30/2020

2020

During FY 20 all fenced WMA's were walked in the spring and fall to ensure property boundaries were secure and signed. Special emphasis continues to be placed on the Indian Peaks and Fillmore WMAs due to significant wear on aging fences. A future HC proposal may be brought forward to address aging fence concerns. Yankee Meadows new restrooms have been well received and they have been cared for and cleaned under a contract with Cedar Superior Cleaning Services. Because of the COVID 19 issues there was significant use there this summer and it was challenging to keep them clean and stocked. Weeds are controlled on an as needed basis with the biggest emphasis continuing to be ongoing work to combat a thistle infestation on the Summit WMA. Monitoring and continued management will be essential to get the infestation under control. Guzzler maintenance has seen a shift from a seasonal guzzler maintenance position to a full time assistant maintenance position (Mike Jensen) with a significant portion of that time spent on Guzzler inventory and Maintenance. Mike has worked with Rhett Boswell to learn, utilize, and improve the guzzler maintenance collector app and we are excited about its utility in helping collect and pass on information.

Todd Nebeker, Lead Maintenance Specialist, oversaw a majority of this work utilizing a team of seasonals and dedicated hunters to accomplish the needed maintenance tasks. Mike Jensen oversees the guzzler maintenance program and has been able to spend a good bit of time with the previous guzzler maintenance technician, Dennis Miller. Various other Division employees help out with work on WMA's on an as needed/requested basis. One focused project was completed on the Summit WMA this year as an apparent boundary discrepancy was discovered between our property and the private property owners at Allard Estates. Several meetings were held and all affected property owners were very helpful and gracious as we moved the boundary fence to the actual property line.

Grazing continues on select units on the Parowan Front, Parowan Valley, Fillmore, and Kingston Canyon. Parowan Valley also continues to be farmed under an agricultural lease and we hope to bring Elbow Ranch online under a similar agreement in the coming year. WMAs will continue to be assessed annually for fence, weeds, habitat maintenance, and other needs.