The Ruin Park Guzzler is a critical water supply for livestock grazing in the Beef Basin Pasture of the Indian Creek Allotment. It also provides water to big game (i.e. mule deer) within critical winter range. The project was originally constructed in 1975 and is currently not functioning at full potential due to its age requiring extensive maintenance and reconstruction. The existing project includes a 62,000 square feet of corrugated tin that funnels water into two 82,000 gallon tanks, which in turn takes water into two pipelines that feed eight water troughs. The proposed seven earthen reservoirs would provide upland water sources on rangelands currently devoid of water. Thereby, this would enhance livestock distribution and draw cattle out of sensitive riparian communities, such as found along Indian Creek, Lavender Canyon, Davis Canyon, and North Cottonwood. The BLM Indian Creek Allotment is permitted for 1004 head of cattle from 10/01 through 06/15 for 8,518 Active Animal Unit Months (AUMs). This allotment encompasses a vast array of rangeland across 228,184 BLM acres. Water is often the limiting factor in this arid environment, thereby the proposed water project would enhance adaptive livestock opportunities for approximately 1,856 AUMs in Beef Basin and 1,219 AUMs in lower Indian Creek (total of 3,075 AUMs affected) by providing additional water sources.

Objectives of the Ruin Park Guzzler and proposed reservoirs are to provide a reliable water source to livestock and wildlife while conserving and managing the ecosystems found in Beef Basin and along Indian Creek. These upland water sources draw livestock away from sensitive streams and spring systems that can be prone to livestock impacts. Thereby, the project helps enhance watershed health and properly functioning conditions of riparian areas through greater livestock distribution across the rangelands.

Ecological thresholds in Beef Basin include transitioning of sagebrush uplands towards semi-desert grasslands. Past efforts in the area include sagebrush restoration projects which the Ruin Park Guzzler helps facilitate by controlling water and resulting livestock use patterns. The riparian communities along Indian Creek, North Cottonwood, Lavender Canyon, and Davis Canyon are unique and limited ecosystems in an arid environment that provide critical habitat to various wildlife species. These riparian zones also support drainage stability and stream channel functions in these drainage that dissipate high water flows and provide for active floodplains.

The project aligns with the BLM's Monticello Field Office Resource Management Plan by facilitating the achievement of Rangeland Health Standards in an area available to livestock grazing in the Indian Creek Allotment. This is partially achieved by the existing Ruin Park Guzzler and proposed reservoirs that provide an upland water source the allows for more uniform distribution of livestock. This allows for greater adherence to the Standards for Rangeland Health with riparian areas in a properly functioning condition appropriate to soil type, climate,and landform.

Not Applicable

The existing Ruin Park Guzzler increases available water quantity through storage of rain water into two 80,000 gallons tanks, thereby allowing for sustained and planned water availability to livestock and wildlife through a pipeline and water trough catchment system. The current project is operating beyond its expected life cycle, thus long-term continued use of the project must ensure maintenance and reconstruction of the existing infrastructure as proposed. The proposed seven earthen reservoirs would provide water sources within the uplands in an arid environment where cattle currently water at natural water sources along Indian Creek, Davis Canyon, Lavender Canyon, and North Cottonwood, which all contain sensitive riparian communities that filter water flows. Decreasing cattle concentration in these drainage by providing alternative water sources in the uplands would enhance water quality to support other beneficial uses for surface and groundwater. These projects benefit the public resource such as watershed health and water quantity by enhancing livestock distribution, utilization patterns, and providing water storage.

The Ruin Park Catchment / Guzzler is an existing BLM range improvement (#019274). Proposed actions would be contained within the original footprint of the project and considered maintenance activities, thereby it would be in compliance with various requirements and not need further NEPA and/or inventories. The proposed seven reservoirs would undergo review and analysis of potential impacts through the development of an Environmental Assessment (EA) by the BLM. This would include cultural clearance (underway), T&E considerations, and compliance with all applicable water quality standards.

BLM engineers have conducted a Scope of Work (SOW) for the Ruin Park Guzzler to determine maintenance requirements. This includes increasing the functionality of the storage tanks as well as replacing the collection surface. The SOW is broken out into two phases: Phase 1: sandblasting / cleaning two 80,000 gallon storage tanks, sealing concrete floors of storage tanks, repairing hole and cracks of tank siding, and providing an evaporation mitigation cover for 2,036 square feet of tank surface. Phase 2: removing the existing collection surface of 62,000 square feet of corrugate tin and framework, perform dirt work and sloping needed to support a new collection surface, and installation of a new collection surface of HDPE 45-60mm liner over 62,000 square feet. Construction of the proposed seven earthen reservoirs (6 BLM, 1 Utah State Lands) would be done by mechanized equipment (e.g. bulldozer) to create an earth filled embankment and adequate spillway within ephemeral drainages to capture surface run-off water. The slope of the dams would be a minimum 3 to 1 on the upstream face and a minimum of 2 to 1 on the downstream face. Each reservoir may disturb up to 0.50 acres, thus total disturbance for thirteen reservoirs could be 3.5 acres on BLM administrated lands.

Continued monitoring of the guzzler would be performed by partners including the BLM and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). This includes periodic range improvement inspections by the BLM and operation of the project by TNC. When monitoring indicates a need for repair it would be carried out by the partners, such as occurred in the past, to keep the aging infrastructure in a operational condition. These monitoring efforts are recorded in the project file.

Bureau of Land Management, Monticello Field Office (Jed Carling) The Nature Conservancy (Mathew Redd) Utah Grazing Improvement Program (Nathan Roberts) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Nicole Nielson) Utah State Institutional Trust Lands Administration (Slate Stewart)

Future management of the Ruin Park Guzzler and reservoirs would include periodic inspection and performance of needed repairs. This project is essential for adaptive livestock management in Beef Basin and Indian Creek as they would provide critical upland water sources away from sensitive public resources such as riparian systems. It allows for control of water to livestock that enables rest rotation of the rangelands to be feasible.

The project provides opportunities for sustainable uses of natural resources through adaptive livestock management by providing water in an area essentially devoid of it. Beef Basin and Indian Creek are desert environments that are essential for a viable livestock operation on the Indian Creek Allotment. The BLM manages for multiple uses, including grazing, and sustained yield of the resources to provide for continued healthy rangelands. The Ruin Park Guzzler is an essential element in this endeavor through its storage and supply of water within the uplands of Beef Basin. Also, the proposed reservoirs would provide upland water in areas lacking other then along springs and seasonal drainages. These projects enable greater distribution of livestock that are grazing forage resources in a sustainable manner.