This project will consist of rehabilitation of a Wild Fire that burned in the Meadow Creek Drainage, associated with a lighting strike that cause a 4,231 acres wildfire on September 2019. This Wild Fire burned over 4,231 acres within the Meadow Creek Canyon, majority of the fire burned 1,873 acres of FS property, also burned 1,434 acres of BLM and 905 acres of Private. All of property that is critical to mule deer and elk in the fall and winter months. This project will allow us to reseed the fire, and chain portions where it is suitable. The need to repair burned fences, pipelines and watering troughs is critical for wildlife as well as livestock in the surrounding allotments.

This project objectives will consist of aerially seeding the burned ares of the Meadow Creek Fire with suitable grasses, forbs and shrubs. This will be done through the use of contracting out a contractor to seed a primary and a secondary seeding, after the primary seeding has been aerially applied we would like to single chain the suitable areas to cover the seed and reduce erosion areas within the burn. This aspect of the project will be done through contracting out with a contractor the use of two D8 or D9 tracked cats to cover the seed in the fall of the year. Additional efforts will be to inventory all watering facilities, fence lines and pipelines in the are to see what needs to be replaced or fixed, UDWR will be working closely with the Fillmore Forest Service and Fillmore BLM office to complete these tasks. UDWR, BLM and the Forest Service will work together as a partnership to accomplish these objectives and complete the restoration needs to ensure a diverse rangeland community of grasses, forbs, shrubs and browse species are reseeded through this effort. We will also be working with the private landowner associated within the burn scar as well to reseed and chain their portion as well.

Risk of not doing any restoration work will allow for invasion of noxious weed species, little to no grasses, forbs and shrub recruitment due to no or little existing understory before the fire within the pinyon-juniper areas. Erosion of soil will be present due to rain and snow precipitation allowing for flooding of lower elevation properties. Rangeland plant health will be compromised due to lack reseeding efforts and covering the seed through proper implementation efforts. Perennial grass and forb species that will become established in the future will benefit livestock and wildlife within the Meadow Creek Canyon Allotments and on the south end of the Pahvant Mtn Range.

The pinyon-juniper and big sagebrush areas lie within the Lowland Sagebrush Steppe Habitat type which is one of the key habitats identified in the 2015 WAP. The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit 21B (Fillmore Pahvant Unit ) including: *Continue to improve and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to DWRs Habitat Initiative. *Maintain habitat quantity and quality at a level adequate to support the stated population objectives while at the same time not resulting in an overall downward trend in range condition and watershed quality. *Work cooperatively with land management agencies and private landowners to plan and implement improvement projects for the purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat and range resources in general. *The project also helps fulfill the state mule deer management plan section IV Habitat Goal: Conserve and improve mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. *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. *Objective 3: conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. *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. *UDWR SR critical big game winter range are important browse communities that need to be enhanced and improved. The Division will employ a variety of methods to achieve this including prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, reseeding and seedling transplants, also mechanical treatments. Priority areas will include sagebrush-steppe and mountain browse communities. Falls within the rangeland focus area for WRI wildlife species for mule deer and elk. *This plan is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement and fuels management to improve habitat, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire. *Other project have been completed by the Forest Service and UDWR in past years within the Ebbs Canyon HUC 12 area. *Project within the are also benefit the management plans objectives of the lower Sevier River Watershed, as this will reduced sediment run off and create a healthy rangeland communities. *Management Plans are also in conjunction with NRCS overall goals of healthy rangelands and communities, improving watersheds and reducing erosion and sediment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment *FFSL CWPP Process is a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative plan created by the fire department, state and local forestry, land managers, community leaders, and the public.The planning process maps values at risk, and requires actions to reduce risk, such as prescribed burning, fuel reduction, or other measures that adapt a community to better confront their wildfire threat. Area is also part of the Millard RWPP FFSL Plan which was implemented in 2014, there are Wildfire Codes and Ordinances associated with this plan. Project would also be relevant to NCS Goals and supported through the FS National Cohesive Strategies. CAT FIRE Objectives and Strategies: In 2013, the State of Utah developed the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (CAT FIRE) in response to the severe 2012 fire season. Reducing the catastrophic wildfire requires attention to three interdependent goals identified in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy -- Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Wildfire Response. These goals have been embraced throughout the development of the state's CAT FIRE strategy. Mitigation of hazardous fuels can change fire behavior making it easier to suppress. The effects of the mitigation, however, are not limited to life and property safety but will also affect forest health, water quality, vegetative species abundance, etc. As we continue to implement projects across the landscapes in Utah, the only way to truly be successful is to integrate existing programs, utilize local and federal partners and continue to educate the general public to create the desired shift towards more resilient communities and ecosystems.

The need to reseed and establish a improved community of grasses, forbs, shrubs and browse species is critical to support wildlife and livestock in the future. Through restoration efforts from the USFS, Private Landowner, BLM, Grazing Permitees and UDWR this will be a partnership that can obtain the goals and objectives through working together to restore and maintain the area effected by the burn. We need to make sure the reseeding efforts are a success to allow for reduction in wildfire behavior due to the resilient seed species being planted that can help suppress fire activity in the future.

Water Quality and Quantity should greatly increase due to the nature of old standing PJ trees along with some conifers in the top end of this project being burned. After seeding efforts and restoration occurs we are more likely to see the improvement of springs, increase water to the troughs, increase grass and fob establishment due to loss of competition from the pinyon-juniper trees. Water should be better utilized by the perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs increasing the quantity down stream for water users and irrigation systems.

Before areas are to be single chained, they will need to be surveyed for all culture resources and also a cadastural survey will need to be completed finding the section corners and quarter corners of the treatment areas. This has been complete in the past for both the private, and the BLM. Please see attachment from UDWR on the private portion.

Methods will include the application of aerially seeding grasses, forbs and shrubs along with planting browse species. This will be done through aerially seeding and covering the seed with the use of a smooth or ely chain pulled by two D8 or D9 tracked cats.

Fishlake Forest Service will be looking at utilizing photo points within the treatment site, along with wildlife monitoring from their Wildlife Biologist that will include spring and fall classifications of deer and elk. Forest Service Range Conservationist will be conducting and gathering rangeland data as grass, forbs and shrubs respond to the treatments within the Meadow Creek Fire Restoration efforts. The BLM will also be involved with the project and overseeing their properties, making sure establishment of the grasses, forbs and shrubs are growing before grazing will return.

Partners on this project will include but not be limited to: Fishlake National Forest Fillmore Office (USFS) Fillmore BLM Office Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) Sportsman Groups and local Chapters USFWS Partners Program County Commissioners Livestock Grazing Associations. Private Landowners UWRI is a great funding source and support in rehabbing wildfires in Utah.

Grazing of the properties will be deferred for at least two growing seasons or until establishment of grass, forbs and shrubs are deemed ready to be grazed. When grazing is re-established a grazing management plan will be developed and monitored by the Fillmore Forest Service Range Conservationist, and BLM Range Conservationist allowing for proper grazing management of the reseeding efforts. We will be entering into a agreement with the private landowner to allow for two growing season to be deferred as well.

No direct livestock benefit as of right now due to the Meadow Creek Fire, but looking into the future and doing the restoration work that will prepare us for the future benefits in the years to come. Through the restoration efforts will will be able to reseed and chain the Meadow Creek Fire with perennial grasses forbs, shrubs and browse that will contribute to improved rangeland health, increase water production for grasses species, improved water for troughs and less pinyon junipers to add competition to the rangeland plants. Overall permittees and private landowners should have more forage production and better weight gain and overall, calf production in the future due to the restoration efforts that are to take place through this fire rehab effort.

11/22/2019

06/24/2021

2021

With the Meadow Creek Fire Rehab Project the final methods consisted of reseeding over 3,400 acres of USFS, Private and BLM Properties. A single anchor chaining was then implemented on over 1,924 acres of USFS, BLM and private properties. This was contracted with Mike Kesler and completed by using two D-8 tracked dozers and an "Ely" anchor chain approximately 180' long. The BLM contracted with Taylor Made Fencing to constructed approximately 23,369' of barbwire and steel post fencing along the USFS and BLM property boundary. UDWR contracted with Hammond Helicopters to apply 6oz Plateau Herbicide on approximately 604 acres of private land after one growing season following the initial seeding.

The Meadow Creek Fire started in the fall of 2019 due to a lighting strike that occurred on the Pahvant Ensign Ranch properties. This fire then moved northeast onto BLM and Forest Service property. Once the fire was contained it had devastated over 4,200 acres of critical wildlife habitat, burned existing fences, and caused extensive flooding to the town of Meadow, Utah. This fire rehab effort was critical, not only for the amount of habitat that was lost but for the fear of flooding the town of Meadow. It was critical that we bring together the right partnerships to make this project a success. The UDWR, USFS FIllmore Office and the BLM Fillmore Office along with the Pahvant Ensign Ranches worked in conjunction with each other to make sure this project was a success. Through WRI, funding was secured and the work was to take place in the fall of 2019. The USFS was able to provide BAER Funding with the BLM providing ESR Funding for this project. Culture resources surveys where completed in house by the BLM and USFS personnel, the private portion was already complete from a previous survey. The first step in the restoration efforts was to reseed the fire with a broad diverse mix of grasses, forb and shrubs along with some sterile wheat that would be used on the steeper slopes of the burn scar. UDWR contracted with Hammond Helicopters to apply all of the initial seed mix for this fire rehab project. Application on USFS portion is as follows: 604 acres of sterile Winter Wheat, 590 acres of grass and forb mix. BLM portion is 1,434 acres of grass and forb mix, while on the private we applied 850 acres of the grass and forb seed mix. Once the primary seeding had taken place UDWR contracted the single chaining application with Mike Kesler, who provided two D-8 Dozers and the labor to single chain over 1,924 acres of private, BLM and USFS properties. This single chaining portion of the project allowed for the primary seed to be covered and created the necessary seed bed and contact for better seed establishment. The secondary seed flight is to apply forbs and shrubs on the Private, BLM and Forest Service Properties, this was done again by contracting with Hammond Helicopters to apply the seed on over 2,776 acres of the treatment area. The BLM Fillmore Field Office provided ESR funding towards this project, portions of the funding went to the overall seeding and chaining efforts. Other portions of the ESR funding went to providing fence materials and installation of a new boundary fence between the BLM and Forest Service. UDWR along with the BLM Fillmore Office, in the fall of 2020, contracted with Taylor Made Fencing to complete over 4.42 miles of boundary fence. This fence consisted of four strand barbwire with corner wood posts and easy braces. Also in the fall of 2020, UDWR contracted with Hammond Helicopters, to apply 6oz/acre of Plateau Herbicide on 731 acres of private land to help control the cheatgrass invasion, this was done after one growing season had past. This was a great project to be part of, and through the cooperation of our Federal, State and Private Landowners and the funding from WRI, ESR and BAER dollars this project was a great success. With additional rain and snow the seeding should take hold and provide additional forage for wildlife and livestock for many years to come. A special thanks to the Fillmore FS Office and the Fillmore BLM Office for all the help they gave UDWR in completing this project.

The future of the Meadow Creek Fire Rehab will be defined as to the amount of forage that has returned to the burn scar and treatment areas. With each federal agency overseeing their particular portion of the fire rehab efforts, and the private landowner overseeing their portion as well. The BLM and Forest Service have deferred grazing for up to two growing seasons within the allotments to allow for improved establishment of the seeded grass, forbs and shrub species. The private portion of this project which is managed by the Pahvant Ensign Ranches, have entered into a cooperative agreement to defer grazing as well for two growing seasons. UDWR will continue to monitor the treatment areas especially the private portion due to the potential of cheatgrass invasion. Pahvant Ensign Ranches have completed several miles of new fence in conjunction with the BLM in hopes of keeping livestock within the allotted grazing boundaries. Much needed moisture within the area will pay dividends in making this fire rehab a success, working with all the great partnerships, private and federal agencies was critical to making this project a success.