The purpose of this project is to improve wildlife habitat; including big game transition and winter range, protect structures at risk of wildfire, reduce wildfire risk to the public and firefighters, and ensure escape routes are feasible and easily accessible. The community of Burrville has 23 structures in need of defensible space and an additional 3 structures in Elk Country Estates, located on the Monroe Mountain on private land. To accomplish this purpose, the Fishlake National Forest (USFS), Color Country Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands (UFFSLs), U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Sevier County and Private Land Owners near Burrville have determined there is a need to seed and mechanically thin pinyon/juniper (PJ) from ~4,861 total acres of sagebrush/grass/forb areas on the east side of Monroe Mountain near the communities of Burrville and Koosharem and the Elk Country Estates. The PJ expansion and fading understory in this area is having negative impacts to big game wildlife species (primarily Mule deer; which is a Fishlake National Forest Management Indicator Species) dependent upon this area and these ecosystems. On the ground surveys and site visits have allowed staffs from the USFS and BLM to see the lack of understory plants in the PJ complex on the east side of Monroe Mountain. Over half of the PJ in the project is in phase II transitioning to phase III. Some understory brush, grasses, and forbs still exists but is about to cross the threshold into phase III dominated PJ and lose the remaining understory. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. This PJ expansion largely results from reduced occurrences of natural disturbance. The other half of this project is in phase I with portions transitioning to phase II. Most of these areas have a good understory still present but PJ encroachment continues on a yearly basis into these more productive sage/grass/forb communities As PJ has become dominate on the landscape and the loss of understory vegetation increases, big game and small game animals are experiencing a loss of foraging habitat. This expansion of more PJ with reduction of sage/grass/forb habitat has contributed to the overall decrease in Mule deer populations and other wildlife species on the mountain. This expansion factor also contributes to the issue of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. Depredation of crops by big game in the valleys on the east side of Monroe Mountain has caused much contention between landowners and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The USFS, UFFSLs, UDWR and BLM anticipates the PJ areas that currently have very little understory will likely need to be reseeded. Improving the habitat in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations, reducing the risk for large scale, uncharacteristic wildland fires, which in turn creates a fire resilient environment with less risk to public and firefighter safety. These treatments will create a better balanced ecosystem diversity that will enhance population viability for a variety of big game, small game, neo-tropical migratory birds, upland game, raptors, small mammals, insects and key pollinator species. A reduction of PJ expansion into sagebrush communities on the east side of Monroe Mountain will also help enlarge habitat use opportunities for greater sage grouse populations established in the area. UDWR Range Trend Study 23-06 (Koosharem Canyon) is set up just north of the main canyon road on FS Land. Trend studies dealing with PJ area summarized as follows: 1985: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 1991: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 1998: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 2003: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I 2008: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I transitioning to Phase II 2012: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I transitioning to Phase II 2017: Mixed Mountain Brush, Phase I transitioning to Phase II UDWR Range Trend transects for the area show the area is transitioning into Phase II and we have found areas that are transitioning into Phase III. Mule deer studies conducted by UDWR-BYU on Monroe Mountain show that winter range is not providing enough quality forage to maintain proper body condition for winter survival. For this reason it is imperative that we treat as much winter range by seeding and mulching or burn acres that will produce quality winter range forage for wintering big game. Careful consideration has been taken in designing projects with a balance of forage and cover. Not only will treatments enhance habitat for big game but increased diversity will also benefit small game, raptors, rabbits, turkey, as well as predator species (See attached table in documents showing species listed and benefits associated with this project proposal). In June of 2018 Boss Tank Guzzler kits with fencing were installed in the Blue Peak and the Wood Hollow project areas which are located just south of this project. Water sources in the lower elevation PJ zone prompting big game animals to cross BLM ground to the east, cross State Highway 62, to seek water in agricultural areas north of Koosharem. Vehicle/big game accidents are frequent north of town due to elk and deer crossing the highway seeking better forage and water. The guzzlers should help minimize the need for big game to travel to the valley for water. These two guzzlers in the area should be more effective providing water for wildlife needs. Installation of these two guzzlers was funded by RMEF through the WRI process. RMEF and Dedicated Hunters assisted the Richfield Ranger District to install both guzzlers in a single day (with a few days of preparation time from RRD). This project will compliment adjacent completed treatments along with these installed guzzlers. The boundary fence is needed to provide for public safety as well as ensure livestock stay in desired pastures. There currently is no fence between the BLM and the Forest Service. This creates an issue in early summer and late fall with cattle intended to be on the forest coming onto BLM lands as well as into the town of Koosharem and getting onto the highway. This is problematic for the grazing permittees who, because there is no fence, have to keep pushing their cattle out of town and back onto the forest on a daily basis. This fence would be beneficial to ensure that livestock stay is designated areas as well as ensure areas treated would be adequately rested from livestock grazing. By implementing these treatments, removing PJ, and creating additional forage livestock access to the Forest becomes easier; thus additional fencing is needed to control livestock. The thick PJ would no longer be present to deter or act as a natural barrier.

Project Goals: 1) With the numerous acres that have been treated adjacent to this project on both USFS and BLM Lands, the overall goal of this project is to continue to implement a collaborative landscape level ecosystem restoration project with an increased pace and scale of implementation across boundaries. 2) Promote treatment efforts onto private and state lands located near the communities of Burrville and Koosharem with a collaborative effort between the USFS, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, UFFSLs, Sevier County and Private Land Owners. 3) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre. 4) Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion. 5) Implement a landscape level ecosystem restoration project that will reduce risk of catastrophic fire. Project Objectives: 1) Improve and/or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter and transition habitat by thinning or removing PJ with prior seeding. Design forage to cover ratios to benefit a variety of wildlife species. 2) Improve and expand habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species such as Sage Grouse by increasing acres of grass and forb communities. 3) Improve or maintain quality of habitat for wild turkeys by increasing acres of grass and forb communities. 4) Reduce hazardous fuels while maintaining and improving fire resilient landscapes by improving the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. 6) Provide and maintain "escape route" to the Elk Country Estates and provided for "defensible space" surrounding structures in project area by reducing dead and down fuel loading and reducing ladder fuels around structures. 7) Increase overall forage production, habitat quality, and species diversity by treating in a mosaic pattern of 60% treated and 40% untreated that will create biodiversity across the landscape. 8) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments that will reduce overall cost per acre. 9) Enhance habitat on USFS, BLM, SITLA and private lands to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands. *Currently this phase of the project is estimated to treat ~4,861 acres. Overall the total estimated cost/acre is $386/acre for this phase of implementation. Our goal is to introduce a variety of grass and forbs to the site which will aid in soil stabilization. Mechanically treated PJ areas would be aerial seeded with grasses and forbs prior to mechanical implementation. This proposal and treatment method would help maintain the existing sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area and it would allow for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. This would also help improve age class and species diversity and it would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs. A more fire resilient ecosystem would be promoted while reducing the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires to communities and watersheds located on or adjacent to Monroe Mountain which include Burrville and Koosharem along with the high voltage powerline corridor that runs through the Bear Valley portion of the project. This proposal and treatment method would help maintain existing (even though rated as "poor condition") sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area while allowing for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. A well designed treatment would also help improve age class and species diversity and would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs communities and watersheds located on the east side of Monroe Mountain near the communities of Burrville and Koosharem. Soil erosion from the site will be greatly minimized.

The greatest risk to this project's success is the possibility of cheat grass invasive species post treatment. This risk is somewhat elevational dependent on this project. The lowest elevations near valley floor pose the greatest risk. As treatments occur further up slope and/ or on northern slopes, the risk decreases. Seeding will occur on the project to promote grasses and forbs in the effort to outcompete the cheat grass. Ungulate browse pressure also poses a risk/threat on project success. Numerous projects have been implemented and more are planned to be implemented in the near future in this area. The combination of all these projects are in effort to increase the pace and scale of implementation to help disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates. Ground surveys and site visits have allowed us to see the lack of understory plants in the PJ complex on the east side of Monroe Mountain. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ encroachment continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. Some areas within the project have lost a majority of the understory sage/grasses/forbs, but other areas have not completely lost the understory. One of the biggest threats realized in this area is if left untreated these areas with some understory of sagebrush/grasses/forbs left will eventually be gone as well. This will continue to be "poor" habitat and range for ungulate animals as well as pose a threat of flash flooding for the town of Burrville and surrounding agricultural lands. The area serves as transition range and winter range for big game and because it is in poor condition animals fail to remain in this zone for the season of use that should be normal. Over half of the PJ in the project is in phase II, but is about to cross the threshold into phase III dominated PJ and lose the remaining understory. The other half of this project is in phase I with portions about to cross the threshold into phase II. If left untreated these areas with productive sage/grass/forb communities will degrade in productivity and treatment costs in the future will go up dramatically. As PJ has become dominate on the landscape and the loss of understory vegetation increases, big game and small game animals are experiencing a loss of foraging habitat. This expansion of more PJ and reduced sage/grass/forb habitat has contributed to the decrease in Mule deer populations, other wildlife species, and sage grouse habitat in the area. This expansion factor also contributes to the problem of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. Depredation of crops by big game in the valleys on the east side of Monroe Mountain has caused much contention between landowners and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In some cases contention has been so high that landowners have taken it upon themselves to kill unwanted big game animals from their fields. If more acres are returned to properly functioning condition it is possible that big game animals will spend more time on USFS and BLM lands and not as much on private agricultural lands. This entire area is at risk of large catastrophic wildfires that could adversely affect entire watersheds. Completed treatments along with planned and future treatments reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level while promoting resilient landscapes. Wildfire suppression costs are extremely high especially when suppressing fires in similar fuel types and loadings as present on this project. When wildfires occur, this could result in damage to private property and numerous structures, increased erosion, greater opportunities for noxious weed establishment, impacts to available short-term forage, stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides/flooding events. Restoring uplands will reduce impacts from future wildfires by reducing risk of future impairment. This project is located in multiple watersheds located along the east side of Monroe Mountain such as Little Creek, Burr Creek, and Otter Creek. All of these watersheds are perennial water bodies/riparian systems. The portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir is TMDL and 303d listed due to phosphorus levels form sedimentation and erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Any project on the east side of Monroe Mountain that improves ground cover will greatly reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system reducing this risk to the watershed. Aspen restoration at a large scale on Monroe Mountain is in the implementation stage. Big game use on regenerating aspen sprouts has proven to be a problem on the mountain. Projects that will minimize and distribute ungulate pressure away from aspen regeneration are a positive strategy. Although it was determined by the USFWS that listing under the ESA was not warranted for Greater sage grouse there is an impending review to see if further action or protection is needed. Continuing to do work as identified in the Statewide Sage Grouse Management Plan to conserve sage grouse will support a continued "not warranted" status. This project will increase and maintain the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities. A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states within an ecological site. A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife species and people. A diverse landscape is also more resistance and resilient to disturbance. By allowing this landscape to continue to move further into a dominant PJ woodland it increases the risk of losing the sites ability for resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and and heal after a disturbance.

This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1986) (LRMP). The purpose and need for this project is consistent with Fishlake National Forest goals and objectives found in Chapter IV of the Forest Plan. The proposed treatment units are within management areas 5A- Big Game Winter Range (majority of proposed acres) and 4B - Habitat for Management Indicator Species. This proposal is consistent with and it responds to Fishlake Forest Plan direction for wildlife management in areas 5A and 4B. The relevant goals and objectives are listed below: * Improve or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter ranges. (Forest Plan IV-4) * Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plants and animals. (Forest Plan IV-4) * Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion (Fishlake LRMP p. IV-99) *Reduce hazardous fuels: the full range of reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and MA emphasis and direction (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Elk Management Plan: This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (elk). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit elk. B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. C. Watershed Restoration Initiative a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. This project will help minimize depredation on local agricultural cropland. UDWR biologists and technicians spend a tremendous amount of time and money up and down grass valley herding elk and deer from private lands in the late winter and spring months. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex Elk Management Plan (2016) lists range improvements in the habitat objectives section. This project specifically addresses the components listed under range improvements in that it enhances forage production and habitat quality through direct range improvements on winter range within the unit. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex goes on to mention that "focus will be on high use areas especially where we can entice animals away from agricultural areas..." This project falls under the focus areas described in the plan as one intended outcome is to entice animals away from the agricultural production surrounding Koosharem, Utah. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mule Deer Management Plan: This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation should not be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Implementation of this project will benefit those species that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation (deer). This project will provide increases in habitat effectiveness and benefit species such as ungulates. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Increased vegetation through implementation of this project that will be created through primary succession methods will greatly benefit mule deer. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019. (p. 19) d. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species. e. Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah. g. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire. This project will help minimize depredation on local agricultural cropland. UDWR biologists and technicians spend a tremendous amount of time and money up and down grass valley herding elk and deer from private lands in the late winter and spring months.Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan: Newly treated areas through fire or mechanical means will attract use by wild turkey which are abundant on Monroe Mountain. Insects and new growth will be readily available to support turkey populations. Objective 2. Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. (p.16) UDWR Wildlife Action Plan: This project is geared toward meeting the goals found within this plan for a variety of wildlife species from large to small. The entire proposed project area is found within a UWRI conservation focus area. Threat - Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity: Objective #1 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity 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. (pg. 103) Actions: 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. (pg. 104) 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 104) 2.3.20 Conduct post-fire rehabilitation. (pg. 104) Objective #2 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Fire is returned to habitats from which it had been unnaturally excluded; the fire regime (frequency and intensity) in these habitats generally approximates a natural, pre-settlement regime. (pg. 105) 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. (pg. 106) 2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense. (pg. 106) National Cohesive Strategy: By means of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning at a landscape scale, the resulting mosaic of early and late successional forests will work toward the goal of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, one of the three goals described in the National Cohesive Strategy. 1. Resilient Landscapes General guidance regarding vegetation and fuels management include* Use and expand fuel treatments involving mechanical, biological, or chemical methods where economically feasible and sustainable, and where they align with landowner objectives. (pg. 58) State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy: The Burrville Project aligns with the mission of the State of Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The project has developed a comprehensive and systematic approach toward reducing the size, intensity and frequency of catastrophic wildland fires on Monroe Mountain through a collaborative process. The project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence negatively affecting property, air quality and water systems. The Mission: Develop a collaborative process to protect the health and welfare of Utahns, and our lands by reducing the size and frequency of catastrophic fires. (pg. 4) 5. Adopt Key Recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. (pg. 15) * Encourage federal land management agencies to expedite fuels treatments. (pg. 15) * Prioritize landscapes for treatment (irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries). (pg. 15) Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP Goal 1: Minimize the potential wildland fire threat to life safety (Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP). This project works to achieve Goal 1 of the Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP by reducing fuel loading and lowering the potential of wildland fire spread across Monroe Mountain. Grazing Allotment Management Plans: The amount of forage available to livestock within affected allotments on Monroe Mountain is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of pinion/juniper, the amount of grasses and forbs in the sagebrush is also expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates. Sage Grouse Management: Portions of this project are located within the Parker Mountain-Emery Sage Grouse Management Area. This project aligns with the Parker Mountain Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan, October 1, 2006. Specifically, the project corresponds with section 2.5. in the plan, which states as follows: "Action: Treat areas where undesirable vegetation has become, or is at risk of becoming a factor in sage-grouse habitat loss or fragmentation." It also follows the Conservation Plan for Greater Sagegrouse in Utah, February 14, 2013. Specifically section 5.4.1: "Aggressively remove encroaching conifers and other plant species to expand greater sage-grouse habitat where possible." As stated above in the Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse this project will reduce numbers of acres of PJ encroaching into sage habitats, therefor meeting opportunities to enhance sage grouse habitat. Bald Eagle Management Bald Eagles: Bald eagles are protected by the Utah Wildlife Code, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Although the bald eagle is no longer listed on the Endangered Species List, the species remains listed as a Species of Concern in Utah, a subset of the State Sensitive Species List. State and federal laws prohibit harassing, injuring or killing eagles, or damaging their nests. Midwinter surveys of bald eagles within the lower 48 states were initiated by the National Wildlife Federation in 1979. Wintering Bald Eagles utilize the project area and treatments would improve life cycle opportunities for them. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d) is a United States federal statute that protects two species of eagle. The bald eagle was chosen as a national emblem of the United States by the Continental Congress of 1782 and was given legal protection by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940. This act was expanded to include the golden eagle in 1962.[1] Since the original Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has been amended several times. It currently prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from "taking" bald eagles. Taking is described to include their parts, nests, or eggs, molesting or disturbing the birds. The Act provides criminal penalties for persons who "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle ... [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof."[2] The purpose of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection act is to not agitate the bald and golden eagle to the extent of not 1.) Abusing an eagle, 2.) Interfering with its substantial lifestyle, including shelter, breeding, feeding, or 3.) Nest abandonment.[3] The eagle feathers have been collected and incorporated into clothing, art, jewelry, etc. In addition, having the possession, exchange, or sale of bald eagle feathers violates the act if no permit is obtained. The basic structure of the act resembles the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. California Condor Management California Condor: This project lies south of I-70 and is therefore within the 10j experimental non-essential area for the California condor. We are to monitor if any of this species were to show up on Monroe Mountain. State of Utah Forest Action Plan: This project addresses all three of the key goals laid out in the Forest Action Plan: conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses, protect forests from threats and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Wood products will be available through firewood or post/pole permits. Sevier County Resource Management Plan; This project is congruent with the policies and desired management practices found in Sevier County's Resource Management Plan. Policies (all from pages 6-7) 1. Support the removal of conifers and manage land to promote the establishment of aspen cover and attendant grass, brush, and forbs. 3. Encourage timber harvesting to prevent fuel load and biomass buildup. 5. The county supports prescribed burns as a fuels reduction management tool for resource enhancement, when used in conjunction with forest thinning and post-treatment salvage or in areas that physically cannot be mechanically thinned, when such burns comply with air quality regulations. 12. Support managing forest cover types to perpetuate tree cover and provide healthy stands, high water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat. 14. Support the management of forests and woodlands for healthy conditions that contribute to healthy habitat for animal and plant species, proper watershed functioning conditions, and riparian restoration and enhancement. 16. Support agencies in prioritizing fuel reduction treatment in high-value/high-risk areas (e.g., wildland-urban interface, developed recreation facilities including campgrounds). Desired management Practices 1. Encourage the commercial and non-commercial harvesting of forests and woodlands, to the maximum extent possible, through federal agencies' plans and policies. 4. Agencies should support a broad range of reforestation and timber stand improvement tools and timber harvesting practices consistent with prudent resource protection practices. CENTRAL UTAH FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN (FMP): *Greater use of vegetation management to meet resource management objectives *Hazardous fuels treatments will be used to restore ecosystems; protect human, natural and cultural resources; and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities sagebrush steppe communities will be a high priority for ESR and fuel reduction to avoid catastrophic fires in these areas Federal Land Policy and Management Act *Sec. 102 (a); the public lands be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals *Sec. 103 (c); The BLM is directed to manage public lands in a manner that will best meet present and future needs of the nation. Richfield Field Office RMP -Manage for a mix of vegetative types, structural stages, and provide for native plant, fish, and wildlife (including SSS) habitats. - Sustain or reestablish the integrity of the sagebrush continuity, and quality of habitat that is necessary to maintain sustainable populations of the Greater sage-grouse and other sagebrush-dependent wildlife species. BLM Grazing Management Regulations: -Objectives are to promote healthy sustainable rangeland ecosystems; to accelerate restoration and improvement of public lands to properly functioning condition -Maintenance and enhancement of habitats to promote the conservation of Federal proposed, Federal candidate, and other special status spec. *SITLA Management Plans: Correspond with the Utah Code Title 53C Chapter Five Section 101, 102 and 103 in accordance with Management of Rangeland Resources Utah Adminstrative Code R850-50-1100 Range Improvement Projects within the SITLA Property.

Enhancing the habitat in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and breaking up the continuous fuel bed of PJ that currently exist along the east side of Monroe Mountain. This treatment will promote a fire resilient environment that reduces the risk for large scale, intense wildland fires, with less risk to public and firefighter safety. Fire risk would be reduced to multiple watersheds and communities located on Monroe Mountain along with those that are located along the east side of the Monroe Mountain. The communities of Burrville, Koosharem, Elk Country Estates along with a high voltage powerline corridor, are all located in close proximity and/or directly adjacent to the project boundaries. Existing wildfire risk index in the project area ranges from moderate-high to very-very low. This low to mid level project compliments completed treatments and future planned treatments located in the upper elevations as part of the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystem Restoration Project. It also compliments completed BLM treatment located in the valley bottoms at the base of the Monroe Mountain and Mormon Peak. All these projects combined reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level to to multiple communities and watersheds across Monroe Mountain and within the valley bottoms on the east side of Monroe Mountain while promoting resilient landscapes. The dominant southwest wind flow in conjunction with associated fire behavior expected from the PJ and mountain shrub fuel types pose significant wildland fire risk to these areas and values. The large treated areas will create buffers in and around values at risk and will significantly reduce the risk of fire to these values. The majority of this project is within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project would be in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. The District has seen success (Dixie Harrow transects) in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheat-grass response, but after the re-seeding has time to establish, cheat-grass has decreased dramatically thus reducing this potential increased risk of fire.

This project is located in multiple watersheds located along the east side of Monroe Mountain such as Little Creek, Burr Creek, and Otter Creek. All of these watersheds are perennial water bodies/riparian systems. The portion of Otter Creek from Koosharem Creek to Otter Creek Reservoir is TMDL and 303d listed due to phosphorus levels form sedimentation and erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Any project on the east side of Monroe Mountain that improves ground cover will greatly reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system. Water flow from the east side of the mountain includes Otter Creek which then flows into Otter Creek Reservoir and water from the Otter Creek Reservoir meets up with the Sevier River System near Junction and Paiute Reservoir. The project proposed will greatly reduce sediment transfer. Project design features avoid treatment in portions of the watersheds due to cumulative affects analyzed in the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project. Restoring uplands will reduce the impacts future wildfires and reduce the risk of future impairment. Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. By removing PJ it is anticipated that water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved) in the short and long term. Some research indicates that PJ removal in mountain sagebrush can increase soil water availability (Roundy et al. 2014). PJ removal activities should have a net positive effect on increasing water yield/availability as fewer conifer trees use water. Risk of fire will be reduced within multiple watersheds. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs, the planned aerial seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and reduce the risk of erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. This project is located in one main watershed that drains toward the town of Burrville and the surrounding agricultural area. Project treatment may result in short term (1 year) impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated or chained tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion and protect the water quality throughout the watershed. By removing PJ this should allow for more precipitation to contact the soil and increase biomass on the ground. In areas where hand thinning will be used there should be adequate vegetation to avoid soil erosion but this should increase the amount of water into the system instead of evaporating before it reaches the ground. Wet meadows and upland plants benefit by utilizing the increase soil moisture, providing for better resiliency during drought years. This provides for an increase in water quantity for herbaceous plants on sites where PJ is removed. Treatments on this project will be occurring in sagebrush and mountain mixed brush ecological communities. Restoring uplands within all of these ecological communities will reduce impacts from future wildfires along with reducing risks of future impairment to the watersheds. Sevier County: In Sevier County's Water Quality and Hydrology section under Desired Management Practices the statement below supports these types of projects. 3. Where water resources on public lands have diminished because grasses have succeeded to pinyon-juniper and other woody vegetation, a vigorous program of mechanical treatments should be applied to promptly remove this woody vegetation and biomass, stimulate the return of the grasses to historic levels, and thereby provide a watershed that maximizes water yield and water quality for livestock, wildlife, and human uses. (pg. 24). The installed (2018) guzzler near the project area will provide a clean water source for a variety of wildlife species thus minimizing their need to travel to upper and lower elevations for water.

USFS: The Fishlake National Forest Pinyon and Juniper Project Decision Notice was signed on December 5th, 2019 wich covers the USFS portion of this project. The Fishlake National Forest has begun consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office. Archaeological surveys will occur prior to implementation. BLM: Cedar Mountain Fuels Reduction and Habitat Improvement EA completed and signed January, 2018. Arc clearance has been completed on all BLM managed lands inside the proposed project boundary. The remaining FS managed areas will be completed prior to implementation. All other necessary clearances will be completed prior to the 2021 fiscal year.

In this phase of the project, planned treatment methods will include; USFS 1) aerial seeding followed by a mastication contract for approx. 463 acres. (Spring 2021) 2) aerial seeding followed by chaining contract for approx. 860 acres. (Spring 2021) 2) hand thinning contract for approx. 890 acres. (Spring 2021) BLM 1) aerial seeding followed by a mastication contract for approx. 969 acres. (Spring 2021) 2) hand thinning contract for approx. 646 acres. (Spring 2021) 3) BLM/USFS boundary fence will be 10 miles long 4 strand barbwire. Fence will be contracted and cattleguards will be installed by BLM personnel. Fence line will be cleared and cadastral survey will be complete by BLM personnel prior to install. (Spring 2021) UFFSLs 1) hand thinning contract to clear escape routes to Elk Country Estates. (Spring 2021) 2) defensible space clearing contract for 26 structures.(Fall 2021) 3) hand thinning contract to clear 9 acres of road side vegetation to improve ingress/egress as well as improve sight visibility for potential road strikes of ungulates. (Spring 2021) SITLA 1) Aerial Seeding of Grass/Forb mix (Fall 2020) 2) Mechanically Bullhog up to 350 acres of encroaching Pinyon and Juniper (Fall 2020) PRIVATE 1) Aerial Seeding of Grass/Forb mix (Fall 2020) 2) Mechanically Bullhog up to 640 acres of encroaching Pinyon and Juniper (Fall 2020) 2,868 acres are remaining that need archaeology surveys. Funding is being requested to complete these surveys. The rest of the project area has had surveys completed. Slopes over 40% and/or areas classified as phase I PJ expansion will be hand thinned utilizing chainsaws, and/or lopped/scattered . Slopes under 40% or classified phase II or III PJ expansion will be thinned utilizing mastication and chaining methods by machine. A mosaic treatment pattern combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. This diversity will help create a mix of life cycle benefits for a variety of wildlife and insect species. Curl-leaf mahogany and other key brush species will be designed away from fire opportunities to maintain browse integrity. The USFS, UDWR, UFFSLs and BLM will seed with a mix of brush, grass and forbs. Areas needing to be seeded would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use if needed, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow new vegetation time to establish. Instructions regarding temporary rest would be incorporated into the Annual Operating Instructions (AOIs) for the livestock permit holders.

USFS: Throughout implementation of this project elk, deer, and other Management Indicator Species along with range conditions will continue to be monitored annually, following USFS Wildlife and Range Protocols (vegetation monitoring cages and vegetation transects). Areas as needed would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow vegetation time to establish. Trail cameras are being used to monitor wildlife use on the newly installed guzzlers at Wood Hollow and Blue Peak projects that are located just south of this proposed project. Post season deer counts in 2018 show a 22.1% buck:doe ratio and a 77.9% fawn:doe ratio. All deer were counted below and above the old Blue Peak Chaining. We will continue to conduct this route as well as the Koosharem Canyon route to monitor dee and elk use within the treatment areas. Deer and elk are utilizing the PJ areas that have been seeded and recently masticated. 2018 post-season deer numbers are very positive and area specific (not indicative of the unit as a whole) which would lead us to believe that vegetation projects on summer, transition and winter range are helping keep deer healthier than other parts of the range. We expect aspen in the higher elevation to indirectly benefit from this project; therefore, aspen will also continue to be monitored. Approximately 120 to 140 long-term aspen transects will be used to monitor status and trend of aspen following implementation. Monitoring would be in conjunction and coordinated with aspen monitoring/research currently being done on Monroe Mountain by Dr. Sam St. Clair from Brigham Young University. Monitoring will address aspen regeneration/recruitment and understory conditions. Approximately 90 of these transects have already been established and are currently being monitored. To compliment this monitoring, 11 exclosures have also already been built at various locations across Monroe Mountain. Treatment areas will be seeded and monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. The District has seen success (Dixie Harrow transects) in treatment areas, both fire and mechanical, on the Forest and BLM that have initially shown cheat-grass response, but after the re-seeding has time to establish, cheat-grass has decreased dramatically. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and forage opportunities. Seed and mechanical treatment on Mormon Peak proved to be very successful and preventative against domination of cheat grass. See data set in documents. Fuels treatment monitoring will take place involving multiple repeatable photo points. Plots will be visited post 1 year, 3 year, and 5 year, monitoring vegetation response and ground cover. This will be accomplished by the Forest Service SCA Monitoring Crew. Wildlife and aquatics monitoring data collected from this phase of treatment will be included in the documents section of the WRI database. BLM: Vegetation and ground cover data will be collected using the line-point intercept method and nested frequency. Photos will be taken and a qualitative site condition assessment completed. This area is also a designated mule deer route for BLM wildlife biologist and is monitored yearly. This year, each BLM Field office will have entire team devoted to the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM), and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area. This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. Private Lands: When the original hand thinning project was done pre and post-treatment range assessment and woodland surveys were conducted by NRCS staff. Photo point will be established in the 66 acres of new treatment on private lands. USFWS As part of the USFWS landowner agreement USFWS biologist will visit the site at minimum once per year to assess needs, success, failures, and need for any follow-up treatments/maintenance for the duration of the 10 year Landowner Agreement. UDWR Annual aerial and ground mule deer and Elk counts and classifications. Species benefiting summary for this project. 1. Bobcat: Treatment will create increased diversity in prey base for this species. 2. Elk: Treatments will improve forage, calving areas, cover:forage ratios helping maintain a viable elk population on the Fishlake and South Manti Units. 3. Blue Grouse: Treatments in spruce/fir will allow shrub and other understory components. 4. Ruffed Grouse: Treatments will improve understory brush, seed and insect potential. 5. American Beaver: Beaver will find improved water in the overall riparian system as well as healthy aspen and willows. 6. Bonneville Cutthroat Trout: Improvement in watersheds will have long term benefits for trout 7. Domestic Livestock: Treatments will improve AUM's across the mountain 8. Golden Eagle: Treatments will improve prey base and foraging opportunities for all raptors. 9. Rainbow Trout: Improvement in the watersheds will have long term benefits for trout. 10. Bald Eagle: Treatments will improve prey base and foraging opportunities for eagles. 11. Wild Turkey: Treatments will improve understory plants producing seed and insects. 12. Mule Deer: Treatments will improve foraging, hiding, fawning habitat for viable population. 13. Greater Sage-grouse: Reducing conifers across the landscape will enable improved sage brush habitat for sage grouse. 14. Black Bear: Improved forest from treatments will produce diversity across the flora and fauna component for predators and prey alike. 15. Cougar: Improved forest from treatments will produce diversity across the flora and fauna component for predators and prey alike.

One of the main goals for this project is to promote treatment efforts at a landscape level with a collaborative effort between the USFS, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, UFFSLs, USFWS, Sevier County and Private Land Owners. Coordination meetings are taking place between USFS, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, UFFSLs, USFWS, Sevier County and Private Land Owners to plan collaboratively future treatments that will mutually benefit all agencies and private land owners along with promote landscape-level restoration. This multi-agency collaborative project is located in Sevier County near the community of Burrville and includes USFS, BLM SITLA, and private property. USFS/BLM across boundary work has already been completed adjacent to this project. These treatments will compliment previously accomplished treatments and wildlife benefits from the numerous treatments that the USFS and BLM have already completed on Monroe Mountain, in Bear Valley and Grass Valley along the base of the east side of Monroe Mountain. Collaboration with Garkane and Rocky Mountain Power is occurring with the powerline corridor running through Bear Valley and the proposed treatment area. USFWS: Will be providing funding/planning/implementation support. If funded, the landowner will enter into a 10-year contract with USFWS. The expansion factor of the PJ also contributes to the problem of big game moving closer to higher elevation aspen and local agricultural crops in the valleys to find sustainable forage. Depredation of crops by big game in the valleys on the east side of Monroe Mountain has caused much contention between landowners and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In some cases contention has been so high that landowners have taken it upon themselves to kill unwanted big game animals from their fields. If more acres are returned to properly functioning condition it is possible that big game animals will also spend more time on USFS and BLM lands and not as much on private agricultural lands. With two wildlife guzzlers in place big game will have alternative water sources to choose from possibly minimizing their need to travel to the valley and across a highway for water. Improved forage and water will help keep big game west of the highway. Multiple meetings have been held with partners discussing planned projects in the area.The USFS, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, UFFSLs, USFWS, Sevier County and Private Land Owners are not only collaborating on this project but are also consulting about future treatments in the area. Multiple meetings with private land owners have been held and future meetings with them are planned to discuss further details of this project. During project planning the local UDWR biologists offered suggestions that were incorporated and offered support for the project. The Sevier County Commission are supportive of this project. Local ranchers are also supportive of this project. During project scoping, no opposition from the public was shared. The Grand Canyon Trust NGO is also in support of this project and voiced their support. Those in attendance during planning and the decision signing of the "Fishlake National Forest Pinyon and Juniper Project" expressed their support for active management. In 2018 the Six County Association of Governments had their annual natural resources tour on Monroe Mountain. Governor Herbert also attended for part of the day. Throughout the day this project area and other project areas on the Monroe were visited. Those in attendance expressed their support for active management. Numerous other tours occurred on Monroe Mountain during summer of 2019 showing completed treatments across the mountain and associated successes of implementing at a landscape/ecological level utilizing adaptive management.

By continually promoting a collaborative effort between USFS, BLM, SITLA, UDWR, UFFSLs, USFWS, Sevier County and Private Land Owners, it is anticipated that a long term level of success will be obtained on all the current and future treatments on the east side of Monroe Mountain, Bear Valley, and Grass Valley areas USFS: Treatment areas will be monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. Implementation of this project will reduce the risk of catastrophic high severity wildland fire; thus reducing the risk to the public and firefighters. This also reduces the risk to private property and values such as Elk Country Estates, Burrville, Koosharem and high voltage powerlines. Health and public safety is improved. With this reduced risk, future management of naturally caused fires on USFS lands may be possible to allow fire to play greatest feasible natural role in the environment, thus potentially further reducing risk to public and firefighters. As habitat is improved for ungulates (deer, elk, cattle, sheep) and additional forage becomes available, the Fishlake National Forest expects the flexibility and management of ungulates will improve; hopefully with less controversy. Maintaining healthy populations of wildlife while also responding to the needs of livestock permittees is expected to become easier. The District will seed the project with a mix of brush, sagebrush, grass and forbs. Areas needing to be seeded as needed would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow vegetation time to establish. If needed, the District will ensure the temporary resting of treatment areas (2 to 3 years) which will be incorporated into Annual Operating Instructions. These actions will help ensure that permittees are in the communication loop and will give them enough time to plan for the resources they need to continue their operations. Impacts to permittees will be minimized by the use of herding and temporary electric fences so that treatment areas can be temporarily rested while non-treatment areas can continue to be grazed. As future PJ expansion occurs, maintenance/re-treatment of this project via hand thinning of new PJ growth/whips is expected to be implemented to maintain the integrity of this project and the anticipated continued PJ expansion. Increased pace and scale of restoration type projects in this area is currently underway. Multiple projects have been, and are currently being implemented and more are being planned in this area. This project directly coordinates at a watershed and landscape level with the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project that is currently being implemented in the upper elevations across Monroe Mountain. This landscape level project covers a majority of the upper elevations located across Monroe Mountain and is planned to continue over the next 10 years in conjunction with a future wildlife habitat improvement project that is currently in the planning process. This planned project includes landscape level treatments in the remaining lower to mid level area of USFS, BLM and State land that have not been treated yet. With numerous projects and thousands of acres treated in the surrounding area, this project compliments this completed restoration work at a large landscape scale and will hopefully promote future restoration projects to landowners on more of the surrounding private property. Also this project is in a continued effort to disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates and improve watershed health across the entire Monroe Mountain and BLM treatments occurring in the valleys surrounding the mountain. BLM: This project area is within two grazing allotment. All areas seeded will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons or until the seedlings become established and set seed. Once seeding establishment has been confirmed, BLM may authorize grazing according the Utah's Fundamentals of Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management (2007). Vegetation will continue to be monitored for utilization, cover and trend. Following the rest period, the current management plan will govern. If needed, grazing adjustments would be made in Grazing Allotment Plans and through the grazing permit renewal process. Future maintenance of projects to protect investments made by UWRI, BLM, SITLA, and Private landowner have been addressed and allowed through the project planning document (NEPA). Adaptive management has been allowed for in the NEPA documents. Many tools have been analyzed in the NEPA planning process to allow other methods in the future. BLM will also maintain proposed boundary fence. USFWS/Private: The private landowners will enter into a contract with USFWS if funded. As part of the landowner agreement with USFWS the landowner agrees to leave the habitat restored in place for a 10 year period and during that time will work with the USFWS biologist to monitor and access needs, success, and any needed adaptive management. Permitee/Landowner: The landowner/permitee signed agreement that Burrville project will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons if deemed necessary.

Forage Production or Improved Distribution: Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. As PJ is thinned, understory vegetation increases, wild and domestic ungulates will experience an increase in foraging habitat. Through the mechanical thinning, PJ expansion is addressed and sagebrush, grasses, and forbs are promoted. This in return moves the sage/grass/forb ecosystems on the east side of Monroe Mountain on a trajectory toward improved forage conditions thus improving ecosystems for both wildlife and livestock. Portions of the project are currently not being grazed due to the lack of understory and PJ expansion. This project has the potential to improve distribution of domestic livestock into new areas. The amount of forage available to livestock and wildife is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of PJ the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the and sagebrush is expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by ungulates. Other Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources: Efforts are being made to promote commercial sale of Juniper fence posts from project areas. This project promotes sustaining hunting of big game such as elk and deer along with small game such as wild turkey on the Monroe Mountain. Treatments like this have potential to increase wildlife numbers and potential hunting opportunities to future generations. A main goal of these treatments is to enhance habitat at a landscape scale rather than at a jurisdictional level to promote increased utilization of big game animals and lessen the impact on private agricultural lands. Other sustainable uses towards this project will be the use of additional firewood that will be available, cutting of cedar post, access to additional hunting opportunities for big game such as mule deer and elk. Additional opportunities will be opened up for turkey hunting and upland game hunting as well. With the Sevier County ATV Jamboree each year, riders from across the country enjoy riding trails in this area and enjoy camping and recreating.

07/01/2020

06/15/2022

2022

In total 4,189 acres were treated during this phase of the project, this project was a multiagency collaborative project that included USFS, BLM, SITLA and Private landownerships. Through these efforts several treatment were completed, they included Bullhog Mastication, Lop and Scatter, Defensible Space Treatments as well as a two-way Anchor Chaining. Implementation of this project included using State of Utah Purchasing for contracting the Aerial Seeding (Hammond Helicopters), Two-Way Chaining (Deer Valley Sand and Gravel) Bullhog Mastication (Giles Construction) Defensible Space Chipping (Summit Forestry) and the Lop and Scatter portion was completed by 3B' Forestry. The individual Ownership Breakdown is identified in the below: USFS: A total of 2,074 acres of mechanical thinning treatments were completed fall/winter of 2020 that included 1,143 acres hand thinning completed via UDWR contract, 441 chaining and aerial seeding via UDWR contracts (chaining utilized a two way Ely chain between two dozers), and 490 acres of mastication thinning and aerial seeding via UDWR contracts. FFSL/Private: Completed 35 acres for a total of 5 defensible space pinyon-juniper chipping on homes and road side thinning. Part of the costs were paid by Stevens Grant the other 1/2 came from WRI. SITLA: Within the SITLA portion of the project we completed 270 acres of Bullhog Mastication, this area was seeded prior to the Bullhog Treatment. Private: Within the Private portions of this project we aerially seeded 467 acres prior to the Bullhog Mastication Treatment. BLM: 873 acres were arc cleared after taking out arc sites 538 acres of lop and scatter along with 805 acres of Bullhog Mastication were completed. Before mastication, acres were aerially seeded with a mix of grasses, forbs and shrubs. Everything went great on the BLM administrated lands and was fortunate to be apart of this landscape multiagency project. We were able to cut cost along with treating a larger footprint to take less pressure of a smaller treated area. BLM was also able to Bullhog around 1 landowner that bordered BLM lands to create defensible space.

During this phase of the project mechanical thinning and defensible space clearing occurred on USFS, SITLA, BLM and Private lands in and around the Burrville area. Seeding also occurred in the mastication and chained areas prior to treatment. This was in an effort to allow increase under story recovery in areas that show depleted grasses and forbs due to the pinion and juniper encroachment. This overall project has help provide critical wildlife habitat and forage for wintering mule deer, elk and turkey's in the northeast portion of the Monroe Mtn Unit. This project has also increased the forage value for livestock grazing as it pertains to the SITLA, USFS and BLM grazing allotments.

Seeded and mechanically treated areas will be rested from livestock grazing for 2-3 growing seasons to allow for better seed response and establishment. Noxious weeds will be monitoring by USFS and BLM Range staff. If needed weed spraying of noxious weeds will occur. Portions of the private lands that were treated will not be grazed by livestock but will enhance wildlife habitat for wildlife populations in the area. The primary private landowner signed a 10-year USFWS agreement meaning that the landowner will allow restored habitat to remain in place during this 10 years undisturbed. USFWS will also periodically contact the landowner to discuss the project during this period.