Seep Creek Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) is a Utah sensitive species, species of greatest conservation need in the Wildlife Action Plan, and is protected under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. The World Conservation Union recognizes Gunnison sage-grouse as a globally endangered species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016), and in 2006 the National Audubon Society identified the Gunnison Sage-grouse as one of the ten most endangered birds in North America. The loss of sagebrush habitat has caused Gunnison sage-grouse to disappear from over 90% of its historic range (Schroeder et al. 2004). Oil and natural gas drilling, motorized recreation, improper livestock grazing, conversion to agriculture and improper development have all contributed to the degradation of sagebrush steppe. In Utah, conversion to agriculture has been the primary factor affecting the loss of Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. Additionally, the Executive Oversight Committee for Conservation of Gunnison sage-grouse recently identified loss of mesic habitat, which is important for brood rearing, as the highest ranking overall threat to Utah Gunnison sage-grouse in their 2018 draft Collaborative Action Plan. To help abate these threats, The Nature Conservancy (the Conservancy) purchased 1,080 acres northeast of Monticello and is managing the property for the benefit of sage-grouse. This project, which will take place on Conservancy-owned lands, is designed to continue to improve habitat by further restoring sagebrush, controling noxious weeds, and creating important wet meadow habitat. During the first phase of this project 130 acres of dryland crops were disked, treated with Plateau herbicide, and seeded with a mixture of sagebrush and forbs. In addition, approximately 15,000 bareroot sagebrush plants were planted on over 40 acres. In phase II over 11,000 sagebrush seedlings were planted by hand within areas that had been treated in prior phases. However, there is still a need for additional plantings to cover more of the area that was disked and planted in Phase I and II. Phase III proposes to bring lessons learned from the first planting project and plant an additional 30,000 sagebrush plants in the seep creek area. Planting sagebrush in an area previously dominated by agricultural crops will increase water quantity for the native ecosystem. Sagebrush has a tiered root system, with both deep roots and roots near the surface. These roots allow for hydraulic redistribution. Hydraulic redistribution allows for rapid downward movement of rainwater, which can be significant for recharging soil water in arid ecosystems (Ryel 2003). This is important in this area since the water table is greater than 6.5 feet from the surface. Also, hydraulic lift can make water available in the upper soil layers when moisture is lacking (Rickard 1985). This water is then available to the sagebrush plant itself, and other nearby plants. These nearby plants then have water available for survival, rather than losing excess moisture to transpiration. Water from hydraulic lift also helps nutrient uptake by maintaining moisture to micro-organisms (Caldwell et all 1991). Additionally, restoring an agricultural field to its native state reduces the amount of production in the area, ultimately saving water. A secondary benefit of adding plants to the seeded areas is that the plants will help to retain sediments and capture scarce snow and rainfall thus improving water quality and quantity in the Seep Creek drainage. Buck Hollow Along with the sagebrush planting in the Seep Creek area, there will be more hand plantings of sagebrush in the Buck Hollow area of the La Sal Mountains. This area was bullhogged and seeded in FY11 (Black Ridge Phase II_ 1730) but the shrubs did not establish. Shrub cover is very important in this area as it serves as wintering grounds for deer from the La Sals and historically had a great shrub component. The La Sals deer herd is currently under objective (18,100) with an estimated 7,400 animals. This project would help improve a small portion of the needed winter range for this herd. Mule deer diets is comprised of 3/4 shrubs in the winter. Elk are found wintering in this area as well, and this would provide additional winter foraging opportunities. However, recent pinyon and juniper encroachment has resulted in the shrub component being slowly lost. Now that the trees have been removed, it provides an opportunity to plant shrubs and reestablish this important winter forage. In 2016, over 6,000 sagebrush seedlings were planted at this site and then the area was fenced since it is winter range for deer and elk in the area. These plantings were very successful and we would like to continue to expand the sagebrush "island." This site is described as a sagebrush site in the NRCS ESD and this planting will be within the site description for this area. Areas dominated by Pinyon-Juniper produce limited understory vegetation and the bare soil interspaces are prone to soil loss by erosion. Herbaceous vegetation is important in impeding overland flow and is effective at reducing soil erosion. Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion and protect the water quality throughout the watershed. Pinyon and Juniper intercept 10-20% of precipitation according to Horman et al. 1999. By removing p/j this should allow for more precipitation to contact the soil and increase biomass on the ground. Since this project has already been masticated it holds more moisture in the system. By adding sagebrush will diversify the site but it will continue to hold water in the system longer and reduce overland flow. Pinyon-juniper (PJ) expansion into areas that historically had greater forbs and grasses present impedes streamflow for off-site (downstream) uses (Folliott 2012). PJ presence alters the amount and distribution of water that reaches the soil. Because PJ is very competitive for water this often reduces grasses and forbs within the area, leading to bare soil. "The increase in bare soil, particularly in the spaces between trees, typically leads to increased runoff and soil loss as the juniper infestation increases" (Thurow 1997). Studies have shown that using conversion treatments to enhance stream-flow in the PJ should be made (Barr 1956). Dense pinyon-juniper forests are extremely susceptible to high intensity wildfires. High intensity fires can increase peak-flow response to 400-fold greater than from undisturbed conditions (Neary 2003). "If these ecosystems are not managed to reduce fire hazard, large, intense wildfires will continue to occur in the future (Stephens 1997)." After mechanical treatments have occurred it has been shown that 2 to 3 years post treatment there is a decrease in bare ground on the site. This increase was from grasses, forbs and litter left on site from mechanical treatment (Miller et al. 2014). By adding sagebrush "islands" to this area it will help diversify vegetation and help maintain healthy watershed conditions at this site. Blackbrush Restoration Blackbrush and other shrubs listed in the attached study proposal document are found in southern Utah and are used for forage by many wildlife species as well as livestock. With a need to find additional shrubs to be used in restoration efforts, and a limited knowledge of blackbrush and these other shrubs in this regard, a trial plot will be established in San Juan county to test the efficacy of using these plants in restoration efforts. Gaining knowledge of the seeding and growth habits in blackbrush and these other shrubs will provide valuable information for future landscape scale restoration efforts. These shrubs could be used in combination with sagebrush to provide ecological diversity on sites or in areas where there is little to no sagebrush reestablishment. Knowledge of which types of blackbrush and which variety of the shrubs listed in the protocol establish best in certain conditions will provide valuable information for restoration efforts. Ambient climate conditions will monitored, different seed sources will be used, and rodent interactions will be documented. e documented.

The project proposes to improve habitat for and abate threats to Gunnison sage-grouse as well as create and enhance winter range for mule deer and elk. Seep Creek- Objective 1- Increase sagebrush availability for Gunnison sage-grouse. Target brood-rearing habitat is a canopy cover of 20-40% big sagebrush with an average height of 16 inches with 30% grass canopy cover, and 10% minimum forb cover. To help reach the habitat target for sagebrush canopy cover, this project will enhance additional acres of sagebrush habitat by planting sagebrush seedlings. Objective 2- Increase wet meadow and wetland habitat. This will be achieved through seeding land adjacent to the pond on the property as well as a new pump and solar panel to be installed on the well that will be used to create wet meadow type habitat. Objective 3- Increase desirable understory below the sagebrush. This will be achieved through either seeding or herbicide treatments on previous plantings to limit annual weeds. Buck Hollow - Objective 1 - Restore this community to a sagebrush site which is described by the NRCS ESD 29 to 31% shrubs. Although that level of shrub cover will take decades we would like to see shrub establishment and for these shrubs to produce seed. Objective 2 - Improve winter range conditions for wintering big game as well as improve overall bio-diversity on the site. Blackbrush Restoration Objective 1: Compare survival and performance of potential shrub species to use as replacements for sagebrush in die-off areas. Objective 2: Identify best field practices to establish blackbrush and winterfat from seed.

ECOLOGICAL This project will increase and maintain the availability of a diverse suite of vegetation 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 resistant and resilient to disturbance. By continuing to restore former mono-culture agriculture cropland we will increase the resilience and resistance while increasing habitat diversity. A diverse habitat is at lower risk to disturbance. The project site has critical wetland and wet meadow habitat directly adjoining past sagebrush restoration as well as current proposed sagebrush restoration. Habitats near water -- stream sides, wet meadows and wetlands -- support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. Research shows that 60--80% of wildlife is dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled, meaning that these private mesic lands and surrounding private rangelands are critically important to the health of wildlife populations. We also are proposing creating new wet meadow habitat. These private mesic lands and surrounding private rangelands are critically important to the health of wildlife populations. Research shows that 60--80% of wildlife is dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). Working in and around mesic areas preserves the diversity and integrity of the local ecology. A recent study (Donelly et. al. 2014) reveals a strong link between wet sites, which are essential summer habitat for sage grouse to raise their broods, and the distribution of sage grouse breeding areas or leks. The authors found 85% of leks were clustered within 6 miles of these wet summer habitats. Moreover, although wet habitats cover less than 2% of the western landscape, more than 80% are located on private lands. This study makes it clear that successful sage grouse conservation will greatly depend on cooperative ventures with private landowners, ranchers, and farmers to help sustain vital summer habitats. If these relationships aren't cultivated now it is likely that recovery of Gunnison sage-grouse numbers in Utah will be considerably more difficult in the future. Bluntly stated we need to take the opportunity whenever a Gunnison sage grouse project comes up they are very far and few between in Utah. Cheatgrass treatment using herbicide is critical to stopping further cheatgrass spread and preventing re-invasion into previously treated area, reducing potential for restoration success. Additionally, without treatment, cheatgrass will continue to dominate the landscape and provide a seed source that may exacerbate future invasions into native vegetation in adjacent and nearby areas. Cheatgrass monocultures typically burn more frequently and consume additional areas when wildfire does occur. These newly burned areas are often then rapidly converted from native vegetation to cheat grass monocultures which offer poor forage for wildlife and cattle and restrict vegetative diversity. As these areas continue to expand, native vegetation and valuable forage continues to be reduced making future restoration attempts even more difficult. As a result, the use of herbicide to control cheatgrass in the project area is paramount to stopping or slowing potentially permanent detrimental impacts as well as giving the sagebrush currently in the project area the best chance to thrive. Planting of sagebrush seedlings has been found to be the most effective method for sagebrush establishment within the project area in the past, and the proposed planting in this phase should offer the greatest chance of successful establishment going forward. The possible risks to accomplishing this project are minimal and similar past projects have been reasonably successful. This project proposes to create wet meadow habitat and restore cultivated fields to sagebrush. Restoring lands once used as dryland farming to healthy sagebrush communities with appropriate understory can be difficult. Every effort will be made to ensure restoration techniques follow the best and most successful methods, but in the end success may ultimately be tied to factors beyond human control; specifically weather and precipitation. Although success is not assured, failure to at least attempt these actions is greater because inaction increases the possibility of extirpation of the Utah population and extinction of Gunnison sage-grouse. SPECIES The project area is core habitat for the Gunnison Sage grouse, a sagebrush dependent bird protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as a threatened species. The birds habitat is extremely limited, especially in Utah. As stated above, inaction may further increase the possibility of extirpation of these grouse in Utah. The area is recognized as a GLOBALLY Important Bird Area. The San Juan County/Gunnison Sage-Grouse IBA is qualified based on bird species that are on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources sensitive species list including Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Burrowing Owl, Ferruginous Hawk and Bald Eagle. The Partners in Flight priority species include Brewer's Sparrow and Sage Sparrow as well. By doing this project we are addressing immediate threats and limiting factors for these bird populations in an area listed as globally important. SOCIO-POLITICAL It is important that we continue to work in these areas that are critically important to the landscape around them, and because these wet areas are mostly private it is extremely important to work with private landowners restoring these areas whenever possible. This piece of property was purchased from a private citizen by The Nature Conservancy several years ago. The previous landowner is now the grazing leasee. It's important that we, as conservationists, live up to our end of the bargain by helping to restore old agriculture fields and other disturbed sites on the property back to a natural state. The leasee is a willing participant who wants to help in the conservation actions being proposed. The leasee is also a long-time resident of San Juan county and continuing to foster this mutual relationship of trust is very important and can pay dividends in the local community and to future projects in the area.

Proposed activities are designed to benefit Gunnison sage-grouse and other sagebrush obligates as well as big game by enhancing habitat and abating threats. This project will work within focus areas and with focus species. Collectively these actions support objectives contained in several plans and initiatives. Below is the title of each plan followed by a list of objects that will be advanced by implementing this project 1) State Resource Management Plan a. Wildlife habitat needs to be managed in a manner that improves vegetative health, maintains adequate forage for domestic livestock, and ensures proper water quality. b. Active management should be used to improve and enhance riparian resources to provide for appropriate physical, biological, and chemical function. c. Riparian areas and wetlands should be managed for the mutual and maximum benefit of wildlife, livestock and special status species d. Work with stakeholders and partners to continue to implement recommendations from the Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015--2025 to conserve sensitive species and their habitat. e. Identify and minimize the threats to sensitive or federally listed species to ensure healthy and robust populations of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species can exist in Utah. f. Restore 75,000 acres of critical habitat for sensitive species each year through the Watershed Restoration Initiative and by partnering with other government and nongovernmental entities. g. Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat h. By 2019, increase mule deer populations within the state as conditions allow and bring all populations to 425,500. i. Conserve, improve, and restore 500,000 acres of mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. j. Protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state by 2025. k. Produce and maintain the desired vegetation for wildlife and domestic livestock forage on public and private lands. 2) San Juan County Resource Management Plan a. Manage wildlife populations at levels consistent with population goals and healthy habitat capabilities consistent with other uses of these habitats. b. Support long term conservation of Gunnison sage grouse in appropriate suitable habitat areas where a viable population exists. c. Support land management practices that contribute to or maintain healthy watershed conditions. d. Manage, maintain, protect, and restore wetland areas to proper functioning condition. e. Support the management of the range resource within its productive capabilities for grazing and browsing animals in harmony with other resources and activities to provide sustained yield and improvement of the forage resource. Encourage and coordinate other resource activities so as to maintain or enhance forage production. f. Support the implementation of rangeland improvement projects 3) Grand County Resource Management Plan a. Land Restoration (Public Lands Policy 7.) Encourages public land-management agencies to restore damaged areas. b. The County supports wildlife management that seeks an optimal balance between wildlife populations and human needs. c. The County supports a healthy ecosystem for all species. d. Vision: Ecology, Water, and Air: Wildlife and plant habitat, including for pollinators, is preserved and restored. Invasive weeds are reduced and native species thrive. Wildlife corridors connect natural areas throughout the county, creating ecosystem linkages and improving wildlife, and native plant vitality. Wetlands and riparian habitats are intact. e. Goal 3 - Preserve wetlands and riparian habitats 4) 2005 Gunnison Sage-grouse Rangewide Conservation Plan a. Conduct proper background planning for vegetation restoration/improvement projects that provide the structural habitat requirements in breeding, summer-fall, and winter sage-grouse habitats 5) Gunnison Sage-grouse (centrocercus minimus) Conservation Plan Update San Juan County a. Utah Breeding complexes- re-establish desired vegetation conditions on 50-75% of the areas located within two miles of lek sites. b. Brood-rearing complexes- re-establish brood-rearing complexed in the CSA by enhancing vegetation conditions on 50-75% of the areas located within 4 miles of known lek sites within the CCA c. Wintering complexes- re-establish desired vegetation conditions on 50% of the areas located within the conservation study area, and 25% of the vegetation condition with the buffer areas d. Corridors-reestablish and maintain contiguous travel corridors consisting of big sagebrush exhibiting >25% canopy coverage between breeding, brood-rearing, and wintering complexes in the core area 6) Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025. The property is important Gunnison sage-grouse habitat and falls within the lowland sagebrush key habitat a. Gunnison sage-grouse are threatened by ecosystem modifications. This project will restore sage-grouse habitat that was converted into agricultural fields. b. Key habitats-lowland sagebrush i. Increase the diversity in age class of sagebrush and diversify understory species composition. Diversify species composition in monoculture or near monoculture stands of seeded non-native plants 7) Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy (Version 2.0): The plan calls for habitat protection. a. Manage growth of agriculture and urban development so as not to impact sage-grouse habitats b. Prohibit land treatments known to be negative for sage-grouse 8) NRCS's Sage-Grouse Initiative: The property is within a priority conservation area as defined by NRCS. a. Sustain working ranches and conserve sage-grouse populations in the West using popular voluntary conservation programs to assist producers simultaneously improve habitat for sage-grouse and productivity of native rangelands. 9) Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan (2020): Enhancement of sagebrush habitat will benefit mule deer populations. a. Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges b. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts c. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 700,000 acres of crucial range by 2026. 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 10) Deer Herd Management Unit Plan, Deer Herd #13, La Sal, October 2015. a. Maintain a healthy mule deer population within the long term carrying capacity of the available habitat b. Protect, maintain, and/or improve deer habitat through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives. c. Continue to improve, protect, and restore summer and winter range habitats critical to deer, such as aspen and sagebrush steppe communities d. Work toward long term habitat protection and preservation through the use of agreements with federal agencies and local governments and the use of Conservation Easements etc. on private lands. 11) Deer Herd Management Unit Plan, Deer Herd #14, San Juan, October 2015. The Plan calls for seeking cooperative projects to improve the quality and quality of deer habitat. a. Maintain a healthy mule deer population within the long term carrying capacity of the available habitat b. Protect, maintain, and/or improve deer habitat through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives. c. Work with federal, private, and state partners to improve crucial deer habitats through the WRI process. d. Maintain and protect critical winter range from future losses. e. Continue to improve, protect, and restore summer and winter range habitats critical to deer, such as aspen and sagebrush steppe communities. f. Work toward long term habitat protection and preservation through the use of agreements with federal agencies and local governments and the use of conservation easements on private lands 12) Utah Elk Statewide Management Plan (2015) a. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. b. Coordinate with land management agencies and private landowners to properly manage and improve elk habitat, especially calving and wintering areas. c. Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat 13) USFWS Partners Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan 2017-2021. The property falls within Plateau Focus Area and addresses habitat threats for a priority species, Gunnison sage grouse. a. Restore priority habitats for trust species including Gunnison sage-grouse b. Strengthen voluntary partnerships c. Goal I Conserve Habitat -- Restore and protect priority habitats to increase and maintin Federal Trust Species populations. d. Goal II Broaden and Strengthen Partnerships -- Accomplish our work through voluntary partnerships. e. Wetland Restoration/Enhancement: 200 acres: Upland Restoration/Enhancement: 3,000 acres f. Upland -seeding/vegetative manipulation 14) The Nature Conservancy's Colorado Plateau Ecoregional Plan a. The plan identifies portfolio of conservation actions. The property is located within the Sage Plan Conservation Area. b. The plan sets conservation goals for ecological systems, rare communities and species. Sagebrush shrubland, sagebrush steppe and Gunnison sage-grouse are conservation targets.

Wildfire is one of the greatest threats to sage grouse habitat. This project will help protect and preserve sagebrush habitat by decreasing both fuel loading and fire potential. Invasive grasses like cheatgrass that is present at all sites could create an unnatural fuel load or provide dried fuels at times when fire risk is high. At some of the sites, PJ fuel conditions are to the point that if a wildfire occurred, it would be difficult to contain, leading to an increased risk to firefighter and public safety, suppression effectiveness and natural resource degradation. Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) within the project area is predominately FRCC 3 which is where fire regimes have been extensively altered and risk of losing key ecosystem components from wildfire is high. Treatments identified within this proposal will help reduce hazardous fuel loads, create fuel breaks, and reduce the overall threat of a destructive wildfire which could impact outlying properties and other important areas of habitat for sage grouse and other species. Functional wet meadow areas create a fuel break since they have green vegetation most of the time. By repairing and creating healthy sagebrush/forb/grass communities as well as wet meadows in southeastern Utah it will provide a robust fuel break. In the Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (Utah WRAP) the areas identified for treatment show anywhere from very low risk to moderate/high. Creating a diversity of vegetation will provide for a diversity in fuel types reducing fire risk and creating areas where firefighters can begin suppression efforts.

The Seep Creek project area is primarily located in an old agricultural field. Planting sagebrush in an area that is currently composed of annual and perennial grasses will increase late season water due to the sagebrush holding water longer into the spring (Sage Grouse Initiative, 2016). Sagebrush are able to capture snow and store the water in drifts which results in a delayed release of melting snow into the soils (Kormos et al). By holding water later into the season, the system can become more diverse which will benefit vegetation and wildlife. The water captured by sagebrush will be distributed unevenly across the landscape and allow for mosaics of diverse vegetation to grow. Additionally, big sagebrush have a two-part root system with a deep taproot and a shallow, diffuse root system. Sagebrush can extract moisture from deep in the soil and bring it to the surface where it becomes more available to adjacent plants (Caldwell et. al. 1998). The well maintenance proposed in this project will enhance wet meadow features in the area. The well is located adjacent to an intermittent streambed that is seasonally flooded. During storm events, water moves through the site quickly. By using a well to create a more permanent wet area, the water during these events will be slowed, which will result in more stability in the drainage and reduced erosion, while also allowing for particulates to be settled (USGS, 1996). Although groundwater will be used to create the wet meadow, by slowing down water in storm events and allowing for some ponding, there may be some potential for some recharge of this groundwater. The wet meadow may also improve water quality by recycling nutrients. Caldwell, M.M., T.E. Dawson, and J.H. Richards. 1998. Hydraulic lift: Consequences of water efflux from the roots of plants. Oecologia 113:151-161. Kormos, P.R., D. Marks, F. Pierson, C.J. Williams, S. Hardegree, S. Havens, A. Hedrick, J. Bates, and T. Svejcar. In Press. Ecosystem Water Availability in Juniper versus Sagebrush Snow-Dominated Rangelands. Rangeland Ecology & Management. Sage Grouse Initiative. 2016. Sagebrush Rangelands Help Maintain Water Availability. Science to Solutions Series Number 11. Sage Grouse Initiative. 4pp. http://www.sagegrouseinitiative.com/ USGS 1996. National water summary on wetland resources: Utah. Water Supply Paper 2425

Treatment area on seep creek (private lands) has been archaeologically cleared in past phases. The DWR archaeologist will review and determine if we are still in compliance with all state regulations. A water right for the water well will be secured from Utah Division of Water Rights. Treatment on BLM lands (Buck Hollow) was within the Black Ridge NEPA. A DNA will be done before treatment begins. BLM Archaeologist will determine if arch. clearance is still adequate. Blackbrush trial area will be on SITLA lands and a RIP and Archaeological clearance will be done before any work begins.

Seep creek- a contract crew will plant purchased sagebrush seedlings. Approximately 30,000 seedlings will be planted. There is a nonoperational water well that will be worked over to provide water for the wet meadow area. Some areas of the property where sagebrush is still present will be sprayed with herbicide (Plateau) to reduce competition with perennial vegetation. Native sagebrush seed will be collected for future seeding efforts. Near the existing pond area, wet meadow improvement such as seeding will occur to provide additional forbs and insects to the area. Finally, the ATV drill seeder will be used to plant grasses and forbs within the areas where sagebrush has established from past phases. Buck hollow- a contract crew will plant 20,000 sagebrush seedlings and a wildlife proof fence will be installed around the seedlings until they are established and have reached a size suitable for ungulate browsing. Herbicide (Roundup) will be sprayed a few weeks ahead of planting to reduce the completion with the crested wheatgrass that is on site. Shrub trial- field trials as well as common garden experiments will be used to study the best restoration techniques for other shrubs. Shrubs that will be used are: - Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima), Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canesence), Winterfat (Krascheninnikoia lanata) ,Ephedra (Ephedra torreyana). These will be placed next to sagebrush to monitor establishment. Please see blackbrush study proposal in images/documents for detailed information. In year one of this study, there will be seed collection and seeding plots established. Fencing will be installed around the trial plots along with cages to exclude rodents. Monitoring and additional seeding effort will continue after year 1. East Canyon Headwater- There is a nonoperational water well and livestock watering system that will be worked over to provide water for livestock. This may include drilling the current well deeper and running pipelines to better distribute water to control grazing pressure.

DWR habitat staff will perform shrub density and shrub cover estimates (Jim Davies, 2010) 3 years post-treatment to help determine if the objectives for brood-rearing habitat for sage grouse are being met. A wetland delineation will also be completed 3 years post-treatment in the wet meadow area looking at hydric soil indicators, wetland vegetation, and hydrology. DWR wildlife biologists will continue to perform lek count to determine population size of the Monticello population of Gunnison sage-grouse. GBRC and USGS will develop a monitoring protocol for the blackbrush and other shrub planting trial. Please see Blackbursh Study proposal for additional details.

USFWS: Will be providing funding/planning/implementation support and is one of the project managers working closely with Utah Division of Wildlife, TNC, grazing leasee, and other partners. LEASEE: The former landowner and now grazing leasee has been contacted and is enthusiastic about proposed work. He may also provide in-kind labor. DWR: Was supportive of the TNC acquisition of the property and has helped implement past phases of the project. DWR is interested is promoting health habitats for all wildlife in the area. DWR will implement project activities along with other partners. GBRC: DWR's Great Basin Research Center helped develop the Blackbrush and other shrub planting trial and will help monitor and implement project related activities. They have developed the study design and will fund many of the monitoring activities along with maintaining the study. USGS: USGS will help develop the blackbrush and other shrub study design. They will help monitor and maintain the study site and help develop best management practices for future restoration efforts. TNC: They are the owner of the seep creek property. They are interested in seeing improved habitat conditions for sage grouse on the property. They will help oversee project related activities on the preserve. BLM: The are the land management agency for the Buck Hollow project. The area had great success from the past phase and much of the sagebrush established. They would like to see greater ecological diversity. They will help implement project related activities. Local Mule Deer Foundation Chapter: They helped plant sagebrush in past phase of Buck Hollow and promote improved habitat conditions for mule deer in that area. Local Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife Chapter: They helped plant sagebrush in past phase of Buck Hollow and promote improved habitat conditions for wildlife in that area.

The private landowner (TNC) will enter into a contract with USFWS. 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. As previously mentioned, this piece of property was purchased from a private citizen by The Nature Conservancy several years ago. The previous landowner is now the grazing leasee and works under a mangement plan agreed to by the leasee and TNC. The property was purchased with the intent of providing habitat to a critically threatened bird. The property also has a conservation easement on it. All project areas have wildlife use and will continue to managed by DWR for health wildlife populations. Public land areas will continue to provide hunting opportunities for the public with healthy habitats. The public lands portions of the project will continue to be grazed by livestock and will be managed in a rotational grazing system.

GRAZING: Grazing is part of the current long-term management plan for both the seep creek and east canyon headwaters. The grazing plan is in place to benefit the local community and provide sustainable biotic communities. Working over the well at east canyon headwaters will allow for better livestock distribution through better control of watering locations. The public lands grazing will continue to be managed by the BLM in a pasture rotational system in the spring. OTHER SUSTAINABLE USES: This project will improve big game winter range, which will in turn hopefully lead to greater over-winter survival of deer and elk and allowing for more harvest opportunity for the hunting public as well as non-consumptive users interested in wildlife viewing.

04/05/2021

04/09/2021

2021

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) partnered with Canyon Country Youth Corps (CCYC) to transplant sagebrush in San Juan County, Utah. The goal of the project is to create optimal habitat for Gunnison sage grouse. Originally, the team planned two weeks of work at Seep Creek, however by May weather conditions were unfavorable for transplanting sage seedlings. The group aimed to record the location and details of 50 of the seedlings for future study.

In previous project iterations, sagebrush were propagated in a controlled greenhouse setting and transplanted to ideal sites for sage grouse leks. However, nursery sagebrush plants were not available. There were several seedlings in an area that had flooded and killed the mature sagebrush. The seedlings were transplanted to an upland area to encourage growth of sagebrush islands on the property. Over the course of five days at Seep Creek, the crew transplanted 1011 sagebrush seedlings. Fifty of which were tagged and recorded for follow up study by the UDWR. Additionally, members of the crew cut down several neighboring cottonwoods and juniper trees to limit raptor predation near the planned lek site. The crew found soil to be the most moist and compliant with transplanting earlier in the week. As the days went on, soil became drier and more likely to fall away from the sage roots during transplanting. While planting sage, the crew observed invasive species including occasional Russian thistle and cheatgrass.

Continue to identify needs for sagebrush planting and weed control on the Seep Creek property. Work with partners to fix a well on the property to create wet meadow. Work with GBRC to find a supply of blackbrush to plant in San Juan County to provide browse for mule deer where sagebrush is currently dying as a result of drought.