The Whiterocks project area is adjacent to an community at risk of wildfire. Over time the conifer has expanded in the area increasing fuel loading and risk of a catastrophic wildfire which has the potential to irreparably harm the watershed. The Whiterocks River is also a local municipal supply. Specific erosion treatments will occur to benefit water quality both in the canyon and for downstream users. The canyon itself has not experienced a large-scale wildfire for approximately 150-200 years. The amount of fuel build-up in the canyon combined with the narrow, steep topography and the one way in one way out access create the potential for a hazardous situation. The Ashley National Forest has issued several temporary closures in the past during extreme fire danger. The buildup of fuels would lead to a loss of desirable species (Aspen, Ponderosa Pine) if a uncharacteristic wildfire were to occur. The project would better protect public safety by reducing fuel loads, creating a emergency pullout in case of an emergency, and protect water quality for local communities downstream.

1. Reduce hazardous fuels, while maintaining forest health and visual aesthetics, in Whiterocks Campground. 2. Improve egress, emergency traffic flow, and defensible space along the Whiterocks Canyon Road. 3. Maintain the vigor and adaptive capacity of ponderosa pine and reduce the risk of loss of this vegetation type due to a stand replacing wildfire. 4.Reduce the risk of an uncharacteristic wildfire 5. Promote aspen to enhance wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuels. 6. Promote browse for mule deer in winter range 7. Improve water quality in the river and for downstream users.

The Whiterocks Canyon project aims to reduce wildfire risk, protect a community at risk, and benefit a diversity of habitats. The lack of wildfire has led to a build-up in fuels that could prove catastrophic if/when a wildfire occurs. If the project is not completed and a natural ignition occurs the fire could be uncharacteristic and may permanently alter the watershed's ability to function properly. The project would remove conifer to reduce fuel loading and allow for fires to enter healthy aspen stands to alleviate fire impacts and behavior. Conifer encroachment has been identified in several Plans (Utah Wildlife Action Plan, State Sage-grouse Plan, Forest Service Amended Plans) as a threat to Sage Grouse habitat and these Plans all recommend immediate action of removing these conifers to maintain sage-grouse habitat. The lack of a wildfire in this canyon has allowed conifer to expand unabated and displace other more beneficial plant species. The aspen in Whiterocks Canyon is relatively healthy, but us being overtaken by conifer. Treating the conifer now will boost the duration of aspen in the ecosystem and preserve the diversity of habitats in the canyon.

This project will assist in accomplishing the following goals, objectives, and strategies as outlined in the following management plans and assessments. Note: mule deer, elk, and northern goshawk are all Forest management indicator species and the northern goshawk is listed as a Forest sensitive species. ASHLEY NATIONAL FOREST PLAN (pg IV-28, IV-30) Wildlife and Fish -Goal 1: Manage fish and wildlife habitat to maintain or improve diversity and productivity. (reduce sediment runoff) -Objective 1: Develop and Implement habitat management plan that will include key ecosystems and maintain habitat for supporting T&E or sensitive plants and animal species and management indicator species. (increasing stand structure) -Objective 3: Manage the habitat of all T&E or sensitive plant and animal species to maintain or enhance their status. (increasing stand structure) ASHLEY NATIONAL FOREST PLAN AMENDMENT -- Utah Northern Goshawk Project (page cc-1) - Goal 3: Restore or maintain forested landscapes in a properly functioning condition. (reducing stand densities) Functioning forested landscapes provide habitat for the northern goshawk and its prey to support a viable population of goshawks in. (Providing habitat for pray) Utah CONSERVATION STRATEGY AND AGREEMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NORTHERN GOSHAWK HABITAT IN UTAH (page 6) -Goal: Provide habitat capable of sustaining viable populations of goshawk in the state of Utah. (increasing diversity in stand structure across the treatment area) -Objective 1: Design a proactive approach to habitat management that will result in the long term conservation and management of habitat for goshawk, its prey and other associated species. ( Thinned stands will develop into large mature trees providing nesting trees) Desired Habitat Condition (DHC) - 1) Diverse forest cover types with strong representation of early seral tree species dominate the landscape. (Thinning will reduce competition for resources favoring seral species) - 3) Forested landscapes have 40% of the area dominated by large trees, well distributed. (Thinning is necessary to reduce stand densities to achieve larger diameter trees) UTAH STATEWIDE ELK MANAGEMENT PLAN (Sec. VI Pages 12-13) -Population Management Goal: Maintain healthy elk populations throughout the state that are managed within habitat capabilities and in consideration of other land uses. (enhancing habitat) -Population Objective 1: Seek opportunities to increase population objectives in individual elk unit management plans to attain a total statewide population objective of 80,000 elk, ensuring that any increases will be subject to an analysis of the impacts to habitat, landowners, livestock operators, and/or mule deer populations. Strategies: - c) Support objectives and strategies in this plan to protect elk habitat and mitigate losses. - d) Support habitat improvement projects that increase forage for both big game and livestock. UTAH STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MULE DEER (Sec. VI Pages 10-11) - Population Management Goal: Expand and improve mule deer populations throughout the state within the carrying capacity of available habitats and in consideration of other land uses. - Population Objective: By 2013, increase the statewide mule deer population by 50,000 to an estimated postseason herd size of 350,000. Strategies: - b) Support all habitat objectives and strategies in this plan to protect and improve mule deer habitat including energy development mitigation in crucial mule deer habitat. NORTH AMERICAN MULE DEER CONSERVATION PLAN (Pages 6-7) Habitat Goal: - Mule deer habitat potential is optimized for quality and quantity across mule deer range. Objective 2: Restore or improve mule deer habitat function throughout mule deer range. Strategy a: Proactively manage shrub communities to maintain mosaics of uneven aged stands to enhance habitat conditions for mule deer. BOREAL TOAD CONSERVATION PLAN 3.9.3 Create, restore, and maintain new habitats through water management. 3.9.3.b Deepen impoundments to maintain sufficient water levels through metamorphosis. The Alma Taylor area appears to occur in "substantial value habitat" Accessed https://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/rsgis2/Search/Map.asp?Id=111 . Golden Eagle Utah WAP states" Northern Great Basin and Book Cliffs nesting areas in Utah have been monitored for many years, with apparent breeding declines associated with fire, shrub loss and jackrabbit declines in the Great Basin area" According to https://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/rsgis2/Search/Map.asp?Id=154 this habitat is either Critical or High value for Golden Eagle. UINTAH COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN Use active and adaptive forest management to improve forest health and support multiple use and sustained yield with emphasis on employment, forest product production, open space, wildlife habitat, forage, recreation,and other social and economic benefits. Manage forest resources to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires, which cause unacceptable harm to resources and assets valued by society, including ecosystem and community health and resilience. STATE OF UTAH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN Forest Encourage timber harvesting to prevent fuel load and biomass buildup. The State will advocate for forest management practices that promote species diversity and overall ecosystem health. Wetlands The State supports using a combination of active water management where necessary (e.g., Great Salt Lake) and maintaining or restoring natural hydrology when possible to support wildlife habitat and healthy functioning of aquatic

The main objective of the project is geared towards reducing hazardous fuels and protecting a community at risk. The project is in a Shared Stewardship priority area. Numerous fires have occurred near the area over the past 25 years, but a fire has not occurred up Whiterocks Canyon leading to high fuel loads. The project, along with state partnership hopes to alleviate much of the hazards through active management on both Forest Service and Private Property.

Improperly functioning roads and trails are causing sediment to reach the Whiterocks River. Erosion control and drainage features will be constructed to reduce sediment loads reaching the Whiterocks River improving water quality locally and downstream. The implementation of "debris fences" would protect a small stream and it riparian corridor from more damage and enhance recovery. Whiterocks Canyon is home to a rare rich fen (calcareous rich wetland) fuels treatments adjacent to the project would help protect this unique feature. Roundy et. al. 2014 found that mechanical tree reduction increased soil water availability. Reducing the conifer encroachment will increase the amount of shrubs, grasses, and forbs which will reduce surface water runoff and debris flows (which causes soil erosion and poor water quality) and aid in retaining the moisture in the ecosystem. The project will also occur on some north facing slopes where water retention potential would be the greatest. Additionally, the potential reduction in soil erosion/sediment loading may improve the water quality in the perennial stream that is down slope from the project. Roundy B. A. Roundy, K. Young, N. Cline, A. Hulet, R. F. Miller, R. J. Tausch, J. C. Chambers, and B. Rau. 2014. Pinon-juniper reduction increases soil water availability of the resource growth pool. Rangeland Ecology & Management 67(5) September 2014.

NEPA has been completed for the fuels treatments. Cultural surveys have been completed for the potential Aspen Treatments.

Conifer Encroachment Removal This project would be handled under a contract. Removal of encroaching conifers will be done with hand crews using chainsaws on slopes greater than 20%. Equipment may be used on slopes less than 20%. Cut materials will be left on the site or lopped and scattered, in other areas will be piled and burned.Treatments will occur from mid-summer to fall. Existing roads will be used to access the project area. Further access will be by foot or in the case of machinery cross country. Aspen treatments would be completed by hand crews typically from August to December. The water improvement portion if the project is multifaceted. First the Whiterocks road experiences overland flow related to beaver activity. Instead of removing beaver or continuing to clean culverts a hardened crossing will be installed to reduce sediment impacts to the main stem of the Whiterocks River. Other areas of overland flow occur on the road, improved ditching and installation of culverts or hardened fords would eliminate sediment loads. In another area a spring and small stream are currently being damaged by ungulate species, the treatment of Pinyon, Juniper, and Aspen would allow some trees to be felled over the stream creating a "debris fence" to limit ungulates ability to impact the stream banks allowing willow and other riparian vegetative species to return. Portions of the conifer being treated in aspen stands adjacent to the creek would likely be allowed into the river channels to enhance habitat, but would need to be conducted strategically to prevent excessive debris and potential hazards.

Continued monitoring will occur in the project area and will be utilized to change/alter management strategy if required to meet objectives. The Forest Service has vegetative study sites throughout the project area. Each of these sites will be reviewed every 3-5 years to assess the vegetative cover and species abundance. Photo points will also be placed in the treatment areas to monitor changes over time. Monitoring of the timber stand will also determine when future timber harvest occurs in the project area. Northern Goshawk territories occur adjacent to this project and nesting activity will be monitored. A UWRI completion report would be uploaded to the database.

The State of Utah through the Shared Stewardship Program determined that this is a high priority area for treatments. The Utah State division of Fire, Forestry, and State lands has been consulted and is willing to work with private land owners to complete treatments on private property. The project was originally planned to include broadcast burning on several thousand acres, after public meetings the project was reduced in size, as per the public requests.

Water improvements will be monitored to ensure they are functioning properly, and will be reconstructed if achieving the desired condition. Future management in the watershed will continue to maintain these communities for sage brush/mountain brush and grass/forb obligate species. This management is in compliance with the Ashley Forest Plan and would have a life of approximately 25 years, at which time another treatment to remove encroaching conifers may be needed. Post treatment monitoring (vegetative and wildlife) will be conducted and follow-up treatments will be considered, if needed, to ensure the effectiveness of the project. The Forest Service is also looking at a 1,000 to 2,500 acre aspen treatment in the watershed to reduce hazardous fuels and benefit ecological diversity. Funding is being requested for a silvicultural prescription for those potential activities (cultural has been completed).

Conifer removal will leave material on the ground will aide nutrient cycling as well as provide some valued nesting habitat for birds. Several bird species, including sage-grouse have been documented using this slash material. As this project improves habitat for high interest big game species (e.g. deer, elk, and bighorn sheep), it will thus improve hunting and wildlife viewing opportunity (recreational benefit). A current grazing management plan has been completed for the allotment wherein the project resides. This project will maintain forage and grazing conditions for both wildlife and livestock by deterring the encroachment of conifers into these communities. Permittees that are permitted to run livestock on the Ashley NF are in favor of this type of project as it benefits livestock. The project will benefit water quality in the short term and protect it if a wildfire were to occur this will help sustain the local communities agricultural and municipal water supply.

08/15/2021

09/30/2021

2022

The project included a variety of treatments, but mainly focused on removal a pinion juniper fuels and thinning other dense fuels through a lop and scatter process also a lop pile and burn. Some conifer is also being removed using a commercial timber sale. Much of the lop and scatter occurred near private land. The lop, pile and burn work occurred on 325 acres, lop and scatter on 113, and aspen stands were evaluated on approximately 1,000 acres for potential future treatments this is mapped as the affected area. A large portion of the piles were burned during the winter of 2021-2022 and will hopefully be completed this winter.

The Whiterocks project area is adjacent to a community at risk of wildfire. Over time the conifer has expanded in the area increasing fuel loading and risk of a catastrophic wildfire which has the potential to irreparably harm the watershed and private property. The Whiterocks River is also a local municipal supply. The canyon itself has not experienced a large-scale wildfire for approximately 150-200 years. The amount of fuel build-up in the canyon combined with the narrow, steep topography and the one way in one way out access create the potential for a hazardous situation. The Ashley National Forest has issued several temporary closures in the past during extreme fire danger. The buildup of fuels would lead to a loss of desirable species (Aspen, Ponderosa Pine) if a uncharacteristic wildfire were to occur. The project reduced fuel loads, created a emergency pullout in case of an emergency, and protect water quality for local communities downstream.

The area is under evaluation for Aspen Treatments to continue the fuel reduction. A timber sale is underway to also remove fuels. The are will continue to be monitored to determine when reentry to reduce fuels will be necessary.