In the last century, fire suppression activities have interrupted the natural fire regime in the aspen/conifer vegetation type found on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This has resulted in increased fuels loads and risk of high severity fire, decreased Aspen regeneration, increased conifer encroachment, and a decrease in desirable forage and habitat. This restoration project is a vegetation manipulation treatment to repair the current landscape condition utilizing prescribed fire, targeting 2,000 -- 12,000 acres of the project area to improve wildlife habitat and forage, increase watershed resiliency, promote aspen, and reduce hazardous fuels.

There is a need to reduce the dead fuel component, combat conifer encroachment, restore and sustain aspen ecosystems in a properly functioning condition, and restore the structural mosaic to the landscape. Steps taken to sustain aspen ecosystems will meet coarse-filter objectives for sustaining biodiversity (Campbell and Bartos 2001). The 2003 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Uinta National Forest ("Forest Plan") contains standards and goals for the biological environment. One forest wide goal is the use of fire as an ecosystem function to move landscapes toward desired conditions (Forest Plan, page 2-5). Additionally, the forest plan has a desired future condition to improve wildlife habitat (Forest Plan, page 5-2 to 5-4). The proposed project would enhance wildlife habitat by regenerating aspen and conifer communities through prescribed burning to create a mosaic of vegetation to increase age class diversity. This project would also reduce fuel loads which have been increasing due to bark beetle mortality, thereby decreasing the potential for very high intensity wildfires with undesirable effects. Objectives: 1) Restore and maintain age-class diversity among aspen-dominated stands and associated shrub-dominated communities within the landscape by introducing fire sufficient to cause at least 40% mortality of the aspen present within burn units one year post burn 2) Restore historically aspen-dominated stands where they have been encroached upon or replaced by conifer-dominated stands by introducing high intensity fire sufficient to cause mortality of 60% or more of the conifers 12" or less in diameter one year post burn. 3) Decrease potential for very high intensity wildfires with undesirable effects through consumption of dead and down fuels, disruption for horizontal fuel continuity, and vertical arrangement. Decrease potential injury to the aspen clonal root system (from exposure to extreme heat) by introducing fire to at least 20% of beetle killed conifer stands within burn units, reducing large diameter woody debris fuel loading by at least 40%. 4) Provide opportunities for research and refinement of the treatment parameters by actively monitoring fuel and vegetation conditions prior to and post burn to ensure objectives are being met.

If no action is taken, wildlife habitat, fuel loading, and watershed conditions will continue to degrade resulting in older age classes in the aspen/conifer and eventually the replacement of the aspen component with spruce, fir, and lodgepole pine. This will lead to a less diverse understory, increased risk to high severity fire, and lower habitat value to big game as well as other important wildlife species that depend on the aspen ecosystem. Aspen stands within the project area are typically classified as either early seral or late climax and are the primary target of the prescribed fire. Stands characterized as early seral within the project area are currently being encroached upon by conifer species, including sub-alpine fir and lodgepole pine. Under historical conditions, aspen often act as a natural fuel break during wildfire due to high fuel moisture contents and a lack of vertical fuel continuity in the typical even-aged stands. Continuing degradation of vegetation age class, increased vertical and horizontal fuel structure, and loss of species diversity will increase the risk of a high severity fire event negatively impacting the watershed. To combat this we are targeting aspen suffering from encroachment along with stable stands to promote new growth and increase habitat value. A threat to the project's success is domestic and wild ungulate browse pressure on aspen saplings. One of the critical elements to reduce the risk of browse pressure is to increase pace and scale of project treatments. Large acres of treatments will disperse this browse pressure to a point that does not negatively affect the aspen saplings. As conifer continues to increase and aspen decreases the amount of usable forage for ungulates both wild and domestic will decrease. Their distribution across the project area will also decrease while the risk of high severity wildfires will increase posing health and public safety issues. Hazardous fuel reduction will be performed through our prescribed fire treatments which will promote and restore aspen and be large enough to mitigate the threat posed by ungulate browse. Due to fire suppression activities over the last century, forested areas in this project are in a deteriorated state, Fire Regime Condition Class 3 (FRCC 3). Risk of loss of key ecosystem components are high within Condition Class 3. High departure from the natural (historical) regime of vegetation characteristics; fuel composition; fire frequency, severity and pattern; and other associated disturbances. Fire behavior, effects, and other associated disturbances are highly departed. Composition and structure of vegetation and fuel are highly altered. Uncharacteristic conditions range from moderate to high. Treatments would improve the Fire Regime Condition Class to FRCC 1 or FRCC 2 through the reduction of hazardous fuels and an increase in aspen production. Habitat for sensitive species such as the Northern goshawk, boreal toad, Colorado River cutthroat trout and Flammulated owl are currently at risk from catastrophic high severity wildfire. Implementation of this project reduces the risk of wildfires impacting these sensitive species. Design criteria are also included to help minimize short-term impacts to these species.

The Forest Plan and Legal Consistency section of our Heber Wildlife Prescribed Burn decision memo states: 5.1 2003 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Uinta National Forest ("Forest Plan") 2003 Uinta Forest Plan: -Sub-goal-2-3 (G-2-3) - Fire is reintroduced as an ecosystem function to move landscapes towards desired conditions. -Sub-goal-2-6 (G-2-6)- Ecosystems on the Forest provide and maintain viable and well-distributed populations of flora and fauna... -Sub-goal-2-8 (G-2-8)- Ecosystem resilience is maintained by providing for a full range of seral stages and age classes (by cover type) that achieve a mosaic habitat conditions and diversity to meet a variety of desired resource management objectives. Recruitment and sustainability of some early seral species and vegetation communities in the landscape are necessary to maintain ecosystem resilience to perturbations. -WL&F-9-Prohibit forest vegetation manipulation (timber harvest, prescribe burning, fuelwood, thinning, etc.) within active northern goshawk nest areas during the active nesting season (normally from March 1 to September 30). See WL&F-8 for nest area criteria. -MP-3.3-2-Vegetation management activities may be allowed if they maintain or enhance biophysical resources. Our restoration project is compatible with and supportive of State of Utah Wildlife Management goals and objectives for Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, and Moose. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan: -Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat in ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into aspen habitats. -Seek opportunities through WRI to improve aspen communities that provide crucial summer habitat for mule deer. -Encourage land managers to manage portions of aspen/conifers forest in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire. #17: Wasatch Mountains, Avintaquin/Current Creek BR7119 UNIT MANAGEMENT GOALS * Manage for a population of healthy animals capable of providing a broad range of recreational opportunities, including hunting and viewing. * Balance deer herd impacts on human needs, such as private property rights, agricultural crops and local economies. * Maintain the population at a level that is within the long-term capability of the available habitat to support. HABITAT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES * Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the unit by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. * Seek cooperative projects to improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat. * Provide improved habitat security and escapement opportunities for deer. Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan -Identify habitat projects on summer range (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat. -Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. -Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early successional stages through the use of controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas with minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns. #17: Central Mountains, Nebo/Wasatch Mountains RS6719 UNIT MANAGEMENT GOALS * To manage and sustain a healthy population of elk at the current population objectives. * To provide a variety of high quality recreational opportunities for viewing and harvesting elk. * To maintain an elk population consistent with the available range resources. * To strive for protection of key habitats with continued habitat improvements to mitigate losses by development. * To continue to provide "spike only" general season as well as "limited entry" elk hunting opportunities. Limited entry hunts will be divided as archery, any weapon, muzzleloader, and multi-sesaon hunt as an opportunity to hunt all three weapon types. HABITAT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES * Within the next five years, enhance forage production on a minimum of 20,000 acres of elk habitat, through direct range improvements to maintain population management objectives. * Pursue protection of an additional 20,000 acres of elk habitat through Conservation Easements, CWMUs, Conservation agreements, etc. Utah Moose Statewide Management Plan: -Initiate prescribe burns and other vegetation treatments projects to improve moose habitat loss to ecological succession or human impacts. Northern Goshawk of Utah: Habitat Assessment and Management Recommendations: -Early and mid-seral species should be increased using both mechanical means and fire. -Policies should be adopted to manage for the production of large early seral species through clearings, thinning, and weeding using mechanical means or fire. -Fire or mechanical treatments or both should be used to create conditions favorable to lodgepole pine and quaking aspen. Guidelines for Aspen regeneration on National Forest in Utah: -Much of the loss of aspen-dominated acreage is attributable to encroachment and overtopping by conifer. It has often been presumed that this encroachment i.e., the natural succession process for seral stands, is the result of fire suppression. Boreal Toad Conservation Plan: - (3.1.1) Protect habitats in forest stands adjacent to and within 2.5 miles of breeding sites. - (3.1.2) Restrict burns to late fall through early spring during which time boreal toads are inactive in known occupied areas. -Burning of downed woody materials approximately 18 to 25 cm DBH is detrimental to boreal toads, because these materials are often selected as beneficial microhabitats. However, fire may eventually result in higher shrub densities in the understory that may provide cover and improved dispersal corridors. Utah Black Bear Management Plan: -Successional replacement of aspen stands by conifers can significantly reduce bear-food production in aspen communities. Both fire and selective logging of conifers can be used to maintain aspen vigor. UDWR Wildlife Action Plan: -While the Aspen-Conifer physical (abiotic) habitat remains largely intact in Utah, coverage of aspen itself within that setting has declined greatly for two main reasons: (1) departure from natural fire regime (reduction in disturbance), resulting in widespread forest succession to conifer dominance; and (2) heavy ungulate browsing on young aspen stems, following disturbance. -The growing problem of catastrophic mega-fires can be solved by a systematic campaign of active restoration via mechanical fuel-reduction treatments and prescribed fire to safely return wildfire as a viable, natural, cost-effective means of maintaining necessary patterns of ecological succession across the landscape. -Increasing disturbance from either prescribed or natural fire. Recent studies have shown that larger scale burns (ex: 5,000 acres) that burn more intensely have been the most successful in terms of aspen regeneration. Higher-intensity burns stimulate higher numbers of young aspen per unit area, than lower-intensity burns. A larger treatment area distributes ungulate browse pressure, allowing most young aspen stems to reach a safe height. -Applying mechanical disturbances agents such as timber harvest. This can also be used to stimulate aspen regeneration and avoid or reduce resource losses to conifer beetles. As with fire, larger mechanical treatment areas serve to distribute browsing pressure and reduce damage to individual stems, increasing regeneration success. State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy: -Rather than just reducing fires, the ultimate goal is to return landscapes to a condition of health and resilience that allows for wildfires to burn without becoming catastrophic to either human or natural systems. Conservation strategy of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkia pleuriticus) in the State of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Fort Collins. 24p: CRCT Coordination Team. 2006. -Plan identifies current conservation populations and outlines at what level these populations will be maintained. Populations in the area are considered a conservation population.

To improve regime conditions, this prescribed fire project will address the long-term lack of fire in this fire-adapted ecosystem. Prescribed fire will reduce fuel loads and the potential for future catastrophic fires and beetle outbreaks. Key benefits of burning are the cost per acre treated vs. mechanical, and length of treatment effectiveness. The project area is 30,698, we will be targeting 2,000 to 12,000 acres within that polygon. We would like to stimulate aspen regeneration over 10% to 60% of the prescribed fire area, creating a dispersed mosaic of high and low intensity burn patches within 30-90% of conifer and aspen communities. The dominant west wind flow in conjunction with associated fire behavior and long distance spotting expected from the conifer fuel type pose significant wildland fire risk to not only the watershed and ecosystem, but also the communities of Hanna, Tabiona, and private landowners in the area. The threat from catastrophic wildfire would be lessened through hazardous fuel and fuel arrangement reduction, adding a layer of protection from such events to adjacent landowners, homes/structures and Forest Service owned improvements. The use of prescribed fire will effectively restore resilient fire-adapted aspen ecosystems on a landscape-scale by moving the stands toward properly functioning condition in terms of composition (species diversity) and density (crown spacing and fuel loading). In addition the treatments will improve structural diversity, promote aspen regeneration and recruitment, reduce the hazardous fuel loading, and reduce the continuity of fuels; thus mitigating the risks and damage associated with a high intensity, high severity wildfire and where appropriate, expand opportunities to manage fire for resource benefits. The majority of forested areas in this project are within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); and fire regime IV -- 35-100+ year frequency and high (stand replacement) severity (greater 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. This prescribed fire project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 or FRCC 2.

If left untreated, the effects of a large scale high intensity wildfire would likely lead to large flood events. Water quantity could increase but most increase would be associated with storm events or early snow melt. This would likely lead to channel instability and down-cutting. Ash, erosion from the fire, and erosion from channel adjustments would decrease water quality by increasing water turbidity and sediment loads. These effects could lead to extirpation of fish populations if the area burned was large enough. Channel adjustments such as down-cutting post-fire would likely have long-term consequences such as reduced areas of riparian habitat and wet meadows. The project will improve overall watershed health by limiting the threat to high severity fire through dead fuel load and conifer component reduction and diversifying age-classes and vegetation types in the burn areas. Promoting aspen is a valuable goal for water quality as the forest type has very little bare ground and therefore low sedimentation and erosion potential. Burning will temporarily increase bare ground but should recover within one growing season. If burning in the fall, as is likely, then bare ground may only be an issue for a handful of months before winter arrives and in the spring prior to new growth. Project treatments will prevent long-term degradation and considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By improving watershed function, long-term water quality and quantity will be maintained or enhanced. These benefits will extend to Cutthroat Trout and Boreal Toads through water and habitat improvements. Prescribed burning vegetation treatment is expected to result in an overall improvement in riparian habitat. Mosaic aspen stands gather more snow in openings which melt more slowly than in full canopy stands. Compared to conifer forests more snow reaches the ground in aspen stands, leading to increased snowpack thermal mass which lasts longer, providing greater water quantity. "Small openings within these stands were effective snow traps and accumulating one-third more snow than elsewhere in the stand. They found that snow ablated 30% more slowly in these openings, extending the snowmelt runoff or groundwater recharge later into the spring." "Aspen forests canopy intercept only minimal amounts of snow, especially compared to coniferous forests, where much of the snow may never reach the ground. In central Utah, Harper found 5% to 70% less water in the snowpack under mixed aspen-conifer stands than under pure aspen. Dunford and Niederhof (1944) found 12% more snow under aspen than in the open. Nearby lodgepole pine contained 12% less snow than the open area, which was approximately 75% of the amount found under aspen. Intercepted snow may evaporate more readily than snow on the ground because of greater surface area exposure to radiation and wind." Excerpts from: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3848918.pdf Water The Strawberry Aqueduct and Collection System (SACS), diverts West Fork Duchesne River water out of the Colorado River water shed and diverts it to Strawberry Reservoir and onto Wasatch and Utah counties for municipal water supply. The prescribed fire vegetation treatments won't just protect surface water quality, quantity, and habitat, but also critical water delivery infrastructure, such as the intake for the Vat Creek diversion structure and tunnel through reduced sedimentation loads and debris introduction that would occur post high intensity wildfire.

All compliances are complete. The Heber Wildlife Prescribed Burn Decision Memo was signed 09/23/16 by the then District Ranger, Jeff Schramm Approximately 379 acres of the 30,698 acre project area (0.04%) would be treated within West Fork Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA) using prescribed fire. An IRA briefing paper was submitted to the Regional Office and a briefing with the Deputy Regional Forester was held on September 8th, 2016. Written concurrence that the proposed project would not have an adverse impact to the West Fork IRA was received on 9/20/16 and is included in the project record. The Forest archaeologist has identified archaeological sites/historic properties within this project and has created buffers to prevent damage to these sites by this vegetation treatment project. The State Historic Preservation Office concurred with this approach on 07/27/16 in a signed letter of concurrence which is on file in the project record. The wildlife biologist has reviewed the proposed prescribed burn project and determined there will be "no effect" to lynx since there are no populations known to occur in Utah. There is a "no impact" determination for yellow-billed cuckoo, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, greater sage grouse, spotted bat, Western big-eared bat, fisher, and bighorn sheep. A "May impact individuals or their habitat, but will not likely to contribute to a trend towards federal listing or loss of population viability" determination was given to three-toed woodpeckers, northern goshawk, and flammulated owl. Three-toed woodpeckers and flammulated owls nesting/foraging dead standing tree habitat may be created or eliminated. Northern goshawk may lose potential nesting trees, but the mosaic nature of the project will still maintain available nesting trees in the area. The project is expected to have no measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations. The fisheries biologist has reviewed the proposed vegetation treatment project and determined there will be "no effect" to any threatened and endangered aquatic species or designated critical habitat and "no impact" to Bonneville cutthroat trout, Northern leatherside chub, Southern leatherside chub, and Columbia spotted frog (as project is outside their range). A "May impact individuals or their habitat, but will not likely to contribute to a trend towards federal listing or loss of population viability" determination was given to Colorado River cutthroat trout and boreal toad because the potential for limited impacts to the riparian areas. No active ignition will occur within RHCA's to limit potential contamination with torch fuel, but fire will be allowed to move into RHCA through normal fire behavior. This project involves no destruction or modification of wetlands, or new construction in wetlands. All project-related equipment and machinery will be washed prior to entry onto Forest Service lands to reduce or eliminate the spread of noxious weed and invasive species.

Funds would be used for planning, preparation, implementation and post monitoring. No capital purchases are proposed. Active ignition would target 2,000 to 12,000 acres in the West Fork drainage. Burn implementation would be performed by qualified U.S. Forest Service personnel. Operations could be assisted by DOI personnel, State of Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands crews, local fire wardens and support staff, and contractors. Targeting the area in the late summer through fall is our most likely window. The high costs of implementation are due to our desire to burn in the upper end of our prescription and achieve desired results concerning fuels reductions and facilitate aspen response. Adequate staffing for desired burning conditions will require several crews, engines, tenders, support staff for logistics, monitoring, and PR, and 1 or 2 long line bucket equipped helicopters for aerial ignitions. Ideal conditions and staffing will allow us to ignite by hand using roads, trails, waterways, and natural openings in lieu of constructing hand line or dozer line. Rotor wing aircraft would be used for large scale ignitions. Staffing at this level will allow us up to 14 days of active operations and management. Some road repair will be needed on FR080 to allow Type VI engine access.

Twenty three pre-treatment monitoring plots were performed in 2018 measuring tree data, veg composition, ground cover, browns transects, and photo plots. Planned post-treatment will be the same, except only measuring seedlings and saplings and not the mature trees. Monitoring would be occur 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment. Monitoring data will be uploaded to the UWRI website for public access.

The project was reviewed by an interdisciplinary team of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache resource specialists. On 12/22/15, information on the proposal was provided in a scoping notice mailed to individuals, organizations, and agencies on the project mailing list. The project was also included in the January 2016 Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA). Three comments were received during the 30-day comment period. All comments received were generally in support of the project but included requests that burn windows avoid impacts to other wildlife species, consideration of impacts to existing grazing allotments and coordination regarding infrastructure in the proposed burn area. Our pre-burn notification process will contact adjacent landowners and other concerned parties. Our partners frequently contribute fire resources to burn implementation but they also help through the planning and preparation phase. We have worked with our partners in fire and wildlife through the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and the Division of Wildlife Resources in identifying and planning this restoration effort. Robert Edgel provided some great feedback concerning our support of wildlife management plans and we have been working with PJ Abraham on our burn plan. For project implementation we will be relying on not just our state partners but also the Department of the Interior, Salt Lake County, Wasatch county fire resources, structure departments from Utah and Salt Lake county, permittees who utilize the project area, Utah Conservation Corps, Dedicated Hunters, Utah Department of Air Quality, and other National Forests. These agencies, organizations, and individuals have been essential to project success in the past and we look forward to their involvement and participation. Grazing rest and pre-burn relocation of domestic herds is being coordinated with livestock permittee's and the NRCS.

Forest Service monitoring indicates that the Uintas does not have as much browsing pressure on new aspen as elsewhere in Utah. The 250-acre Dahlgreen Aspen prescribed fire in 2006 has had excellent aspen recruitment and survival without cattle grazing rest or wildlife enclosure. Please see the attachments which document the burns success. The burned units will be monitored for issue. Actions such as fencing or rest could be taken if needed to limit pressure from sheep, but the initial hypothesis is that 500+ acre burns are large enough in this area to saturate the browse capacity of ungulates without needing further measures to protect aspen sprouts. 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, private property, and firefighters while improving health and public safety. With this reduced risk, future management of naturally caused fires may be possible to allow fire to play greatest feasible natural role in the environment. Forest visitor access to the area will continue and no long term closures or change from allowed current uses are expected. Re-treatments with prescribed fire are expected in the future to move the watershed toward desired conditions.

There are 14 grazing allotments in the project area though the majority of the targeted area involves just 4 allotments. Livestock will benefit post-burn as fire will promote forage, decrease impediments to travel allowing livestock to disperse, increase available surface water, and produce a more productive aspen centric stand offering young aspen for browse. We are working with our range staff and permittees to coordinate for best results. Recreationalist (motorized and non-motorized, hunters, hikers, fishermen, etc.) will find easier access once the standing dead and down component is decreased providing better access and long term benefits will be realized as big and small game numbers increase including fish. There are active logging units within and adjacent to the West Fork drainage. Post treatment conditions will permit additional timber harvest in the treatment area if district personnel deem necessary. There will be ample opportunity for firewood collection in the project area. Conditions for wild harvesting of plants such as Skunk Cabbage should be enhanced as water quality and quantity improve along with riparian and wet meadow habitat.