The Mill Creek Watershed includes Mill and Pack Creeks, and is part of the domestic and irrigation water system serving areas of Grand County including the City of Moab. It is a perennial stream with its headwaters in the La Sal Mountains on USFS lands, that flows through BLM-managed areas in Mill Creek Canyon before entering the City of Moab and finally flowing into the Colorado River via the Matheson Wetlands. While the watershed crosses many jurisdictions, work in all areas focuses on reducing fire fuels, improving vegetation diversity to improve wildlife habitat, and maintaining high water quality. UPPER WATERSHED (USFS and FFSL areas) The riparian corridors in the upper watershed (USFS) are dominated by increasingly dense vegetation communities (gambel oak, big sagebrush and pinyon/juniper). These areas are in a condition that if a fire starts, on an average summer day, it would be uncharacteristically hot, difficult to control, and would be a significant threat to private land, public and firefighter safety (access and egress) and developments on the west slope of the La Sal Mountains. Based on recent experiences with wildfires in similar elevation and vegetation communities, the after effects of a severe fire in the upper watershed would likely lead to overland flow, erosion, and debris flows from storm events with negative impacts downstream in the Mill Creek drainages. Encroaching pinyon and juniper trees into sagebrush communities and previously-treated chainings are reducing the value of these areas for wildlife, especially big game, and livestock. Treatment in these areas would increase diversity and productivity of desirable browse and herbaceous forage plants. There are several acres of salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima) and Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) that have invaded the side drainages of Mill Creek on Forest Service administered lands above Flat Pass. There is a need to further inventory and treat these drainages, as well as inventory Mill Creek for these invasive species and treat if found to increase native plant health and diversity. In Pack Creek, livestock grazing is impacting the riparian area on the Forest and on the private land below it. A new fence would protect the Pack Creek riparian area on 1/2 mile of stream on the Forest and the 3/4 mile of creek running through the private Pack Creek ranch area. On private lands in the upper Mill Creek watershed on the west slope of the La Sals there is incredibly thick pinyon, juniper, and oak stands around houses, cabins, and outbuildings. Many houses have no defensible space. In addition, there is often a lack of cleared ingress and egress to these properties in case of a fire. This project (FFSL) would expand on work already occurring on private lands on the west slope of the La Sals. MIDDLE WATERSHED (BLM reaches) As the creeks leave the upper reaches of the watershed on the forest, Mill Creek has carved Mill Creek Canyon, which is primarily BLM managed land. This project addresses several ecological and social needs in the south canyon including improving overall watershed health through measures that improve water quality conditions, improve soil conditions, increase floodplain functionality, increase streambank stability, decrease fire hazards, increase native plant diversity and densities, and improve wildlife habitats. LOWER WATERSHED (Private and City reaches) The lowest 3.5 miles of Mill Creek and 5 miles of Pack Creek run through Spanish Valley and the City of Moab, and are dominated by areas of dense woody invasive species, mostly Russian olive with some tamarisk, as well as Siberian elm and tree of heaven in select spots. In addition to dangerous levels of fire fuels, the dense woody vegetation in some areas along the creek focuses high water flows into the channel rather than allowing it to spread, and has resulted in significant downcutting and channelization. This has reduced the riparian vegetation along the creek due to a lowered water table, as well as results in loss of soil and water. In the last 5 years there has been an increase of invasive ravenna grass along both Mill and Pack Creeks. Ravenna grass can grow up to 12 feet tall, and like tamarisk and Russian olive, can act as a ladder fuel where an otherwise native ecosystem would be more open. It also tends to form dense stands along the banks which can further trap flood flows in the channel, reinforcing channelization. Ravenna has been spreading quickly throughout Mill and Pack creeks in town and upstream into the canyons above town and needs to be treated soon to prevent its establishment as a permanent new addition to the invasives in Mill and Pack Creeks. This project maintains and expands upon past efforts improving the primary wildlife links from the La Sal Mountains to the Colorado River. These corridors are an important link for larger mammals and birds, between the river and wetland areas and the mountains. The USFWS recognizes this area as potential habitat for Southwest Willow Flycatcher, Mexican Spotted Owl and Yellow Bill Cuckoo. The Moab BLM office completed section 7 consultation with USFWS who concurred that the project would benefit these species by including seasonal avoidance measures and by restoring the riparian vegetation community to greater than 85% native species composition within 90% of the riparian areas.

BLM: 1) The first project objective is to decrease the percentage of woody invasive plants to less than 5% in Mill Creek Canyon. New treatments involve removing less than 30% of total cover at any one time. Re-treatments are needed over a 3 to 5 year period to ensure fully successful conditions. These actions would increase native plant diversity and densities, improve wildlife habitats, increase the amount of overflow channels and improve floodplain functionality, improve shading of the stream channel and improve stream bank stability as native plants dominate the streambanks again, reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfires and improve public safety. 2) A second objective of this project is to reduce redundant social trails and other disturbed areas in Mill Creek Canyon. This would occur through discouraging new social trails using brush/ rocks and by applying seed to disturbed areas These actions would improve water quality conditions, increase infiltration rates and improve aquifer recharge rates. 3) A third objective is to construct erosion control structures made of native materials in multiple gullies adjacent to the creek. These structures would be small features to slow down flood waters and stabilize soils thus improving water quality conditions and soil conditions. 4) Finally this project has an objective of reducing the amount of trash in the watershed and therefore reducing the amount of trash washed into the stream after a rainstorm. This would improve water quality conditions and improve public safety to swimmers and recreationists. USFS: 1) The reduction of pinyon/juniper/oak density on 870 acres of riparian corridors would reduce the risk from wildfire to life and property in the area and reduce the negative consequences of a high severity wildfire fire on the soil, vegetation and wildlife habitat resources in the area. 2) Treat approximately 15-20 acres of woody riparian invasive species (tamarisk and Russian olive) in the Mill Creek drainages. 3) Inventory 1.5 miles of riparian along Mill Creek from the Forest Service boundary and up to the east. 4) Protect Pack Creek riparian while still providing water to grazing livestock and preventing livestock from drifting onto the private land. FFSL: 1) Reduce the threat of wildfire impacts on homes and cabins in the La Sals and along riparian areas. 2) Reduce the possibility of catastrophic fire impacts on downstream communities in Spanish Valley and Moab by decreasing fire severity via woody material removal. RRR: Previous removal of invasive trees along Mill and Pack creek has proven to be effective with proper follow up. This project seeks to coordinate primary treatment of woody invasives along both of these creeks as well as limited follow-up work to reach a level of low intensity management that both public organizations and private landowners can manage into the future. The overall objectives are as follows: 1) Coordinate with the numerous landowners along Mill and Pack creeks to begin primary treatments of woody invasives to expand from new significant firebreaks totaling at least 20 acres. 2) Provide information and training to landowners with property along Mill and Pack creeks about the treatment of Russian olive, tamarisk, ravenna and other invasives so that they can continue management in the future. 3) Implement follow up treatments to as many previously cleared sites with saplings, resprouts or annual weeds as possible in both Mill and Pack Creeks, totaling approximately 150 acres. Ensure follow up meetings with landowners about the successes and failures of the removal and revegetation efforts. 4) Actively revegetate impacted sites where needed using container stock and seeding with locally sourced native plant materials. 5) Map, and then treat or remove ravenna grass along the creek corridors in town and link with efforts above town. 6) Continue efforts to evaluate the efficacy of various removal and revegetation treatments through monitoring the vegetation response of the areas treated.

BLM: This project addresses multiple threats to watershed health and water quality conditions including increasing invasive species as well as increasing erosion and sedimentation from heavy recreation use. The threat from increased invasive woody and non-woody plant concentrations leads to decreased riparian diversity, decreased native plant densities, increased catastrophic wildfire hazards and increased damage from large flood events. These impacts affect both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitats. These threats will continue to increase in severity without these treatments. Another threat to the Mill Creek Watershed is continued degraded water quality conditions. Mill Creek is currently listed for high stream temperatures and high levels of Total Dissolved Solids, and is impacted by surface disturbances within the riparian corridor especially in Mill Creek Canyon. By reducing erosion and revegetating disturbed areas, water quality conditions will be improved along with aquatic habitats. Without this project water quality conditions may not improve and may continue to degrade. There are no threats or risks expected from implementing this project. BLM and partners are committed to working in the Mill Creek Watershed until restoration efforts are complete and sustainable. USFS: A Forest Service Fire Regime/Condition Class Assessment identified the Mill Creek watersheds as moderately departed from historic conditions in a mixed severity fire regime. As the final phase of a 4,500 acre project, the proposed treatments in the drainage corridors will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire throughout the area. The actions provide a combination of physical, biological, social, and environmental benefits while attaining the stated objectives of reducing wildfire risk and improving vegetation conditions. The actions would reduce fuel loading, stand and crown/canopy density, and fire hazards that threaten resources, important watersheds, administrative sites, private property, and the public. Project actions also allow for restoration of important vegetative communities on the forest, using well-documented, effective vegetation treatment methods with little risk of unknown consequences. The treatments are clearly better than not taking action (doing nothing). The risk from taking no action is the potential to negatively impact a variety of resources if a catastrophic fire were to occur. Negative impacts to wildlife habitat and rangeland resources occur if pinyon-juniper continues increase in density and encroach on natural sagebrush openings, and in previously-treated (chained) areas due to the lack of disturbance. A high-severity fire would almost certainly lead to a noxious weed infestation. Taking no action would not meet Forest Plan objectives. Improper livestock grazing can be a threat and risk to riparian areas, however with correctly configured fencing much of the riparian area can be protected while still providing water access to livestock. RRR: The primary threats to Mill Creek Watershed include increased invasive woody and non-woody plant concentrations, decreased riparian diversity and native plant densities, increasing fire fuels densities and distributions, as well as loss of interest and momentum in riparian management after the Cinema Court Fire. It has been 17 months since the Cinema Court Fire that burned 8 houses and a number of other buildings. Interest in managing the growing fire hazard in the creeks was very high right after the fire. A number of meetings were organized by Rim to Rim Restoration, the City of Moab, Grand County, the Moab Valley Fire Department, FFSL, among others to coordinate landowners and figure out needs and funding. In order to keep the forward momentum and interest in riparian management larger scale removal needs to start happening to continue to capture community interest. If we lose this community push for riparian management, we risk: 1) Increasing risk of fires leading to the possible loss of large overstory cottonwoods, homes, and buildings. 2) Loss of riparian habitat and reduced native plant diversity and regeneration due to dominance of large woody invasive species. 3) Expansion of Russian olive seed sources throughout the valley, into the recently cleared areas of the Matheson Wetlands and the Colorado River corridor. 4) Expansion of ravenna grass along riparian corridors. If we do not keep its population in check now it may become very difficult to impossible to manage in a few years when its population is likely to be significantly larger.

This riparian and upland restoration project would help achieve the objectives set forth in the following management plans as described below. Plans are listed from most local to more regional. The Grand County General Plan includes the vision and goal of preserving riparian habitat by improving the condition of land along the Mill Creek corridor. This project would improve riparian habitat by reducing the amount of invasive plant species and increasing native plant diversity and densities in Mill Creek Canyon. The Grand County Weed Dept has prepared an Invasive Species Control Plan which identifies an objective of controlling noxious exotic plant species in Grand County. Russian Olive trees are included on the Grand County Noxious Weed List. This project would reduce the amount of Russian Olive in Mill Creek Canyon. The Grand County Resource Management Plan encourages public land managers to enhance and restore watersheds in the Moab and Spanish Valleys and encourages FFSL to reduce wildfire hazards in the wildland-urban interface. The plan also identifies that invasive weeds should be reduced in order to allow native species to thrive with wildlife corridors that connect natural areas. The plan specifically mentions that riparian habitat should be preserved and restored. This project would reduce the risk of fire, particularly in the wildland-urban interface while reducing invasive weeds such as Tamarisk, Russian Olive, and Ravenna grass. Restoring the riparian area will create more continuous native habitat and improve the watershed by reducing erosion in the creek. The Utah Division of Water Quality (UDWQ) identified Mill Creek as impaired and not meeting state water quality standards in 1998. In 2002 UDWQ completed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report with recommendations to improve water quality conditions. These recommendations include improving riparian conditions and decreasing erosion within the watershed. This project would improve riparian conditions by reducing the amount of invasive plant species (Russian Olive and Ravenna Grass) and increasing native plant diversity and densities, by reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfire, and increasing overflow channels therefore reducing damage from large flood events. This project would also decrease erosion by constructing several small gully control structures directly adjacent to Mill Creek in Mill Creek Canyon. The Grand Conservation District Resource Assessment identifies natural and social resources present in Grand County and details specific areas of concern, including soil erosion and noxious weeds. The assessment cites a need to improve stream banks and riparian areas by removing invasive species and improving native plant communities. This project would reduce the amount of noxious weeds in Mill Creek Canyon, improving riparian conditions and increasing native plant diversity and densities. The Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership (SURP) prepared the Colorado River Woody Invasive Species Management Plan through collaboration with 29 local partners including the Tamarisk Coalition, Grand County Council and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The plan's main objective is to reduce non-native plant species within 80% of high priority streams by 2020. The Mill Creek Watershed is listed as a high-priority area in this plan. This project would reduce the amount of non-native invasive plant species in Mill Creek Canyon. The BLM Moab Field Office 2008 Resource Management Plan (RMP) identifies two objectives that would be accomplished by implementing this plan. Goal/ objective #VEG-9 states "reduce Tamarisk and Russian Olive where appropriate ... and restore riparian habitat to native willow and cottonwood communities". Goal/ objective #WL-8 states "prevent the spread of invasive and non-native plants especially cheatgrass, Tamarisk and Russian Olive. Strive for a dense understory of native species in riparian areas with a reduction in Tamarisk and improvement of cottonwood and willow regeneration." This project would reduce the amount of invasive and non-native plants including Russian Olive and Ravenna Grass in the riparian areas in Mill Creek Canyon, allowing native species such as cottonwoods and willows and native understory species to flourish and regenerate. The 2005 BLM Utah Riparian Policy states riparian areas are to be improved at every opportunity. This project would improve the riparian area by reducing the non-native invasive plant species and increasing native plant species diversity and densities in Mill Creek Canyon. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, identifies actions needed to protect lowland riparian habitats including restoring degraded habitats. This project would protect lowland riparian habitats by reducing the potential for catastrophic wildfires, reducing the potential for damage from large flood events by increased overflow channels in Mill Creek Canyon, and decreasing sediment loading from gullies adjacent to Mill Creek. The WAP also identifies Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher as species of greatest conservation need. The removal of non-native vegetation followed by revegetation of native species such as cottonwood and willow may create stopover and foraging areas for these species. As willow patches become more dense through time, willow flycatchers may find nesting opportunities within the project area. The Big Free-tailed Bat is also benefited by improvements to the watershed. Threats to this species may be riparian management and disturbance near roost sites. This project will improve the riparian area and also aims to reduce disturbance from recreation be eliminating trails. The Conservation and Management Plan for Three Species in Utah (2006) describes the importance of maintaining populations of roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker throughout their ranges. One method for maintaining populations is to enhance and maintain habitat by restoring habitat features and altered channels. Increases in water temperature and declines in water quality negatively impact the fish and are only exacerbated by invasive riparian species such as tamarisk. Although these fish are more often found in large rivers, tributary streams are often important for their life cycle. Removal of invasive species and allowing the re-establishment of native vegetation can increase stream complexity as well as reduce temperature. The State Resource Management Plan identifies the importance of the Watershed Restoration Initiative. It specifically mentions support for efforts to reduce wildfire and the associated soil loss from erosion and sedimentation. It talks specifically about improving wildlife populations and reducing the risk of additional listing of species under the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, the plan identifies the importance of improving resistance to invasive plant species specifically mentioning that healthy ecosystems are the most effective way of preventing the spread of noxious weeds. The state supports the proposals proactive management of noxious weeds. This project will reduce the risk of fire by removing flammable, invasive vegetation from the riparian area and allowing for the establishment of native species which provide better habitat for sensitive wildlife species. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan identifies the removal of exotic plants as important for the recovery of this species. This project would reduce the amount of exotic plants such as Russian Olive and Ravenna Grass in Mill Creek Canyon. The Tamarisk Coalition's Riparian Restoration Plan identifies the need to restore priority riparian areas to reduce woody invasive plants and to increase the diversity and density of native plant species. This project would reduce the amount of Russian Olive in the riparian areas along Mill Creek in Mill Creek Canyon, leading to increased diversity and density of native plant species. The project is consistent with the Goals and Desired Future Conditions in the Manti-La Sal Forest Land and Resource Management Plan of 1986, as amended. It will: * Minimize hazards from wildfire and reduce fuel loading, stand and crown/canopy density, and resultant fire hazard to vegetation, the public, private property, and firefighters (LRMP III-5). * Maintain a healthy forest by applying appropriate silvicultural treatments (LRMP III-3). * Maintain/improve habitat capability through direct treatment of vegetation (LRMP III-23). * Provide habitat needs for deer and elk (LRMP III-19), especially improving the cover:forage ratio. * Control noxious weeds and poisonous plants in cooperation with Forest users and State and local agencies. (LRMP III-3) * Control and reduce noxious weeds and poisonous plants, using integrated pest management techniques and strategies; including the use of herbicides, biological control agents, and/or mechanical or hand treatments.(LRMP III-25) * Invest in range improvements where they will provide the greatest benefit.(LRMP III-3) * Give preferential consideration to riparian area dependent resources in cases of unresolvable resource conflicts. (LRMP III-31) The Utah Fire Amendment has a goal to reduce hazard fuels. The full range of fuel reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and management area emphasis and direction. * Certain vegetative types are to be managed such that varying successional stages will be present to provide for a high level of vegetative diversity and productivity (III-2).* Pinyon-juniper stands on gentle slopes and on lands with good soils will be treated periodically to maintain early successional stages (III-8). * Intensive management practices would maintain structural diversity within the woody species in at least 25 percent of the area covered by the Gambel oak and mountain shrub type. In some cases, the Gambel oak would be encouraged to successionally develop as an open savannah or in a high seral stage (III-9). Designated as a Healthy Forest Restoration Act (2003) project, the treatments meet the mandate for the Forest Service to restore fire dependent ecosystems and reduce fire risk to people and property. Project actions are consistent with proposed management in the Moab/Spanish Valley Wildfire Protection Plan and the Southeastern Utah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan. The Statewide Mule Deer Plan specifies management actions for important ranges: convert habitats back to young, vigorous shrub-dominated communities; manage portions of pinyon-juniper ranges in early successional stages. The La Sal Deer Unit Management Plan has an objective of improving deer habitat and carrying capacity, and pursuing cooperative projects to improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat. The project meets several objectives In the Statewide Elk Herd plan: support habitat improvement projects that increase forage for big game and livestock, initiate vegetative treatment projects to improve elk habitat on winter ranges, improve upper elevation winter ranges to encourage elk to winter at higher elevation than mule deer. The project is specified in the 2012 La Sal Elk Herd Management Plan as a habitat improvement project. There are 3 Key Terrestrial Habitat types from the Utah Wildlife Action Plan in the project area. The West Slope project treatments follow the management strategies for these types: restoration in the Gambel oak type by cutting/mulching invading pinyon-juniper, single tree mulching/cutting invading conifer in the mountain sagebrush type, reducing fire risk (uncharacteristic fire could increase the spread and dominance of invasive weeds) in the mountain shrub type through appropriate treatment methods. The Golden Eagle, a species of greatest conservation need in the WAP, may also benefit from this project by increasing habitat for prey species thus improving foraging opportunities for eagles. The Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan has a goal of maintaining and improving wild turkey populations by stabilizing populations. Suggested methods include reducing the risk of catastrophic events such as fire as well as conducting habitat projects to address limiting factors. The plan has an objective of increasing habitat quality and quantity through habitat improvement projects. This project will reduce the risk of a catastrophic fire impacts to turkey habitat in the Mill Creek area. It will also enhance native plants available for diverse foraging opportunities by turkey while retaining mature acorn-producing trees and adequate cover. The Grand County CWPP currently being developed identifies the La Sals and the Mill Creek Watershed as one of three priority areas due to private holdings within the BLM and National Forest. Fuel Reduction on private land is considered a high impact high priority activity on the La Sals and Mill Creek Watershed as the plan is currently written. The Southeast Utah Catastrophic Fire working group designated the Moab/Spanish Valley watershed area (including Mill Creek) as a High Priority Focus Area.

BLM: The proposed project would significantly reduce the risk of wildfire and reduce the continuity of hazardous fuels, particularly ladder fuels that build up under Russian olives and are created by decadent Ravenna grass. The entire Mill Creek riparian corridor is connected by fairly dense riparian vegetation and if a fire were to start in this corridor, it has the potential to be a large scale catastrophic burn. The potential for a wildfire caused by human ignition is high in the heavier use areas on BLM managed lands. Removing Russian olives and Ravenna Grass not only reduces fuel loads but also isolates smaller fuel load areas. If a fire were to start, the chance of a large scale catastrophic fire would be greatly minimized as the fire would be more accessible and suppressed more easily, and may not spread as rapidly. The relatively intact habitat corridor from the La Sal Mountains to the Colorado River would also be protected. Continuing this work is more important now with increased recreation uses in Mill Creek Canyon raising the potential for human caused fires, and with more frequent drought years making fuels drier for longer portion of the year. USFS: The project is bordered on the west by BLM and private lands and Forest Service lands on the south, east, and north sides. There are private inholdings within the project area, and the 3700 acres already treated by the Forest Service are immediately adjacent to the inholdings with homes and other structures. All proposed treatment locations are within 1.5 miles of private inholdings/Forest boundary. This is an authorized hazardous fuel project as defined by The Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA), designed to reduce vegetation density and ladder fuels to reduce the probability of a high severity wildfire in the 8300 acre project area that encompasses five private inholdings with residences, outbuildings, and infrastructure, as well as key public communication systems (Bald Mesa communication site/radio towers), utility lines and Moab's Mill Creek municipal watershed. This proposal will reduce live and dead fuels within the riparian corridors in the treatment area. The reduced fire risk will benefit National Forest lands and improvements by aiding in protection from fires (natural and man-caused) which spread from private lands, developed recreation sites, dispersed recreation areas, and other areas of the National Forest. It will also aid in the protection of private infrastructure from fires that initiate on and spread from the National Forest. FFSL: FFSL has been working with other funding sources to do defensible space clearing on the private lands surrounded by National Forest on the west slope of the La Sals. We plan to create clearings via lop and scatter and chipping as well as create shaded fuel breaks directly adjacent to these cabins. Some of the properties we are currently working on are directly adjacent to work proposed by the Forest Service in this proposal. RRR: This proposal seeks to abate the threat of fire and level of intensity by creating and expanding several fire breaks on private lands along vulnerable stretches of Mill and Pack Creeks in the lower reaches of the creeks. These fire breaks are designed to break up contiguous fuel loading and protect ecological and human values along these riparian corridors. According to UWRAP (Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal), there are high and very high levels of fire risk along a large portion of these riparian corridors, which means there is a high likelihood of loss or harm in the event of a fire. This was proven to be true in the 2018 Cinema Court fire, in which 8 homes were lost in mere hours along Pack Creek. The community has since voiced desire for fire protection going forward, and Pack Creek will be prioritized for fire resiliency. In Mill and Pack Creeks in the Moab valley, nonnative woody species (Russian olive and tamarisk) have largely replaced fire-resilient natives such as willows, squawbush/sumac, and cottonwoods. Ravenna grass, a nonnative and fast growing ornamental bunch-grass, has also been outcompeting natives along these creeks. Contiguous loading of these species serves as a serious wildfire threat for the riparian area. Russian olive, tamarisk and Ravenna have created a dense understory of growth below native cottonwood trees. They all produce large quantities of volatile fuels that allow fire to spread vertically and reach native canopy cover, creating devastating crown fires in the cottonwoods. The current fuel loading also exacerbates the speed and intensity with which fire moves horizontally. Furthermore, fire spread and intensity are more extreme when there is an extended drought in the area or a buildup of dead and senescent material in the tamarisk crowns, as is currently the case. Removal efforts are expected to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire as volatile fuel loads are reduced in some of the more choked sections of the creeks. It will also allow better creek access for fire personnel in the event of a fire. This will not only improve firefighter safety, it will also assist in further protection of the homes and structures built adjacent to the creek. Additionally, removing the invasive vegetation will promote the establishment of under-story native vegetation and will reduce soil erosion, which is critical to maintaining riparian ecosystem resilience. Work in 2019/2020 will kick off a longer process engaging land owners along the creeks in Moab to work towards a fire defensible healthy riparian habitat by 2028.

Mill Creek and Pack Creek are the main perennial streams that drain the Mill Creek Watershed and are listed by the State of Utah Division of Water Quality (UDWQ) as not meeting the state standards associated with its assigned beneficial uses. Parameters of concern include high stream temperatures, high readings of E.coli bacteria and high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). In 2002, UDWQ prepared a TMDL report recommending actions to protect and improve water quality conditions such as improving riparian and streambank conditions. The Mill Creek Watershed has been designated as a "Sole Source Aquifer" by the EPA to protect the shallow unconfined aquifer that provides drinking water to the residents of Moab and Spanish Valley. This designation is recognized by both the BLM and USFS in their respective management plans, and certain surface disturbing activities are not allowed on federal lands in the Mill Creek Watershed. This project has the potential to improve and protect water quality conditions over both the short term and the long term by increasing the functional integrity of the riparian areas, by improving soil and vegetation conditions in the uplands, and by reducing the risk of severe, large scale wildfires. Invasive plants such as Russian olive and tamarisk constrain the channel, clog overflow channels, increase streambank erosion while reducing native tree and shrub regeneration. Reducing the density of invasive plant species in the riparian corridor would increase the functional integrity of the riparian corridor by improving floodplain connectivity, increase streambank stability which reduces erosion during larger flood events, and increase bank storage in times of high runoff allowing higher releases of shallow groundwater during periods of low stream flows. These actions would improve stream temperatures and reduce sediment loads in the perennial streams. This project would improve upland soil and vegetation conditions by managing high use recreation areas and trails, re-seeding disturbed areas and by constructing small gully control structures. Better upland conditions lead to improved infiltration rates, reducing overland flow and associated erosion and sediment loading to Mill Creek during larger rain events. This project would reduce the risk of severe large scale wildfires by clearing fuels from riparian areas and drainages. By reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the watershed, the potential for associated damage including reduced soil infiltration, increased erosion and loss of top soil, long term loss of soil productivity, and accelerated sediment loading to the system would be greatly reduced. Treatment of drainages that could act as funnels during a wildfire would further protect and enhance riparian areas. This project has the potential to improve and protect water quantity over both the short term and the long term. By removing denser stands of invasive plant species from the riparian corridor, more water would be available to native plants. Protecting a portion of Pack Creek from livestock grazing should improve or maintain riparian health. By improving floodplain connectivity and functionality, natural hydrologic streambank storage processes would improve. This would allow water during high runoff periods to recharge small banks and point bars. This stored water would be released during periods of low stream flows, enhancing instream flows and water quantity conditions in times of low flows by need. By improving soil and vegetation conditions in the upland areas, with increased infiltration rates and decreased runoff rates, overall available water would increase in the watershed.

The proposed project is ready for implementation on BLM lands. An environmental assessment has been completed and approved. This NEPA work included consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Endangered Species Act. All Pesticide Use Approvals and archaeological clearances have been completed. The Forest Service lands have an Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice/FONSI completed May 8, 2015. The Decision complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including the ESA, MBTA, ARPA and NHPA and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA). The Forest Service completed an Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice/FONSI in 1993 regarding the control of noxious weeds on the La Sal Division. In 2000, a supplemental report updated the 1993 EA and found that the environmental effects disclosed were still relevant, that no additional analysis was required and that the decision could continue to be implemented. The Forest treats 1000-1500 acres of noxious weeds/year under this decision. A CE for the fence in Pack Creek is scheduled to be completed by May 2020. Project related work on private lands is ready for implementation. Archeological clearance has been completed on areas to be masticated and plans have been adjusted to lop and scatter due to the report. Project work on private lands and in the City of Moab would be coordinated with the Grand County Weed Dept, and would not need any compliance approvals, however work done between 2015 and 2018 through EPA 319 funding required archeological clearance, which has been completed for the entire Mill and Pack Creek areas in the Moab Valley where work may occur on this project. This project has been designed to minimize impacts to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, native fish populations and their habitats.

BLM: 1) Russian Olive trees over 6" in diameter will be girdled or hack-n-squirt treated, and left standing. 2) Russian Olive trees less than 6" in diameter will be high stumped, and the stumps will be treated with approved herbicides within 15 minutes of chainsaw work. No more than 30% of canopy would be removed at any one time. 3) Slash will be cut into 1-2' long pieces and scattered if there is room. Slash may be carried out of heavier used recreation areas to reduce safety hazards to the public. Slash may be piled in 4' x 5' piles. 4) Native plants may be planted or native seed spread in heavily disturbed areas. 5) Small erosion control structures will be constructed in small gullies to reduce erosion and associated sediment loading to Mill Creek. 6) Trash pickup and trail management will be conducted frequently, with volunteer groups helping whenever possible. 7) Youth crews and the Grand County Weed Dept will treat Ravenna grass with herbicides. Ravenna grass plants may be dug up by hand, and the entire root ball removed from the stream bank or may be treated with herbicides to keep root systems intact. 8) Seedheads on Ravenna grass will be cut, bagged and removed to reduce spread by seed. 9) Native plants will be planted where Ravenna Grass plants are removed from the stream banks. USFS Fuels: Hand-cutting and piling to reduce stand density and enhance small openings. A mosaic of openings of 1 to 3 acres would be created using hand treatment of oak and pinyon/juniper. Gambel oak with diameters less than 6 inches will be targeted. Within the channel buffer zone, trees may be cut by hand and moved out of the buffer zone to be burned (pile burning will be >100 feet from drainage) or some material may be lopped and scattered. Tree removal must not adversely affect intermittent channel bank stability. USFS Invasives: See BLM and RRR methods. However, FS inventory shows that we have no trees over 6 inch diameter, and likely all individuals found will be treated rather than leaving 30% as we do not have the high density of invasives as the areas further downstream in Mill Creek. FS Pack Creek fence: About 3/4 mile of four strand, barbed wire fence and cattle guard installed to prevent cows from accessing the 1/2 mile of creek on FS and 3/4 mile of Pack Creek on private land. FFSL: South Mesa: Designated areas west and north of the cabin will have all pinyon and juniper removed by lop and scatter. Where tree density is high enough we will chip material in this area and spread chips. Directly around the cabin we will create a shaded fuel break where tree crowns are separated by a minimum of 10'. Material around the cabin will be chipped. On the removal area on the hillside East of the cabin we will cut pile and burn. Pack Creek Ranch: Dead cottonwoods will be felled and piled and burned. Directly adjacent to houses we will create shaded fuel breaks and remove all dead material. This material will be chipped and spread. Along the creek corridor we plan to create 15' fuel breaks perpendicular to the creek. There is a lot of material in these potential fuel break areas so we will cut, chip, and spread the chips, we may also need to haul chips away. We are working with the landowners in this area to mow these fuel breaks once they are accomplished so that this work will exist in perpetuity. Mill and Pack creeks: We will work under the direction of RRR to assist how we can for Team Rubicon deployment as well as assisting in general fire fuels removal in the creeks. RRR: Despite the high density of Russian olive and other invasive trees present along most of Mill Creek, gradual removal of olive, tamarisk and elm has resulted natural regeneration of native plants including golden currant, willow, woods rose, lemonade berry, cottonwood, grasses and forbs in large areas. This is also proving true along Pack Creek. The primary guiding principal for this project is pacing removal of invasive plants at a rate that allows native plant regeneration to naturally occur. In areas where natural regeneration is not occurring, or the area is sensitive enough to require more rapid revegetation, active planting using poles and potted plants is being done. Treatment methods fall into three broad categories as outlined below, and as noted on the proposal map. 1. Large Scale Removal: In areas where removal has not yet begun, larger trees in densely infested areas will be hand cut, piled and mulched. Areas of clearing will be focused first around native trees and shrubs, and next on areas linking existing native plant stands. ( 2. Follow up treatments (weed wrenching and/or resprout and sapling cutting with herbicide, or basal bark treatments): New saplings will be pulled with weed wrenches and resprouts cut and treated with Garlon 4 (or other approved herbicides). In these areas other weed species are addressed using mechanical or chemical means as is deemed most effective. 3. In areas where revegetation is needed to help stabilize banks, or natural native plant regeneration needs assistance willow wattles, pole plantings, or potted plants will be installed. Most areas will not be seeded due to the readily available seed source surrounding most treatment areas. Methods used in this project vary by location and by the goals and targets within each area. Russian olive removal will involve youth corps chainsaw crews cutting trees and applying herbicide to the cut stumps. In town slash is mulched and spread to reduce annual non native plant establishment. In more remote areas of BLM lands slash materials will be cut into smaller pieces, then scattered or piled or hauled away from treatment sites as site conditions require. Youth corps crews will also treat Ravenna grass. Ravenna grass plants may be dug up by hand, and the entire root ball removed from the stream bank or may be treated with herbicides to keep root systems intact. Seedheads on Ravenna grass will be removed to reduce seed heads Moab Solutions will continue the daily trail work and trash pickup at the heavily used Powerdam area of Mill Creek Canyon, as well as organize volunteer clean-up days. Primary work in the lower watershed through this proposal will be replanting and seeding using longstem techniques, pole planting and seeding.

Each participating collaborator is performing monitoring in their areas. By including work from the top of the watershed to the river, mapping of exotic plant presence will be better connected, which is particularly important with new invaders like ravenna grass. In the upper watershed the USFS is performing the following monitoring: * Day-to-day monitoring of operations will be completed during implementation by a designated Contractor Officer's Representative (C.O.R.) or a qualified Forestry Technician. * Prescribed (pile) burning will be supervised by a qualified Burn Boss to ensure that implementation is completed in accordance with NEPA, Silvicultural Prescription and Burn Plan. * Existing or new weed populations will be treated in accordance with existing noxious weed management decisions. * An interdisciplinary review will be conducted following implementation (within two years) to determine if project objectives have been met and to determine whether implementation of SWCPs has been effective. * Photo points will be established in each treatment type (mastication, hand-thinning) to identify pre and post-treatment conditions, as well as long-term monitoring points for future reference. Post-treatment photos will be taken within one season of completion. * Three migratory bird point-count transects were established in the project area in 2007, and each has been sampled at least 5 times. Post-treatment surveys will be conducted. * Monitoring nests of raptors in the project area (peregrine falcon and golden eagle) will be continued annually. Invasives: Invasive treatments sites are inventoried and monitored annually to document effectiveness and continue with treatments as needed. Fence: Implementation monitoring to ensure correct construction of fence. Pack Creek Water Company and private residents to monitor and maintain the fence. In the upper watershed, FFSL will be establishing photo points on each private property for short term monitoring of site conditions. Day to day monitoring of contract crews on site will be performed by seasonal FFSL technicians to ensure that the scope of work is being completed. In the Middle Watershed, BLM monitoring will evaluate the success of this treatment and to determine what other work is needed to achieve project objectives. This monitoring work will involve long term photo points, vegetation monitoring, multiple indicator monitoring (MIM) and water quality sampling. Water quality investigations will be conducted in cooperation with the Moab Area Watershed Partnership and the local UDWQ watershed coordinator, as part of a watershed wide water quality study. A comprehensive monitoring report will be completed after project implementation is completed. In the Lower Watershed, monitoring will be conducted to evaluate the success of this treatment, and to determine what other work is needed to achieve project objectives. Rim to Rim has been running vegetation transects at 14 locations on Mill and Pack Creeks since 2007, with the most recent data collected in 2016. A comprehensive report produced in 2018 shows the results of over 10 years of invasive removal work and follow up active regeneration in areas where passive native plant regeneration has not occurred. Rim to Rim will collect data at these 14 transect locations in 2020 to further document the successes of large scale vegetation manipulations in the watershed. This monitoring will inform future projects through documenting changes in the vegetation response in the treated riparian areas. In addition, Rim to Rim will include photo points on all new project sites and will perform site assessments with the protocol established for the SE Utah Riparian Partnership for all areas of Mill Creek where work has been done over the past 15 years.

The Moab Area Watershed Partnership is a local group of water users, water and land managers that work together to resolve water related issues in the Mill Creek Watershed. This group supports this project proposal and has helped with related monitoring efforts. Moab Solutions is a local non-profit organization that works closely with BLM on resource protection efforts in Mill Creek Canyon, especially working on trail management and trash pickup. The Grand County Weed Dept is supportive of this project and would be an active partner with implementation on BLM and private lands. They would lead the Ravenna Grass treatments, with BLM support. The Bureau of Land Management is the land manager for this project area and is working to mitigate impacts from increased recreation and from increased invasive plant species impacts in this watershed system. The BLM works closely with project partners on this project including the Grand County Weed Dept, the Utah Division of Water Quality and several local contractors. This project is identified on the Manti-La Sal National Forest Five-Year Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 2005-2014), which has been coordinated with other Federal, State, and local agencies as part of our collaborative fuels management program. The State of Utah and Grand and San Juan County, Utah officials have been contacted and support implementation of this project. It is consistent with proposed management in the Moab/Spanish Valley Wildfire Protection Plan and the Southeastern Utah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan (Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands 2007). Another beneficial effect of the extensive public participation in the planning process was that it continued to elevate the need to have private landowners take responsibility for providing fire safe fuel conditions and structures on their own properties. The Forest Service also partners with the San Juan Cooperative Weed management area in the control of noxious weeds throughout San Juan County. Moab Valley Fire Department (MVFD): We have been working closely with the Moab Valley Fire Department to begin to coordinate efforts between agencies and landowners to remove invasives from Mill and Pack creeks. They have helped identify areas to remove as well as providing maps and other tools to identify important areas to remove. Utah Conservation Corps (UCC): Utah Conservation Corps has long been a partner in invasive species removal in this area. UCC has worked closely with land managers in this area and is uniquely qualified to provide consistent and efficient logistical support and project implementation on projects in the Moab area. The regional coordinator is intimately familiar with these project sites and what treatments work best in our region. Forestry, Fire and State Lands: FFSL as well as the Moab Valley Fire Department have been a part of the working group that has begun to coordinate the gathering of landowner needs for clearing of Mill and Pack creeks. The City of Moab: The City of Moab has been key in working with MVFD and Grand County to identify important removal areas for fire safety along the creek. Team Rubicon: Team Rubicon helped with the initial removal of burned material from the Cinema Court Fire along Pack Creek and is planning to send a large volunteer crew to Moab to help with removing more woody material from Pack Creek. Private Landowners: In addition to the above-mentioned partners open meetings have been held to gather landowners that are adjacent to either Mill or Pack creeks. These are ongoing to gauge what needs these landowners have for removal efforts and to help them reach their own neighbors to work towards removal of invasive woody biomass. Most of the creek bottom land in Moab and Spanish Valley are privately owned so these individual landowners are key to organize removal efforts. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been involved with project related activities for many years now. We have provided input to reduce impacts to birds and have helped acquire services to accomplish project related activities. Pack Creek Water Company and private residents of Pack Creek private in holding.

BLM: Future management of the Mill Creek Watershed will continue to support the goals of this project. BLM has designated this watershed as a municipal watershed, with no new surface disturbing activities allowed. Most of the BLM lands in the Mill Creek Watershed are within the Mill Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) based on important ecological resources as well as within a Wilderness Study Area (WSA).

BLM: There are no domestic livestock benefits from this project, as there is no grazing currently authorized on BLM lands within Mill Creek Canyon. USFS:The project area is part of three allotments. As part of a larger project, the treatments have decreased the amount of woody vegetation (especially pinyon-juniper and oak) within much of the grazed areas in these allotments. This would likely lead to an increased production of herbaceous vegetation (grass and forb species) on all 4500treated acres. Noxious weeds are not expected to increase or spread as a result of the treatments as best management practices will be implemented. Range trend studies showed little cheatgrass in the areas to be treated and the risk of cheatgrass being established as a result of the project is very low, due to the existing diversity and healthy grass production of most of the understory layers and because of the elevation. Any other noxious weeds in the area would continue to be treated. In the short-term there could be some interruption of grazing operations; however the long-term benefits to the range resource outweigh the short-term negative impacts that may have to occur to individual permit holders such as resting pastures or exclusion of livestock from areas. Livestock will still be able to continue to grazing in the area above the private in-holding in Pack Creek and have access to a small part of Pack Creek for water. In the future, off-site water developments will decrease livestock need of accessing the creek for water. FFSL: Treatments on private land will decrease the amount of woody vegetation and will likely increase the amount of herbaceous vegetation. This will likely increase forage for wild game species. It is possible that these private landowners may implement livestock grazing in the future, but no plans are known at this time. Residents of Pack Creek Ranch have expressed interest in wood chips and firewood so material removed from the creek bottom will be available to private landowners in the area. RRR: This project has the potential to increase water in both Mill and Pack creeks with the removal of dense stands of Russian olive and Tamarisk. The Pack Creek waterflow is especially important because it is likely connected to the valley fill aquifer which is a major source of culinary and irrigation water for Moab and Spanish Valley. Work done along Mill and Pack creeks over the past 15 years has opened up areas that have not been visible for over 25 years -- allowing consideration of water harvesting and infiltration projects that will also improve the flood capacity of the riparian area by allowing water to spread out and soak in during large events rather than simply rush down a tight channel, downcutting and eroding as it flows. The project also has the potential to both improve and increase forage along both creeks with the removal of dense and dead stands of woody invasives. The removal of these invasives will open up the understory and will allow for increases in native grasses and forbs which are more desirable for grazing and for many native species. Invasives removal will also allow for greater access to the creek for livestock and for wildlife. There is currently no grazing along this part of the project area. Some of the project area is located on public land owned by the City of Moab. This project has the opportunity to improve recreation areas along Mill and Pack creeks by opening more vegetation choked land to use as well as improving barren areas by planting native species through the NPS 319 funds for this project.

11/16/2020

03/12/2021

2021

BLM Methods: - chainsaw crews cut or girdled Russian Olive trees, applying herbicides to cut stumps and girdles - herbicides used on Russian Olive: Polaris on trees farther than 10' from stream/ Aquaneat on trees within 10' of stream - Ravenna Grass stumps were dug up with shovels and pulaskis - Ravenna Grass seedheads were cut, bagged and hiked out of the canyon - new social trails were closed using native materials ie brush/ rocks - youth crews hiked the lands managed by BLM in Mill Ck Canyon, hand cutting Russian Olive re-sprouts -erosion control structures were constructed using native materials include Russian Olive slash, branches, rocks, etc RRR: Final methods for removal in the Mill and Pack Creek work areas included thinning and chipping of non-native trees, seeding, containerized planting, wattle installation and mowing. There was also herbiciding of stumps and non-native seedlings. Containerized plantings were flagged to be monitored in the fall so that Rim to Rim can track mortality of plantings and pick out trends that we can use to improve future planting projects. FFSL: We worked closely with RRR for the Moab Valley portions of the project so our methods are essentially the same. At all sites in the valley the cut material was either chipped or cut to firewood length and hauled off site. Stumps were treated with appropriate herbicides depending on proximity to water. On South Mesa we ended up having a change of plans due to arch survey reports. We originally intended to masticate a large portion of the property up on South Mesa, but due to cultural findings we adjusted our SOW to hand cutting. Work was completed by our in house crew as well as a few UCC crews. 100' Radius was thinned out from the cabin and the roadway adjacent to the cabin was cut 15' to either side. In both of these polygons material was chipped and broadcast on site. We also cut a fuel break along the North and East fencelines 20' off the fence. Material was dragged away from the fence and scattered further into the property. On the western portion some of the sagebrush fields were cleared of encroaching pinyon and juniper and we cut in a moderate sized fire break into the PJ forest going out to the north cliffside. Material in that unit was also scattered. In Pack Creek Ranch we had a number of clearing activities that we preformed prior to the large fire. We cleared almost the entire riparian area within the community of Russian olive. We re-cut the 3 fuel breaks we cut the previous year and our crew was cutting one of those when the fire started on June 9th. We felled and piled dead cottonwoods and oaks just upstream of the Desert Solitaire crossing and downstream of it extending probably 200 yards in either direction. In addition we hosted 4 days of chipper days within the community to chip what various landowners cut. FS/DWR: We installed approximately 4,548 feet of 4-strand barbed wire fencing, a gate, a water gap, and a cattle guard in the Pack Creek Drainage.

BLM: ACE chainsaw crews mechanically and chemically treated Russian Olive trees as well as dug up Ravenna Grass plants during Oct 2020. Moab Solutions, a local non-profit organization, reduced social trailing and picked up trash throughout FY20. The Grand County Weed Dept visited Mill Ck Canyon weekly to mechanically remove Ravenna Grass throughout FY20. Terra Sophia, a local contractor, constructed multiple erosion control structures in gullies directly adjacent to Mill Ck. RRR: In 2020 and 2021 Rim to Rim Restoration (RRR) planted extensively along Mill and Pack Creeks, expanded existing firebreaks and removed invasive species along the creek corridor as a part of our ongoing efforts to improve vegetation, reduce fire hazard, and improve the creek corridors. New firebreaks were extended approximately 1/4 of a mile. Ladder and crown fuels were removed from 3.05 acres in an area adjacent to several homes. Existing breaks were expanded one additional acre in another dense residential area, and several large areas of Russian olive, elm and tamarisk were removed. RRR purchased two brush mowers to tackle finer ladder fuels along Mill Creek, further increasing community protection from fire in those areas. Several areas were planted and seeded with a variety of native plants, including trees, grasses and forbs. At sites in Anonymous Park, adjacent to 500 West and other sites along Mill and Pack Creeks, approximately 850 plants were installed and watered multiple times, 450 of which were planted by Synergy volunteers on Earth Day 2021. A collaboration with Grand County Middle School and Canyonlands Field Institute incorporated planting 200 plants with the help of the 8th grad science class along Mill Creek near the new middle school. This project will continue to engage the 8th grade science class for at least the next 5 years. Mortality monitoring was initiated at all planting sites along Mill Creek, helping RRR refine planting techniques in the future in order to increase planting survival. Results from this monitoring will be available in 2022 and updated in 2023. Forest Service: The hand thinning and piling portion within the drainages of Millcreek were not funded within this first cycle of the project. Funds to complete this portion of the project were granted through Shared Stewardship (Spring of 2021) and is slotted to be completed summer of 2021.Forest Service crews flagged and prepared the Hx units the summer of 2021. This effort was covered by the forest (In-Kind). The contract to complete the work was awarded to 3B's. FFSL: FY21 was a year of adaptation for projects in the Mill Creek Watershed. COVID and social distancing made scheduling projects and crew management difficult on our projects in Moab Valley. We had a change in plans on South Mesa due to our cultural survey. Lastly we had the Pack Creek Fire in June of 2020 that wiped out houses, and our fuels reduction work in Pack Creek Ranch. The work within Pack Creek Ranch continued to be difficult due to most of the concern being in the thick overgrown riparian area. We did our best to clear out dead fall and dead standing trees from previous years cottonwood and oak mortality. We also re cut the fuel breaks we had implemented in FY20 under our Catfire grant. The fuel breaks when we originally cut them were time (and money) consuming because of how thick the riparian vegetation had grown. Unfortunately it was no match for the dry conditions and wind that were present during the Pack Creek Fire which burned right through them the night of June 9th. The South Mesa SOW was adjusted due to the arch survey which precluded us from continuing with the mastication. We ended up using our seasonal crew as well as some UCC help to continue to do Pinyon and Juniper removal over a reduced area. Mill and Pack Creeks in Moab Valley continued along apace to previous years. We implemented a couple of new invasive tree removal areas further up Pack Creek which both give us good spots to stop a potential fire and gives us a foothold among private landowners up there to begin the larger work necessary to eradicate olive from the valley. FS/DWR: The Forest Service installed approximately 4,548 feet of 4-strand barbed wire fencing, a gate, and a water gap in the Pack Creek Drainage between Pack Creek Ranch (Private land inholding) and Pack Creek Picnic Area. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources put out for bid and acquired the needed fencing materials with monetary support from the Pack Creek Water Company. The DWR also worked with San Juan County to install a cattle guard in the road along the fence line.

BLM: Project work continues in this area, with ongoing invasive plant removal and erosion control activities. This area is managed by BLM to protect ecological resources as part of the ACEC management. No livestock grazing is currently authorized. RRR: Collaboration between Moab Valley Fire Department (MVFD), Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands (FFSL), the City of Moab, Grand County, Rim to Rim Restoration and private landowners continues to grow. RRR has partnered with landowners, NRCS and Utah DWQ on a 319 project focused on the Holland Property and Cinema Courts area to reduce downcutting and restore connectivity of the floodplain with Pack Creek. This project should cover a full creek mile that was recently cleared of Russian olive. Landowners are interested in revegetation and bank stabilization activities in this zone and in other areas along the creeks. Engineering planning work has been completed and future planting work will focus on regenerating native plant communities in cleared areas. FFSL has proven to be a solid partner in this work, assisting with planning and also increasing capacity through the use of their chipper and staff. Finally, the City of Moab provided funding for Rim to Rim to continue working with landowners, the City, County and School District to build more fire resiliency and regenerate native plants throughout the riparian corridor of the City. Rim to Rim continues to work with the City of Moab to continue these efforts. FFSL: Pack Creek Ranch post fire now has a whole host of new issues that other agencies will be able to handle better than us. We are working to finish out fuels reduction on portions of private land not burned by the fire. We continue to be a part of ongoing recovery conversations to see where we fit in. On South Mesa we have completed our work that we planned up there. It will now be on the landowner to maintain their breaks by cutting out PJ saplings every few years from the breaks. For Mill and Pack Creeks in Moab Valley we were just awarded a grant for $300,000 from the USFS so we will be largely in planning mode over the winter of 21/22 to find matching money for the grant as well as to plan valley wide removal projects. FS/DWR: The Forest Service will monitor and maintain the fencing, and San Juan County will maintain the cattle guard.