Previous projects have been completed in the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed and have contributed to the connectivity of habitats suitable for sage grouse throughout the watershed. The areas covered in this project will connect previously treated areas and provide better connectivity for sage grouse, mule deer and other sage-steppe dependent wildlife. This area is not within mapped priority sage grouse habitat (PHMA), but is within the UDWR occupied and opportunity areas (SGMA). Area partners and the local sage grouse working group have requested treatments in this area for several years, as there has been some movement of grouse through this corridor. The Upper Kanab Creek Watershed area is a high priority area for vegetation treatments by numerous partners because of the high diversity of wildlife, including sage grouse, mule deer and elk. The encroachment of pinyon and juniper within sage-steppe has negatively impacted soils resources, water and nutrient cycles, fire regimes, plant community structure and composition, forage production and wildlife habitat. This area also receives national attention because it contains the Paunsagunt and North Kaibab mule deer herds, which migrate between Utah and Arizona; the Paunsagunt herd is world renowned for being one of North America's trophy mule deer herds. This project builds on numerous other projects within in the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed, and in particular helps restore areas near and within current sage grouse brood and winter habitat. Grouse are actively using areas around this area in the Hatch Bench, Hoyt's Ranch and Sink Valley Lek. (personnel communication and preliminary maps from USU from Frey & Boswell). The treatment areas identified are 2.6 miles southwest from the Sink Valley Lek. It is apparent that these treatments are benefiting grouse in this area. Annual Lek counts on the Sink Valley Lek alone have shown a 500% increase in birds from 2012 to 2017 (UDWR). The Kanab Creek project area is within Sage Grouse Management Zone III (Southern Great Basin) and is part of the Panguitch/Bald Hills sage grouse population. The 2013 conservation Objectives Final Report (COT) identified this area as one of the highest potential for increase in Utah due to habitat treatments to remove pinyon-juniper. Key threats identified in the COT report include increased predator populations, vegetation management (conflicting uses or lack of), energy development, and residential/commercial development. The area supports the southernmost population of greater sage grouse. Currently only a couple of dirt ponds exist in the project area that are unreliable water sources for livestock and wildlife. A reliable water system is needed to provide better distribution across the allotment.

Primary objectives for this project include: 1.Reduce the density of Stage I, Stage II & III pinyon and juniper trees to restore and preserve understory vegetation, including sagebrush and native grasses and forbs. 2. Improve 1,746 acres of substantial summer mule deer habitat and substantial year-long elk habitat by releasing both the existing understory and sagebrush component (chaining). 3. Improve brood sage grouse habitat and increase fall/winter sage grouse habitat, within sage-grouse management areas (UDWR). 4. Restore connectivity on 1,746 acres of sage grouse opportunity habitat within the Panguitch SGMA (UDWR). 5. Provide reliable water for livestock, sage grouse, mule deer, elk, and other sagebrush obligates species.

Historically sage grouse in this area likely had a greater distribution, and although it is difficult to understand all of the reasons for their decline, Mordo et. al. (2013) have reported that sage grouse use of leks decreases as tree cover increases and recommend that in priority areas (<2.6 miles from leks) or opportunity areas (< 4 miles from lek), where feasible, canopy cover of trees, be reduced or eliminated. While this area does not fall within <4 miles from a lek, that strategy is difficult and in many areas impossible, as grouse use is very linear, and occurs in areas where there is limited habitat, along steep canyons and connected, but small sagebrush grassland areas, and seeps and springs. It is extremely important, in Upper Kanab Creek to remove pinyon and juniper wherever feasible, because connectivity has been reduced completely in many areas because of the narrow corridors of habitat. It is not surprising that this is considered the southernmost population of sage grouse in the Western United states, as habitat is very limited even under optimal conditions. By not doing this project a continued treat of encroachment from pinyon/juniper habitats onto sagebrush-steppe would be a direct impact. Sage-grouse habitat, already limited in size and quality in this area would not continue to decline and not see the habitat and overall watershed improvements for this treatment. Sage grouse corridors will remain closed and/or continue to in-fill, putting greater sage grouse at an increased risk and/or moving them further toward an endangered species listing. With the lack of a diverse understory the potential for soil erosion would increase while the potential for soil to store water would decrease. Lack of water storage and the effects of pinyon/juniper encroachment and decadent stands of sagebrush would only accelerate the decline in the overall quality of habitat as a whole. Additionally, wildfire events have the potential to burn thousands of acres at high temperatures. These types of fires may lead to complete habitat conversion from a sagebrush/grassland to an invasive annual grassland dominated by undesirable species. The positive feedback loop between exotic annual grasses and fires can preclude the opportunity for sagebrush to become re-established. Exotic annual grasses and other invasive plants also alter habitat suitability for sage-grouse by reducing or eliminating native forbs and grasses essential for food and cover. A watershed as a whole is healthy with a greater variety of plant species which is one of the goals of this project. Soil moisture lasts longer and surface water quality in streams is increased in watersheds with plant diversity providing cover and soil stabilization. (see water quality section). With any treatment there is always the chance that we will experience a very dry winter or spring. There is always a risk of seeding failure and/or of long-term drought conditions. If left untreated rangeland conditions are expected to remain the same for the short-term and decline in condition over the long-term. The health, vigor, recruitment and production of native and non-native, perennial grasses and native shrubs would decline in the long-term due to a combination of factors including continued grazing and browsing use by livestock and wildlife and competition for nutrients, sunlight and precipitation with older decadent shrubs and invasive pinyon/juniper woodlands. It is expected that not treating in this area would eventually affect the overall livestock performance and economic stability of the permittees due to a reduction in the quantity and quality of grasses and other herbaceous forage in areas invaded by pinyon/juniper, which are important to cattle and other grazing animals. A monoculture of Pinion Juniper covered landscapes greatly limits if not eliminates other vegetation types. Shrubs, forbs, and grasses are those other vegetation types threated by PJ succession. When other vegetation is limited the forage and habitat for multiple species, namely mule deer, is consequently limited as well. Over time, the understory vegetation in these untreated areas would decline in quality and eventually may die-off entirely. Animal diversity would most likely decrease as one vegetation type would dominate the landscape. As suggested, this area is a popular area for limited-entry hunting. There is always the risk that project implementation will overlap seasonal hunts; however, every effort is made to avoid these sensitive time. Long-term benefits will outweigh the limited inconveniences of seeding or improving vegetation conditions. The Proposed Action would aid in the maintenance of or lead to improvement to the upland key species which would improve habitat for a variety of neotropical migratory birds. The proposed treatment would help ensure that enough residual vegetation remains to provide adequate cover requirements over the life of the project to meet the needs of nesting birds. Bald Eagle Wintering habitat exists within both Garfield and Kane counties. Fish and waterfowl are the primary sources of food for bald eagles, but they also will feed on rabbits, carrion, and small rodents. Threats to the species include loss of lowland riparian habitats, which serve as both nest and roost habitat. This treatment is a continuation of improvement projects which focuses on improving habitat over an the entire watershed as opposed to small, isolated treatments would benefit bald eagles and other wildlife species on a landscape scale over the long term. The expected change in habitat condition for all habitat types would improve forage conditions and reduce erosion, enhancing wildlife habitat over the long term. Elk are generally classified as both a grazer and a browser, with grasses and forbs making up the bulk of their summer diet. However, during harsh winters elk consume large quantities of browse species. They tend to be found in areas of semi-open forest and forest edges next to parks and meadows. Browse species available to elk in the area are similar to those described above for mule deer. The treatment would be managed to achieve the objectives described in the Utah Standards for Rangeland Health which also benefits elk habitat.

The Upper Kanab Creek project area is within Panguitch/Bald Hills population in Sage-Grouse Management Zone III: Southern Great Basin. The 2013 Conservation Objectives Final Report (COT) identified this area as having the highest potential for increase in Utah due to habitat treatments to remove pinyon-juniper. Key threats to sage-grouse in this area are increased predator populations, vegetation management (conflicting uses or lack of), energy development, and residential/commercial development. BLM Utah also recently completed an the Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment, which tied sage grouse treatment objectives and thresholds for disturbance to existing land use plans (in this case, The Kanab RMP (2008). Primary to this document is a section that integrates the State of Utah's strategy of improving greater Sage Grouse habitat through vegetation treatments by setting treatment objectives to increase areas available for sage grouse habitat and to reduce the threats of wildfire to sage grouse habitat (pp 1-13) (Section 2) (Appendix C). This project will both reduce threats of wildfire while also increasing available connectivity and habitat. Those involved in this project and other Upper Kanab Creek Projects continue to work with the local sage grouse working group like Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Local Working Group (CCARM). The intent of the Plan is to provide guidance and recommendations to meet the overall goal of maintaining and, where possible, increasing sage-grouse populations and improving habitat conditions in the Color Country CCARM Conservation Strategies: 1. Improve age distribution of sagebrush-steppe communities. 2. Improve water availability in brood-rearing habitat. 3. Improve wildlife and livestock distribution in winter and brood-rearing habitat throughout the next ten years. 4. Locate and monitor new active lek sites over the next ten years. 5. Maintain or increase sage-grouse populations through direct management. 6. Manage unwanted plant species in sage-brush steppe habitat. 7. Minimize impacts of new land developments and/or recreational uses on sagegrouse populations during the next ten years. 8. Take steps to reduce the negative impact of dramatic weather events during the next ten years. Fire, vegetation management and invasive species are three aspects ranked as important considerations in this plan.This project was presented at the CCARM meeting on January 8, 2020 and ranked as one of the top projects presented. This project falls within the Paunsaugunt Deer Herd Unit # 27. The Mule Deer Management plan was approved by the Wildlfe Board on December 1, 2014 will be in effect for five years (December 1, 2019). Unit Habitat Management Goals: 1. Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the unit by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. 2. Work with federal and state partners in fire rehabilitation and prevention on crucial deer habitat through the WRI process 3. Provide improved habitat security and escapement opportunities for deer. 4. Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects. 5. Continue to reduce Pinyon and Juniper encroaching into shrubland, specifically on Hatch Bench, Buckskin, Kanab Ceek, Thompson creek and other areas in critical winter range. Southern Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan - This project falls under the Glendale Bench Fire Management Unit (FMU). Fire Management Objectives: 1. Using mechanical methods create a mosaic of age classes in the sagebrush and sagebrush perennial grass vegetation types. 2. Treat pinyon/juniper to create or enhance sage grouse habitat using prescribed fire on up to 22,000 acres aggregate with non-fire fuels treatments. 3. Convert 15,000 acres to sagebrush grass using natural fire, prescribed fire and mechanical treatments. Other plans that relate to the proposed project are: BLM National Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy (2004). Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 which state protecting forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands from unnaturally intensive and destructive fires. BLM's Final Programmatic Environmental Report: Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Report, June 2007, The Fundamental of Rangeland Health (43 CFR 4180) and Utah's Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health which address watersheds, ecological condition, water quality and habitat for special status species. This project is authorized under the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Plan NEPA UT- 040-09-03, (Decision signed in 2011 and Upheld by IBLA September 6, 2012). This project was designed to improve vegetation conditions for wildlife, but specifically for sage grouse. REFERENCES Frey, S. N., S. G. Lupis, K. Heaton, T. A. Black, T. A. Messmer, and D. Mitchell. 2006. Color Country Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan. Utah's Community Based Conservation Program. Unpublished Report. Logan, Utah. Frey, S. N., S. G. Lupis, C.Reid, K. Heaton, T. A. Black, T. A. Messmer, and D. Mitchell. 2007 Southwest Desert Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Local Conservation Plan. Utah's Community Based Conservation Program. Unpublished Report. Logan, Utah. BLM. September 2015. Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment. September 2015. US Department of the Interior Appendix C. Required Design Features (particularly as they pertain to fire and fuels). UDWR. May 2015. Deer Herd Unit Management Plan. Deer Herd Unit #27 (Paunsagunt). 8 pp. Southern Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment (UT-040-04-054).

During the past 20 years, this area as experienced frequent but small fires, pinyon and juniper trees, once held to lower densities by more frequent fires, have expanded in range and moved into areas once dominated by shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Current closed tree canopy and material on the ground (ladder fuels) has increased the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Cheatgrass may also increase fire frequency. Cheatgrass is present in isolated portions of the project area. The potential for wildfires and subsequent cheatgrass invasion continues to be the biggest threat and greatest management concern for native and desirable non-native sagebrush steppe communities in the Great Basin, and is of concern in the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed. This area contains vegetation that fall into FRCC low (7%), Medium (71%) and high (22%). Much of the area still contains intact understory, including a lot of sagebrush. If this area burned, the sage grouse component would be lost and would not return for many years. In 2015, BLM participated in the Southern Great Basin Fire and Invasive Assessment Team (FIAT), to identify and reduce risks to Greater sage-grouse. As discussed, this area is part of the Panguitch/Bald Hills population. Threats identified in this area include conifer encroachment, wildfire and invasive species. All three of these threats will be addressed through implementation of this project, by reducing pinyon juniper, providing a native/non native mix able to compete with cheatgrass and will effectively move this area from a Fire Regime Condition Class 2 (FRCC2) to FRCC1. The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy currently guides fire and fuels management for Utah BLM. The strategy encourages collaboration among all stakeholders and across all landscapes, using best science, to make meaningful progress towards the three goals of: 1) resilient landscapes; 2) Fire adapted communities; and 3) Safe and effective wildfire response. The Cohesive Strategy places much of this project area in 'Landscape Resilience Class G,' where there is high federal ownership and natural landscapes, and Landscape Resilience Class J, where there are recent large fires/frequency and natural landscapes. While this area would be considered "low" risk for 'community planning and coordination' and 'need to manage human caused ignitions,' it is ranked "high risk" for 'large scale wildfire and more potential for resource benefits." This entire HUC12 watershed represents an ideal area to conduct pro-active fuels reduction projects with relatively low risk to resources. There is always the question of whether vegetation improvement projects decrease fire frequency and intensity. Recent data from the Color Country District (2000-2018) shows that there has been an decrease in fire occurrence, acres burned and in ESR treatments with the increase in Habitat Treatment (infographic available on request; created by Brandon Davis). There are definitely private land values at risk. This is a rural community and livestock grazing is a primary commodity. Additionally, the Alton Coal Mine operates in this area and could be at risk if there was a wildfire. The Communities at Risk (CAR), benefitting from this project include Alton and Glendale, as well as numerous summer cabins located throughout the entire Upper Kanab Creek area The southwest Utah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan (SURWPP) (2007) identifies and prioritizes issues related to wildfire prevention and fuel mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas of southwestern Utah. They priorities applicable to this area are: * Protect Human Life * Firefighter and public safety * Equipment access * Protection of infrastructure * Reduce cheatgrass occurrence after wildfire The Kane County Resource Assessment was last updated in 2005. This is a collaborative effort between the local community, NRCS and the conservation districts. Water quality, surface water, plant suitability, fish and wildlife and soil erosion were all listed as high concerns by the County. This project will help to address all of those concerns within the UKC watershed area. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ut/technical/dma/nri/?cid=nrcs141p2_034118 Reference: 2012. Greater Sage Grouse, Wildfire, Invasive Annual Grasses, and Conifer Expansion Assessment. Southern Great Basin. 318 pp. http://sagebrusheco.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/sagebrusheconvgov/content/Meetings/2015/Presentation-%20Item%208-Nevada_SEC_pdf.pdf 2015. Secretarial Order 3336: The Initial report -- A strategic Plan for Addressing Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management and Restoration in 2015. Members of the Rangeland Fire Task Force, U.S. Department of the Interior. 4400. http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/rangeland/documents/SO3336-TheInitial%20Report_20150310.pdf Implementation Plan Secretarial Order 3336. Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management, and Restoration. 1/30/15.

The project area is with the upper portion of the Kanab, Arizona -Utah 4th level, 8-digit HUC (#15010003). Soils within this year's proposed treatment area are shown to be suitable for the proposed treatment activities designated for pinyon/juniper. Data has shown this area likely supported a wider community of grasses and forbs, with pinyon/juniper as a smaller component of the vegetation community. Overtime this area that has numerous natural canyon's as well as many seeps and springs began to lack the desired understory vegetation and has shown an increased in upland and riparian erosion, which has resulted in severe headcutting and downcutting in some areas. Removal of pinyon/juniper will allow perennial grasses and forbs to return to the site, adding stability to the soil layers and help reduce upland erosion. Creating an early seral stage of vegetation will do much to reduce the overland flow of water in these area, as well as helping to increase water kept on site for longer periods of time. In addition, BLM has made efforts to utilize woody material within washes to stop or slow overland flow. These efforts have been successful and cost little to no money and no additional resource damage. Additionally, recent research Roundy, et. al. (2014) has shown that mechanical treatments to remove pinyon and juniper increase time that soil water is available. Even four years after treatment, treated areas showed from 8.6 days-to-18 days additional water availability at high elevation sites. Personal communication with Dr. Roundy states that there is still an increase in soil/water availability up to 8 years following treatment in Phase III sites (Personnal communication 1/16/2015). See references below. Most recent research (Kormas, et. al. 2016) found that when shrub-steppe communities and grasslands convert to pinyon and juniper woodlands, the water cycle and local weather pattern is significantly altered. Snow deposition and the timing and magnitude of melt can alter delivery of water to the soil, which can then impact plant growth. This study found that more water is lost to evapotranspiration and snow melts earlier in pinyon and juniper than in sagebrush-steppe areas. The study concludes that sagebrush vegetation can effectively capture, store and deliver water and better sustain vegetation diversity necessary for sage grouse and ecological processes than pinyon and juniper dominated areas. The majority of soils within the Proposed Action area are suitable for the treatment activities designated for pinyon/juniper treatment, sagebrush treatment and retreatment. Many of the soil types found within the watershed will and likely did support a wider community of grasses and forbs, with pinyon/juniper as a smaller component of the vegetation community. Removal of pinyon/juniper will allow perennial grasses and forbs to return to the site, adding stability to the soil layers and reducing upland erosion. References: Roundy BA, Young KR, Cline N, Hulet A, Miller RF, Tausch RJ, Chambers JC, Rau B. 2014. Pinyon-juniper reduction increases soil water availability of the resource growth pool. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 67:495-505. Young KR, Roundy BA, Eggert DL. 2013. Tree reduction and debris from mastication of Utah juniper alter the soil climate in sagebrush steppe. Forest Ecology and Management. 310:777-785. Kormas, P.R., et. al. Ecosystem Water Availability in Juniper versus Sagebrush Snow-Dominated Rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management (2016). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2016.05.003

The National Environmental Policy Act requires Federal agencies to consider and disclose the effects of proposed actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This project is authorized under the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Plan NEPA UT- 040-09-03, (Decision signed in 2011 and Upheld by IBLA September 6, 2012) The Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Project Record of Decision analyzes the alternatives and displays the effects in conformance with The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 USC 1701 et seq); Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-514) Section 14 (b); Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations: a) Sections 4120.3-1 -- Conditions for Range Improvement; b) Section 4180.1 -- Fundamentals of Rangeland Health, c) Section 4190.1 Effects of Wildfire Management Decisions, and d) Section 5003.1 -- Forest Management Decisions. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) documents the analysis of environmental effects associated with a suite of restoration treatments on approximately 52,043 acres of BLM administered land within the Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Project, encompassing the upper portion of the Kanab, Arizona-Utah 4th level, 8-digit HUC (#15010003). This watershed, and treatments identified at this level, is a recent focus of numerous partner groups, including Utah Partners for Conservation and Development, because of declining mule deer and sage grouse habitat and risk from high intensity wildfire. This project area consists of BLM administered land that by itself does not have international or national importance. The land does, however, have value on a regional or state-wide importance as potential wildlife habitat, rangelands and for recreational use. Lands proposed for treatment are similar in nature and have similar resource considerations.No environmental effects meet the definition of significance in context or intensity as defined in 40 CFR 1508.27 and do not exceed those effects described in the Kanab Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (2008) and the BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Plan (2000) Class III archaeological clearances and concurrence with SHPO was completed last year for southern portions of the treatment area. This portion is area ready for on-the-ground work. Class III archaeological clearances will be completed on 1872 acres to prior to the FY2020 Wildlife clearances will be completed prior to the 2020 Fiscal Year.

1,746 acres Stage II and Stage III condition class pinyon/juniper areas will be chained during the Fall of 2020. Islands and corridors of pinyon and juniper would remain untreated throughout the unit, creating a mosaic pattern of treated and untreated vegetation. Before the chaining treatment, chained areas would be broadcast seeded. Both introduced and native species may be used to help ensure project success. Introduced species may be used in the seed mix to provide immediate soil stabilization and competition with exotic weed species. Natives will be included for long term site stability, drought resistance, and diversity. A mix of native and non-native shrubs, grasses and forbs are important for improving sage grouse winter and brooding habitat, winter mule deer range and elk habitat. Seedings would be rested from cattle grazing for a minimum of two complete growing seasons. 200 acres of oak brush on the adjacent private lands would be wet mowed. A cultural contract will be awarded and concurrence with SHPO will occur the year before implementation of the 1,746 acres of this project. Chained areas will likely need a follow-up hand-thinning approximately 5 years from initial treatment to protect the investment made by partners.

In order to determine the success of various seed mixes and treatments, monitoring would be conducted by BLM and UDWR personnel or contractors. Monitoring would consist of nested frequency or other BLM monitoring techniques and photopoints Vegetation Monitoring Plans: The Kanab Field Office has established nested frequency plot studies and continues to monitor upland sites in all of the affected allotments every 5 years. In addition to the existing monitoring sites, as projects are implemented a nested frequency plot study will be established in each treatment area to measure success and long term stability of the site. Trend monitoring occurs on Allotments within the Kanab Field Office approximately every five years. Monitoring studies will be conducted on all vegetation treatments that occur on the Monument to study the changes in vegetation composition over time as a result of the treatments. Monitoring techniques could include photo points, nested frequency, line intercept, etc. The type of study may vary by site and by treatment BLM continues to take an aggressive approach to noxious weeds, through monitoring/control/education/eradication program. The Kanab Field Office is an active participant in the Canyon Country Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), which aims at treating weeds across all jurisdictional boundaries. Noxious weeds would be controlled on all disturbed areas when detected. Wildlife Monitoring Plans: This year, each BLM Field office will have entire team devoted to the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM), and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area. This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. Additionally, this project falls within potential sage grouse habitat. Habitat Assessment Framework monitoring is a multiscale, sage-grouse habitat assessment tool that will be integrated with the AIM. This monitoring is done from a broad-to-fine scale. The dataset at the site scale (which includes this project) describes habitat indicators, such as sagebrush cover, sagebrush height, grass and forb cover, riparian stability, and/or proximity of detrimental land uses and structures. These data will ensure appropriate project implementation, as well as guide future actions in sage grouse habitat. Currently, there are no AIM, HAF (sage grouse) monitoring points in this treatment area; however, these areas will be prioritized for data collection during 2020. There are also no UDWR trend studies in this area. This area continues to be monitored for sage grouse, (vhs collars in collaboration with Alton Coal and the CCARM). Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Group (CCARM) has tracked grouse in this area providing information for their locations, travel patterns, seasons of use, and duration time in habitats. This information will tell if the areas to be treated are successful in provide more habitat for sage grouse. Current research shows they are using the treated areas. The Paunsagunt mule deer herd is also monitored by UDWR throughout this area both through range trend monitoring, population modeling and actual harvest data. Information would continue to be collected from existing BLM and DWR studies, which include vegetation trend and deer/elk pellet counts. Monitoring sites established outside of treatment areas could be used to compare results on treated vs. untreated areas. Additional monitoring sites would be established by DWR and BLM as deemed necessary to monitor success.

The Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Project is a result of several years of planning and collaboration among interested parties groups and organizations, and Federal, State and local government agencies. Many partners/groups have provided funds as well as ideas to the success of the project. Coordination has taken place with the Kanab Field Office wildlife biologist, the Color Country District sage grouse biologist and the Division of Wildlife biologist for the area. Input from these biologists was critical in the planning of this project. The Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Plan which identifies concerns and priorities within the project area was accomplished by many partners (Federal, State, and Private). Those involved in this project and other Upper Kanab Creek Projects continue to work with the local sage grouse working group like Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Local Working Group (CCARM). This project was presented at the CCARM meeting on January 8, 2020. Upper Kanab Creek Watershed Vegetation Management Project Partners: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Forestry Fire and State Lands, Kane County Conservation District, Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Sage Grouse Working Group, Utah Partners for Conservation and Development, Color Country Resource Conservation and Development, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Safari Club, SITLA, and local livestock grazing permittees. The grazing permittee is also working with NRCS and is contracted to wet mow 200 acres of oak brush, remove PJ and seed 100 acres, and install a water distribution including 5.8 miles of pipeline, and several troughs in the project area.

Following pinyon/juniper treatments, there would be an expected increase in shrubs, grasses, forbs and other desirable understory vegetation, especially with treatments designed to provide some site disturbance, seeding and mulching. Pinyon/juniper trees would eventually move back into the site, in the absence of additional disturbance. Future removal of trees and maintenance of pinyon/juniper woodlands, (where appropriate) that follow the guidelines outlined in, Preliminary Thinning Guidelines for Pinyon-Juniper Ecosystems (Page, 2005) (Appendix 9) would ensure long-term ecosystem restoration. Future maintenance projects to protect investments made by UWRI/BLM have been addressed and allowed through the project planning document (NEPA). Adaptive management has been allowed for in the NEPA documents. Many tools have been analyzed in the NEPA planning process to allow other methods in the future. Invasive and noxious weeds have been known to occur post treatment in this area; however, treatment areas will be monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the Kanab Field Office will take appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. As habitat is improved for ungulates (deer, elk, cattle) and additional forage becomes available, the Kanab Field Office expects the flexibility and management of ungulates will improve. Maintaining healthy populations of wildlife while also responding to the needs of livestock permittees is expected to become easier. This project area is within multiple grazing allotments. All areas seeded will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons or until the seedlings become established and set seed. Once seeding establishment has been confirmed, BLM may authorize grazing according the the Utah's Fundamentals of Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management (2007). Vegetation will continue to be monitored for utilization, cover and trend. Currently, WRI has been proactive in funding some follow-up hand thinning/maintenance on mastication and chaining projects, 5-10 years following treatment. Additionally, these areas are reviewed every 10 years during grazing permit renewals, to determine capacity. Range trend is completed every five years. These areas would continued to be managed to provide a benefit for sage grouse and other shrub-steppe dependent wildlife. Grazing permittee is currently contracted with NRCS to install a water distribution system, complete some upland veg work, build some fencing, and follow a grazing management plan on the allotment.

The treatment will provide a variety of resource benefits, including a grazing management benefit. The Upper Kanab Creek (Spencer Bench) project area is within the Buck Knoll grazing allotment. Livestock use on these allotments occurs between July 1 - October 15. The acres of the allotments within the project area are in mid to late seral stages with a static to downward trend due to even-aged, decadent sagebrush and encroachment and infilling by pinyon and juniper. Pinyon and juniper is out competing the shrub and herbaceous components thus reducing available forage for livestock and wildlife. Rangeland conditions are expected to improve following implementation of the proposed vegetation project. The health, vigor, recruitment and production of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs would improve which would provide a more palatable and nutritional source of forage for both livestock and wildlife. This will aid in improved rangeland conditions throughout the allotment. Implementation of this project would eventually improve overall livestock performance (e.g. increased cow weights, increased calf crops, increased weaning weights, etc) and improve the economic stability of the permittees due to an increase in the quantity and quality of grasses and other herbaceous forage which are important to livestock grazing. Production of past treatments on the Upper Kanab Creek project have increased from 30 lbs/acre to over 3,000 lbs/acre once seeding was established. There is no plan at this time to change the grazing regime or AUM's. Diversifying the vegetation and providing a variety of seral stages will benefit both livestock and other wildlife within the area. Current recreation uses and opportunities within the project area include dispersed activities such as hunting, sightseeing, driving for pleasure, accessing canyons for scenic photography or canyoneering, nature study, wildlife photography and hiking/backpacking/camping. These activities may be temporarily disrupted or displaced during actual land treatments. In the short term, posttreatment areas may become less or more attractive to the recreating public, depending on the nature of their activities and their preferred settings. For instance, creating more open areas might enhance wildlife viewing opportunities, but it might also discourage photographers in search of totally natural-appearing, unaltered landscapes. As native vegetation becomes reestablished on treatment areas, those sites will also probably attract some recreation activities while discouraging others, due to the altered vegetative cover, scenery, naturalness and use by wildlife species. Non-use agreements have been signed by the permittees to allow rest for a minimum of two growing seasons or until it is determined that recovery efforts have met the objectives outlined for this project. Permittee is also working with the NRCS and will follow a grazing plan.

11/16/2020

04/09/2021

2021

Project was flagged and layed out by BLM personnel. Arch clearance was contracted through state contracting and coordinated through the BLM archeologist. 1,809 acres aerial seeded on November 16th 2020 with a mix of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 1,640 acres two way Ely chained Beginning December 16th,2020 finishing March 17th, 2021. 169 acres Mechanical mulched beginning March 25th, 2021 completed on April 9th, 2021. Due to un availability of forage kochia seed no second seed flight took place.

Project was flagged and layed out by BLM personnel. Aerial seeding contract started on November 16th 2020, it was completed in one day. A total of 1,809 acres were seeded with a mix of grasses, forbs, and shrubs with a fix wing aircraft contracted by Hammond Helicopters. Seed was consistent throughout the project area and contractor did a good job ensuring stipulations were met. Due to un availability of forage kochia seed no second seed flight took place. 1,640 acres were two way Ely chained, Chaining began on December 16th using two D8 dozers rented from Wheeler Machinery through a state contract. Dozers were operated by BLM personnel and fuel for dozers was coordinated by Curtis Roundy with the state DNR. Ely chains were coordinated and delivered by Ron Larson with the state DNR. On February 18th, 2021 two additional dozers were brought in to help with the chaining. The Chaining was complete on March 17th, 2021. Portions of the arch sites with in the project were mulched to meet project needs and archeologist desires. Mechanical mulching began on March 25th, 2021. Brushwacker inc. was awarded the contract and they completed mastication treatments on April 9th, 2021 for a total of 169 acres. Overall the project area looked good and met all contract stipulations and specifications.

Project area will be monitored for vegetative trend, cover and wildlife use for the next 3 years. The project area will be rested from livestock for a minimum of 2 complete growing seasons in order to allow the seedlings to become established and set seed. This rest period may be extended if monitoring shows the seeding has not sufficiently established. Kanab Field Office BLM will then begin reading trend on a 5 year interval and utilization data will be collected on an annual basis. Maintenance of the project will be completed in the future by lop and scatter projects