The Glendale Bench Project is part of the ongoing Upper Kanab Creek Project. In 2017 the area had the Phase II and Phase III pinyon juniper mulched and the area was seeded an part of WRI Project #3953. Due to the extreme drought in 2018 the seeding has come in at a lower rate than desired resulting for more cheatgrass to get established. Cheatgrass has been linked to declines in watershed health, wildlife habitat and rangeland health. Desired vegetation such as forbs, perennial grasses, and brows species typically can not get established once cheatgrass becomes dominate. The proposed treatment site is opportunity greater sage grouse habitat and connects to other treatments completed in UKC. The Glendale Bench is also used by mule deer, which is part of the renowned Paunsagunt mule deer management unit. The Paunsagunt is known for its trophy quality bucks and for providing a world class hunting experience. Elk also use the Glendale bench as winter and transitional habitat. This treatment can benefit game and non-game wildlife species that use this unique habitat, by increasing diversity within the plant community and potentially increasing the amount of forage available.

Objectives include: 1. Restore and preserve the understory, including sagebrush and native grasses and forbs. 2. Increase the available summer/fall sage grouse habitat and connect to occupied habitat. The goal for this area would be to meet the habitat objectives for Greater Sage-Grouse as listed in the ARMPA, Table 2.2. This would include sagebrush cover > than 15%; forb cover >3 and grass cover >10%. 3. Increase the mule deer transitional habitat, by opening the understory and adding desired species to the current plant community.

In the original proposal it mentions that there is always the risk of weed invasion following treatment and of seeding failure, given yearly moisture regimes. These risks are inherent to any vegetation management project. It also states "Should the seeding fail, efforts would be made to secure additional funds to provide the species needed to make the project successful." The seeding is not a total failure however the density is less than desired and is allowing cheatgrass to get a strong hold. By treating the cheatgrass now it will allow additional time for the desired species to increase. There is a very short window of opportunity to do such a treatment. The following risk/threats will be address within the project: Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity- because of the amount of fine fuels that are found in cheatgrass areas, fire frequency is a threat that without the treatment possible threats of creating a fire regime (cheatgrass) that is not consistent in sagebrush ecosystem. Problematic Plant Species- cheatgrass deters the species that use these area. Encroachment also reduces the establishment of desirable species (especially forbs), making the area less productive, resulting in less use and over use of other areas by wildlife and livestock. This area contains the southernmost population of sage grouse in the western United States. Interestingly, as we have completed projects within the Upper Kanab Creek area, birds have continued to "follow" the treatments and move further south. Recently, a gps collared grouse moved through this area and off the white cliffs to areas along John R. Flat (Rhett Boswell). In one of the projects that is being done near here (Upper Sink Valley), grouse have been observed "grubbing" in the immediate treatment area (Brushwacker). This has also been observed in the Buckskin area, following a harrow treatment. It is important to continue the momentum and work that has been done for sage grouse in this area, especially as numbers are increasing. While providing new areas and connectivity it is important that we do not allow undesired species to move into these areas that have had large woody species removed so that we may achieve increased resistance and resilience for this landscape species. Completing this project also has risks. Threats and risks in this area, as addressed in the wildlife action plan include threats from fire and threats from invasive species, especially following fire. Creating a mosaic of burned and unburned areas, at this level will help to slow the spread of fire should one occur. Additionally, cheatgrass following fire is a huge issue in this area (i.e. Broad Hollow). Proactive treatments are much more successful than risking a large scale fire and potential rehab success.

Following the Paunsuagunt Mule Deer Management: - "Coordinate with federal and state partners in designing projects that will improve fire resiliency and protect areas of crucial habitat." - "Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvement projects. Protect deer winter ranges from wildfire by reseeding burned areas, creating fuel breaks and reseed areas dominated by cheat grass with desirable perennial vegetation." - "Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects." Regarding UDWR Elk Management Plan for Paunsuagunt Unit #27: - "Continue to be committed to the statewide goal of supporting habitat projects that increase forage for both big game and livestock." - "Work with private, state and federal agencies to maintain and protect critical and existing range from future losses. Continue projects with USFS, BLM, state and private entities to enhance wildlife habitat." - "Discourage the encroachment of Pinyon and Juniper (PJ) trees into sagebrush and other habitats. Seek opportunities to improve habitat through grazing practices, prescribed burning, and mechanical treatments to improve habitat where PJ encroachment is occurring." Great Sage Grouse Conservation Plan - "5.4.1 Aggressively remove encroaching conifers and other plant species to expand greater sage grouse habitat where possible." Those involved in this project and other Upper Kanab Creek Projects continue to work with the local sage grouse working group (Color Country Adaptive Resource Management Local Working Group) to help fulfill those items identified in the Local Conservation Plan. This plan also ranks a variety of threats to sage grouse populations in the Upper Kanab Creek Area. Fire, vegetation management and invasive species are three aspects ranked as important considerations in this plan. The limiting factors for mule deer on the Paunsagunt is winter range and Highway mortality. This project will likely not help with either of those issues, as it is transition or summer range for mule deer. However, it is a popular area for public hunting, wildlife viewing and supports the overall "Habitat Management Objectives" for this unit by, "maintaining mule deer habitat throughout the unit," and "enhancing existing crucial habitats due to natural and human impacts." Additionally, the Management Plan #27 calls for the continued work to reduce pinyon-juniper encroachment in the Kanab Creek portion of the unit. Mule Deer are seen and harvested frequently throughout this area. 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. http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/planning/SG_RMP_rev/ARMPA.html This project falls under the Paunsagunt Elk Management Plan (Unit 27). Habitat management objectives for elk in this area include supporting those projects that improve habitat through treatment of p/j and increased forage for both wildlife and livestock.

The removal of the pinyon/juniper was to reduce the fuel loads and the threat of large scale wildfire in the treated area by adding fuel breaks. Fuels in this area did consist of Fire Regime 1-2 (35%) and FRCC 3 (65%). However, with the potential of an annual grass dominating the sites the threats will be of a different nature with the possibility of being greater. Values at risk for this area include the town of Glendale, highly valuable wildlife habitat, and risk of conversion to an annual grass site following wildfire. Losing sage grouse in this part of the PHMA is also a value at risk.

Allowing the perennial species to get established will help stabilize the soil and also reduce erosion.

This project is in compliance with R850-50-1100. Range Improvement Projects. No cultural clearance is needed for this project.

Imazapic (Plateau) will be aerially applied to the site at a rate of 5 ounces/ acre. Application would be done around the first of September or just prior to anticipated fall germination of cheatgrass.

2 simple trend study sites will be established to monitor the effectiveness of this treatment. Both sites will have photo documentation.

The grazing permittee is a continuing cooperator with the series of treatments. DWR and NRCS are participating partners in the design and post management of the project. The BLM was approached about including their adjacent lands that where treated at the same time but has chosen to wait to see.

The site has been rested from livestock grazing for 2 years as part of the NRCS range land planting conservation practice followed by upland habitat management conservation practice. while it may not be necessary to rest for additional years the area will have reduced use for the first year following treatment. This project area will likely need follow up lop and scatter in future years as trees return. BLM and WRI have been good to keep on top of this and fund maintenance projects. This area will likely have a grazing permit review in the near future in conjunction with BLM's IM No. 2016-141, which requires the prioritization and review of grazing permits for allotments in greater sage grouse habitat.

This project has the potential to increase available forage for not only wildlife, but also livestock. Such decisions will be made during the 10-year permit renewal. By removing the cheatgrass competition the seeded a mix of grass and forbs, will benefit livestock grazing. This area is part of the Glendale Bench grazing allotment. It is grazed as follows: 43 Cows 8/1-10/31 130 AUMs.