The need for this project is to improve livestock distribution and minimize areas of livestock concentration, while protection rangeland resources including springs, streams, and meadows. This need was initiated as grazing management issues were identified by monitoring condition and trend and conducting range improvement inspections. Identified projects that will reduce cattle impacts on critical riparian and meadow resources include moving troughs and pipelines further from spring sources and constructing exclosures around springs. Many Projects will simply modify existing infrastructure improving the aesthetic of the forest. See photos for examples. Providing funding for cultural clearances will help streamline the NEPA process and allow implementation of projects to occur quicker.

The overall goal of the project is to construct several range improvements to increase cattle distribution across the Vernal and Duchesne/Roosevelt Ranger Districts, and in turn protect and improve water and vegetation resources. Objectives include reducing grazing impacts to critical riparian and meadow resources while maintaining the proper number of authorized head months. These projects will benefit both the permittees and the public by improving the perception of cattle grazing on the forest, which comes with a healthier rangeland. As a result aquatic and terrestrial wildlife will benefit from additional water sources, improved spring and riparian habitat and overall improvements to ecological functions and conditions. Thirteen projects are proposed in sage grouse habitat. These projects include burying of a storage water tank, burying of pipeline, new ponds and protection of springs.

If these projects are not completed isolated issues will continue to degrade resources. The proposed projects will encourage proper cattle distribution and will potentially reduce trailing, herding and other costly management practices. Habitat will continue to be degraded in these critical areas. Areas of heavy livestock concentration are often the first area infested with undesirable weedy plant species including cheatgrass. If the current conditions are not changed they pose a threat of being weed sources to spread throughout the allotments. The currently unprotected spring sources are being trampled by livestock and wildlife. There is a potential that the spring itself and the surrounding habitat could be inhibited if not protected.

The proposed action is in conformance with the Forest Land Management Plan FLMP (1986) for the Ashley National Forest. The FLMP and Grazing Handbook states that the "priority for new range structural improvements will be to developed water sources where there are no available sources within one mile". Design for developments will allow for use by game animals and birds (IV-32 Standards and Guidelines). While focused on additional livestock water, this proposal also provides water to wildlife in areas lacking (see UDWR Mule Deer Management Plan pgs. 8-9 and the UDWR Elk Management Plan pgs. 4-5). Some of the projects will be placed in priority sage grouse habitat. Both the State of Utah and Uintah County Resource Management Plans support the maintenance of grazing programs on federal lands by developing infrastructure, improving habitat and forage and by protecting sensitive riparian areas. The county plan under 20.4.6 objectives specifically states to "use guzzlers, reservoirs, and wells to attract livestock and wildlife away from riparian areas, which can help decrease soil disturbance and impacts to aquatic resources."

Improvements such as ponds and troughs will make water available for drafting during suppression activities in the case of a wildfire.

Most of the Ashley National Forest is located within a Municipal Watershed. By more evenly distributing cattle critical habitat and riparian areas will have less disturbance from livestock and as a result will increase water quality and quantity. The adding new troughs and ponds the project will increase water quantity, benefiting livestock and wildlife. As part of this project, grazing practices are been adapted by changing the grazing rotation and improving range management techniques and tools. Existing water systems have become a priority for maintenance and/or reconstruction to ensure protection of resources. UGIP grants are and will be pursued by permittees for additional funding to construct new projects and reconstruct current systems. As the projects are implemented, grazing will continue to be adapted to maintain proper use, thus directly improving the overall water quality and quantity long term.

The Ashley National Forest initiated the NEPA process in January 2020. The proposed projects will be analyzed for resource concerns or issues including impacts to heritage resources, timber resources, endangered, threatened or sensitive plants and animals, recreation conflicts, etc.

Construction activities include: approximately 7.2 miles of fence, 24 miles of pipeline, 35 troughs, 2 storage tanks, 2 cattleguards, 9 ponds and 5 spring developments. Heavy equipment will be used to rip and bury the pipe, clear fence lines, bury storage tanks, dig ponds and place troughs. The Forest Service and grazing permittees will be responsible for construction in consultation with the Utah Grazing Improvement Program coordinators. It is anticipated that projects will be installed over a 3-10 year period as funds allow. All disturbed areas will be seeded with a desirable and competitive mix of grass, forb and shrub species.

The Ashley National Forest has numerous photo points established within and around the proposed project and will add additional photo points in order to monitor the effects of the new projects. Utilization monitoring will continue to be monitored to determine improvements in cattle distribution. Monitoring photos and data will be recorded on the WRI database completion report as well as stored at the Ashley National Forest. Several DWR range trend studies will also be used to determine long-term improvements. If UGIP grants are used for construction the state may also establish and/or track conditions related to these new range improvements.

The Forest Service and the grazing permittees worked cooperatively to identify several projects that would enhance the management of livestock grazing on the allotments by improving cattle distribution and assist in managing the proper rotation of pastures allowing for recovery of vegetation after grazing. The following partners approve and have been a part of the planning and design of the proposed project. -Grazing permittees on the Ashley National Forest -Utah Grazing Improvement Program-Terrell Thayne -Utah State University-Eric Thacker

Monitoring will be used to determine the effects of the project and management will be adapted as needed. Current and future associated management actions include better salting, herding, and range improvement maintenance/reconstruction to further improve cattle distribution. If monitoring shows positive results, additional projects may be proposed throughout the forest.

These projects will assist in keeping cattle on the forest for their full permitted season and help to maintain the sustainability of cattle grazing on the forest especially during drought years. Forage utilization will become more uniform as cattle are properly distributed. The improvements will improve the aesthetics of the forest by modifying improper or nonfunctional range improvements by burying pipelines and storage tanks moving troughs away from springs, etc. These changes will improve the experience for campers, hunters, bird watchers and the general public.