During (Phases 1-5) there has been ~30,000 total acres treated across Monroe Mountain; mostly within the southern 1/3 portion of Monroe Mountain. Treatments within this southern 1/3 portion are now complete. This Phase 6 proposal will consist of treating ~4,317-6,217 total acres mostly within the northern 1/3 portion of Monroe Mountain. This proposal also includes installing ~2.8 miles of aspen ungulate exclusion fencing near Manning Meadows Reservoir. The plan is to treat an estimated ~35,000+ acres during future phases of the project. Continuing project treatments at a large scale across Monroe Mountain is needed to not only address the significant aspen decline across the mountain, but also to mitigate the consistent ungulate pressure on aspen saplings within completed treatments that threaten the projects overall success. This mitigation will be accomplished by maximizing overall size of treatments in an attempt to overwhelm the ungulates using the areas with an abundant supply of aspen sprouts. Aspen canopy cover on Monroe Mountain has decreased by over 70%, or 40,000 acres, in the last 200 years. Restoring aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain is critically important and will have lasting beneficial effects. Aspen restoration at this scale on Monroe Mountain will help improve and maintain population viability for a variety of wildlife species (elk, deer, raptors, neo-tropical migratory birds, small game, insects, etc., along with promoting a fire resilient ecosystem across Monroe Mountain. The project will also enhance watershed integrity by promoting fire resilient aspen ecosystems across numerous watersheds. The purpose of this project is to restore aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain by achieving the desired conditions described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). To help accomplish this purpose, the Richfield District has identified a need to (1) address the conifer encroachment that occurs due to the reduced occurrence of wildland fire primarily due to an increase in wildland fire suppression, and (2) address aspen over browsing by domestic and wild ungulates. These are two of the primary underlying causes for aspen decline on Monroe Mountain. Restoring aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to: 1. Improving and increasing the amount of habitat for wildlife species dependent upon aspen ecosystems (i.e., Mule deer, elk, and Northern goshawk); 2. Improving and increasing the amount of habitat and forage for domestic ungulates (i.e., cattle and sheep); 3. Improving native species diversity; 4. Reducing hazardous fuel accumulations; 5. Reducing the risk for large-scale, intense wildland fires. This results in lower risk to the safety of the public and firefighters. This also results in lower risk to sensitive wildlife species (i.e. Northern goshawk, Western Boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas), and Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah)). Boreal toads are also benefited as aspen regeneration provides food for beavers who in turn create more boreal toad breeding habitat; and, 6. Increasing the probability that future naturally caused fires can be managed (if possible, not suppressed) and allowed to play the greatest feasible natural role in the aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain. Vegetation treatments that encourage aspen regeneration on spring and summer range will continue to provide quality deer fawning and elk calving habitat. A productive understory combined with some dead and down trees is optimal habitat for big game birthing. Recent studies done by BYU and UDWR on Monroe Mtn. have shown that deer coming off good summer range have a sufficient fat layer and acceptable body condition going into winter. It is imperative that additional acres are treated to benefit big game and livestock body conditions at the end of summer and fall. This project will continue to provide those opportunities to ungulate animals. Summer range in optimal condition for big game is essential for building fat reserves that will help them survive winter conditions. With this project being selected for the second time by the Joint Chiefs' Landscape Partnership Restoration funding with NRCS, mechanical treatments are also occurring on private lands located on Monroe Mountain in conjunction with treatments occurring on National Forest System lands. This will have multiple benefits that include cross boundary landscape level aspen restoration, reducing risk of fire on both private and USFS managed lands, and reducing risk of future prescribed fire activities to private property. Through implementation of this project, the amount of forage available to livestock is expected to increase significantly as a result. With the removal of conifer and planned incidental prescribed burning of mountain brush/sagebrush, the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the aspen and brush understory is also expected to increase significantly. With increased forage livestock distribution and management is expected to improve. This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and untreated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. Habitat fragmentation is not expected to be an issue for wildlife as care has been taken to have leave areas, old growth areas, and treatment areas in good juxtaposition across the landscape to promote species diversity. Species (elk and deer) that favor early serial communities and early serial vegetation species will benefit from this project. This project will provide increases in forage and habitat effectiveness that benefit species such as ungulates. Distribution of ungulate pressure will be increased with the increase in useable, effective habitat. Mosaic patterns created by the project will distribute ungulate herbivory across the landscape minimizing overuse to current key areas and allow newly treated areas to have favorable responses to treatments. There will be some short-term (3-5 years) temporary impacts to plant and animal uses of these areas during the implementation phase of the project; however, the overall outcome will provide much needed plant species diversity across the landscape that will last well into the future. Small game and upland game will ultimately see an increased benefit over time as the project areas develop into a maturing forest. Mosaic patterns will be beneficial for most all other wildlife species across the ecosystem. Large infrequent fires are known to extirpate trout populations and habitats as the effects of fire increase ash loads, flood occurrence, and erosion. Bonneville cutthroat trout will likely benefit in the long-term from this project as the risk of catastrophic fire is reduced through fuels reduction in and around Bonneville cutthroat trout-bearing streams. A conservation population of Bonneville cutthroat trout occupy the Manning Creek drainage including Manning Creek, Barney Creek and Vale Creek. This population will continue to be monitored, along with other aquatic species, to assess project impacts and ensure they are at levels conducive to population recovery. Monitoring will also provide information to improve design of future large-scale treatments to reduce aquatic impacts. Following treatments near streams, any aspen regeneration within 300m of streams should benefit potential beaver expansion and/or future beaver reintroduction which should increase the amount of boreal toad breeding habitat. Aspen ungulate exclusion fencing needs to be installed after the prescribed fire treatment near Manning Meadows Reservoir is completed. Fencing in this location was analyzed and is required under the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project ROD. The treatment area adjacent to Manning Meadows Reservoir will be temporarily fenced (3-5 years)to exclude both wildlife and livestock browsing. With fencing, the amount of time needed to acquire a minimum of 1,000 aspen saplings per acre is expected to be quicker along with a speedier recovery of understory cover conditions. Utilizing fencing in this area is needed to shorten potential treatment impacts to sensitive species such as Bonneville cutthroat trout and Boreal toads all located near Manning Meadows Reservoir.

Project Goals: 1) Implement a landscape level aspen ecosystem restoration project to treat at least 62,000 acres on USFS lands over a 10-year period. 2) Implement treatments with a cross boundary landscape level approach to reduce risk of fire and promote fire resilient aspen ecosystems. 3) Through collaboration, promote treatment efforts on private lands located on Monroe Mountain. 4) Minimize project costs by promoting cost effective treatments along with increased scale and size of treatments. 5) Implement a landscape level ecosystem restoration project that will reduce hazardous fuels and reduce risk of catastrophic fire. 6) Improve and expand habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species such as, Bonneville cutthroat trout, Boreal toad, Northern goshawk, and Flammulated owl. 7) Wildlife Benefit Goal: Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand size shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion to improve wildlife habitat. Create age class diversity in the aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain and create a more sustainable aspen landscape over time. Diversity will be created that will benefit multiple species helping to maintain a wide array of viable wildlife and avian populations across Monroe Mountain. 8) Aquatic Species Monitoring Goal: Over the course of the project aquatics monitoring will provide information about the effects of landscape scale vegetation treatments on boreal toads and their habitat use, breeding, distribution, population size, mortality, and hibernaculas. 9) Aquatics Species Benefit Goal: Large infrequent fires are known to extirpate trout populations and habitats as the effects of fire increase ash loads, flood occurrence, and erosion. - Bonneville cutthroat trout will likely benefit in the long-term from this project as the risk of catastrophic fire is reduced through fuels reduction in Bonneville cutthroat trout-bearing streams. Treatment Objectives: 1) Improve seral and stable aspen stands by reintroducing disturbances; prescribed fire and mechanical treatments to reduce conifer invasion and stimulate new aspen regeneration. 2) Within the mechanical areas, merchantable timber will be sold and conifers will be cut, piled or utilized for wildlife fencing. Additionally, 80%-100% of cut and cured slash piles will be burned. To access the conifer, some incidental cutting of aspen may occur. 3) Reduce hazardous fuels while maintaining and improving fire resilient landscapes by improving the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. 4) Increase overall forage production, habitat quality, and species diversity by treating in a mosaic pattern of 60% treated and 40% untreated that will create biodiversity across the landscape. 5) Improve and/or protect habitat for sensitive, threatened and endangered species such as Bonneville cutthroat trout, Boreal toad Northern goshawk, and Flammulated owl. 5) Aspen Monitoring Objective: In response to aspen over browsing, aspen in the project area is and will continue to be monitored. Browse thresholds have been established. Adaptive management response options have been developed. Short-term temporary adjustments in livestock/wildlife management may be needed to ensure new aspen regeneration successfully recruits (reaches greater than 6 feet height). Goals and Objectives will be met by applying prescribed fire in the mixed conifer/aspen areas, allowing incidental burning to occur in adjacent mountain brush/sagebrush areas near planned aspen treatments, and using mechanical treatments in conjunction with traditional timber sales to remove encroaching conifers from aspen areas. This phase of the project is estimated to treat ~4,317 to ~6,217 acres. The total estimated cost is $194-279 per acre for this phase of implementation. The WRI portion for investment into this project is estimated at $104-149/acre, which is roughly half of the total funding required. Species benefiting from this project: 1) Bobcat: Treatment will create increased diversity in prey base for this species. 2) Elk: Treatments will improve forage, calving areas, and cover-forage ratios to help maintain a viable elk population on Monroe Mtn. Optimal summer vegetative conditions are highly important for elk and deer to build a fat layer that will help support them through winter months. This project helps achieve that need. 3) Blue Grouse: Treatments in spruce/fir will allow shrub and other understory components to increase providing a greater food source across the treated landscape. 4) Ruffed Grouse: Treatments will improve understory brush, seed and insect potential. 5) American beaver: Beaver will find improved water resources in the overall riparian system as well as healthy aspen and willows. This will help provide the continued existence of beaver populations on Monroe Mountain and riparian health. 6) Bonneville cutthroat trout: Improvement in watersheds will have long term benefits for trout 7) Domestic Livestock: Treatments will improve vegetation across the mountain by dispersing ungulate pressure across more of a broad landscape. Treated area overtime will help provide added forage to the system to benefit all ungulates. 8) Golden Eagle: Treatments will improve prey base and foraging opportunities for all raptors. 9) Rainbow Trout: Improvement in the watersheds will have long term benefits for trout. 10) Flammulated owl: Flammulated owl on Monroe Mtn. are very specific to Douglas Fir (DF) forest types. Avoidance of treatment in DF is planned. Adjacent treatments will help provide a diversity of prey for birds. 11) Bald Eagle: Treatments will improve prey base and foraging opportunities for eagles. 12) Wild Turkey: Wild turkey are highly attracted to newly treated areas. These treatments will improve understory plants producing seed and insects. 13) Mule deer: Treatments will improve foraging, hiding, and fawning habitat for a viable population. Optimal summer vegetative conditions are highly important for deer to build a fat layer that will help support them through winter months. This project helps achieve that need. 14) Black Bear: Improved forest from treatments will produce diversity across the flora and fauna component for predators and prey alike. 15) Cougar: Improved forest from treatments will produce diversity across the flora and fauna component for predators and prey alike. 16) Western Toad: Improvement of seeps and springs will maintain or improve toad habitat. 17) Snowshoe Hare: Improved forest from treatments will produce diversity across the flora and fauna component for predators and prey alike. This species provides prey opportunities for bobcat, cougar, bear, large raptors and hunters.

Aspen dominated forests on Monroe Mountain have already experienced a 70% decline compared to historical conditions. With increasing shade from conifers and a decline in aspen dominated cover, ungulate browsing pressure across the mountain increases as ungulates concentrate browse pressure in fewer areas of high forage, causing negative ecological impacts across a wide range of vegetation types on Monroe Mountain. Without treatment, the amount of usable forage for ungulates will decrease and distribution of ungulates will continue to concentrate. If left untreated, a continued loss of seral aspen is expected due to the level of conifer infilling and low rate of aspen sprouts recruiting. A good majority of the seral aspen stands during this phase of treatment are fir dominant with fading live aspen. Observations of recent treatment during previous phases of this project suggest that treatments that occur in seral stands that have a higher component of aspen still remaining, will produce more aspen sprouts overall post treatment. Every year left untreated there are more and more aspen dying as fir infilling continues. This observation has also suggested that treating these stands in future will become less cost effective. More fir infilling will occur, less aspen will be remaining, and as a result when treated less aspen regeneration will be expected threatening overall success of the project. Stable aspen ecosystems are also expected to decline without treatment - which distributes browse pressure from recruiting aspen sprouts within these stands. Some stable aspen stands are composed almost exclusively with older trees near the maximum life expectancy for quaking aspen. Though the primary purpose of this project is aspen ecosystem restoration, incidental treatments in the mountain brush/sagebrush are anticipated. If left untreated, a continued loss of grasses and forbs is expected due to the level of mountain brush and sagebrush infilling and low rate of grasses and forbs sprouts. A good majority of the adjacent mountain brush and sagebrush slopes during this phase of treatment are brush dominant with fading grasses and forbs understory. Observations of recent incidental burning during previous phases of this project suggest that treatments that occur in this high elevation mountain brush and sagebrush will respond well with significant increase of grasses and forbs post treatment. Every year left untreated brush infilling continues decreasing overall forage production for both wildlife and livestock grazing. The entire Monroe Mountain is at risk of large catastrophic wildfires that could adversely affect entire watersheds. Completed treatments along with planned and future treatments reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level to multiple watershed. As conifers continue to expand and infill, the risk for large uncharacteristic/catastrophic wildfires will also continue to increase. Wildfire suppression costs are extremely high, especially when suppressing fires in similar fuel types and loadings as present on this project. When wildfires occur, this could result in damage to private property and numerous structures, increased erosion, greater opportunities for noxious weed establishment, impacts to available short-term forage, stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides/flooding events. This project reduces risks to multiple communities and watersheds across the Monroe Mountain along with multiple municipal watersheds of Sevier Valley Communities. A majority of the project is in Fire Regime Condition Class 3 (FRCC 3). As described in further detail in the Fire and Fuels section, treatments would improve the Fire Regime Condition Class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. Habitat for sensitive species such as the Northern goshawk and Flammulated owl are currently at risk from catastrophic high severity wildfire. Implementation of this project reduces the risk of bad wildfires impacting these sensitive species. Design criteria are also included to help minimize short-term impacts to these species. The greatest threat/risk to this project's success is domestic and wild ungulate browse pressure on aspen saplings post disturbance. One of the critical elements to reduce the risk of browse pressure is to increase the pace and scale of project treatments. As all past phases of this project are still within browse height of ungulates, continued treatments at a significant pace and scale are necessary to assure that browsing pressure is dispersed across all treatments. The risk involved with increased pace and scale is having capacity and continuous funding to continue to concentrate large acres of treatments to disperse this browse pressure. Incidental mountain brush and sagebrush treatments will also aid in dispersing browse pressure by increasing forage production near aspen treatments. To aid attainment of at least 1,000 to 2,000 aspen saplings per acre and 400 to 600 aspen recruits per acre in areas where mechanical and/or prescribed fire treatments are to occur, browse thresholds and adaptive management response options have collaboratively been developed and if needed, will be implemented. For more information about browse thresholds and response options, please see page 20-26 of the attached Final Record of Decision. The browse thresholds and response options are supported by UDWR and the Utah Wildlife Board. Annual encroachment of conifers is occurring at an exponential rate and now is the time to treat acres on a "grand scale" to allow the aspen ecosystem a chance to recover and restore lost acres. Understory forage will become valuable for existing wild and domestic ungulate animals. Tension between ranchers and sportsmen should decrease over time as more forage is created through vegetation treatments. This project has numerous perennial water bodies/riparian systems and watersheds located across Monroe Mountain. Project polygons from this phase of the project will take place at or near Manning Meadows Reservoir (303d), Barney Reservoir, Magelby Reservoir (private), Manning Creek, Barney Creek, as well as tributaries to Monroe Creek and Monkey Fork. Restoring uplands will reduce potential risks from future high severity wildfires by reducing impacts to these water sources and reducing risks of future impairment.

This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). The desired conditions described in the EIS and the purpose and need for this project are consistent with the Forest's goals, the objectives found in Chapter IV of the LRMP, and the Utah Fire Amendment (USFS 2001). The proposed treatment units are within the following management areas: * 2B -- Rural and Roaded Natural Recreation; * 4A -- Fish Habitat Improvement; * 4B -- Habitat for Management Indicator Species; * 5A -- Big Game Winter Range - Non-forested; * 6B -- Intensive Livestock Management; * 7B -- Wood-Fiber Production - Genetics; and * 9F-- Improved Watershed. The relevant LRMP goals and objectives are listed below: 1. Ecosystems are restored and maintained, consistent with land uses and historic fire regimes, through wildland fire use and prescribed fire (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-40). 2. Manage forest cover types to provide variety in stand sizes shape, crown closure, edge contrast, age structure and interspersion (LRMP pg. IV-99). 3. Prescribed fire is authorized forest-wide (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41). 4. Use prescribed fire to reduce fuel buildup and meet resource objectives (LRMP pg. IV-5). 5. Reduce hazardous fuels; the full range of reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and MA emphasis and direction (Utah Fire Amendment, pg. A-41). 6. Identify and improve habitat for sensitive, threatened, and endangered species including participation in recovery efforts for both plants and animals (LRMP IV-4). 7. Improve or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter ranges (LRMP IV-4). 8. Maintain structural diversity of vegetation on management areas dominated by forested ecosystems (LRMP IV-11). 9. Manage aspen for retention where needed for wildlife, watershed, or esthetic purposes (LRMP IV-11). 10. Manage seral aspen stands for a diversity of age classes (LRMP IV-11). 11. Manage aspen to perpetuate the species and improve quality (LRMP IV-4). 12. Provide wood fiber while maintaining or improving other resource values LRMP IV-4). 13. Improve timber age class distribution and maintain species diversity (LRMP IV-4). 14. Manage tree stands using both commercial and noncommercial methods. Enhance visual quality, diversity, and insect and disease control (LRMP IV-62 and IV-84d). 15. Maintain and manage forested inclusions to provide a high level of forage production, wildlife habitat, and diversity (LRMP IV-112). 16. The area would have a mosaic of fully stocked stands that follow natural patterns and avoid straight lines and geometric shapes (LRMP IV-113). 17. Prevent and control insect infestation and disease (LRMP IV-5) 18. Move toward historic fire regimes in these vegetation types on Monroe Mountain. The Aspen ROD is consistent with the following plans: 1. Fishlake National Forest Fire Management Plan in restoring fire adapted ecosystems. 2. The "Guidelines for Aspen Restoration on the National Forests in Utah" publication developed by the Utah Forest Aspen Restoration Working Group. 3. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Elk Management Plan. a. Habitat Management Goal: i. Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. b. Habitat Objective 1: i. Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. ii. Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. iii. Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that need enhancement or restoration. iv. Identify habitat projects on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat. v. Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages through the use controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas with minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns. vi. Promote let-burn policies in appropriate areas that will benefit elk, and conduct reseeding efforts post wildlife. This project will help maintain a viable elk herd on the Monroe Unit, Fishlake Unit and Mt. Dutton units. 4. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex Elk Management Plan (2016) lists range improvements in the habitat objectives section. This project specifically addresses the components listed under range improvements in that it enhances forage production and habitat quality through direct range improvements on winter range within the unit. The Greater Plateau Elk Complex goes on to mention that "focus will be on high use areas especially where we can entice animals away from agricultural areas." Agricultural areas on top of Monroe Mountain would consist of private lands that run private bands of sheep or cattle for profit. Other private landowners may or may not enjoy elk use on their private parcels. 5. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mule Deer Management Plan. This project will help introduce species diversity back into the Monroe Mountain area. A mosaic design is part of the implementation strategy to create a pattern of treated and un-treated acres that will create an increase of biodiversity. a. Habitat Objective 2: i. Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019 (p. 19). ii. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species. iii. Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah. iv. Seek opportunities through the Watershed Restoration Initiative to improve aspen communities that provide crucial summer habitat for mule deer. v. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire. Mule deer population numbers are at lower numbers (see monitoring section) on the Monroe Unit at this time. Environmental factors such as drought, harsh winters, poor precipitation on summer range, predators, and moderate acres of winter range habitat improved are factors that play into the sustainability of a viable deer herd. Habitat improvement from this project will help provide additional quality habitat to improve the viability of local Mule deer populations. Careful consideration has been given to Northern goshawk territories found within the project boundaries. Territories will be part of the mosaic pattern designed as "leave" areas from prescribed burn and mechanical treatments. Prescribed burning in the past has claimed a few nesting sites so we are careful to protect this Sensitive Species. There are over 20 goshawk territories on Monroe Mountain. They are scattered across the upper elevations and in mixed aspen-conifer. All known territories have been mapped and monitored on a regular basis. 6. Grazing Allotment Plans for 10 different allotments within the overall project boundaries. The amount of forage available to livestock is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of conifer the amount of grasses and forbs in the aspen understory is expected to increase significantly. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. 7. Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan. Newly treated areas through fire or mechanical means will attract use by wild turkey which are abundant on Monroe Mountain. Insects and new growth will be readily available to support turkey populations. a. Objective 2. Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020 (p.16). 8. UDWR Wildlife Action Plan. This project is geared toward meeting the goals found within this plan for a variety of wildlife species from large too small. The project is in line with the State's Wildlife Action Plan in that it directly benefits lentic water, lotic water, mountain riparian, and wet meadow habitats. It further directly benefits Bonneville cutthroat trout and boreal toad. Threat - Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity: a. Objective #1 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity. Fire is excluded from habitats in which potential burns now would be frequent, large, and destructive to soils and native vegetation. The habitats are being actively managed (treated) to reduce components or factors that promote risk of catastrophic fire, such as cheatgrass, excessive conifer encroachment, or unnaturally large stands of mature Gambel oak (pg. 103). i. 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires (pg. 104). ii. 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings (pg. 104). iii. 2.3.20 Conduct post-fire rehabilitation (pg. 104) . b. Objective #2 for Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity. Fire is returned to habitats from which it had been unnaturally excluded; the fire regime (frequency and intensity) in these habitats generally approximates a natural, pre-settlement regime (pg. 105). i. 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings (pg. 106). ii. 2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense (pg. 106). iii. 7.3.4 Increase the use of stewardship contracting on BLM and National Forest lands (pg. 106). 9. National Cohesive Strategy. By means of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning at a landscape scale, the resulting mosaic of early and late successional forests will work toward the goal of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes; one of the three goals described in the National Cohesive Strategy. a. Resilient landscapes general guidance regarding vegetation and fuels management include use and expand fuel treatments involving mechanical, biological, or chemical methods where economically feasible and sustainable, and where they align with landowner objectives (pg. 58). 10. State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project aligns with the mission of the State of Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy. The project has developed a comprehensive and systematic approach toward reducing the size, intensity and frequency of catastrophic wildland fires on Monroe Mountain through a collaborative process. The project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence negatively affecting property, air quality and water systems. a. The Mission: Develop a collaborative process to protect the health and welfare of Utahns, and our lands by reducing the size and frequency of catastrophic fires (pg. 4). b. Adopt Key Recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (pg. 15). c. Encourage federal land management agencies to expedite fuels treatments (pg. 15). d. Prioritize landscapes for treatment (irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries) (pg. 15). 11. Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP a. Goal 1: Minimize the potential wildland fire threat to life safety (Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP). This project works to achieve Goal 1 of the Monroe Mountain Cove Mountain CWPP by reducing fuel loading and lowering the potential of wildland fire spread across Monroe Mountain. 12. State of Utah Forest Action Plan. The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project addresses all three of the key goals laid out in the Forest Action Plan: conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses, protect forests from threats, and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Wood products will be available through firewood permits, timber sales and stewardship contracts in accordance with the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration ROD and the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. All actions called for in the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project work together to reduce wildfire and forest health threats to the surrounding forests and reduce the potential for long-term degradation of forested watersheds on Monroe Mountain. 13. State of Utah Boreal Toad Conservation Plan. Boreal toad monitoring that will take place in connection with the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystem Restoration Project aligns with conservation actions listed in the State of Utah Boreal Toad Conservation Plan. 14. Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout. This project aligns with conservation actions listed in the Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville cutthroat trout. a. Southern Bonneville Management Unit management actions: "Fires and floods are a threat to small, isolated BCT populations. These threats are usually associated with fragmented habitat. Small populations potentially are subject to random events that threaten their existence. Such threats decrease with increasing populations, population size, habitat complexity and connectedness." Implementation of this project will reduce the threat of catastrophic fire and the associated negative impacts to Bonneville cutthroat trout on Monroe Mountain. 15. Sevier County Resource Management Plan. This project is congruent with the policies and desired management practices found in Sevier County's Resource Management Plan. a. Support the removal of conifers and manage land to promote the establishment of aspen cover and attendant grass, brush, and forbs. b. Encourage timber harvesting to prevent fuel load and biomass buildup. c. The county supports prescribed burns as a fuel's reduction management tool for resource enhancement, when used in conjunction with forest thinning and post-treatment salvage or in areas that physically cannot be mechanically thinned, when such burns comply with air quality regulations. d. Support managing forest cover types to perpetuate tree cover and provide healthy stands, high water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat. e. Support the management of forests and woodlands for healthy conditions that contribute to healthy habitat for animal and plant species, proper watershed functioning conditions, and riparian restoration and enhancement. f. Support agencies in prioritizing fuel reduction treatment in high-value/high-risk areas (e.g., wildland-urban interface, developed recreation facilities including campgrounds). g. Desired management Practices 1. Encourage the commercial and non-commercial harvesting of forests and woodlands, to the maximum extent possible, through federal agencies' plans and policies. h. Agencies should support a broad range of reforestation and timber stand improvement tools and timber harvesting practices consistent with prudent resource protection practices. 16. Central Utah Fire Management Plan (FMP): Greater use of vegetation management to meet resource management objectives. Hazardous fuels treatments will be used to restore ecosystems, protect human, natural and cultural resources, and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities. Sagebrush steppe communities will be a high priority for ESR and fuel reduction to avoid catastrophic fires in these areas. The burn plans are reviewed and each ignition is approved through the Utah State Smoke Management Plan, as described in Utah Rule 307-204. This project will meet the Utah State Smoke Management Plan requirements.

The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project is being implemented to effectively restore resilient, fire-adapted aspen ecosystems on a landscape-scale and across boundaries by moving the stands toward properly functioning condition in terms of composition (species diversity) and density (crown spacing and fuel loading). In addition, the treatments will improve structural diversity, promote aspen regeneration and recruitment, reduce the hazardous fuel loadings and reduce the continuity of fuels across the Monroe Mountain landscape; thus mitigating the risks and damage associated with a high intensity, high severity, uncharacteristic/catastrophic wildfire. Where appropriate, this project will expand opportunities to manage fire for resource benefits and meet Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan objectives. Over the past decades, spruce dominated stands within this project area have also been significantly impacted by beetle infestations. A majority of the large mature spruce have been killed leaving an increased fire hazard in these areas. Timber sales are occurring and continuing to be planned to help mitigate this hazard by targeting the dead standing spruce for commercial sale and preserving the live spruce regeneration in the understory. This upper elevation project compliments completed, and future planned treatments/projects located in the mid to lower elevations. All these projects combined reduce the risk of fire at a landscape level to multiple communities and watersheds across Monroe Mountain while promoting resilient landscapes. Please refer to the "Future Management" section for more details. Wildfires in this mixed conifer fuel type are very hard to contain and suppression costs are extremely high. When wildfires occur, this could result in damage to private property and numerous structures, increased erosion, greater opportunities for noxious weed establishment, impacts to available short-term forage, stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides. This project reduces risks to multiple municipal watersheds. These watersheds include the following: Monroe, Annabella, and Washburnville culinary systems, Annabella Irrigation and Monroe Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Manning Creek Watersheds. The risk for catastrophic wildfire would be reduced adding a layer of protection from such events to adjacent landowners, homes/structures and Forest Service owned improvements. High value areas including Manning Meadows, Monroe Meadows, Long Flat, Bagley Ranch and Magelby Reservoir communities with numerous homes and structures in close proximity to the planned prescribed fire and mechanical portions of this phase of implementation. Monroe Meadows subdivision is located directly adjacent to a portion of the planned mechanical thinning/timber sale area located near Monkey Flat Ridge. Long Flat, and the community near Magelby Reservoir also includes a portion of the private land thinning planned during this phase. Once mechanical treatments are completed, large scale prescribed fire treatments will commence further reducing risk of fire to these subdivisions. UFFSL will provide employees to help carry these projects over to the private side to help provide safety for fire and prescribed burning operations. Mechanical thinning will also be occurring on private property in the Magelby, Monroe Meadows and Long Flat areas. This treatment in conjunction with future planned prescribed fire and mechanical treatments on adjacent USFS lands will reduce risk of fire to this private property with numerous homes and structures. The dominant southwest wind flow in conjunction with associated fire behavior and long-range spotting expected from the mixed conifer/aspen fuel type pose significant wildland fire risk to these areas and values. A majority of the planned treatments will be occurring on the southwest side of these values that will create a large treated buffer that will significantly reduce the risk of fire to these values. Cross boundary hazardous fuels treatments in high priority areas are occurring in conjunction with the NRCS and Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands (UFFSL) to reduce the likelihood of adverse fire impacts to communities located on Monroe Mountain. Values at risk and resource concerns include the following: a. WUI involving private property with structures directly adjacent to the project area and scattered across the Monroe Mountain. b. Priority wildlife habitat: For example, Northern goshawks, Flammulated owls, and Boreal toads within and adjacent to project areas identified high crown fire potentials due to crown connectivity. c. If untreated- continued decline in aspen. d. If untreated- uncharacteristic high intensity/severity fire effects. The majority of this project is within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced) and fire regime IV -- 35-100+ year frequency and high (stand replacement) severity (greater than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced). The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project is in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2.

Project treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large-scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. When wildfires occur, increased erosion, greater opportunities for stream sedimentation, and possible mud slides can occur. This project reduces risks to municipal watersheds and culinary water systems that include the following: Monroe , Annabella, and Washburnville (Monroe and Cottonwood Creek Watersheds). This project reduces risks to multiple watersheds across the Monroe Mountain by maintaining watershed function and promoting fire resilient aspen ecosystems. Long-term water quality and watershed health will be maintained or enhanced. By removing conifer via prescribed fire and or mechanical it is anticipated that watershed resilience, hydrologic storage capacity in the regenerated aspen, and water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved). Fire behavior over the last 2 decades have illustrated the potential for large uncontrollable fires across Monroe Mountain with current fuel loadings and conifer stand densities. A large wildfire would likely lead to large flood events. Water quantity could increase but most increase would be associated with storm events or early snow melt. This would likely lead to channel instability and downcutting. Ash, erosion from the fire, and erosion from channel adjustments would decrease water quality by increasing water turbidity and sediment loads. These effects could lead to extirpation of fish populations if the area burned was large enough. Water quantity (and quality) would return to near baseline levels as vegetation recovered over time, but channel adjustments such as down-cutting post-fire would likely have long-term consequences such as reduced areas of riparian habitat and wet meadows, resulting in reduced storage capacity. Barney Lake and Manning Meadows Reservoir are listed for 303d impairments dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus. Treatments during this phase are located adjacent to all these perennial water systems. Project treatments will increase ground cover by promoting increased grasses and forbs. Treatments that improve ground cover will likely reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system. Restoring uplands within all these ecological communities will reduce impacts from future wildfires along with reducing risks of future impairment to the watersheds. Sevier County Resource Management Plan: In Sevier County's Water Quality and Hydrology section under Desired Management Practices the statement below supports these types of projects. a. Where water resources on public lands have diminished because grasses have succeeded to pinyon-juniper and other woody vegetation, a vigorous program of mechanical treatments should be applied to promptly remove this woody vegetation and biomass, stimulate the return of the grasses to historic levels, and thereby provide a watershed that maximizes water yield and water quality for livestock, wildlife, and human uses (pg. 24).

The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) analyzed five alternatives and displays the effects in conformance with the Act (40 CFR 1500 to 1508 and FSH 1909.15). The FEIS documents the analysis of environmental effects associated with a suite of restoration treatments on several thousand acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands. The Final Record of Decision (ROD) documents issues presented from public and stakeholders, and local collaborative efforts; in conjunction with the analysis of five alternatives, including a no action alternative. It presents the decision along with rationale and alternatives considered in reaching the decision. All required clearances and archeological surveys have been completed for the entire project.

Phase 6 of this project will involve improving aspen ecosystems on Monroe Mountain by accomplishing the following: 1) Mechanically removing conifer (in house and via contract) from ~500 acres of seral aspen stands on USFS land (Summer/Fall of 2021). 2) Implementing a slash line contract for prescribed fire preparation near critical holding areas and private property on USFS land (Summer/Fall of 2021). 3) Mechanical thinning beetle killed spruce via contract from 291 acres through a traditional timber sale on USFS land (Summer/Fall of 2021). 4) Hand thinning and chipping road-sides via contract from 26 acres (2.5 miles of road ways) on private lands (Summer/Fall of 2021). 5) Broadcast prescribed burning ~3,500-5,400 acres of aspen/mixed conifer and approximately 20% incidental burning of mountain brush/sagebrush on USFS Land. The variability in acres depends on availability of appropriate burn windows and weather conditions (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022). 6) Pile burning ~1,400 acres 7) Aerial seeding ~500 acres of high intensity prescribed burned areas from Phase 5 of this project (Fall 2021). 8) Continuing aquatics and aspen monitoring efforts (Summer 2021). 9) Continuing Range and Weed Control Monitoring (Summer 2021). 9) 300 cruise plots completed by UFFSL for USFS. During the summer/fall of 2021 a seasonal Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) Timber Crew will complete timber surveys of aspen, mixed conifer and spruce/fir stands in preparation for a future timber sale/thinning contract to be awarded for the following summer of 2022. 10) 2.8 miles of aspen ungulate exclusion fencing installed via contract. Fencing supplies will be provided by the FS to contractor. Fencing is being reused from areas that have been removed on other portions of the project. This fence will be approximately 8 feet tall and constructed with net wire, t-post, and wooden post. Maintenance of the temporary fence will occur for 3-5 years until the aspen regeneration is greater than 6 feet tall, after which the fence will be removed. The mechanical thinning/piling treatment method on USFS lands will be accomplished primarily through a Good Neighbor Agreement with the UDWR and contract services utilizing forestry equipment. Phase 5 of mechanical thinning is currently already under contract. Also 3 tracked bobcat skidsteer loaders with appropriate forestry attachments operated by force account will also be utilized. The mechanical thinning on private lands will be completed in conjunction with the NRCS, UFFSLs, and the private landowners though the Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership. Due to ungulate browse thresholds possibly being reached on some treated portions of this project, wildlife slash fences, when feasible may also be constructed. Some biomass fencing is currently under contract to be built during the thinning process. The biomass from the mechanical thinning will be utilized to build an approximate 8' tall fence. Biomass fencing will reduce future costs of constructing traditional net-wire fences and will reduce ungulate browse pressure on newly mechanically treated areas on both private and USFS lands. Prescribed fire implementation will be accomplished utilizing both USFS and inter-agency fire management resources along with aerial helicopter contract services and a Good Neighbor Agreement with UFFSLs that will allow us to utilize and include local volunteer fire departments and state fire resources during implementation. Prescribed fire treatments will be implemented utilizing aerial and/or hand ignition techniques targeting spruce/fir, mixed conifer, and seral aspen with mosaic burn patterns and mixed burn severities as an objective. To maintain Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan(LRMP) compliance, prescribed fire will occur when 60 percent of the area will be expected to burn leaving 40 percent of the area unburned. Incidental burning of mountain brush and other vegetation types is expected and allowed during prescribed fire implementation. Prescribed burn reseeding will generally occur after treatment and will be focused on high intensity burn areas. We will utilize contract services to aerial seed. Phase 5 piles are planned to be burned. This will be accomplished by force account seasonal firefighters. If needed, burn pile scars will be reseeded to minimize establishment of noxious weeds. As part of this project aspen monitoring is required and needed to determine if new aspen regeneration is successfully recruiting; a sufficient number of aspen sprouts are reaching 6 feet and taller. This aspen monitoring is also needed to determine if aspen browse thresholds are being exceeded and to determine if adaptive management response options need to be implemented. This aspen monitoring is being done by Dr. Sam St. Clair from Brigham Young University and will need to continue for the duration of this project. This aspen monitoring is already funded with prior year funds. As a part of this project, the District will monitor boreal toads before, during, and after project implementation. Monitoring will be done to ensure project design features are implemented as designed, work as intended and are effective, and that site-specific findings of toad use areas, timing, etc. are incorporated into implementation actions. This monitoring will help ensure that boreal toad impacts are minimized. Monitoring will also include breeding site monitoring to document use and relative densities of populations. The Aquatics Final Monitoring Plan in the Aquatic Specialist Report for Sensitive and MIS Aquatic Species for the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project (Whelan 2015a) discusses the monitoring plan in detail. The monitoring plan includes project objectives of determining changes in toad use areas, chytrid fungus infection rates/changes, finding key concentration areas such as breeding sites and hibernacula that will be buffered/protected, determining boreal toad use of areas planned for treatment, comparing toad use of treated versus untreated habitat, and (to the extent possible) determining population size and survival data. Aquatic Invasive Species control measures and annual reporting requirements are included as part of the monitoring plan. Some modifications have been necessary as radio tracking has been precluded due to low population numbers and UDWR direction. Additional survey work will be done to help determine toad use areas and habitat preferences without the radio tracking data. Due to extremely low Boreal toad population numbers, some historic breeding locations were fenced as part of Phases 3 and 4 of the project. Beaver dam analogues (BDA) were also installed to enhance and protect breeding habitat. Efforts to improve and protect boreal toad breeding and known key habitat use areas are intended to reduce the cumulative effects that Monroe project activities as well as other ongoing land use activities have on boreal toads. Phase 6 project work will include monitoring of fenced areas and continued BDA installations.

Approximately 120 to 140 long-term aspen transects will be used to monitor status and trend of aspen following implementation. Monitoring is being done in conjunction and coordinated with aspen monitoring/research currently being done on Monroe Mountain by Dr. Sam St. Clair from Brigham Young University. Monitoring will address aspen regeneration/recruitment and understory conditions. Approximately 90 of these transects have already been established and are currently being monitored. To compliment this monitoring, 11 exclosures have also already been built at various locations across Monroe Mountain. See Final Record of Decision for additional information about monitoring. As a part of this project, the District will monitor boreal toads before, during, and after project implementation. Monitoring will be done to ensure project design features are implemented as designed, work as intended and are effective, and that site-specific findings of toad use areas, timing, etc. are incorporated into implementation actions. This monitoring will help ensure that boreal toad impacts are minimized. Monitoring will also include breeding site monitoring to document use and relative densities of populations. Aquatics monitoring plans in 2018 were updated and revised in consideration of some of the monitoring findings and developments from summer 2016 and 2017 and meetings with UDWR in March and October of 2017. Radio-tracking of boreal toads was not pursued in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags will continue to be used at 6 main breeding zones. Finally, more proactive boreal toad habitat and population restoration work will begin. If boreal toad egg strands are found on Monroe in 2021, a portion will be taken into captivity to be raised to toadlets for release in the fall. Experimental/temporary key habitat protection measures and other habitat improvement projects will be implemented from Phase 3 and later stages of the Monroe project. These measures include boreal toad breeding site fencing maintenance and beaver dam analogue installations in key boreal toad historic breeding/use habitat. In addition, the District will monitor fish populations, streamflow, water turbidity, basic water chemistry, and aquatic macroinvertebrates one time before treatments are implemented if they have not been monitored in the last five years. Fish populations, streamflow, water turbidity, basic water chemistry, and aquatic macroinvertebrates will also be monitored immediately following project implementation and one final time three to five years following project implementation. Lake water quality (basic water chemistry, nutrient levels, and secchi disk depths) will also be monitored from fish supporting lakes in the project area before project implementation in that watershed, during project implementation, and three to five years following project implementation. Monitoring will be conducted monthly during the summer season from approximately May/June through Sept/October. The District will repeat hydrological channel monitoring stations (cross-sections, longitudinal profiles, and photo points) that were established in or about 2001 on Manning Creek, Barney Creek, Dry Canyon, and Koosharem Creek. These stations will be resampled one time before treatments are implemented, immediately following project implementation, and a final time three to five years following project implementation. Throughout implementation of this project elk, deer, owls and goshawks will also continue to be monitored annually (TESP and MIS). The District Wildlife staff will work closely with local UDWR biologists to monitor wildlife utilization on aspen regeneration. In the event established thresholds markers are exceeded conferencing will occur to enact protocol measures to prevent continued over-utilization of aspen sprouting. Photo plots combined with camera traps will be established to monitor results. California Condor: This project lies south of I-70 and is therefore within the 10j experimental non-essential area for the California condor. We will monitor to learn if any of these raptor species are to show up on Monroe Mountain. Multiple fuels and prescribed fire monitoring plots have been established with the prescribed fire portions of the project. Plots will be visited post treatments 1 year, 3 year, and 5 years to monitor fuels and tree mortality. This will be accomplished by the Forest Service SCA Monitoring Crew. Invasive and noxious weeds are not known to occur in the treatment areas; however, treatment areas will be monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. Not only will treatments enhance habitat for big game but increased diversity will also benefit small game, raptors, rabbits, turkey, as well as predator species in the treatment areas. Deer and elk are utilizing the treatment areas that have been burned, cut, seeded and/or recently masticated. 2019 post-season deer numbers are positive and area specific (not indicative of the unit as a whole) which would lead us to believe that vegetation projects on summer, transition and winter range are helping keep deer healthier than other parts of the range.

The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project is a result of several years of planning and collaboration among interested parties, groups and organizations, and Federal, State and local government agencies. In January 2010, the Utah Forest Aspen Restoration Working Group (UFRWG) finalized the 2010 Guidelines for Aspen Restoration on the National Forests in Utah (UFRWG 2010). As part of this effort, the UFRWG submitted a call for project proposals that could effectively test the newly created guidelines. The Fishlake National Forest submitted the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project to the UFRWG for their consideration. The proposal was accepted and in April 2011 the Monroe Mountain Working Group (MMWG) was formed to provide recommendations and feedback to the District as the project was being developed. From May 2011 through December 2015 the Richfield Ranger District met with the MMWG almost monthly developing and working on this project. These meetings were open to the public to provide information, ask and answer questions and discuss the proposed action and alternatives. The MMWG consist of the following stakeholders: Utah Cattlemen's Association; Utah Woolgrowers Association; Utah State University Extension; Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Trout Unlimited; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR); Piute County Commission; Sevier County Commission; Utah Department of Agriculture and Food; Utah Farm Bureau; Rocky Mountain Research Station; Grand Canyon Trust; Western Aspen Alliance; and Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources was a cooperating agency for the Monroe Aspen EIS and Final Record of Decision. The Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project was selected by the Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership with NRCS and USFS for a second time for funding. Through this Joint Chiefs' Partnership with NRCS along with partnership with UFFSLs and multiple private landowners, treatments are also occurring on private lands located on Monroe Mountain in conjunction with treatments occurring on lands managed by the Richfield Ranger District. Coordination meetings are taking place between USFS, UFFSLs and UDWR to plan collaboratively future treatments that will mutually benefit all agencies along with promoting landscape-level restoration. A Good Neighbor Agreement with UFFSLs is currently in place that will allow us to utilize and include local volunteer fire departments and state fire resources during prescribed fire planning and implementation. A Good Neighbor Agreement with UDWR is also currently in place that promotes the UDWR to be involved with planning and implementation. An interagency agreement with the BLM is also in place. This will allow for an interagency effort during implementation of the prescribed fire along with utilizing BLM work force during portions of the mechanical implementation. The Richfield Ranger District is currently partnered with the Fire and Smoke Modeling Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE) research group that have been involved during multiple prescribed fire activities on the Monroe Mountain Aspen Ecosystems Restoration Project. FASMEE is a multi-agency effort to provide advanced measurements necessary to evaluate and advance operationally-used fire and smoke modeling systems and their underlying scientific models. The field campaign began spring 2019 during Phase 4 of this project, and has continued most recently this past Fall 2020 during Phase 5 implementation. Portions of FASMEE related research are planned to be conducted on future large operational prescribed fires during this phase of the project along with future phases. In 2017, the Six County Association of Governments had their annual natural resources tour on Monroe Mountain. Governor Herbert also attended for part of the day. Throughout the day this project area and other project areas on the Monroe were visited. Those in attendance expressed their support for this project and doing active management. Numerous other tours have occurred on Monroe Mountain each year since then with most recently five tours during 2020. These tours are continually focused on group engagement and dialogue while showing completed treatments across the mountain and associated successes of implementing at a landscape/ecological level utilizing adaptive management.

Treatment sequencing follows a Monroe Mountain wide 10-year implementation plan and is primarily based on the current distribution of wild browsers on Monroe Mountain. Mechanical and prescribed fire treatments have been occurring and are now finished in the southerly portion of the project area where visually, current browse pressures on aspen appear to be less than the northerly and central portions of the project area. Since treatments in the southern area are finished, treatments in the northerly portion of the project have begun. Following treatments in the northern area, treatments in the central portion of the project area will be initiated next. Browse pressures in the north appear to be higher than what is occurring in the south, but less than the central portion of the project area. By generally sequencing the project in this order, browse pressure may be more directed away from newly treated areas; this is expected to increase the probability of regenerating aspen to reach 6 feet tall after treatment. As treatments occur in areas adjacent to Manning Meadows Reservoir and Barney Lake, these select areas will be fenced to exclude both wildlife and livestock browsing. With fencing, the amount of time needed to acquire a minimum of 1,000 aspen saplings per acre is expected to be quicker. Other vegetation and cover types are also expected to benefit from fencing. The District will eventually construct approximately 7.2 miles (633 acres) of temporary fence in the Manning Meadows Reservoir and Barney Lake areas. Maintenance of the temporary fences will occur for 3-5 years until the aspen shoots are greater than 6 feet tall, after which the fence will be removed. Additionally, select areas of planned future mechanical treatments will have slash fencing constructed as part of the contract. Mechanical treatments will occur in areas adjacent to private lands, areas adjacent to Northern goshawk territories, and areas within/adjacent to Boreal toad and Bonneville cutthroat trout habitat. These aspen, spruce/fir, and mixed conifer areas will be mechanically treated first within each sequence area (southern, northern, and central). Implementing these mechanical treatments will help reduce the risk of impacts from planned future prescribed fire to private property, Northern goshawk, Boreal toad, and Bonneville cutthroat trout. Increased pace and scale of restoration type projects in this area is currently underway. Multiple projects have been and are currently being implemented and more are being planned on Monroe Mountain. This phase of the project directly coordinates at a watershed and landscape level with the planned Glenwood Collaboration Project and Thompson Basin Pinyon and Juniper Projects that are located on the northwest side of Monroe Mountain in the lower elevations below the prescribed fire portions of this phase of the project. Both of these PJ projects cover a good portion of the mid to lower elevations located on the northwest side of the Monroe Mountain, and compliment completed and planned BLM projects. These projects are planned to continue over the next 2-4 years in conjunction with the Forest Pinyon and Juniper Project and planned BLM and state projects as well. Planned treatments as part of this newly signed pinyon/juniper project will be occurring beginning on the northwest side of Monroe Mountain in the Sevier Valley Area and will directly compliment planned treatments in this phase and future phases of the Monroe Aspen Ecosystem Restoration Project. These actions are an effort to disperse browse pressure of both wild and domestic ungulates and improve watershed health across the entire Monroe Mountain and BLM treatments occurring in the valleys surrounding the mountain. Aspen browse thresholds and adaptive management response options have been developed and will be implemented to help ensure new regenerating aspen successfully recruit (become 6 feet or taller). To assist this effort, extensive aspen monitoring by Dr. Sam St. Clair has occurred and is contracted to continue. Implementation of this project will reduce the risk of catastrophic high severity wildland fire; thus, reducing the risk to the public and firefighters. This also reduces the risk to private property. Health and public safety are improved. With the reduced risks that have already occurred as a result from past phases of this project , future planned prescribed fire within ~15,000 acres can now be implemented, and management of naturally caused fires have now become possible within thousands of acres across Monroe Mountain that would not have been available otherwise. This phase of the project will continue to allow fire to play greatest feasible natural role in the environment, in particular through the maintaining of a diverse mosaic of seral aspen stages into the future. Mechanical treatments may also be considered to maintain aspen ecosystems on the landscape. As habitat is improved for ungulates (deer, elk, cattle, sheep) and additional forage becomes available, the Fishlake National Forest 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. Impacts to livestock grazing permit holders have been and will continue to be minimized by the use of herding and temporary electric fences so that treatment areas and/or stable aspen stands can be temporarily rested while non-treatment areas can continue to be grazed. The WRI funded a water development/fencing project to help distribute livestock and provide additional flexibility to move livestock to accommodate temporary rest following treatments. The infrastructure for that project has been installed and our Aspen Project has been benefiting from the water infrastructure project for the past few years. Post implementation, we've been able to temporary rest areas from livestock use without reducing livestock numbers or season of use. BYU continues to monitor aspen browse. To date we are seeing positive aspen results (especially in the prescribed fire portions) and we've mostly been able to maintain livestock numbers and season of use (due to drought, the authorized season of use was reduced in 2020). The water development/fence project has been a great success and will continue to be of benefit for the Aspen Project. As additional areas continue to get treated, our plan is to continue implementing the browse thresholds and if thresholds are exceeded, in coordination with the MMWG, implement a suit of adaptive management response options. Invasive and noxious weeds are not known to occur in the treatment areas; however, treatment areas will be monitored post-implementation. If noxious and/or invasive weeds are detected, the District will take the appropriate actions to control spread and eliminate the noxious and/or invasive weeds from the treatment areas. Our goal is to ensure an adequate amount of aspen regeneration successfully recruits and mosaic treatment patterns are desired. Adaptive management is approved in the Aspen ROD. Many tools have been analyzed in the NEPA planning process to allow a full suit of methods to occur in the future. The District will ensure, if needed, the temporary resting of treatment areas, herding, and electric fences are incorporated into Annual Operating Instructions. These actions will help ensure that permittees are in the communication loop and will give them enough time to plan for the resources they need to continue their operations. For example, in 2019 and 2020 the entire Rock Springs Allotment was rested from livestock grazing. With no reductions in 2019, these livestock were able to temporarily graze a different area on Monroe Mountain. With several treatments occurring in 2016-2020, with the exception of 2020, livestock permittees were still able to keep their full livestock numbers and season of use on Monroe Mountain. If browse thresholds are reached, a suite of adaptive management response options can be implemented; as described in the Final Aspen Record of Decision. The browse thresholds and response options are included in this project to ensure an adequate amount of aspen regeneration successfully recruits thus moving toward desired conditions that benefit all ungulates on Monroe Mountain. The browse thresholds and adaptive management response options are supported by the MMWG and the Utah Wildlife Board.

Forage Production or Improved Distribution: Aspen ecosystems are rich in species of grasses, forbs, and animals; especially in comparison to associated coniferous forest types. The high value of the aspen ecosystem type as a forage resource for livestock and as forage and cover for wildlife increases with the implementation of this project. Through both the mechanical thinning and prescribed fire treatments, conifer encroachment is reduced, and aspen regeneration/recruitment is promoted. This in return moves aspen ecosystems on the Monroe Mountain on a trajectory toward accomplishing desired conditions thus improving aspen ecosystems. The amount of forage and total area available for livestock grazing is expected to increase significantly as a result of this project. With the removal of conifer, the amount of usable grasses and forbs in the aspen understory is expected to increase significantly. By thinning and or burning the overgrown mixed conifer areas, the amount of usable area to graze will also increase as a result of this project. With increased forage livestock distribution and management is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently unproductive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future uses by livestock. Livestock numbers on Monroe Mountain have been fairly constant for the past 50 years; however, during that timeframe with subalpine fir encroachment into aspen stands and PJ encroachment into sagebrush/grass/forb areas the amount of forage available to ungulates has decreased significantly. Healthy aspen stands provide 800-1,000 pounds of forage per acre and with conifer encroachment forage decreases to 0-50 pounds per acre. In treatments areas we are seeing significant increases in forage. This restored forage is and will continue to provide better conditions for ungulates already on Monroe Mountain and is restoring forage that has been declining for the past century. This restored forage in the aspen will help improve ungulate distribution and we anticipate benefits in the adjacent community types as distribution is improved. This increased forage also will help during drought years and help maintain forage for a longer period of time into the grazing season. Having the season of use or livestock numbers temporary reduced during drought years is constantly a concern for permittees. With increased forage, our ability to maintain livestock numbers and season of use (while also maintaining compliance with the grazing standards and guidelines outlined in the Fishlake Land and Resource Management Plan) during the drought years becomes easier. Other Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources: This phase of the project protects and enhances municipal drinking water systems and watersheds for communities located in the Sevier Valley that provide sustainable clean drinking water to numerous residents. Refer to the "Fire/Fuels" section for more details. As part of this project, traditional timber sales have been occurring and are planned to continue throughout project implementation. Efforts are being made to commercially sale merchantable timber (primarily spruce) during this phase of implementation by targeting the dead standing spruce for commercial sale and preserving the live spruce regeneration in the understory. This will allow for sustainable forestry management and timber production in the future. Last year ~897 acres of beetle killed spruce were commercially cut and sold on the north end of Monroe Mountain in the Cove area. During the past phase, approx. 482 acres of beetle killed dead spruce areas went under contract to be cut and will be completed during this phase of the project. Afterword's, the spruce log decks with an estimated 2,443 CCF be sold. During this phase of the project we are planning another commercial timber sale of 291 acres with an estimated 4,931 CCF of timber to be sold. More acres are planned to be prepared for future timber sales. All these completed timber sales are being purchased by local Utah based timber companies. Spruce from Monroe Mountain is being utilized by a log home building company located in Gunnison Utah. Supplying a consistent timber product with the associated consistent economic benefits for these small local companies is planned to continue as part of this project. Some treated areas may be re-planted as deemed appropriate by the District Timber Staff. Some fir dominated areas that were prescribed fire treated during this project are currently in the process of being replanted with merchantable timber species such as Spruce and Douglas Fir. These areas will be managed for the long-term supply of timber products. District Timber staff have been promoting commercial biomass sales of normally non merchantable timber such as white and sub-alpine fir to local private companies to be processed into wood chips. Some interest is starting to be shown and hopefully a market niche will be developed and more of the biomass produced from the mechanical portions of this project will be able to be utilized. Numerous contracts have been awarded to private companies to complete treatments on Monroe Mountain. Multiple other contracts are planned in the future. These contracts provide economic benefits to the local communities by helping to sustain employment for folks working for the private companies which are mostly local Utah based companies. Monroe Mountain is a very popular hunting unit for big game, fishing (a variety of fish species), camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, snowmobiling, private land ownership, wild turkeys and a variety of upland game and non-game species. Aspen restoration will improve transition and summer ranges that will benefit wildlife along with improving water quality and reducing risk to necessary fish habitat and watersheds. This project will promote sustainability for a variety of sportsmen and sportswomen along with providing more hunting and fishing opportunities for future generations. Miles of hiking and ATV trails exist across Monroe Mountain. Aspen restoration across the mountain will promote a renewed resilient beautiful sustainable forest that will be enjoyed by future generations. Vegetation treatments that encourage aspen regeneration on spring and summer range will continue to provide quality deer fawning and elk calving habitat. A productive understory combined with some dead and down trees is optimal habitat for big game birthing. It is imperative that additional acres are treated to benefit big game and livestock body conditions at the end of summer and fall. Productive forage on the range will help livestock end-of-season weight gains be optimized. This project will continue to provide those opportunities to ungulate animals by improving the health and integrity of the overall ecosystem. A wide variety of species inhabit the aspen-spruce-fir ecosystem of Monroe Mtn. If left alone, conifer would continue to dominate over aspen causing an increase of a mono-culturistic pattern which would decrease diversity among vegetation and wildlife species. This project is critical at this point in time to set back this dramatic increase of conifer encroachment and restore as many acres of aspen as possible to preserve diversity across the ecosystem.

07/01/2022

06/30/2024

2024

1) Roughly 1,383 acres of stand replacement prescribed fire was completed directly adjacent to numerous home in the Manning Creek (Fall 2022) and Long Flat areas (Fall 2023). These prescribed burns ended up being more costly than expected due to close proximity and additional holding resources (i.e. type 1 helicopter). Prescribed fire was implemented by USFS firefighting resources along with State of Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands (FFSL) and Local VFD Resources. Aerial Ignition was completed by contract services through USFS Fire and Aviation. Mixed conifer/aspen, fuel types were targeted throughout the area with the objective of burning 60% mosaic leaving 40% unburned. 2) Mostly grass based seed was applied on approx. 1,000 acres of high burn severity areas to help reduce browse pressure on new aspen sprouts. DWR Aerial Seeding Contract was utilized. (Fall 2022) 3) 91 acres of mechanical thinning and piling followed by pile burning was completed on Private lands. FFSLs contract was utilized to complete the treatments. (Summer 2022) 4) 291 acres of timber harvest on USFS land was completed via traditional timber sale (feller buncher) by the USFS Timber staff. Dead spruce salvage was sold to local mills. (Summer/Fall 2022/2023) 5) 38 acres of mechanical thinning and piling on USFS was completed via force account USFS bobcat and force account operators adjacent to private lands with homes. (Summer 2022/2023). 6) Wildlife exclosure fencing was installed near Manning Meadows reservoir to mitigate Fisheries concerns with the Bonneville Trout population in Manning Meadows Reservoir post prescribed fire treatment.

Prescribed fire portions of the project/phase were in a very difficult area due to close proximity of private lands and homes. Extra aviaition was required for holding purposes. Mechanical thinning and timber harvest were completed on private lands and timber was sold commercially. All treatments in this phase are in preperation for planned upcoming prescribed fire treatments on Monroe Mtn. These treatments buffer private land infrastructure and reduce the risk of wildfire to numerous values. Aspen regeneration along with wildlife habitat improvement goals are being met with completed treatments on this phase along with all previous phases of the project. Hand thinning/road side chipping on private lands was not completed. Larger scale thin and pile treatments on private land in the long flat area are planned to be completed during future phases of this project and will include these areas.

Burns during this phase sets us up very well for future prescribed fire treatments in Phase 7-9 of this project. This phase created a great buffer between private lands and cabins etc... Prescribed fire treatments are planned to continue over the next several years as we continue to increase pace and scale along with build upon previous treated footprints. Aspen monitoring will continue to occur through BYU along with adaptive management throughout the process of implementation working with the Monroe Mountain Working Group. Future planned timber sales and mechanical thinning are planned to continue in Phase 7-9 of the project on both private and USFS lands. Continuing to work with adjacent forested landowners and the FFSLs moving forward to plan prescribed fire treatments on private and USFS land with a cross boundary multi agency prescribed fire burn plan. This will reduce future prescribed fire costs along with eliminate some originally planned high cost/acre mechanical treatments.