This is part of the Mud Springs Project 4036 that will contain a separate Prescribed fire component that will include removal of PJ primarily through the use of Rx fire. Over the last 100 years fire suppression activities and the removal of natural fire from the area have allowed for a continued an unnatural build-up of fuels on Flake Mountain. This small island mountain provides livestock grazing for state land administered grazing permits as well as for cattle on the National Forest. In addition it is valuable winter and transitional range for a host of wildlife species including mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. In the lower elevations Greater sage grouse and Utah prairie dog are found in abundance making the area an ecological keystone as a habitat source for many wildlife species. Due to the conifer encroachment, there is a need to remove the PJ to restore watershed health by increasing ground cover of grasses and shrubs through prescribed burning. The lack of natural fire has allowed for increases in fuel build-up that is undesirable and prescribed fire is a tool that has been used successfully on the Dixie National Forest to improve vegetation structure and diversity on a landscape scale. Due to the terrain and rocky nature of the landscape on Flake Mountain, RX fire is the desired method to achieve the objectives.

The primary objective is to introduce fire back into the Pinyon/Juniper (PJ) and Sage-steppe landscape on Flake Mountain. Approximately 2475 acres are proposed. Within this burn footprint, there are approximately 1029 acres of National Forest land and 624 acres of SITLA proposed for active ignition. There are additional acres that will likely burn with less severity as (non-active ignition acres) approximately 822 acres on both National Forest and SITLA. Burning is expected at moderate to high intensity within active ignition portions of the project and is needed to reduce the PJ/conifer component. The overall objective would be to create a mosaic of burn intensities across the project area while resetting the Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) back to a desired condition.

Much of the Flake mountain area was originally dominated by sage-steppe. This is evidenced by the understory and remnant brush conditions found in isolated areas. The west half of this range still has good ecosystem function and the mountain brush component provides key habitat for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. As PJ has encroached within the mountain brush ecotone, the watershed has been reduced in capacity. Grasses and brush have been pushed out by PJ and the current conditions contributing to poor watershed health. There is risk that if left untreated that more soil erosion and continued habitat loss will occur. The proposed Rx burning project will help restore ecosystem function by allowing for grasses and brush to return. Left without treatment and continued fire suppression the threat from a catastrophic wildfire increases and the after effects such as cheat grass invasion are high. The removal of fire from this area has lead to an increased build up of hazardous fuel that now threatens the watershed, grazing, and wildlife habitat effectiveness of the area. Through prescribed burning, a mosaic of burn conditions will allow for greater biodiversity thus allowing for multiple species benefit. The burn plan for the project will be designed to avoid critical habitat for Greater Sage Grouse and Utah prairie dog that are found at the lower elevations of the project. There is also an immediate risk of wildfire to private lands that lie adjacent to the project area on both the north and south ends, as well as smoke impacts to Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon City, and Bryce Canyon Airport.

1) Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-Grouse in Utah - Feb 14, 2013. pp. 4 Objective 2.0.3 Habitat: Enhance an average of 25,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat in Sage-grouse Management Areas annually. 2) Color Country Greater Sage-Grouse local conservation plan. Feb 9, 2008. pp. 53 Action 9.1: Remove juniper and pinyon trees from brood-rearing habitat. Also: Coordinated with working group. 3) U.S. Forest Service Greater-Sage grouse Record of Decision, Alternative C. GRSG-GRSGH-0-026- Objective-Every 10 years for the next 50 years, improve greater sage-grouse habitat by removing invading conifers and other undesirable species. And. GRSG-GRSGH-ST-028-Standard-On the Dixie and Fishlake National Forests, where greater sage-grouse priority habitat management areas overlap with identified Utah prairie dog habitat, the most current version of conservation measures developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be used during implementation of recovery actions. 4) Dixie National Forest - Land and Resource Management plan - pp. IV-84, Standard: A. Maintain habitat capability at a level at least 80 % of potential capability for all emphasized species. And. pp. IV-112, 6A management direction, (1) Maintain and manage forested inclusions to provide a high level of forage production, wildlife habitat, and diversity. 5) Conservation Plan for Greater Sage Grouse in Garfield County, Adopted January 27, 2014. pp. 6: 2.0.2 Objective 2 - Habitat: Enhance 500 acres of sage-grouse priority habitat on federal lands annually through conservation efforts evaluated by the NRCS Sage Grouse Habitat Evaluation criteria, with emphasis on areas of priority habitat. 2.0.3 Objective 3 - Habitat: Enhance an average of 1,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat on federal lands in Sage-grouse Management Areas annually. 2.0.4 Objective 4 - Habitat: Increase the total amount of sage-grouse habitat acreage within Sage-grouse Management Areas by an average of 500 acres per year, through management actions targeting opportunity areas. 6) Garfield County current desired future conditions and Draft resource management plan. pp. 5 Wildlife Goal: Prior to December 31, 2025, land managers will seek to have habitats supporting important fish and wildlife species meet the following seral stage ranges: Early Stage 30% to 50% Mid Stage 30% to 40% Late Stage Less than 25% And Policy...Based on a 10 year rolling average and consistent with desired ecological site descriptions, restore at least 25% of the Class II and Class III pinyon / juniper woodlands having a median age of less than 200 years to sagebrush / semi-desert grassland vegetation communities. 7) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Plan. pp.79, (2.3.1) Plan and implement vegetation treatments in strategic locations (including translocation sites) that benefit Utah Prairie Dogs and their habitat. 8) Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan pp. 16, Strategies: C. Watershed Restoration Initiative, a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. and b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional WRI working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats in need of enhancement or restoration. 9) Greater Plateau Elk Complex, Elk management plan, (24 Mt. Dutton): pp.4 Range Improvements: Maintain and/or enhance forage production on elk summer and winter range throughout the units. Coordinate with the USFS, SITLA, BLM and private land owners to complete projects designed to improve forage production for both elk and livestock and to improve elk distribution across the unit. Identify higher elevation habitat projects that would encourage elk to winter higher and potentially away from traditional deer wintering areas. 10) Utah Mule Deer Statewide management plan, Dec 01 2014. pp.18 - Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. Strategies: C. Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering and migration areas. D. Minimize impacts and recommend mitigation for losses of crucial habitat due to human impacts. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000acres of crucial range by 2019. E. Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah. G. 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. 11)DEER HERD UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN, Deer Herd Unit # 24, (Mt. Dutton), February 2015: Maintain or enhance forage production through direct range improvements on winter and summer deer range throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives. 12) UTAH'S FINAL 2016 INTEGRATED REPORT - The area draining this project is in Assessment Unit East Fork Sevier-2 which the reports lists as a Category 5 water "Category 5: The concentration of a pollutant--or several pollutants--exceeds numeric water quality criteria, or quantitative biological assessments indicate that the biological designated uses are not supported (narrative water quality standards are violated)." Reducing sediment generation in this watershed may contribute to improving the O/E Assessment score for macroinvertebrates causing this exceedance.

The proposed project will also help reduce fuels within the proposed project area. A fire regime condition class (FRCC) is a classification of the amount of departure from the natural regime (Hann and Bunnell 2001). They include three condition classes for each fire regime. The classification is based on a relative measure describing the degree of departure from the historical natural fire regime. In areas prescribed fire is proposed and PJ is more dense FRCC shift will be extreme moving from a High to a Low or 3 to 1. This reduction in fuels ecologically helps the site as it will shift the FRCC back into a more natural state. This will further reduce the impact and effects of fire when it is present on the landscape. There will be immediate benefits to watershed health from the reduction of PJ trees on the landscape. There is an immediate risk that if the areas proposed were to burn from wildfire that cheat grass and other invasive species would follow. This risk becomes averted when treatment occurs. By allowing the sage-steppe and grass/forb understory species to return without completion from PJ. If fire occurred while this area is within it's current conditions it would be devastating to the watershed as well as to the livestock grazing as well as wildlife habitat. Other values would also be lost including range/wildlife improvements such as pipelines, and fences. Roundy, et al 2013 showed that tree reduction improved soil climate. They also stated that treating stands while they were still open as opposed to closed would help by minimizing water available to weeds. Based upon this science it would be best to treat these areas now rather than in 5-10 years from now (Young, Roundy, Eggett, Forest Ecology and Management 12/2013).

There are no perennial streams within the project area. There are several ponds with seeps and other springs that have limited function at this time. Reducing the amount of pinyon/juniper will increase and prolong flows, while reducing erosion caused by bare soil. Planted species will help stabilize the soil and reduce erosion. Several publications including Kormas et al. found that drainage's dominated with juniper experience "snow water equivalent peaks higher, snow melts out earlier, and more water is lost to evapotranspiration in catchments when compared to sagebrush steppe vegetation. The proposed treatments will improve water quality and quantity by promoting the sage-steppe vegetation. There is one long term trend site within the project area that show a stable condition at this time. After the proposed rx burning occurs and seeding is accomplished, runoff and sediment transport should be significantly reduced. The proposed treatments will reduce tree cover and improve total ground cover and vegetation composition (Roundy & Vernon, 1999; Pierson, Bates,Svejcar, & Hardegree, 2007a; Peterson & Stringham, 2008; Pierson, et al., 2010; Cline, Pierson, Kormos, & Williams, 2010). The project area drains into the headwaters of the East Fork of the Sevier river in Johns valley. The project has several intermittent streams that drain into the East Fork Sevier River which is within the Department of Environmental Quality's Assessment Unit East Fork Sevier-2 (East Fork Sevier River and tributaries from Deer Creek confluence to Tropic Reservoir). The 2016 Beneficial Uses and Water Quality Assessment showed that the beneficial use of this area was impaired because of a low OE Bio assessment (i.e. poor macroinvertebrate community). Fine sediment loading is a known cause of impairment of benthic macroinvertebrate communities (Waters 1995, Turley et al. 2014). Improving vegetation composition and ground cover from the project should contribute to reductions in fine sediment loading in the area. Roundy et al. (2014) demonstrated increased spring soil water availability following PJ removal; however, Phase I removal resulted in substantially less gain than Phase III removal. Phase III removal resulted in substantial soil-water availability gain (up to 19 days) for as long as 4 years following treatment. Rx burning of the 2475 acres of Phase II-III succession will result in a substantial gain in spring soil water availability. Baker, et. al (1984) found a 157% increase in stream flows over a 147 ha pinyon and juniper treatment. Recent research Roundy, et. al. (2014) has shown that mechanical treatments to remove pinyon and juniper increase time that soil water is available. Even four years after treatment, treated areas showed from 8.6 days to-18 days additional water availability at high elevation sites. Roth, et. All (2017) stated snow pack is deeper and last longer in the open site at the low and mid sites (4-26 and 11-33 days, respectively). Reducing pinyon and juniper trees, according the available research should increase snow pack, and time that snow pack is on the ground, increase spring flows, and increase soil moisture. We expect for similar results to happen in this area after the treatment takes place based upon past treatments and the studies cited above.

1) Cultural surveys have been completed with SHIPO concurrence as a part of the NEPA analysis and included within the analysis. Included in this proposal is the funding to complete the final survey on the SITLA portion of the project. 2) Forest Service resource staff and Utah state Forestry, Fire, and state lands staff have met to review the propose project. An interagency programmatic burn plan is being prepared which will facilitate cross boundary prescribed fire implementation. 3)USFWS has encouraged this project and will actively engage in promoting vegetation treatments that will improve wildlife habitat effectiveness for species such as Utah Prairie dog and Greater Sage Grouse. Because over 80% of the occupied habitat found on public land within the Paunsaugunt Recovery unit is found within this proposed project area, it is highly supported by USFWS. A letter of support from USFWS was received as part of the scoping for this project (Mud springs) of which this proposed project falls within. In addition, there are several active UPD colonies directly adjacent to the proposed project. 4) The proposed methods of treatment are compliant with the newest Dixie National Forest Land and Resource Management plan Greater Sage Grouse amendment, Alternative C. 5) The project will be presented at the 2021 COCARM sage grouse working group meeting and is expected to receive full support as a highly ranked project that will improve wildlife habitat effectiveness for Greater sage grouse within the project area. Biologist have been trapping and utilizing gps radio collars on sage grouse within the project area for several years now. Data from this effort has helped managers design the RX burning to minimize impacts to sage grouse while maximizing habitat effectiveness through the proposed burn.

The proposed method is to utilize interagency fire and fuels crews and equipment to construct fire control lines and improve road systems to be used as the fire boundary, as well as conduct the blacklining phase of the work. Then utilizing contract aircraft the unit will be burned using aerial ignition techniques. Aerial seeding would be conducted post burn during the fall to maximize germination efforts. Post burn fencing would be necessary to re-establish the boundary fence between USFS and SITLA. A contract would be written to facilitate this fencing. In addition, USFS crews have already began prepping for leave areas and buffers that are to be left around waters sources such as ponds, and water trough's.

Powell Ranger District fuels has established fuels monitoring plots within the propose burn that can be monitored pre and post burn. Several nearby long term vegetation studies are within and nearby that will also help facilitate longer term vegetation response. Short term vegetation response will occur immediately the first several years post seeding to ensure the seeding was effective and that cheat grass is not a problem. Greater sage grouse utilization will continue to be monitored via gps collared sage grouse that are in the area. Water quality monitoring is conducted on the East fork sevier on 5 year intervals.

This is a Dixie National Forest project, however the proposed project includes partners from Utah School trust lands (SITLA), Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and state lands, U.S. Forest service, and private landowners. In addition, Brigham Young University, UDWR and the Dixie National Forest have partnered for Greater Sage Grouse monitoring through an independent gps monitoring study to track habitat use and survivability, this data was utilized to adjust treatment area boundaries to avoid adverse impacts to Greater Sage Grouse (see attached maps). Garfield county, also a partner, will provide support with heavy equipment including dozers and water supply. The project is true partnership between multiple stakeholders.

Future management would include the continued implementation of the remainder of the NEPA Decision funded under WRI project 4036. This includes approximately 10,000 acres of additional vegetation treatments surrounding the current proposal. The majority of this additional treatment would occur within sage-steppe and ponderosa pine stands. Once mechanically treated underburn's are planned as a proposed RX treatment. The Dixie National Forest and Powell Ranger District have made a considerable investment in projects surrounding this are including upstream on the Paunsaugunt Plateau and downstream throughout John's Valley. These projects help demonstrate the Forest Service's long running commitment to improving habitat along the East Fork Sevier River. Seeding is planned for this phase of the project as grasses and understory are insufficient given the current PJ encroachment. UDWR has also initiated monitoring transects on past treatments to help determine future seeding needs. Rest from livestock will be necessary pre and post-treatment and would be accomplished utilizing the current grazing system and use of monitoring and adaptive management strategies that accommodate the treatments. The project affects the Flake Mountain pasture of the East Pines C & H allotment on USFS lands. Maintenance of the proposed treatments may be necessary depending upon climate and utilization practices and the length of time it takes PJ to success back into the project area. Maintenance is addressed in Allotment Management Plans and further treatment is allowed under current grazing strategies. Cooperation by all parties to maintain vegetation enhancement and monitor future needs is necessary. The proposed and established monitoring transects will inform managers for adaptive management strategies, including continued maintenance. The existing recovery plans for Utah Prairie Dog and other species as well as existing Standards and Guidelines for Greater Sage grouse are the guarantee that further habitat management for these species will continue to be a priority in the project area. Other plans that help further cement the commitment to continued habitat maintenance and restoration are included in the Management plans section. To address species of Greatest Conservation Need: The entire Mud Springs project area was created and selected based upon the critical habitat needs of several key species. Although Mule deer, elk, pronghorn and others will benefit greatly from the proposed habitat work, it is Greater Sage Grouse and Utah Prairie dog that will benefit the most. UWRI has already made considerable investment in restoring watersheds and habitat for these species on the Sevier plateau area. Over 10,000 acres have recently been restored in the Johns valley project and that area ties directly to the Mud springs project area and this proposed Flake RX burn project. Sage grouse satellite collars show that there are multiply pathways and corridors that grouse are using to connect these habitats. Monitoring and contract inspections from the most recent projects have shown that Sage grouse are beginning to utilize the most recently treated landscape nearby. This proposed RX burning and seeding project will help alleviate visual barriers on ridgelines and open sight lines for sage grouse as well as all other species. Utah Prairie dogs are another species that have had considerable population conservation investment in habitat as well as specific hands on management with trapping and translocation of UPD into this specific project area. There are documented accounts of UPD moving as far as 12-14 miles across landscapes within Southern Utah. The proposed project will continue to open up areas that are now major obstacles for this species by removing trees and providing edge and sage-steppe habitat for this species to more freely move across its natural range. USFS has partnered with UDWR and USFWS as well as many others in UPD conservation throughout this area. The project area comprises a portion of the range within the Paunsaugunt portion of the recovery unit and the proposed project will improve critical habitat for this species as UPD occupy significant areas throughout the project area. The threats from PJ encroachment are eminent here and this project will provide an immediate beneficial impact for this species as well as many others. It ties into occupied colonies of UPD as well as helps connect sage-steppe between sage grouse lek areas.

The Sage-steppe ecosystem on the South end of the Sevier plateau is rich in species of grasses, forbs, and wildlife; especially when compared to the associated PJ dominated forest of the surrounding lands. The area is of significantly high value as a forage resource for livestock and for wildlife. Through the proposed treatments conifer encroachment and risk from fire are reduced. Upon treatment the ecosystem is moved towards increased forage capacity, improved wildlife habitat effectiveness, and improved water quality. Open sage-steppe ranges in this area are capable of producing between 1500 and 2,000 pounds of forage per acre. Removing PJ helps us achieve the goal for wildlife and livestock by ensuring grasses, forbs, and shrubs continue to provide the forage and habitat necessary for this ecosystem. The treatments help restore the habitat and forage value. This restored vegetation provides for the future sustainability for healthy livestock, wildlife and watershed management. In addition, the increased forage yield will help during drought years by allowing for further use over a longer period of time. By continuing to treat the project area managers are given additional tools for their tool-box as they will be less concerned over drought and will be able to become more (adaptive) to grazing management issues. The proposed project area is also becoming a very popular dispersed camping area for outdoor recreation. Restoring the sage-steppe area has been met with great enthusiasm among National Forest visitors. Managing the treatment areas and amount of area (acres) treated at one time is of concern and is the reason why projects such as the proposed RX burn have been submitted in phases with other projects to mitigate cumulative impacts within the ecosystem. This phased approach also provides for camping and other recreation opportunities to continue to occur. Livestock grazing capacity is expected to be maintained and restored within the mountain shrub and sage-steppe as it is returned to functional status and grass/forb cover is increased. All of the area is open to livestock grazing at this time. Seeding is necessary based upon current conditions. Rest is expected to be needed as much of these units have limited understory that would carry fire. Permittees will continue to be updated as treatments move forward. No further grazing agreement is necessary as all grazing is under active grazing permits. The project will benefit the allotments by increasing forage, and facilitating better access to new forage and improved water sources. Stephens et al, stated that in response to mechanical treatment of Pinyon and Juniper in Northwest Colorado that " any type of mechanical removal of pinyon-juniper can increase understory plant biomass and cover. Seeding in conjunction with mechanical treatments, particularly mastication, can initially increase annual forb biomass and shrub density". Stephens, Johnston, Jonas, and Paschke: Rangeland Ecology and Management, 9/2016. Recreation is expected to increase as habitat effectiveness is increased. Hunting, trapping and wildlife viewing are all recreation activities that will be improved as a result of improved wildlife habitat and improved wildlife numbers. Additional water quantity is also expected from the existing spring sources within the proposed rx burn area. Water development currently exist within the burn footprint as there are several ponds seeps and a water trough that will need protection. With increases in yields expected there is further potential for the ability to disperse this water across the landscape and re-distribute ungulate use allowing for increased ungulate forage capacity as well as a better distribution of ungulates as well as Sage grouse and Utah prairie dogs across the area. Burrowing owl is another unique species found adjacent to the project area. Owl territories are monitored annually by the district wildlife crew. This project benefits this species indirectly by facilitating better habitat for Utah Prairie Dog they provide the burrow system for this species. All data for this species is anecdotal, however burrowing owl populations seem to increase as UPD expand their range across the project area. The proposed project area is of especially high interest for sportsmen/women during the fall hunting seasons. The area provides significant habitat for mule deer throughout the year. Hunters can be found hunting deer, pronghorn and elk throughout the project area every fall. This project will help improve the habitat as well as the culture and heritage that hunters have come to appreciate within the area. The proposed RX burn area is becoming increasingly encroached with PJ. Large portions of the units are composed of critical winter browse including Curl leaf mahogany and bitterbrush. The project will restore critical winter range habitat for mule deer and elk by removing PJ. Islands, edges and thermal cover have been designed into the proposed treatments.