Existing vegetation, consisting of grasses, shrubs, pinyon and juniper trees fueled a moderate to high intensity wildfire. The Big Summit fire consumed both the pinyon and juniper canopy and understory vegetation. Soils within the burn are left exposed to wind and water erosion and are now susceptible to invasion by noxious weeds and to the spread of cheatgrass and other non-native annual species. The soils within the fire area have been mapped and described as part of an official soil survey, completed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The Big Summit Fire has been classified as "moderately susceptible" to fire damage indicating that the soil within the burn has features that are moderately favorable for damage to occur. This rating is also directly related to burn severity, which in this case was moderate to high. Therefore, soils within the burn site could be classified as "moderately" to "highly" susceptible for damage to occur after the fire. Based on these findings, past fire history in similar areas, and visits to the burned area, protecting the watershed values and reducing the erosion potential within wildlife habitat would be a priority for the Big Summit ESR project. Additionally, containment and control of invasive, non-native species, such as cheatgrass, which may exacerbate erosion potential and fire frequency and severity that would further degrade habitat is also a very high priority.

1. Reintroduce perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs and increase frequency to at least 25%. 2. Reintroduce perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs on mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and other wildlife habitat. 3. Reintroduce perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs to establish and compete with invasive annual grasses. 4. Reduce sedimentation and erosion. 5. Construct (Emergency Stabilization - Protection Fences (New)) and (Rehabilitation - Existing Burned Fences) to ensure that the wildfire perimeter can be rested from livestock grazing for a minimum of two growing seasons.

Cheatgrass has high probability of returning and re-establishing before other plant species due to the nature of this annual grass. As this happens, other plant species struggle to re-establish, which results in the landscape being dominated by cheatgrass. If the area is not rehabilitated through ES&R efforts it is expected that a pattern of more fires similar to the Big Summit Fire will continue to occur within the area.

The proposed project is subject to the Pinyon Management Framework Plan, approved June 1, 1983. The proposal is in conformance with the MFP, even though it is not specifically provided for, because it is consistent with the following MFP decisions (objectives, terms, and conditions): Decision W-1: Reduce or minimize wind and water erosion on soils in critical condition by management or land treatments to stabilize soils and improve or maintain soil productivity. Secretarial Order 3362: Site Specific Management Activities to Conserve or Restore Big Game Habitat, November 2018 Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative, April 2017 Vegetation Treatments on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Report, June 2007. Vegetation Treatment on BLM Lands in Thirteen Western States/FEIS May, 1991 and associated Record of Decision (ROD) July, 1991. The Proposed Action to stabilize public lands damaged by wildland fires through aerial re-seeding and associated actions (e.g.temporary closures to livestock grazing) was analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement addressing Vegetation Treatment on BLM lands in Thirteen Western States (FEIS May 1991). The FEIS also adequately considered the effects to the human environment of the same class of actions. Utah's Standards for Rangeland Health address upland soils, riparian/wetlands, desired native species, and water quality. Vegetation PEIS ROD 2007 USDI BLM. Utah Land Use Plan Amendment for Fire and Fuels Management. UT-USO-04-01. September 2005 USDI BLM. Biological Assessment for the Proposed Utah Land Use Plan Amendment for Fire and Fuels Management. March 2005 Normal Fire Year Stabilization and Rehabilitation Plan September 21, 2003, EA #UT-0040-03-28 Iron County Weed Management Area Agreement

The Big Summit fire encompassed 7,128 acres. In addition, numerous large fires (Paradise, White rocks) have burned within the immediate vicinity of the project area. The Big Summit Fire is located in the Wah Wah Needles Mountain Fire Management Unit (FMU). Big Summit ES&R project does not occur it is expected that cheatgrass will invade and dominate this area. Future fires will continue to be more difficult to control and have devastating effects by burning at a higher intensity, which could lead to fires getting larger and burning unburned habitat. Treatments identified within this proposal, including seeding with more fire resistant vegetation and creation of fuel breaks/green strips are expected to reduce the overall threat of future wildfires, which could impact unburned areas in the watershed.

The Project Area is located at 6,700 - 8,500 feet above sea level; therefore, it is expected that the opportunity to restore herbaceous species to the composition and frequency appropriate to the area is high. The project is expected to stabilize and improve the herbaceous understory that was burned in the fire, which will reduce water runoff and decrease soil erosion while increasing infiltration. Improvements to the Standards and Guidelines for Healthy Rangelands (Standard 1 and Standard 3) are expected through project implementation. It is expected that Standard 1 (Soils) -- will improve by allowing soils to exhibit permeability and infiltration rates that will sustain/improve site productivity throughout the area. This will be accomplished by making improvements to the Biotic Integrity of the community by restoring areas to a diverse component of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs that were present prior to the wildfire. Indicators will include sufficient cover and litter to protect the soil surface from excessive water and wind erosion, limiting surface flow and limiting soil moisture loss through evaporation, which will promote proper infiltration.

Required Class III cultural surveys will be contracted through the State of Utah and will be competed prior to chaining, drilling, and construction of burned/protection fences.

This project would be accomplished through seeding 6,361 acres of BLM and State lands with a mixture of native and non-native grasses, forbs, and shrubs appropriate for the site. Aerial seeding and seed drilling of grasses and forbs would be conducted during the late fall/early winter months of 2020, when precipitation could be expected to ensure seed propagation and survival. Mechanical chaining and masticating is proposed to be used immediately following the aerial seeding to incorporate the seed into the soil for improved seedling establishment. Prior to any mechanical treatment, BLM and State would identify whether any cultural resources occur within the proposed stabilization area. This identification would be accomplished by a database review, consultations with affiliated American Indian Tribes and the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer, and by a Class III level intensity pedestrian field inventory of the project area. Appropriate mitigation measures would be developed, in consultation with the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer and affiliated American Indian Tribes, to avoid or lessen adverse effects to any eligible or listed historic properties within the project area.

The fire will be monitored each year for five years (2021-2025) and an annual monitoring summary report will be completed by early September each year. Four or five monitoring studies will be established. They will be established in both the drill seed and aerial seed and chaining treatments using the AIM method. Cover data will be collected at each study location. As the cover study is done, nested frequency data will also be collected by recording the presence or absence of each species at each quadrat location. Then, relative frequency values are calculated for each species present and also for the type of plants (ie. seeded, volunteer, perennial, annual). In addition, a photo is taken at the same location and direction each year.

The BLM Cedar City Field Office will be working with the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative to complete this project. SITLA will be involved because of State Lands (843 acres) were burned in the fire. All acres will be seeded if needed, will be identified with the livestock permittees to ensure adequate rest following project implementation. All the private landowners have been contacted and invited to participate in the seeding of their land. Due to the high volume of cultural resources in the area that could be mechanically treated we are just offering seed to be applied.

In accordance with the Standards for Rangeland Health, rangelands that have been burned, reseeded, or otherwise treated to alter the vegetation composition would be closed to livestock grazing for a minimum of two complete growing seasons. To protect the stabilization effort from livestock and wild horse use, a temporary protection fence will be constructed. Once the fence is constructed, wild horses that may remain within the fenced boundary would need to be removed. Removal of wild horses is necessary for the protection of stabilization efforts as well as protection for horses due to the lack of water within the fenced area. All removal or gathering of wild horses would be under the direction of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program.

The fire burned in portions of three grazing allotments (Stateline, Modena, and Gold Springs). Three livestock grazing permittees have been impacted by the wildfire. The areas or pastures burned will need to be rested from grazing for a minimum of two years (growing seasons). In the long term, this project will likely have an overall positive impact on domestic livestock grazing because of added forage value following seeding

07/13/2020

11/27/2020

2021

Big Summit Fire- Burned June 2020 Aerial seeded 11/18-12/19/2020 - Seed was flown on by fixed-wing plane Started chaining 10/21/2020 with one-way Ely chain. 12/5/2020 completed chaining. - Chaining consisted of a one way chain and was only conducted within the burnt Juniper trees where the slopes permitted. The area was seeded during chaining operations due to contracting. Masticated 80 acres, starting on 5/20/2021 and finished 6/2/2021 Due to contracting the mastication project occurred later in the spring. The 80 acres was also seeded. This area was masticated due to difficulty of access for implementing a chaining process. UT/NV Fence Re-construction- Completed 6/1/2021 - 4.48 miles of 4-strand wire fence was replaced following the burn. An abundance of wild horses utilize the state-line area. The purpose of the fence was to help control horse numbers to allow the area to properly recover. The fence will not be removed. This was an existing fence that was reconstructed. Riparian Exclosures - Completed 6/21/2021 - In conjunction with this project, the CCFO BLM Exclosures (#5708) project was implemented to protect the Rice Canyon Creek riparian corridor from over use by wild horses while the area is recovering and future health of the riparian areas. For more information, see project #5708 Ponderosa Tree Planting -This project did not occur due to logistical issues including, washed out roads, lack of seed source and timing.

Fire was seeded aerially prior to any mechanical methods used to incorporate seed into soil. Some seed was flown on during chaining operations due to contracting logistics. All burned areas that were within slope parameters were chained in November and December following aerially seeding. It was decided to masticate the head of the drainage above the community of State Line due to inaccessibility to chain. Both methods were completed to specifications and met objectives. UT/NV Fence Re-Construction -4.48 miles of fence was re-constructed to help manage horse number and promote healthy recovery of the area following the burn. The fence was constructed to BLM standards, 3-strand barb wire with smooth wire on the bottom.

Treatment/Seeding -Grazing will be restricted for at least two years until seeding is established and successful. -Key Range Trend sites have been established. One within the mastication portion and one within the chaining. Data will be collected for 3 consecutive years and will then be put on a rotation. UT/NV Fence Re-Construction -The CCFO has plans to continue re-construction along the UT/NV border north and south of the portion completed in the future to help control wild horse numbers. This is an existing allotment boundary fence.