Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area (SCWMA) is a 5,496 acre wetland/upland plant community complex owned and managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) in Box Elder County, Utah. The property provides important wetland habitats to migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, along with upland habitat, while also providing recreational opportunities such as hunting and bird watching. The SCWMA is surrounded by private property. Currently, private land agricultural crops and pasturelands are adjacent to the east border of the WMA. A portion of the south boundary is agricultural cropland. The remainder of the south, all of the west and portions of the north boundaries are privately held wetland/upland plant communities. The remainder of the north boundary is adjacent to private pasture and agricultural croplands. Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Area (PSGWMA) is an 11,758 acre wetland/upland complex owned and managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) in Box Elder County, Utah. This property provides important habitat and recreational opportunities as described above. The PSGWMA is surrounded by private property to the east and north. The southern boundary is adjacent to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Portions of the west boundary is adjacent to Bureau of Land Management and private property. The Jensen property, south of SCWMA, and north and east of PSGWMA, has been identified for potential fee title acquisition. This property was identified in the UDWR internal document, "Wildlife Habitat 30 Year Land Acquisition Plan for Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Areas (2004-2034)". The Jensen family is interested in pursuing the sale of the Jensen #2 proposed area in T. 10N, R. 4W (Please see the attached map). This includes portions of Section 8, Section 4 and Section 5, and is approximately 380 acres. This area is adjacent to north PSGWMA on the northern and western boundary. The second parcel of land the Jensen family has an interest in selling to the DWR is referred to as the Jensen #1 parcel in the acquisition plan, and is located in T 10 N. R 4 W. Originally, in the acquisition plan 1851 acres was identified. The Jensen family would prefer to sell portions of Sections 2, 3, 4, and 11 that are found west of Little Mountain road and between SCWMA and PSGWMA. This parcel is approximately 1390 acres. The DWR has a right-of-way easement (#39868) that was acquired from Reed C. and Karl A. Jensen for a right-of-way to access north PSGWMA in 1991. The easement allowed public access to the north end of PSGWMA. The public sometimes does not honor the easement and posted restrictions, as they should. These acquisitions would expand SCWMA and PSGWMA by creating a contiguous wetland/upland complex managed by UDWR for the benefit of the public and wildlife. It is difficult to predict or foresee what future threats may remove these lands from their current status. Expansion of the human population, change in agricultural demands and products, increased demand and reduction of available water or water quality degradation could all have adverse effects on these lands, the way they are being used and on the wildlife that are currently benefiting from the current condition. However, with the acquisition of these parcels, these lands will be protected and become a part of a contiguous landscape that will provide opportunity for UDWR's various publics, and be specifically managed for wildlife.

This acquisition would provide sportsmen access to approximately 1200 acres of land that has been in private ownership. Approximately, 70% of the land is a mix of upland community types (cheat grass, wheatgrass/forb mix and greasewood/sagebrush/grass mix). With the UDWR annual pheasant release program, access to quality upland game bird habitat is a priority. This property would provide additional acres of upland habitat that will be managed for upland game birds (mostly pheasant) and hunter access. Upland habitat improvement can be made by adding shelter belts and native perrennieal shrubs and grasses in suitable areas (i.e. portion of Jensen #1, south of SCWMA and north of county road, and some small areas on Jensen #2). The wetland portions can be improved, increasing waterfowl use and hunter access. When excess water is available, or if more water shares through the Bear River Canal Company are purchased, wetland habitat throughout the area can be increased.

This property currently supports a complex mosaic of several wetland habitat types that are interspersed with upland habitats. It has the potential to be developed into a more productive marsh with better quality upland habitats. Several of the wetland habitats found on the property were identified as habitats of conservation concern in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2015-2025). These habitats include: emergent marsh, wet meadow, and open water. Although not considered as key aquatic habitats by the WAP, the playas and mudflats found on the property are seasonally and annually important for wildlife. These habitat types all face similar threats which include: direct loss of habitat; fragmentation; draining; water development scenarios which reduce water supply to the wetlands; drought conditions; improper grazing practices; invasive plant species; improper ATV use; and loss of adjacent uplands. Permanent protection of this property will protect additional acres of these critical habitat types and support a myriad of wildlife species.

While this specific parcel has not been identified for protection within any species management or recovery plans, this area is part of the greater Great Salt Lake ecosystem and due to the natural habitats found on the property and its location adjacent to SCWMA, it has been identified for protection for many years. This property was identified in the UDWR internal document, "Wildlife Habitat 30 Year Land Acquisition Plan for Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Areas (2004-2034)". In addition, the approved Salt Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan (2010) identified natural wetlands and uplands adjacent to SCWMA, including the Jensen property, for potential acquisition. a. UDWR Strategic Plan (2007-2011): Resource Goal: Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. Objective R1: Protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state by 2011. Objective R2: Increase fish and game populations to meet management plan objectives and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities. Objective R3: Conserve sensitive species to prevent them from being listed as threatened or endangered. The protection of this property will meet the UDWR Strategic Plan goals and objectives of: protecting critical habitats; providing additional public access and hunting opportunities; and providing nesting and foraging habitats for waterbirds, including waterfowl. These waterfowl would then be available during the fall waterfowl hunting season. Conserving and enhancing habitats for state sensitive species should contribute towards maintaining or increasing populations. Upland habitat would be maintained and enhanced to provide habitat types for numerous wildlife species. b. Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2015-2025): This property currently supports a complex mosaic of several wetland habitat types that are interspersed with upland habitats. It has the potential to be developed into a more productive marsh with better quality upland habitats. Several of the wetland habitats found on the property were identified as habitats of conservation concern in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2015-2025). These habitats include: emergent marsh, wet meadow, and open water. Although not considered as key aquatic habitats by the WAP, the playas and mudflats found on the property are seasonally and annually important for wildlife. These habitat types all face similar threats which include: direct loss of habitat; fragmentation; draining; water development scenarios which reduce water supply to the wetlands; drought conditions; improper grazing practices; invasive plant species; improper ATV use; and loss of adjacent uplands. Permanent protection of this property will protect additional acres of these critical habitat types and support a myriad of wildlife species. c. Species Management Plans/Recovery Plans: While this specific parcel has not been identified for protection within any species management or recovery plans, this area is part of the greater Great Salt Lake ecosystem and due to the natural habitats found on the property and its location adjacent to SCWMA, it has been identified for protection for many years. This property was identified in the UDWR internal document, "Wildlife Habitat 30 Year Land Acquisition Plan for Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Areas (2004-2034)". In addition, the approved Salt Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan (2010) identified natural wetlands and uplands adjacent to SCWMA, including the Jensen property, for potential acquisition. d. Director's Office and Wildlife Section FY19 Goal: The Director's Office and the Wildlife Section had a FY19 goal of increasing the number of duck hunters, which has continued to be a goal for the agency for many years now. Permanently protecting this property would provide more hunting opportunities for waterfowl hunters, and potentially increase the number of duck hunters. e. UDWR Habitat Section, Top 2% Critical Lands and Waters List: Due to the crucial habitats, wildlife, and geographic location (adjacent to the SCWMA and located near the Great Salt Lake), this property has been identified as a critical property to acquire in UDWR's Habitat Section, Top 2% Critical lands list.

Fire intensity and fuel loads will be controlled better with improved invasive weed management.

No new water rights are associated with this land acquisition. However, water that passes through SCWMA and meanders south to PSGWMA, flows through this property. The UDWR owns all of the water rights (except for a small percentage out of the east branch that is allocated to the Ferry's) associated with the east and west branches that flow out of SCWMA. The UDWR also owns water rights on Coyote Creek and Painted Rock Springs that flow through this property. The property supports approximately 10% emergent and salt grass wetlands, and 20% mudflat playa. The existing wetlands could be improved by small-scale excavation work and vegetation removal to create shallow open water ponds for increased waterfowl activity and hunter opportunity. In addition, the mudflat playas near the east and west branches of SCWMA have development potential for creating ephemeral wetland ponds when excess water is available. Creating these ephemeral ponds would be relatively easy with limited excavation, and would not require a large financial cost for many water control structures. The topography and surrounding uplands would create a nice mosaic of shallow flooded mudflats that are very important for waterfowl and other waterbirds.

N/A

Work with Jensen family to acquire property.

If property is acquired, usual monitoring of wildlife (census), invasive weeds (mapping, photo points), and any other habitat improvements will occur.

Jensen Family Sportsman's For Fish and Wildlife

The protection of the Jensen property will aid local land use planning by allowing the property to continue to function as an upland/wetland complex. Invasive weeds are present on the property but are not actively managed. With UDWR management, noxious and invasive weed species control will be implemented and wildlife habitat enhanced. This would help in conserving adjacent wetlands and uplands, both private and State of Utah managed lands, from continual encroachment of weed species coming from this property. Also, upland and wetland habitats can be enhanced in order to provide high quality habitats for the conservation of wetland and upland dependent species.

This acquisition would provide sportsmen access to approximately 1200 acres of land that has been in private ownership. Approximately, 70% of the land is a mix of upland community types (cheat grass, wheatgrass/forb mix and greasewood/sagebrush/grass mix). With the UDWR annual pheasant release program, access to quality upland game bird habitat is a priority. This property would provide additional acres of upland habitat that will be managed for upland game birds (mostly pheasant) and hunter access. Upland habitat improvement can be made by adding shelter belts and native perrennieal shrubs and grasses in suitable areas (i.e. portion of Jensen #1, south of SCWMA and north of county road, and some small areas on Jensen #2). As mentioned above, the wetland portions can be improved, increasing waterfowl use and hunter access. When excess water is available, or if more water shares through the Bear River Canal Company are purchased, wetland habitat throughout the area can be increased.

07/01/2020

06/30/2021

2021

The funds provided were used to purchase 1,205 acres of property from the Jensen family in Box Elder County.

This purchase will protect natural resources in the area and completes, a now, continuous UDWR owned wetland/upland complex from the north end of Salt Creek WMA to the south end of Public Shooting Grounds WMA. The property will provide access for hunters and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Wetland and upland complexes can be enhanced on portions of the property to increase wildlife habitat and public use. With UDWR management, noxious and invasive weed species control will be implemented and wildlife habitat enhanced. There is a need for water and UDWR will continue to pursue water purchases when appropriate. Funding for habitat and maintenance projects will be proposed through the Habitat Council as needed. A 30-year grazing option is also associated with this purchase. Wetland managers will work closely with the Jensen family to insure appropriate grazing practices are being used.