The ecological condition of Birch Creek has declined over time due to loss of woody riparian vegetation, channel incision and simplification of in-stream habitat. Currently, Birch Creek is a degraded river that lacks adequate woody riparian vegetation and the stream channel consists primarily of a narrow ditch-like system that lacks complex habitat including riffles, pools and backwaters. The lack of sufficient fish habitat and riparian habitat on Birch Creek threatens the persistence of Bonneville cutthroat trout and the imperiled sage grouse. Bonneville cutthroat trout is considered a species of greatest conservation need in the state of Utah (Utah Wildlife Action Plan Joint Team, 2015). The riparian degradation of Birch Creek is associated with decades of heavy cattle grazing pressure, removal of beaver, and encroachment of pinion and juniper forests. Vertical channel incision has lowered the water table and floodplain connectivity, which has further adversely affected the condition of the riparian areas which is critical habitat for a variety of aquatic and riparian obligate species, (Donnely et al., 2015) particularly sage grouse. Sage grouse rely on the mesic areas directly adjacent to the riparian zone for brood survival. Incision has also likely caused a reduction in physical habitat diversity and reductions in late season base flows resulting in warmer stream temperatures causing declines in populations of fish and other aquatic organisms (Pollock et al., 2007). Phase 1 of this restoration project (completed in 2011) concentrated on improving the composition and vigor of woody riparian species by the removal of pinyon and juniper that had encroached into the riparian zone. During Phase 1 of the project, woody debris was left on-site and will be used as building material for the woody instream structures (including Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs ) explained below. The focus of Phase II of the restoration project (relevant to this proposal) was to further improve the riparian vegetation and instream habitat for the Bonneville cutthroat trout and sage grouse. Restoring riparian condition also benefits the longer-term project goal of providing sufficient riparian resources to support a self-sustaining population of beaver whose dam building activates over time will vastly increase the rate of river recovery (Pollock et al., 2014). The project consisted of installation of instream structures to immediately increase the complexity of in-stream habitat in the short term, test the effectiveness of different structure types in different settings within Birch Creek, and gain access to the floodplain in the long term, allowing for riparian vegetation expansion laterally. Phase 2 of the project also consisted of re-construction of riparian exclosures with post and pole and mastication work in the uplands to provide connectivity of the riparian corridor with the uplands for Greater sage grouse and other wildlife. Phase 3 of the project will be a continuation of Phase 2 with work continuing downstream in the lower reach of Birch Creek. Mastication to provide connectivity of the riparian corridor with the uplands for Greater sage grouse and other wildlife and continue construction of instream structures to improve the riparian corridor will occur.

The South Beaver Fuels Project identified the following for Riparian Treatment: Desired Future Condition: Cottonwoods, aspen and/or willows will dominate stream riparian zone within the treatment area. Properly functioning riparian areas will also provide valuable habitat for a high diversity of wildlife species, including Bonneville cutthroat trout (i.e., through providing instream cover and a source for instream LWD accumulation). Riparian areas should be composed of abundant vegetation with multiple age classes present. Grasses, sedges, and forbs should be abundant. Aspen and other fire-tolerant vegetation will act as a fuel break to protect sensitive riparian areas during fire events. In addition, increased channel complexity will provide valuable habitat for Bonneville cutthroat trout within the project area. The Conservation Agreement for Bonneville cutthroat trout in the State of Utah (February 2008) states "Habitat critical to Bonneville cutthroat trout survival should be managed and maintained to achieve the following goals: 1. Secure and protect habitats for all conservation populations covered under the agreement and conservation strategy to the extent possible. 2. Enhance or restore habitats used by conservation populations, including habitat associated with populations identified for restoration or expansion, to a desired, properly functioning. Actions should also be undertaken to curtail undesirable impacts form ongoing land uses, to the extent possible. 3. Give Bonneville cutthroat trout habitat management high priority consideration during land use planning and project implementation." The Birch Creek Habitat Management Plan identified the priority objectives to be achieved through the implementation of the Plan. Measurable objectives identified that apply to Phase II include: 1. To increase bank cover from 59 to 75 percent of optimum. 2. To obtain and maintain a pool-riffle ratio of 100 percent of optimum (50-50 pool-riffle ratio). 3. To increase the pool quality from 55 to 70 percent. 4. To increase and maintain the overall stream quality at 83 percent of optimum. 5. To increase stream shading from 50 to 75 percent. Phase 2 of the project is the second phase of a restoration plan developed for Birch Creek. The specific objectives for Phase II are: 1. Conduct an in-depth geomorphic and riparian condition assessment to determine the degree of restoration that is needed. 2. Develop a restoration design plan that establishes the exact location and extent of each restoration action. 3. Conduct a pilot project using woody, instream habitat structures (including Beaver Dam Analogs) to increase instream habitat complexity (defined as the amount of pools, riffles, and backwater habitats in the channel) over a restoration reach. 4. Increase abundance of native vegetation by targeted planting in conjunction with woody instream structures (including BDAs) which immediately raise the water table locally, providing support for native vegetation.

The project is focused on improving the condition of both instream fish habitat and the riparian zone by concentrating on instream structures (BDAs) and native plantings to improve composition and vigor of woody riparian species. As mentioned above, without continued restoration intervention (Phase II of this project) it is unlikely that degradation to Birch Creek will be reversed, and therefore, actions aimed to improve habitat conditions are needed to ensure the persistence of Bonneville cutthroat trout and native riparian vegetation on Birch Creek. For example, natural recovery from incision can take centuries to millennia without restoration actions. There are minimal, risks to water quality during the construction phase of BDA installation through a slight temporary increase in suspended sediment during construction. Suspended sediment will be minimized by only using heavy machinery within the riparian and instream areas where deemed necessary. The vast majority of the work will be done with hydraulic hand-held post pounders and therefore we anticipate only small amounts of dirt moved during construction (i.e., typically < 0.25 yards/structure). Finally, this project will be carried out using an adaptive management framework which explicitly mandates regular project evaluation to minimize risk at each stage of the project.

1. Conservation Agreement for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout in the State of Utah (February 2008) (Refer to Attachment). The Bonneville cutthroat trout are currently managed under a range-wide and state conservation agreement to which the BLM and UDWR are signatories. The proposed restoration specifically targets improvement to the Bonneville cutthroat trout population in Birch Creek through habitat improvement and implementation of a monitoring plan, and thus will help accomplish the goals of this conservation agreement. The primary goal of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Conservation Agreement is to ensure long term existence of the species throughout its historic range by coordinating conservation efforts with state, federal and other interested parties. Ensuring the long-term persistence requires maintaining, improving, restoring and protecting existing habitat for the species. This Birch Creek project proposal is in concert with the goals and meets the intent and of the Conservation Agreement for the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout in Utah (Refer to Attachment) 2. Birch Creek Habitat Management Plan (Utah cutthroat) BLM 1976. The Birch Creek Habitat Management Plan identified goals and objectives that are consistent with the proposal. The plan specifically states to A. Protect Birch Creek from and monitor land uses that damage stream banks and riparian habitat, B. Plant willows to stabilize stream banks and provide shade. The project would meet the objectives identified in this plan by creating a more suitable cutthroat trout habitat and improve stream banks and riparian habitat. 3. Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Resource Management Plan (1986) The resource management plan is a broad framework for managing BLM lands in the jurisdiction of the Cedar City Field Office, including Birch Creek. Although Birch Creek is not specifically addressed in the RMP, the proposed project will comply with and enhance the objectives of this management plan including objectives to restore riparian functioning and provide quality habitat to support native fish and wildlife. Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) (2015) (Draft) The WAP identifies the following threats and the level of impact to the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout: Threats - Channelization/bank alteration, sediment transport imbalance (Impact - Very High) Threats - Increasing Stream Temperatures (Impact - High) The project is expected to improve riparian conditions and provide sufficient fish habitat within Birch Creek, which will provide for the persistence of Bonneville cutthroat trout.

Mitigation for wildfire was accomplished during Phase I and Phase II of the Birch Creek Project. Phase I included the removal of pinyon pine and juniper from the stream and Phase II consisted removal of pinyon pine and juniper on the adjacent uplands. A similar approach would be completed on the lower untreated reach of Birch Creek.

Although this phase of the Birch Creek restoration project does not explicitly rely on dam building beavers for project success, the longer term project objectives will rely on beaver to increase the rate of river recovery. Additionally, we will use Beaver Dam Analog structures (in combination with other types) to initiate the same suite of benefits of natural beaver dams explained here. Dam building by beaver has been shown to influence stream hydrology and water quality in a number of important ways primarily by altering the amount, and timing of delivery of water and sediment (Naiman et al., 1988; Gurnell, 1998; Pollock et al., 2003). Ponding upstream of beaver dams slows water velocity encouraging deposition of fine sediment (Butler and Malanson, 1995; Pollock et al., 2007) in the pond itself and during high flows onto the adjacent floodplain. Beaver ponds and dams can act as long-term sinks for both suspended and bedload sediment (Green and Westbrook, 2009). An increase in overbank flooding due to beaver dams also typically leads to an increase in the diversity of riparian vegetation (Wright et al., 2002) and an expansion of the riparian corridor (Westbrook et al., 2006; Westbrook et al., 2011). The proposed project will use BDA structures to essentially provide the same function as beaver dams; in that the structures will impound water, capture/settle/stabilize stream supplied sediment, increase water levels and corresponding water table, and aid in establishment of riparian vegetation on banks and adjacent floodplain. Water quality benefits of the proposed project would include reduction of suspended sediment, capture of sediment loads, increase DO, decrease overall water temperatures and increase base flows.

Cultural Site Clearances were completed during Phase 1 of the Project. NEPA was completed and authorized under the under South Beaver Fuels Project, Nov 17 2009 As discussed, livestock grazing within the Birch Creek exclosures is not authorized. Annual exclosure maintenance will continue to ensure that livestock trespass is eliminated to provide for long-term protection of the Project Area.

The scope of the Phase III of the project includes: 1. the development of a detailed riparian and geomorphic condition assessment, 2. the development of a restoration design plan, 3. the installation of BDA structures and 4. the strategic planting of native riparian vegetation. The condition assessment will include an in-depth field based geomorphic and riparian condition and recovery potential assessment. The riparian and in-stream restoration design plan will provide specific information on the location and type of structures, and plantings that will be installed within the restoration area. This information will be utilized to make well informed decisions prior to implementation of restoration efforts in Birch Creek. The condition assessment, and restoration design plan will be completed in cooperation with the Department of Watershed Sciences (Utah State University) and the Division of Wildlife Resources. For Phase II we plan to install 15-20 woody instream structures (including BDAs) separated into two different complexes located within the 4 mile restoration reach. The initial structures will serve as a pilot project to test the site-specific geomorphic and hydrologic responses, which will inform the larger-scale restoration. Based on the lessons learned from the pilot project we will ultimately expand the scale of the structure treatment as needed to achieve restoration objectives (Phase III). The final design and placement of the pilot structures will be determined during the restoration design phase of the project once funding has been secured. Many of the woody instream structures (including BDA's) will mimic the structure and function of beaver dams, while other structures will mimic natural accumulations of large woody debris (LWD). All the different structure types will help to expand the riparian corridor. A healthy riparian corridor will increase the surface roughness of the floodplain which will increase the magnitude of overbank deposition during high-flows providing an increase in sediment storage on the floodplain and benefits to downstream water quality. Ponding and increased floodplain connectivity due to dams and other structure types will cause an elevation in the water table and groundwater levels (Woo and Waddington, 1990) which will also aid in riparian recovery and expansion. Ultimately, with a high enough density of beaver dams (or BDA's) the dam impoundments can attenuate water table decline during the dry season elevating base flow (Westbrook et al., 2006; Burchsted et al., 2010) and improving water quality. The proposed project will use BDA structures to essentially provide the same function as beaver dams; in that the structures will impound water, capture/settle/stabilize stream supplied sediment, increase water levels and corresponding water table, and aid in establishment of riparian vegetation on banks and adjacent floodplain. The structures will be temporary, lasting 3-5 years. After which if beaver are relocated to Birch Creek, or if beaver naturally migrate into the treatment reaches, the BDA structures could be maintained by beaver. The design and installation of BDA structures and other types of woody instream structures is a relatively simple, cost effective, and non-destructive restoration approach. Structures are constructed of untreated, sharpened lodgepole fence posts, approximately 3-4" diameter, driven into the active channel and inset floodplain using a hydraulic post pounder. Posts extend no more than 1 m above the active channel bed, which is within the 0.5 to 1.5 m typical height range of natural beaver dams. For a single structure, posts will be spaced approximately 0.5 - 0.8 m apart, and driven to a depth of approximately 1 m into the streambed (Refer to Figure 1 and 2 in Images/Documents Section). Following installation of the post line, willow stems will be woven in between the posts to create a semi-permeable structure that closely resembles a natural beaver dam. The willow weaving acts as a dam, but is also designed to be passable to fish, and is consistent with adult and juvenile fish passage criteria. In addition to weaving willow among the post line, BDA structures will be reinforced by placing cobble, gravel, and fine sediment at the base of the structure, a technique very similar to the way beavers build natural dams. BDA's should last until the pool behind the dam fills with sediment and is colonized by woody riparian vegetation (typically < 5 yr. depending on sediment sources and the flow regime). In addition to willow, we will use Pinyon Juniper logs removed during Phase II of this project as fill material in the BDAs and other structure types. BDA structures will be strategically placed to mimic the form and function of beaver dam complexes, while non-channel spanning structures will mimic natural accumulations of LWD. Each structure will be designed with defined objectives for triggering and/or maintaining geomorphic and hydraulic processes leading to river rehabilitation. In Phase II we plan to strategically plant native riparian vegetation to improve composition and vigor of woody riparian species. To the greatest extent possible, native trees and shrubs which are currently growing on site, such as Water Birch, Coyote Willow and Yellow Willow will be used in plantings. In addition, Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Thinleaf Alder and Redosier Dogwood will be used in specific areas. Riparian plantings will be completed in cooperation with Anabranch Solutions.

The geomorphic condition assessment will provide a baseline condition to evaluate the level of success with different fish habitat improvement techniques (i.e. BDAs). The restoration design plan will be developed to determine the location and extent of BDAs and riparian plantings and pre and post monitoring data will be collected at each of these location to evaluate the effectiveness of the restoration actions. Monitoring will be accomplished using the widely-used, protocol-based, Columbia Habitat Monitoring Program (CHaMP) fish habitat monitoring methodology (Bouwes et al., 2011). The CHaMP program has built-in analytical tools and data hosting in a queryable database that we will leverage for analysis of the survey data. This information will be utilized to make well informed decisions prior to implementation of future restoration reaches along Birch Creek or in other similar river systems. The monitoring will be completed in cooperation with the Department of Watershed Sciences (Utah State University) and the Division of Wildlife Resources. In addition, BLM will complete Proper Functioning Condition Assessments, and Multiple Indicator Monitoring. Bonneville cutthroat trout population sampling will occur as needed in conjunction with USFS and UDWR. Multiple Indicator Monitoring will be conducted two years post treatment to determine a measurable response in woody riparian vegetation. Ocular observations including photo points will occur pre-treatment and on an annual basis post treatment to document changes in woody species abundance and regeneration. Proper Functioning Condition assessments will not be conducted unless major events occur which could significantly alter the streams condition (i.e. major flood event, wildfire, etc.). The following documents were added to the proposal for reference to monitoring data that has been collected in the area: 1. Abundance of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout in Southern Utah, (2001-2002), Compared to Previous Surveys (Hepworth_et_al2003) and Distribution Abundance of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (Hepworth et.al.1997_BCT monitoring)

Partners to support the project will include the BLM, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), Utah State University and Anabranch Solutions. The project has been developed with full participation of these groups. By working to understand the impacts of a diverse suite of restoration activities, the project will help aid management decisions on other riparian systems that have similar habitat degradation.

The Birch Creek Habitat Management Plan identified the priority objectives to be achieved through the implementation of the Plan. Measurable objectives identified include: 1. To increase bank cover from 59 to 75 percent of optimum. 2. To increase bank stability from 59 to 80 percent 3. To obtain and maintain a pool-riffle ratio of 100 percent of optimum (50-50 pool-riffle ratio). 4. To increase the pool quality from 55 to 70 percent. 5. To increase and maintain the overall stream quality at 83 percent of optimum. 6. To increase stream shading from 50 to 75 percent. The Birch Creek Project would be managed to provide for the attainment of the objectives identified above.

Not Applicable Birch Creek is located within the Lee Springs Allotment. Two exclosures were constructed around segments of Birch Creek to alleviate stream degradation due to livestock grazing and to reduce timber harvest. Each exclosure is approximately 0.5 miles in length and protects approximately 72 acres of riparian and upland habitat. Livestock grazing within the Birch Creek exclosures is not authorized. Annual exclosure maintenance is required to eliminate livestock trespass from the USFS.

07/01/2021

06/30/2025

2025

Final methods of Phase 3 included: 1: Mastication of encroaching Pinyon/Juniper as described above. However, this portion of the project was funded through BLM BIL funds, and became and in-kind contribution to the project. 2: BLM staff developed a restoration plan and implemented it in 2020/2021, resulting in the construction of over 90 wood structures (BDAs, speedbumps, etc). 3: USU was contracted to develop a detailed riparian and geomorphic condition assessment, where they evaluated and determined the effectiveness of previous and ongoing restoration efforts on Birch Creek. This has resulted in a peer-reviewed journal article that will be published soon. USU along with BLM experimented in constructing 4 new log structures that combined low-tech principals with natural channel design techniques to address issues identified with BDAs filling in overtime and reducing overall pool habitat potential. 4: BLM staff and a UCC crew planted the cuttings of 1900 willows, 300 cottonwoods, 50 aspens along 0.75 miles of Birch Creek.

Phase 3 was initially implemented via in-kind contributions from the BLM to complete the mastication of Pinyon/Juniper that was encroaching on Birch Creek and to reduce fuels issues surrounding the creek. Additionally, BLM staff constructed approximately 90 structures (small BDAs and other wood structures) within the creek to reconnect the floodplain and enhance instream habitat. Due to the in-kind contribution from the BLM, funding intended for mastication, etc. was used to contract USU to complete a detailed riparian and geomorphic analysis on Birch Creek and to evaluate the effectiveness of previous and ongoing restoration efforts. USU completed their work in Fall 2025/Spring 2025. The results of this analysis are being compiled into a journal article that will be published in 2026. Initial result indicated that riparian vegetation was limited (as previously determined) and that low-tech restoration princicples and desired habitat (frequent deep pools) may be in conflict and that a more directed approach to meet habitat goals is warranted. Due to this, BLM staff and a UCC crew focused efforts on planting willow, cottonwood, and aspen (a trial) pole plantings along 0.75 miles of the creek in November 2024. Initial monitoring in summer 2025 indicated 80 to 90 percent survival of willows, 20 percent survival of cottonwoods, and 10 percent survival of aspens. Key factors leading to mortality were directly linked to the ability of the crew members being able to get the pole planting deep enough into the bank (frozen ground was a limitation during implementation). The amount of surviving willows is expected to increase riparian woody vegetation significantly (estimated 2000 percent increase based on Lotic AIM data).

Future management of this project will be based on the results of the riparian and geomorphic analysis. Initial results indicated that habitat goals of frequent deep pools and the low-tech methods such as BDA and PALS construction in a small stream such as Birch Creek may be at odds. Future restoration will focus on pool development as many of the riparian objectives are starting to be met, or are on trajectory to be met. Monitoring will occur annually and previous structures will be maintained, removed, or enhanced on an as needed basis.