The Mill Creek Watershed includes Mill and Pack Creeks, and is provides domestic and irrigation water to areas of Grand and San Juan Counties including the City of Moab. Perennial streams begin in the La Sal Mountains on USFS lands and flow through BLM-managed areas in Mill Creek Canyon before entering the City of Moab and finally flowing into the Colorado River adjacent to the Matheson Wetlands. While the watershed crosses many jurisdictions, work in all areas focuses on reducing fire fuels, improving vegetation diversity to improve wildlife habitat, and maintaining high water quality to improve overall watershed health. This project maintains and expands upon past efforts improving the primary wildlife links from the La Sal Mountains to the Colorado River. These corridors are an important link, for larger mammals and birds, between the river and wetland areas and the mountains. The USFWS recognizes this area as potential habitat for Southwest Willow Flycatcher, Mexican Spotted Owl and Yellow Billed Cuckoo. The Moab BLM office completed section 7 consultation with USFWS who concurred that the project would benefit these species by including seasonal avoidance measures and by restoring the riparian vegetation community to greater than 85% native species composition within 90% of the riparian areas. UPPER WATERSHED (USFS) The riparian corridors in the upper watershed (USFS) are dominated by increasingly dense vegetation communities (gambel oak, big sagebrush and pinyon/juniper). The current conditions in these areas are such that that, if a fire starts on an average summer day, it would be uncharacteristically hot, difficult to control, and would be a significant threat to private land, public and firefighter safety (access and egress) and developments on the west slope of the La Sal Mountains. Based on recent experiences with wildfires in similar elevation and vegetation communities, the aftereffects of a severe fire in the upper watershed would likely lead to overland flow, erosion, and debris flows from storm events with negative impacts downstream in the Mill Creek drainages. Encroaching pinyon and juniper trees into sagebrush communities and previously-treated chainings are reducing the value of these areas for wildlife, especially big game, and livestock. Treatment in these areas would increase diversity and productivity of desirable browse and herbaceous forage plants. There are several acres of salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima) and Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) that have invaded the side drainages of Mill Creek on Forest Service administered lands above Flat Pass. There is a need to further inventory and treat these drainages, as well as inventory Mill Creek for these invasive species and treat if found to increase native plant health and diversity. MIDDLE WATERSHED (BLM reaches) Mill Creek flows through Mill Creek Canyon which is primarily BLM managed land. This project addresses overall watershed health by improving water quality conditions, improving soil conditions, increasing floodplain functionality, increasing streambank stability, decreasing fire hazards, increasing native plant diversity and densities, and improving wildlife habitats. LOWER WATERSHED (Private and City reaches) The lowest 3.5 miles of Mill Creek and 5 miles of Pack Creek run through Spanish Valley and the City of Moab, and are dominated by areas of dense woody invasive species. These areas are mostly Russian olive with some tamarisk, as well as Siberian elm and tree of heaven in select spots. In addition to dangerous levels of fire fuels, the dense woody vegetation in some areas along the creek focuses high water flows into the channel rather than allowing it to spread, and has resulted in significant downcutting and channelization. This downcutting has lowered the water table along the creek, reduced native riparian vegetation, and increased erosion. In the last 5 years there has also been an increase of invasive ravenna grass along both Mill and Pack Creeks. Ravenna grass can grow up to 12 feet tall, and like tamarisk and Russian olive, can act as a ladder fuel whereas a native ecosystem would be more open. It also tends to form dense stands along the banks which can further trap flood flows in the channel, reinforcing channelization. Ravenna has been spreading quickly throughout Mill and Pack creeks in town and upstream into the canyons above town. It needs to be treated soon to prevent its establishment as a permanent new addition to the invasives in Mill and Pack Creeks.

1) One important objective of the project is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and the associated damage to the watershed as well as protect public safety. This would be accomplished by reducing the density of invasive plants to less than 5% in the riparian corridor on BLM lands in Mill Creek Canyon and creating/ improving firebreaks on private lands. 2) Reducing the threat of wildfire on homes and residential areas in the upper reaches of the watershed, as well as the lower reaches in town. On the USFS land this includes reducing pinyon/juniper/oak density on 870 acres of riparian areas to reduce the negative consequences of a high severity wildfire fire on the soil, vegetation and wildlife habitat resources.. In the lower reaches of the creeks through Spanish Valley and Moab this will be accomplished by working with private landowners to remove Russian olives and other non native woody species. 3) Improving water quality conditions within the watershed is an objective that would be addressed through reducing erosion and improving floodplain functionality. Mill Creek and Pack Creek do not meet state water quality standards, with high stream temperatures and high nutrient loads. In Mill Creek Canyon, on BLM managed lands, this water quality conditions would be improved by reducing social trails, restoring disturbed areas and constructing gully control structures. Frequent trash clean-up efforts in areas with heavy recreation use would also provide a benefit to water quality conditions. 4) In the lower reaches of the creeks, in Spanish Valley and through Moab, RRR and FFSL will coordinate with landowners and the City and County to create new fire breaks, perform effective follow up treatments, and revegetate areas that are not passively regenerating. In addition, RRR will continue to evaluate the efficacy of removal and revegetation treatments through various monitoring efforts. 5) A final objective for this project is to improve overall watershed health by increasing native plant diversity and densities, improving wildlife habitat conditions, increasing floodplain functionality, and improving stream bank stability.

BLM: This project addresses multiple threats to watershed health and water quality conditions including increasing invasive species as well as increasing erosion and sedimentation from heavy recreation use. The threat from increased invasive woody and non-woody plant concentrations leads to decreased riparian diversity, decreased native plant densities, increased catastrophic wildfire hazards and increased damage from large flood events. These impacts affect both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitats. These threats will continue to increase in severity without these treatments. Another threat to the Mill Creek Watershed is degraded water quality. Mill Creek is currently listed for high stream temperatures and high levels of Total Dissolved Solids, and is impacted by surface disturbances within the riparian corridor especially in Mill Creek Canyon. By reducing erosion and revegetating disturbed areas, water quality conditions will be improved along with aquatic habitats. Without this project water quality conditions may continue to degrade. There are no threats or risks expected from implementing this project. BLM and partners are committed to working in the Mill Creek Watershed until restoration efforts are complete and sustainable. USFS: A Forest Service Fire Regime/Condition Class Assessment identified the Mill Creek watersheds as moderately departed from historic conditions in a mixed severity fire regime. As the final phase of a 4,500 acre project, the proposed treatments in the drainage corridors will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire throughout the area. The actions provide a combination of physical, biological, social, and environmental benefits while attaining the stated objectives of reducing wildfire risk and improving vegetation conditions. The actions would reduce fuel loading, stand and crown/canopy density, and fire hazards that threaten resources, important watersheds, administrative sites, private property, and the public. Project actions also allow for restoration of important vegetative communities in the forest, using well-documented, effective vegetation treatment methods with little risk of unknown consequences. The treatments are clearly better than not taking action (doing nothing). The risk from taking no action is the potential to negatively impact a variety of resources if a catastrophic fire were to occur. Negative impacts to wildlife habitat and rangeland resources occur if pinyon-juniper continues to increase in density and encroach on natural sagebrush openings, and in previously-treated (chained) areas due to the lack of disturbance. A high-severity fire would almost certainly lead to a noxious weed infestation. Taking no action would not meet Forest Plan objectives. Improper livestock grazing can be a threat and risk to riparian areas, however with correctly configured fencing much of the riparian area can be protected while still providing water access to livestock. RRR: The primary threats to the Mill Creek Watershed include increased invasive woody and non-woody plant concentrations, decreased riparian diversity and native plant density, increasing fire fuels density and distribution, as well as loss of interest and momentum in riparian management after the Cinema Court Fire. It has been more than 2 years since the Cinema Court Fire that burned 8 houses and a number of other buildings. Interest in managing the growing fire hazard in the creeks was very high right after the fire. A number of meetings were organized by Rim to Rim Restoration, the City of Moab, Grand County, the Moab Valley Fire Department, FFSL, among others to coordinate landowners and figure out needs and funding. In order to keep the forward momentum and interest in riparian management, larger scale removal needs to start happening to continue to capture community interest. If we lose this community push for riparian management, we risk: 1) Increasing risk of fires leading to the possible loss of large overstory cottonwoods, homes, and buildings. 2) Loss of riparian habitat and reduced native plant diversity and regeneration due to dominance of large woody invasive species. 3) Expansion of Russian olive seed sources throughout the valley, into the recently cleared areas of the Matheson Wetlands and the Colorado River corridor. 4) Expansion of ravenna grass along riparian corridors. If we do not keep its population in check now it may become very difficult to manage in a few years when its population explodes.

This riparian and upland restoration project would help achieve the objectives set forth in the following management plans as described below. Plans are listed from most local to more regional. The Grand County General Plan includes the vision and goal of preserving riparian habitat by improving the condition of land along the Mill Creek corridor. This project would improve riparian habitat by reducing the amount of invasive plant species and increasing native plant diversity and densities in Mill Creek Canyon. Russian Olive trees are included on the Grand County Noxious Weed List, and Ravenna Grass was recently added. This project would reduce the amount of Russian Olive in Mill Creek Canyon. The Grand County Resource Management Plan encourages public land managers to enhance and restore watersheds in the Moab and Spanish Valleys and encourages FFSL to reduce wildfire hazards in the wildland-urban interface. The plan also identifies that invasive weeds should be reduced in order to allow native species to thrive with wildlife corridors that connect natural areas. The plan specifically mentions that riparian habitat should be preserved and restored. This project would reduce the risk of fire, particularly in the wildland-urban interface while reducing invasive weeds such as Tamarisk, Russian Olive, and Ravenna grass. Restoring the riparian area will create more continuous native habitat and improve the watershed by reducing erosion in the creek. The Utah Division of Water Quality (UDWQ) identified Mill Creek as impaired and not meeting state water quality standards in 1998. In 2002 UDWQ completed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report with recommendations to improve water quality conditions. These recommendations include improving riparian conditions and decreasing erosion within the watershed. This project would improve riparian conditions by reducing the amount of invasive plant species (Russian Olive and Ravenna Grass) and increasing native plant diversity and densities, by reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfire, and increasing overflow channels, therefore reducing damage from large flood events. This project would also decrease erosion by constructing several small gully control structures directly adjacent to Mill Creek in Mill Creek Canyon. The Grand Conservation District Resource Assessment identifies natural and social resources present in Grand County and details specific areas of concern, including soil erosion and noxious weeds. The assessment cites a need to improve stream banks and riparian areas by removing invasive species and improving native plant communities. This project would reduce the amount of noxious weeds in Mill Creek Canyon, improving riparian conditions and increasing native plant diversity and densities. The Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership (SURP) prepared the Colorado River Woody Invasive Species Management Plan through collaboration with 29 local partners including the Tamarisk Coalition, Grand County Council and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The plan's main objective is to reduce non-native plant species within 80% of high priority streams by 2020. The Mill Creek Watershed is listed as a high-priority area in this plan. This project would reduce the amount of non-native invasive plant species in Mill Creek Canyon. The BLM Moab Field Office 2008 Resource Management Plan (RMP) identifies two objectives that would be accomplished by implementing this plan. Goal/ objective #VEG-9 states "reduce Tamarisk and Russian Olive where appropriate ... and restore riparian habitat to native willow and cottonwood communities". Goal/ objective #WL-8 states "prevent the spread of invasive and non-native plants especially cheatgrass, Tamarisk and Russian Olive. Strive for a dense understory of native species in riparian areas with a reduction in Tamarisk and improvement of cottonwood and willow regeneration." This project would reduce the amount of invasive and non-native plants including Russian Olive and Ravenna Grass in the riparian areas in Mill Creek Canyon, allowing native species such as cottonwoods and willows and native understory species to flourish and regenerate. The 2005 BLM Utah Riparian Policy states:" riparian areas are to be improved at every opportunity." This project would improve the riparian area by reducing the non-native invasive plant species and increasing native plant species diversity and densities in Mill Creek Canyon. The Utah Wildlife Action Plan, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, identifies actions needed to protect lowland riparian habitats including restoring degraded habitats. This project would protect lowland riparian habitats by reducing the potential for catastrophic wildfires, reducing the potential for damage from large flood events by increased overflow channels in Mill Creek Canyon, and decreasing sediment loading from gullies adjacent to Mill Creek. The WAP also identifies Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher as species of greatest conservation need. The removal of non-native vegetation followed by revegetation of native species such as cottonwood and willow may create stopover and foraging areas for these species. As willow patches become more dense through time, willow flycatchers may find nesting opportunities within the project area. Big Free-tailed Bat and Allen's Big-eared Bat are also benefited by improvements to the watershed. Threats to these species may be riparian management and disturbance near roost sites. This project will improve the riparian area and also aims to reduce disturbance from recreation by eliminating trails. The Conservation and Management Plan for Three Species in Utah (2006) describes the importance of maintaining populations of roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker throughout their ranges. One method for maintaining populations is to enhance and maintain habitat by restoring habitat features and altered channels. Increases in water temperature and declines in water quality negatively impact the fish and are only exacerbated by invasive riparian species such as tamarisk. Although these fish are more often found in large rivers, tributary streams are often important for their life cycle. Removal of invasive species and allowing the re-establishment of native vegetation can increase stream complexity as well as reduce temperature. The State Resource Management Plan identifies the importance of the Watershed Restoration Initiative. It specifically mentions support for efforts to reduce wildfire and the associated soil loss from erosion and sedimentation. It talks specifically about improving wildlife populations and reducing the risk of additional listing of species under the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, the plan identifies the importance of improving resistance to invasive plant species, specifically mentioning that healthy ecosystems are the most effective way of preventing the spread of noxious weeds. The state supports the proposals proactive management of noxious weeds. This project will reduce the risk of fire by removing flammable, invasive vegetation from the riparian area and allowing for the establishment of native species which provide better habitat for sensitive wildlife species. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan identifies the removal of exotic plants as important for the recovery of this species. This project would reduce the amount of exotic plants such as Russian Olive and Ravenna Grass in Mill Creek Canyon. The project is consistent with the Goals and Desired Future Conditions in the Manti-La Sal Forest Land and Resource Management Plan of 1986, as amended. It will: * Minimize hazards from wildfire and reduce fuel loading, stand and crown/canopy density, and resultant fire hazard to vegetation, the public, private property, and firefighters (LRMP III-5). * Maintain a healthy forest by applying appropriate silvicultural treatments (LRMP III-3). * Maintain/improve habitat capability through direct treatment of vegetation (LRMP III-23). * Provide habitat needs for deer and elk (LRMP III-19), especially improving the cover:forage ratio. * Control noxious weeds and poisonous plants in cooperation with Forest users and State and local agencies. (LRMP III-3) * Control and reduce noxious weeds and poisonous plants, using integrated pest management techniques and strategies; including the use of herbicides, biological control agents, and/or mechanical or hand treatments.(LRMP III-25) * Invest in range improvements where they will provide the greatest benefit.(LRMP III-3) * Give preferential consideration to riparian area dependent resources in cases of unresolvable resource conflicts. (LRMP III-31) The Utah Fire Amendment has a goal to reduce hazard fuels. The full range of fuel reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and management area emphasis and direction. * Certain vegetative types are to be managed such that varying successional stages will be present to provide for a high level of vegetative diversity and productivity (III-2).* Pinyon-juniper stands on gentle slopes and on lands with good soils will be treated periodically to maintain early successional stages (III-8). Black rosy-finch have been documented using burned or treated pinyon-juniper habitat for winter foraging on the La Sals. These early seral habitats produce the grass and forb seeds these birds rely on in the winter. * Intensive management practices would maintain structural diversity within the woody species in at least 25 percent of the area covered by the Gambel oak and mountain shrub type. In some cases, the Gambel oak would be encouraged to successionally develop as an open savannah or in a high seral stage (III-9). Designated as a Healthy Forest Restoration Act (2003) project, the treatments meet the mandate for the Forest Service to restore fire dependent ecosystems and reduce fire risk to people and property. Project actions are consistent with proposed management in the Moab/Spanish Valley Wildfire Protection Plan and the Southeastern Utah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan. The Statewide Mule Deer Plan specifies management actions for important ranges: convert habitats back to young, vigorous shrub-dominated communities; manage portions of pinyon-juniper ranges in early successional stages. The La Sal Deer Unit Management Plan has an objective of improving deer habitat and carrying capacity, and pursuing cooperative projects to improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat. The project meets several objectives In the Statewide Elk Herd plan: support habitat improvement projects that increase forage for big game and livestock, initiate vegetative treatment projects to improve elk habitat on winter ranges, improve upper elevation winter ranges to encourage elk to winter at higher elevation than mule deer. The project is specified in the 2012 La Sal Elk Herd Management Plan as a habitat improvement project. There are 3 Key Terrestrial Habitat types from the Utah Wildlife Action Plan in the project area. The West Slope project treatments follow the management strategies for these types: restoration in the Gambel oak type by cutting/mulching invading pinyon-juniper, single tree mulching/cutting invading conifer in the mountain sagebrush type, reducing fire risk (uncharacteristic fire could increase the spread and dominance of invasive weeds) in the mountain shrub type through appropriate treatment methods. The Golden Eagle, a species of greatest conservation need in the WAP, may also benefit from this project by increasing habitat for prey species thus improving foraging opportunities for eagles. The Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan has a goal of maintaining and improving wild turkey populations by stabilizing populations. Suggested methods include reducing the risk of catastrophic events such as fire as well as conducting habitat projects to address limiting factors. The plan has an objective of increasing habitat quality and quantity through habitat improvement projects. This project will reduce the risk of a catastrophic fire impacts to turkey habitat in the Mill Creek area. It will also enhance native plants available for diverse foraging opportunities by turkey while retaining mature acorn-producing trees and adequate cover. The Grand County CWPP updated in 2020 identifies the La Sals and the Mill Creek Watershed as one of three priority areas due to private holdings within the BLM and National Forest. Fuel Reduction on private land is considered a high impact high priority activity on the La Sals and Mill Creek Watershed as the plan is currently written. The Moab Valley CWPP updated in 2020 identifies the Pack Creek Corridor as priority area 1 and the Mill Creek Corridor as priority area 2 for fuel reduction work in Moab Valley. The Southeast Utah Catastrophic Fire working group has designated the Moab/Spanish Valley area (including Mill Creek) as a High Priority Focus Area. The Utah Forest Action Plan (FAP) identifies the Mill Creek watershed as a part of the La Sal priority area, one of five priority areas identified in the FAP. Wildland fire and wildlife habitat loss were two of the top concerns for all priority areas identified in the FAP.

BLM: The proposed project would significantly reduce the risk of wildfire and reduce the continuity of hazardous fuels, particularly ladder fuels that build up under Russian olives and are created by Ravenna grass. The entire Mill Creek riparian corridor is connected by fairly dense riparian vegetation and if a fire were to start in this corridor, it has the potential to be a large-scale catastrophic burn. The potential for a wildfire caused by human ignition is high in the heavier use areas on BLM managed lands. Removing Russian olives and Ravenna Grass not only reduces fuel loads but also isolates smaller fuel load areas. If a fire were to start, the chance of a large scale catastrophic fire would be greatly minimized as the fire would be more accessible and suppressed more easily, and may not spread as rapidly. The relatively intact habitat corridor from the La Sal Mountains to the Colorado River would also be protected. Continuing this work is more important now with increased recreation uses in Mill Creek Canyon raising the potential for human caused fires, and with more frequent drought years making fuels drier for a longer portion of the year. USFS: The project is bordered on the west by BLM and private lands and Forest Service lands on the south, east, and north sides. There are private inholdings within the project area, and the 3700 acres already treated by the Forest Service are immediately adjacent to the inholdings with homes and other structures. All proposed treatment locations are within 1.5 miles of private inholdings/Forest boundary. This is an authorized hazardous fuel project as defined by The Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA), designed to reduce vegetation density and ladder fuels to reduce the probability of a high severity wildfire in the 8300 acre project area that encompasses five private inholdings with residences, outbuildings, and infrastructure, as well as key public communication systems (Bald Mesa communication site/radio towers), utility lines and Moab's Mill Creek municipal watershed. This proposal will reduce live and dead fuels within the riparian corridors in the treatment area. The reduced fire risk will benefit National Forest lands and improvements by aiding in protection from fires (natural and man-caused) which spread from private lands, developed recreation sites, dispersed recreation areas, and other areas of the National Forest. It will also aid in the protection of private infrastructure from fires that initiate on and spread from the National Forest. RRR and FFSL: This proposal seeks to reduce the threat and intensity of fire by creating and expanding several fire breaks on private lands along vulnerable stretches of Mill and Pack Creeks in the lower reaches of the creeks. These fire breaks are designed to break up contiguous fuel loading and protect ecological and human values along these riparian corridors. According to UWRAP (Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal), there are high and very high levels of fire risk along a large portion of these riparian corridors, which means there is a high likelihood of loss or harm in the event of a fire. This was proven to be true in the 2018 Cinema Court fire, in which 8 homes were lost in hours along Pack Creek. The community has since voiced desire for fire protection, and Pack Creek will be prioritized for fire resiliency. In Mill and Pack Creeks in the Moab valley, nonnative woody species (Russian olive and tamarisk) have largely replaced fire-resilient natives such as willows, sumac, and cottonwoods. Ravenna grass, a nonnative and fast-growing ornamental bunchgrass, has also been outcompeting natives along these creeks. Contiguous loading of these species serves as a serious wildfire threat for the riparian area. Russian olive, tamarisk and Ravenna have created a dense understory of growth below native cottonwood trees. They all produce large quantities of volatile fuels that allow fire to spread vertically and reach native canopy cover, creating devastating crown fires in the cottonwoods. The current fuel loading also exacerbates the speed and intensity with which fire moves horizontally. Furthermore, fire spread and intensity are more extreme when there is an extended drought in the area or a buildup of dead and senescent material in the tamarisk crowns, as is currently the case. Removal efforts are expected to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire by reducing volatile fuel loads in some of the more choked sections of the creeks. It will also allow better creek access for fire personnel in the event of a fire. This will not only improve firefighter safety, it will also protect the homes and structures adjacent to the creek. Additionally, removing the invasive vegetation will promote the establishment of under-story native vegetation and will reduce soil erosion, which is critical to maintaining riparian ecosystem resilience. Work in 2021/2022 will kick off a longer process, engaging landowners along the creeks in Moab to work towards a fire defensible healthy riparian habitat by 2028.

Mill Creek and Pack Creek are the main perennial streams that drain the Mill Creek Watershed and are listed by the State of Utah Division of Water Quality (UDWQ) as not meeting the state standards associated with its assigned beneficial uses. Parameters of concern include high stream temperatures, high readings of E.coli bacteria and high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). In 2002, UDWQ prepared a TMDL report recommending actions to protect and improve water quality conditions such as improving riparian and streambank conditions. The Mill Creek Watershed has been designated as a "Sole Source Aquifer" by the EPA to protect the shallow unconfined aquifer that provides drinking water to the residents of Moab and Spanish Valley. This designation is recognized by both the BLM and USFS in their respective management plans, and certain surface disturbing activities are not allowed on federal lands in the Mill Creek Watershed. This project has the potential to improve and protect water quality conditions over both the short term and the long term by increasing the functional integrity of the riparian areas, by improving soil and vegetation conditions in the uplands, and by reducing the risk of severe, large scale wildfires. Invasive plants such as Russian olive and tamarisk constrain the channel, clog overflow channels, increase streambank erosion while reducing native tree and shrub regeneration. Reducing the density of invasive plant species in the riparian corridor would increase the functional integrity of the riparian corridor by improving floodplain connectivity, increase streambank stability which reduces erosion during larger flood events, and increase bank storage in times of high runoff allowing higher releases of shallow groundwater during periods of low stream flows. These actions would improve stream temperatures and reduce sediment loads in the perennial streams. This project would improve upland soil and vegetation conditions by managing high use recreation areas and trails, re-seeding disturbed areas and by constructing small gully control structures. Better upland conditions lead to improved infiltration rates, reducing overland flow and associated erosion and sediment loading to Mill Creek during larger rain events. This project would reduce the risk of severe large scale wildfires by clearing fuels from riparian areas and drainages. By reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the watershed, the potential for associated damage including reduced soil infiltration, increased erosion and loss of topsoil, long term loss of soil productivity, and accelerated sediment loading to the system would be greatly reduced. Treatment of drainages that could act as funnels during a wildfire would further protect and enhance riparian areas. This project has the potential to improve and protect water quantity over both the short term and the long term. By removing denser stands of invasive plant species from the riparian corridor, more water would be available to native plants. Thinning of oak and Pinyon/Juniper in the upland USFS lands will also increase water quantity over the long term. Protecting a portion of Pack Creek from livestock grazing should improve or maintain riparian health. By improving floodplain connectivity and functionality, natural hydrologic streambank storage processes would improve. This would allow water during high runoff periods to recharge small banks and point bars. This stored water would be released during periods of low stream flows, enhancing instream flows and water quantity conditions in times of low flows by need. By improving soil and vegetation conditions in the upland areas, with increased infiltration rates and decreased runoff rates, overall available water would increase in the watershed.

The proposed project is ready for implementation on BLM lands. An environmental assessment has been completed and approved. This NEPA work included consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Endangered Species Act. All Pesticide Use Approvals and archaeological clearances have been completed. The Forest Service lands have an Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice/FONSI completed May 8, 2015. The Decision complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including the ESA, MBTA, ARPA and NHPA and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA). The Forest Service completed an Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice/FONSI in 1993 regarding the control of noxious weeds on the La Sal Division. In 2000, a supplemental report updated the 1993 EA and found that the environmental effects disclosed were still relevant, that no additional analysis was required and that the decision could continue to be implemented. The Forest treats 1000-1500 acres of noxious weeds/year under this decision. Project work on private lands and in the City of Moab would be coordinated with the Grand County Weed Dept, and would not need any compliance approvals, however work done between 2015 and 2018 through EPA 319 funding required archeological clearance, which has been completed for the entire Mill and Pack Creek areas in the Moab Valley where work may occur on this project. This project has been designed to minimize impacts to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, native fish populations and their habitats.

BLM: 1) Russian Olive trees over 6" in diameter will be girdled or hack-n-squirt treated, and left standing. 2) Russian Olive trees less than 6" in diameter will be cut, and the stumps will be treated with approved herbicide within 15 minutes of cutting. No more than 30% of canopy would be removed at any one time. 3) Slash will be cut into 1-2' long pieces and scattered if there is room. Slash may be carried out of more heavily used recreation areas to reduce safety hazards to the public. Slash may be piled in 4' x 5' piles. 4) Native plants may be planted or native seed spread in heavily disturbed areas. 5) Small erosion control structures will be constructed in small gullies to reduce erosion and associated sediment loading to Mill Creek. 6) Trash pickup and trail management will be conducted frequently, with volunteer groups helping whenever possible. 7) Youth crews and the Grand County Weed Dept will treat Ravenna grass with herbicides. Ravenna grass plants may be dug up by hand, and the entire root ball removed from the stream bank or may be treated with herbicides to keep root systems intact. 8) Seedheads on Ravenna grass will be cut, bagged and removed to reduce spread by seed. 9) Native plants will be planted where Ravenna Grass plants are removed from the stream banks. USFS Fuels: Hand-cutting and piling to reduce stand density and enhance small openings. A mosaic of openings of 1 to 3 acres would be created using hand treatment of oak and pinyon/juniper. Gambel oak with diameters less than 6 inches will be targeted. Within the channel buffer zone, trees may be cut by hand and moved out of the buffer zone to be burned (pile burning will be >100 feet from drainage) or some material may be lopped and scattered. Tree removal must not adversely affect intermittent channel bank stability. USFS Invasives: See BLM and RRR methods. However, FS inventory shows that we have no trees over 6 inch diameter, and likely all individuals found will be treated rather than leaving 30% as we do not have the high density of invasives as the areas further downstream in Mill Creek. FS Pack Creek fence: About 3/4 mile of four strand, barbed wire fence and cattle guard installed to prevent cows from accessing the 1/2 mile of creek on FS and 3/4 mile of Pack Creek on private land. RRR and FFSL: Despite the high density of Russian olive and other invasive trees present along most of Mill Creek, gradual removal of olive, tamarisk and elm has resulted natural regeneration of native plants including golden currant, willow, woods rose, three-leaf sumac, cottonwood, grasses and forbs in large areas. This is also proving true along Pack Creek. The primary guiding principle for this project is pacing removal of invasive plants at a rate that allows native plant regeneration to naturally occur. In areas where natural regeneration is not occurring, or the area is sensitive enough to require more rapid revegetation, active planting using poles and potted plants is being done. Treatment methods fall into three broad categories as outlined below, and as noted on the proposal map. 1. Large Scale Removal: In areas where removal has not yet begun, larger trees in densely infested areas will be hand cut, piled and mulched. Areas of clearing will be focused first around native trees and shrubs, and next on areas linking existing native plant stands. 2. Follow up treatments (weed wrenching and/or resprout and sapling cutting with herbicide, or basal bark treatments): New saplings will be pulled with weed wrenches and resprouts cut and treated with Garlon 4 (or other approved herbicides). In these areas other weed species will be addressed using mechanical or chemical means as is deemed most effective. 3. In areas where revegetation is needed to help stabilize banks, or natural native plant regeneration needs assistance, willow wattles, pole plantings, or potted plants will be installed. Most areas will not be seeded due to the readily available seed source surrounding most treatment areas. Methods used in this project vary by location and by the goals and targets within each area. Russian olive removal will involve youth corps chainsaw crews cutting trees and applying herbicide to the cut stumps. In town, slash is mulched and spread to reduce annual non native plant establishment. In more remote areas of BLM lands, slash materials will be cut into smaller pieces, then scattered or piled or hauled away from treatment sites as site conditions require. Youth corps crews will also treat Ravenna grass. Ravenna grass plants may be dug up by hand, and the entire root ball removed from the stream bank or may be treated with herbicides to keep root systems intact. Seedheads on Ravenna grass will be removed to reduce seed heads. Moab Solutions will continue the daily trail work and trash pickup at the heavily used Powerdam area of Mill Creek Canyon, as well as organize volunteer clean-up days. If AIM funding becomes available there may also be brushcutters available for fine fuels reduction. Primary work in the lower watershed through this proposal will be replanting and seeding using longstem techniques, pole planting and seeding.

Each participating collaborator is performing monitoring in their areas. By including work from the top of the watershed to the river, mapping of exotic plant presence will be better connected, which is particularly important with new invaders like ravenna grass. In the upper watershed the USFS is performing the following monitoring: * Day-to-day monitoring of operations will be completed during implementation by a designated Contractor Officer's Representative (C.O.R.) or a qualified Forestry Technician. * Prescribed (pile) burning will be supervised by a qualified Burn Boss to ensure that implementation is completed in accordance with NEPA, Silvicultural Prescription and Burn Plan. * Existing or new weed populations will be treated in accordance with existing noxious weed management decisions. * An interdisciplinary review will be conducted following implementation (within two years) to determine if project objectives have been met and to determine whether implementation of SWCPs has been effective. * Photo points will be established in each treatment type (mastication, hand-thinning) to identify pre and post-treatment conditions, as well as long-term monitoring points for future reference. Post-treatment photos will be taken within one season of completion. * Three migratory bird point-count transects were established in the project area in 2007, and each has been sampled at least 5 times. Post-treatment surveys will be conducted. * Monitoring nests of raptors in the project area (peregrine falcon and golden eagle) will be continued annually. Invasives: Invasive treatments sites are inventoried and monitored annually to document effectiveness and continue with treatments as needed. Fence: Implementation monitoring to ensure correct construction of fence. Pack Creek Water Company and private residents to monitor and maintain the fence. In the Middle Watershed, BLM monitoring will evaluate the success of this treatment and to determine what other work is needed to achieve project objectives. This monitoring work will involve long term photo points, vegetation monitoring, multiple indicator monitoring (MIM) and water quality sampling. Water quality investigations will be conducted in cooperation with the Moab Area Watershed Partnership and the local UDWQ watershed coordinator, as part of a watershed wide water quality study. A comprehensive monitoring report will be completed after project implementation is completed. In the Lower Watershed, monitoring will be conducted to evaluate the success of this treatment, and to determine what other work is needed to achieve project objectives. Rim to Rim has been running vegetation transects at 14 locations on Mill and Pack Creeks since 2007, with the most recent data collected in 2020. A comprehensive report produced in 2018 shows the results of over 10 years of invasive removal work and follow up active regeneration in areas where passive native plant regeneration has not occurred. This monitoring will inform future projects through documenting changes in the vegetation response in the treated riparian areas. In 2021 Rim to Rim will implement mortality monitoring to continue to gauge success of revegetation projects.

The Moab Area Watershed Partnership is a local group of water users, water and land managers that work together to resolve water related issues in the Mill Creek Watershed. This group supports this project proposal and has helped with related monitoring efforts. Moab Solutions is a local non-profit organization that works closely with BLM on resource protection efforts in Mill Creek Canyon, especially working on trail management and trash pickup. The Grand County Weed Dept is supportive of this project and has been an active partner with implementation on BLM and private lands, focusing on Ravenna Grass treatments. The Bureau of Land Management manages lands in Mill Creek Canyon and is committed to improving watershed health, mitigating impacts from increased recreation and from increased invasive plants. The BLM works closely with project partners on this project including the Grand County Weed Dept, the Utah Division of Water Quality and several local contractors. This project is identified on the Manti-La Sal National Forest Five-Year Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 2005-2014), which has been coordinated with other Federal, State, and local agencies as part of our collaborative fuels management program. The State of Utah and Grand and San Juan County, Utah officials have been contacted and support implementation of this project. It is consistent with proposed management in the Moab/Spanish Valley Wildfire Protection Plan and the Southeastern Utah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan (Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands 2007). Another beneficial effect of the extensive public participation in the planning process was that it continued to elevate the need to have private landowners take responsibility for providing fire safe fuel conditions and structures on their own properties. The Forest Service also partners with the San Juan Cooperative Weed management area in the control of noxious weeds throughout San Juan County. Rim to Rim Restoration (RRR) has been working on olive and tamarisk removal and native plant regeneration along Mill and Pack Creeks in the lower reaches since approximately 2004, and was involved with mapping and project work in the BLM areas in the late 1990s and early 2000s. RRR works with private landowners, government agencies and others to facilitate work and connect efforts across administrative boundaries. Moab Valley Fire Department (MVFD): RRR have been working closely with the Moab Valley Fire Department to begin to coordinate efforts between agencies and landowners to remove invasives from Mill and Pack creeks. They have helped identify areas to remove as well as providing maps and other tools to identify important areas to remove. Utah Conservation Corps (UCC): Utah Conservation Corps has long been a partner in invasive species removal in this area. UCC has worked closely with land managers in this area and is uniquely qualified to provide consistent and efficient logistical support and project implementation on projects in the Moab area. The regional coordinator is intimately familiar with these project sites and what treatments work best in our region. Forestry, Fire and State Lands: FFSL as well as the Moab Valley Fire Department have been a part of the working group that has begun to coordinate the gathering of landowner needs for clearing of Mill and Pack creeks. The City of Moab: The City of Moab has been key in working with MVFD and Grand County to identify important removal areas for fire safety along the creek. Team Rubicon: Team Rubicon helped with the initial removal of burned material from the Cinema Court Fire along Pack Creek and in Spring 2022 may use Mill and Pack Creeks as a chainsaw training location for a large volunteer crew . Private Landowners: In addition to the above-mentioned partners open meetings have been held to gather landowners that are adjacent to either Mill or Pack creeks. These are ongoing to gauge what needs these landowners have for removal efforts and to help them reach their own neighbors to work towards removal of invasive woody biomass. Most of the creek bottom land in Moab and Spanish Valley are privately owned so these individual landowners are key to organize removal efforts. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been involved with project related activities for many years now. We have provided input to reduce impacts to birds and have helped acquire services to accomplish project related activities.

BLM: Future management of the Mill Creek Watershed will continue to support the goals of this project. BLM designated this watershed as a municipal watershed, with no new surface disturbing activities allowed. Most of the BLM lands in the Mill Creek Watershed are within the Mill Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) based on important ecological resources as well as within the Mill Creek Wilderness Study Area (WSA). Grazing activities have been suspended indefinitely in Mill Creek Canyon to protect the important ecological and archaeological resources, therefore there is more forage available for wildlife. USFS:The area of Forest Service lands within his proposal are managed for multiple use. The area will continue to be managed for uses such as grazing, recreation including hunting, wildlife and overall ecosystem health. Mechanical treatments as well as prescribed fire will continue to be a way to maintain diverse age classes and vegetation communities in the area. The oak, mountain brush and sagebrush areas have an herbaceous understory component, so the need for seeding is not anticipated in this phase. No changes to livestock management are anticipated at this time, but utilization and trend monitoring will continue and adaptive management can be applied if required. It has been reviewed and there is no need for a change of the current grazing rotation, the area is seeing natural succession and there is a need for diversity of different states of plant communities in the area. The La Sal deer herd is well under 50% of population objective, this project will help to promote better deer habitat conditions and could help move towards objective. Elk on the La Sals are at objective, this project will help maintain healthy elk herds on the La Sals. Turkey populations are increasing on the La Sals, this project will help provide diversity of forage and habitat conditions. DWR will continue to strive to achieve and maintain objectives for big game and turkeys according to management plans on the La Sal Mountains. RRR:Future management on Mill and Pack creeks will include follow-up in treated areas to maintain the progress that has been made so far, some initial entry, and revegetation work with less fire-prone native species. As work in the creeks progresses, Rim to Rim will focus more on community-based facilitation of these projects, planning, revegetation and connecting resources to projects, and less on running day to day operations on-site, especially with FFSL WUI focusing more on work in the creeks, and providing oversight. Rim to Rim is working with the City, County and Moab Valley Fire Department to create resilient firebreaks and improve communication paths to coordinate mitigation efforts and long-term follow-up, providing a solid framework for sustained coordination. RRR is applying for AIM funding to include the purchase of two brush cutters to increase fine fuels reduction. There are opportunities for reconnecting Pack creek's channel to its flood plain at least one location on private land through the use of native plants and gabion structures to slow flows and encourage natural processes that will encourage groundwater recharge. This work is in engineering phases and ideally will be a demonstration area for other projects in the watershed.

BLM: This project would provide more sustainable uses of natural resources due to improved watershed health. Although there are no domestic livestock benefits from this project as there is no grazing currently authorized on BLM lands within Mill Creek Canyon, both upland and aquatic wildlife habitats would be improved. These improvements include increased forage for wildlife species, increased pools and habitat diversity for native fish, and more habitat connectivity for all wildlife species. With the heavy recreation use in parts of Mill Creek Canyon, this project will allow use to continue while protecting natural resources. USFS: The project area is part of three allotments. As part of a larger project, the treatments have decreased the amount of woody vegetation (especially pinyon-juniper and oak) within much of the grazed areas in these allotments. This has led to an increased production of herbaceous vegetation (grass and forb species) on all 4500 treated acres, as these woody species crowd out all other vegetation. Soil health is relatively poor under pinyon/juniper canopies which may lead to more erosion, water pollution, and early snowmelt. Historically there has been repeated and heavy livestock and wildlife grazing due to large concentrations on a small number of acres. Decreasing the amount of woody vegetation increases soil health and allows for a more even distribution of livestock and wildlife which will limit the amount that they compete for habitat and nutrition. Even distribution is also linked with soil health, as there will be lighter use. Less woody encroachment leads to greater spring flow which is also a tool to help with distribution of livestock and wildlife. Noxious weeds are not expected to increase or spread as a result of the treatments as best management practices will be implemented. Treatment should decrease the risk of spreading of noxious weeds. Range trend studies showed little cheatgrass in the areas to be treated and the risk of cheatgrass being established as a result of the project is very low, due to the existing diversity and healthy grass production of most of the understory layers and because of the elevation. Any other noxious weeds in the area would continue to be treated. In the short-term there could be some interruption of grazing operations; however, the long-term benefits to the range resource outweigh the short-term negative impacts that may have to occur to individual permit holders such as resting pastures or exclusion of livestock from areas. Livestock will still be able to continue to graze in the area above the private in-holding in Pack Creek and have access to a small part of Pack Creek for water. In the future, off-site water developments will decrease livestock need of accessing the creek for water. RRR: Work done along Mill and Pack creeks over the past 15 years has opened up areas that have not been visible for over 25 years -- allowing consideration of infiltration projects that will also improve the flood capacity of the riparian area by allowing water to spread out and soak in during large events rather than simply rush down a tight channel, downcutting and eroding as it flows. The project also has the potential to both improve and increase forage along both creeks with the removal of dense and dead stands of woody invasives. The removal of these invasives will open up the understory and will allow for increases in native grasses and forbs which are more desirable for grazing and for many native species. Invasives removal will also allow for greater access to the creek for livestock and for wildlife. There is currently no grazing along this part of the project area. Some of the project area is located on public land owned by the City of Moab. This project has the opportunity to improve recreation areas along Mill and Pack creeks by opening more vegetation choked land to use as well as improving barren areas by planting native species through the NPS 319 funds for this project.

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

FFSL: Russian olive, tamarisk, and elm removal work covered 8 sites through town from Spanish Valley down to the Matheson. All work was completed via cut/treat/chip methods. Herbicide applied to stumps were dependent on the site but were generally triclopyr based. As per previous year's treatments we left some elm and/or olive as shade trees where we thought that shading might be necessary and/or where we had dryer sites. During this year's work we hauled a lot more chips off site due to site logistics and areas to spray chips. Those were distributed to local non-profits and made available to the public when possible. This years work utilized a lot more volunteer help which will be explained in the project narrative. BLM: CCYC conducted Russian Olive and Ravenna Grass treatments throughout Mill Ck Canyon, using chainsaws/ herbicide on Russian Olive (cut stump/ lop and scatter slash materials and frill cuts on larger trees) in fall in northern Steelbender Trail area in fall 2021, manually digging up Ravenna Grass throughout Mill Ck Canyon on BLM lands in fall 2021 and spring 2022, and using loppers/ herbicide on Russian Olive re-sprouts throughout Mill Ck Canyon on BLM lands in spring 2022. BLM: Terra Sophia constructed multiple erosion control structures on the hiking trail in Mill Creek between the powerdam area and the confluence with the North Fork of Mill Creek in fall 2021. Terra Sophia also collected/ planted 300 willow cuttings at the confluence with North Fork of Mill Creek to stabilize streambanks and to reduce social trails in late fall 2021. Both these treatments were very successful and effective. BLM: Moab Solutions conducted daily trash collection, closed social trails with native materials, seeded disturbed areas and hosted multiple volunteer days to pull/ remove tumbleweeds and goatheads in heavy use areas between the BLM parking lot (powerdam) and the confluence with the North Fork of Mill Creek. BLM: Grand County Weeds conducted assessments throughout Mill Creek Canyon, focusing on Ravenna Grass and Houndstongue, digging the plants up as time allowed. They also supported the CCYC, providing plant ID and other education as well as guiding their work location and techniques as needed. RRR: Rim to Rim Restoration, using Utah Conservation Corps crews, conducted fine fuels mowing, using brush mowers, resprout treatments, using hand tools, and herbicide and native planting and seeding along Mill and Pack Creeks on private, city and county land using seed, hand tools, a water pump and containerized plants. USFS: Forest Service contracted the cut and pile work of the pinion, juniper, as well as mountain brush through DWR to complete that portion of the project. The Forest Service also completed pile burning on some of the work that had been completed. This was done to reduce the fuel loading in the bottoms of the drainages and adjacent to private property to slow fire should there be one.

FFSL: Riparian invasive removal work was completed via in-house crew, UCC crews, Grand County Weeds, Moab Valley Fire Department, Rim to Rim Restoration, BLM, and Team Rubicon. A lot of the work this year was completed through "Operation Slickrock". Operation Slickrock was built on years of collaboration with Team Rubicon who initially came into the community right after the Cinema Courts Fire in 2018 to help with tree felling. This year we had about 45 Team Rubicon volunteers for 8 days helping with cutting and swamping of Russian olive and elm in the creek bottom. We paired these volunteers with 3 chippers with chipper operators coming from FFSL (Moab and Richfield) and Moab Valley Fire Department. The BLM and Grand County Weed Department applied herbicides and low stumped. Rim to Rim Restoration, BLM staff, and FFSL staff managed work sites. We also had BLM fire staff, USFS fire staff, and Southern Baptist volunteers helping with cutting and swamping for this 8 day period. At the command center where Team Rubicon was staying we had Salvation Army and the Red Cross doing lodging and feeding. This was a huge show of support for the community and a huge lift that we would not have completed by ourselves. Over this 8 day period we cleared 9 acres of invasive trees, felled approximately 1700 trees, and chipped 205,000 cubic feet of debris. Through the rest of the year we cut at various sites with our in-house crew, fire staff, and UCC crews cutting and chipping Russian olive. It was overall a very successful year for removal work and definitely the best year that the Southeast WUI program has had in terms of removal work in Moab and Spanish Valley. Reveg will be tough in the coming years at a couple of these sites though due to the flooding that we have been receiving from the monsoons. At one site we have seen the channel move several times and 2' of mud and sand deposition on the site, so we expect that we will have to be careful with revegetation work moving forward. Just to clarify our in-kind column and through other column here is what the breakdown was: Through Other is as follows: - $5,353 in Grand County Weed Department assistance for stump spraying and followup treatments for the Team Rubicon operation. - $47,931 from Landscape Scale Restoration grant that FFSL is managing for Mill and Pack Creeks Russian olive removal work. In-Kind contributions are as follows: - $45,000 from Team Rubicon volunteer assistance totalling 1800 hours over 8 days. - $4,000 in Moab Valley Fire Department assistance with chipping during the Team Rubicon Operation - $18,700 in In-kind FFSL chipper use valued at $1700 rental rate for BC1500 over 11 weeks. BLM accomplished it's goals to improve watershed conditions by reducing invasive plant density, increasing native plant diversity and density, decreasing soil erosion and associated sediment loading to Mill Ck therefore improving water quality conditions and floodplain functionality. These improvements helped the floodplain and riparian area to withstand a large flood event in Aug 2022, allowing overflow channels and a braided channel to form during this flood which reduced overall channel incision, downcutting and erosion. In addition to the work conducted in association with FFSL WUI, RRR coordinated four rounds of fine fuels mowing in the Mill/Pack corridor with UCC, starting at Anonymous Park, treating the Taylor Property, and City property along Mill Creek through to the High School and the Middle School. These areas were also treated for Russian Olive resprouts. Rim to Rim also conducted containerized planting projects at Anonymous Park, the Taylor, Lewis, and Kopell properties, the bike skills park, the middle school, and the area near the high school bus shed. USFS: The Forest Service contracted through DWR for the cut and pile. This ended up being two separate contracts. The first was completed in fall of 2021. After cutting in several of the units there was confusion on measuring the canopy cover and reduction of the contractor elected to not continue cutting into new units. The second round was completed in spring of 2022. This contractor was able to finish all of the units. The Forest Service was able to burn piles in the spring of 2022 including the piles burned in fall of 2021.

FFSL: We still have at least another couple of years of implementation under the LSR grant for Russian olive removal and several more years after that to continue to reduce the invasive woody species pressure on the riparian areas in Moab. We have had more interest in Russian olive removal work this year than any previous year which seems to be in part due to the flooding that we have seen along Pack Creek coming off of the Pack Creek Fire Burn Area. We will be carrying that momentum forward to clear a majority of the Russian olive from the creek in the next 3-5 years. BLM will continue to treat Mill Creek Canyon with invasive plant control, erosion control and trail maintenance over the next several years or more to ensure improvements to watershed health, water quality, riparian condition and floodplain functionality. Funding ($68K) has been approved by the UDWQ non-point source program to continue this work for the next couple of years. Rim to Rim will continue to support projects along Mill and Pack Creeks, providing project coordination, support, and native plant materials. Funding has been secured for an EPA 319 grant along Mill and Pack Creek in addition to another year of WRI funding. The massive monsoon floods that have recently affected Moab will shape a large part of upcoming work. USFS: The Forest Service will burn the remining piles when conditions allow. There was discussion with DWR about contracting this to allow more piles to be burned in a shorter window if more help could be solicited. This method will be explored moving forward.