This project is needed to improve the Pilot Springs Pond in order for the pond to collect and hold sufficient water to support least chub, livestock and wildlife. This maintenance project is needed to provide better quality habitat for Utah's least chub, provide drinking water for other wildlife such as big game species, numerous avian species, and numerous other mammals, as well as provide drinking water for livestock (cattle). This project could also provide a water source for wildland firefighting efforts within the area.

The objective of this project is to maintain the Pilot Springs Pond in order to satisfy the need for the project. Measurable positive outcomes would include a growth in population of Utah's least chub, an uptick in number of big game and avian usage of the pond, and the benefit of quality water for livestock watering purposes. When objectives are accomplished they would improve the landscape by providing improved water quality and yield, increase habitat for aquatic species (Utah's least chub) and other terrestrial wildlife, and decrease the likeliness of catastrophic wildland fire.

The Pilot Springs Pond holds a refuge population of least chub, in recent years the population total count has dwindled and at the present there are fewer numbers of least chub in the pond. If this pattern continues, the population of least chub within the Pilot Springs Pond is likely to not naturally recover to a healthy population size. Additionally if a catastrophic fire were to occur in the area, vegetation and community structure may be altered for the foreseeable future severely reducing quality wildlife habitat.

This project follows and meets objectives in multiple plans including: BLM Utah's Box Elder Resource Management Plan (1986) * Air, soil and watershed program Decision 4 o Identify methods for improvement which will maintain or improve the water and vegetative resources while providing for livestock and wildlife use as well as the maintenance of the watershed. * Air, soil and watershed program Decision 5 o Manage riparian areas for multiple use purposes -- seek cooperative efforts with adjoining landowners and other resource management agencies Least Chub Conservation agreement and strategy * Establish and maintain refuge population for the wild populations of least chub that maintain and represent the genetic integrity of the wild population Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2015) * Priority species and habitats o Least chub o Open Water o Emergent wetland Box Elder County Resource Management Plan * Fisheries -- support native fish population through the protection of aquatic habitat and water quality * Livestock and grazing -- public lands continue to provide livestock grazing. Grazing should be used as a tool to improve resource and watershed health * Riparian areas -- protect and restore functioning and connected riparian areas while increasing resiliency and adaptation to change * Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species -- maintain viability of at-risk wildlife and their habitats by actions that directly help to maintain viability through coordination with the county * Water quality and hydrology -- protect, maintain, and/or improve water quality and watersheds to provide stable and productive riparian and aquatic ecosystems on public lands and to protect the present and future water supply. * Wetlands -- maintain and improve wetlands found on public lands for the benefit of its watershed, water quality, wildlife habitat and other users Least Chub Conservation Agreement and Strategy (2005) and the Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Least Chub (Iotichthys Phlegethontis)(2014). Objective: 1) Eliminate or significantly reduce threats to least chub and its habitat to the greatest extent possible. Management actions (1-d) Dredging of springheads: "Springheads or ponds that were or are being filled in with sediment may require dredging to maintain sufficient habitat for least chub. This will likely be done to prevent the continued sedimentation of the habitat." Objective (2): Restore and maintain self-sustaining populations throughout its historic range. This project will directly benefit a self-sustaining population of Least Chub. Management action (1-f): "Continue the development of refuge populations and documentation of their success." Pilot pond serves as the only refuge population for the Leland Harris natural population of Least Chub.

This project will not directly impact fire and fuels but a deeper pond with more open water will provide a more reliable water source if needed for wildland fire response efforts.

This project will identify the spring source for this pond, install a spring box to protect the resource, and create a new pond which will be smaller in surface area but deeper and with more open water. The pond will be lined which will reduce water loss from infiltration and evaporation. The protection of the spring source and redevelopment of the pond is expected to increase or at least maintain water quantity. The redesign of the pond will also allow for better livestock access through reducing the steepness of the banks and providing hardened access points for livestock watering points. This will reduce the likelihood of cattle being entrained in the pond sediment and improve water quality.

This project is on BLM land and is considered a maintenance action on an existing water development. Additional NEPA is not required. Coordination with BLM archaeologists and wildlife biologists will occur.

The pond will be drained in order to find the spring source. Once the spring source(s) are identified, the pond will be re-developed. The redevelopment will likely be outside of the existing footprint of the pond on the NE side. This will allow the current pond to be drained and spring sources to be captured while maintaining a pond for the least chub population. The spring source(s) will be developed to capture discharge which will be piped or channeled to the new pond. Any overflow from the pond will be directed into the current outflow channel. Pond will be roughly 30 feet in diameter and at least 8 feet deep with gradually sloped or terraced sides that will provide habitat for open water, emergent vegetation, and livestock water access -- with armored access. Efforts will be made to trap least chub prior to construction. Future phases of this project will included determining if this new pond location will be permanent or temporary, and recontouring and revegetating the banks of the old pond.

Least chub populations will be monitored annually in August/September to determine population stability and recruitment. A staff gauge will be installed and monitored when the pond is visited to monitor water levels.

BLM, UDWR, UGIP, Coldwater Ranch BLM and UDWR have been leading the efforts on this project. We had a site visit with the permittee and adjacent private landowner on the allotment. We have discussed the plan with them and received input on timing and desired outcomes.

We expect to continue to manage this site as a water source for livestock in this allotment as well as a refuge population for least chub into the future.

This project will both provide a better source of water for livestock and better habitat for least chub. Other wildlife such as bats, and big game will also benefit through the increase in open water and removal of a non-functional exclosure fence.