The purpose of this project is to improve forest health, forest resiliency through stand composition and structure, watershed resiliency, wilderness character and wildlife habitat at a landscape scale throughout the West Fork Bear River Watershed (36,509 acres) by regenerating aspen in conifer encroached stands, creating landscapes with multiple age classes of trees and reducing hazardous fuel loads that are increasing due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Prescribed fire and mechanical and/or hand treatments will be used to move the landscape closer to properly functioning conditions (e.g. a mosaic of patch sizes, species composition, stand structure, and age classes), increasing resilience, and reducing the risk of future large high intensity/severity fires and widespread insect and disease outbreaks. The project area has been significantly impacted by a recent mountain pine beetle epidemic that resulted in up to 90% mortality in the lodgepole pine. The dead trees are beginning to fall over, significantly increasing surface fuel loads and the risk of large high intensity/severity fire. Prescribed fire and mechanical treatments will be used to reduce downed fuel loads, standing alive and dead trees, and create conditions that allow for more fire management options in the event of a future uncharacteristic wildfire.

1. Improve habitat for big game that are dependent on aspen ecosystems. 2. Manage the risk of hazardous fuel accumulations to minimize the potential for large, high intensity/high severity wildfires. 3. Manage the risk of hazardous fuel accumulations to minimize the potential for large, high intensity/high severity wildfires in the wildland/urban interface. 4. Manage for future forestry practices, and current forest health concerns, by creating resiliency through means of managing stand composition and structure to create multiple age classes and species diversity.

A no action management alternative would result in a continued decline in aspen in the project area. If the action is delayed, existing mixed aspen-conifer stands in the project area could cross a threshold where conifers could dominate further reducing the overall North Slope aspen population. As conifers become more dominant, canopy closure increases and understory plant species richness and diversity declines creating a loss of forage production. Soil moisture also decreases as conifers increase because conifer needles and branches intercept precipitation before it reaches the forest floor and precipitation evaporates back into the atmosphere. Aspen to conifer succession is a concern for the North Slope. Aspens are clonal and need disturbance such as fire to initiate sprouting. Aspen is more successful over the long term when fire intervals are short enough to regenerate. If fire is not reintroduced, conifers in existing aspen-conifer stands will establish seedlings, shade out aspen, and outcompete them. When a disturbance does occur creating a possible scenario for aspens to sprout, conifers will have a stronghold, which makes it more difficult for aspens to re-establish leading to further loss of aspens. The above threats are associated with Phase II, implementation, of this project.

1. 2003 Wasatch-Cache Forest Plan: - (Subgoal 3d) Restore or maintain fire-adapted ecosystems (consistent with land uses, historic fire regimes, and other Forest Plan direction) through wildland fire use, prescribed fire, timber harvest or mechanical treatments. -(G24) Management activities that negatively affect pollinators (e.g. insecticide, herbicide application and prescribed burns) should not be conducted during the flowering period of any known Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive plant populations in the application area. An exception to this guideline is the application of Bacillus thuringiensis. - (G3.1W-1) Vegetation/fuel treatment, prescribed fire, and wildland fire use are allowed for the purposes of maintaining, improving or restoring watersheds to desired conditions, and to protect property in the wildland urban interface. - (G3.2U-1) Vegetation/fuel treatment, prescribed fire and wildland fire use are allowed for the purposes of maintaining, improving or restoring terrestrial habitat, for hazardous fuel reduction, and to protect property in the wildland urban interface. - (G4.2-1) Vegetation/fuels treatment, prescribed fire, and wildland fire use are allowed to mimic historic conditions and to restore ecosystem functioning. - (G4.3-1) Timber harvest, vegetation/fuels treatment, road construction, prescribed fire and wildland fire use are allowed to mimic historic conditions and to restore ecosystem functioning as compatible with the backcountry recreation opportunity and natural setting desired. - (G4.5-1) Timber harvest, road construction, vegetation/fuel treatment, prescribed fire, new recreation development, and new trail construction are allowed for the purposes of providing public enjoyment, safety, and protection of site investments. - (G5.2-) Prior to use of prescribed fire and wildland fire use, investments made for timber production, such as road systems and silvicultural improvements, and the value of the timber for wood production receive consideration. - (G6.2 -1) Timber harvest, vegetation/fuels treatments, prescribed fire, and wildland fire use are allowed to maintain or improve forage production or for hazardous fuel reduction. -(Objective 3.b.) Stimulate aspen regeneration and reduce other encroaching woody species in aspen by treating (fire use and/or timber harvest) approximately 3,200 acres average annually1 for a 10- year total of 32,000 acres. - Vegetation cover types will form a mosaic of plant communities representing a diverse mix of ages, sizes, and species. Fire use will play a role in reducing fuels, maintaining the historic dynamic of aspen regeneration and ratio of conifer to aspen and mountain brush vegetation patterns and age classes. Mechanical treatment of fuels along with limited use of prescribed fire will emphasize the safety of people and protection of property in the heavily populated and increasingly developed urban wildland interface adjacent to National Forest. 2. Wilderness Act 1964: -Section 4(d)(1) Within wilderness areas designated by this Act the use of aircraft or motorboats, where these uses have already become established, may be permitted to continue subject to such restrictions as the Secretary of Agriculture deems desirable. In addition, such measure may be taken as may be necessary in the control of fire, insects, and diseases, subject to such conditions as the Secretary deems desirable. -Section 4(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, each agency administering any area designated as wilderness shall be responsible for preserving the wilderness character of the area and shall so administer such area for such other purposes for which it may have been established as also to preserve its wilderness character. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, wilderness areas shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use. 3. 2001 Roadless Rule: -Prohibits cutting, sale, and removal of timber in inventoried roadless areas, except: -For the cutting, sale, or removal of generally small diameter trees which maintains or improves roadless characteristics and: -To improve habitat for threatened, endangered, proposed, or sensitive species, or -To maintain or restore ecosystem composition and structure, such as reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire effects. 4. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan: -Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat in ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into aspen habitats. -Seek opportunities through WRI to improve aspen communities that provide crucial summer habitat for mule deer. -Encourage land managers to manage portions of aspen/conifer forest in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire. -North Slope is a habitat restoration priority area for mule deer in Utah. 5. Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan -Identify habitat projects on summer range (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat. -Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat -Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early successional stages through the use of controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas with minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns. 6. Utah Moose Statewide Management Plan: -Initiate prescribed burns and other vegetative treatment projects to improve moose habitat lost to ecological succession or human impacts. 7. Utah Bighorn Sheep Statewide Management Plan: -Encourage land management agencies to use fire as a management tool to improve bighorn sheep habitat. When possible allow fires that can have beneficial effects for bighorn sheep to burn. -Initiate vegetative treatment projects to improve bighorn habitat lost to natural succession or human impacts. 8. Northern Goshawk of Utah: Habitat Assessment and Management Recommendations: -Early and mid-seral species should be increased using both mechanical means and fire. -Polices should be adopted to manage for the production of large early seral species through clearings, thinnings, and weedings, using mechanical means or fire. -Fire or mechanical treatments or both should be used to create conditions favorable to lodgepole pine and quaking aspen. 9. Guidelines for Aspen Regeneration on National Forests in Utah: - Much of the loss of aspen-dominated acreage is attributable to encroachment and overtopping by conifer. It has often been presumed that this encroachment i.e., the natural succession process for seral stands, is the result of fire suppression. 10. Boreal Toad Conservation Plan: -(3.1.1)Protect habitats in forest stands adjacent to and within 2.5 miles of breeding sites. -(3.1.2)Restrict burns to late fall through early spring during which time boreal toads are inactive in known occupied areas. -Burning of downed woody materials approximately 18 to 25 cm DBH is detrimental to boreal toads, because these materials are often selected as beneficial microhabitats. However, fire may eventually result in higher shrub densities in the understory that may provide cover and improved dispersal corridors. 11. Utah Black Bear Management Plan: -Successional replacement of aspen stands by conifers can significantly reduce bear-food production in aspen communities. Both fire and selective logging of conifers can be used to maintain aspen vigor. 12. UDWR Wildlife Action Plan: - While the Aspen-Conifer physical (abiotic) habitat remains largely intact in Utah, coverage of aspen itself within that setting has declined greatly for two main reasons: (1) departure from natural fire regime (reduction in disturbance), resulting in widespread forest succession to conifer dominance; and (2) heavy ungulate browsing on young aspen stems, following disturbance. - The growing problem of catastrophic mega-fires can be solved by a systematic campaign of active restoration via mechanical fuel-reduction treatments and prescribed fire to safely return wildfire as a viable, natural, cost-effective means of maintaining necessary patterns of ecological succession across the landscape. - Increasing disturbance from either prescribed or natural fire. Recent studies have shown that larger scale burns (e.g., 5,000 acres) that burn more intensely have been the most successful in terms of aspen regeneration. Higher-intensity burns stimulate higher numbers of young aspen per unit area, than lower-intensity burns. A larger treatment area distributes ungulate browse pressure, allowing most young aspen stems to reach a safe height. - Applying mechanical disturbance agents such as timber harvest. This can also be used to stimulate aspen regeneration and avoid or reduce resource losses to conifer beetles. As with fire, larger mechanical treatment areas serve to distribute browsing pressure and reduce damage to individual stems, increasing regeneration success. 13. State of Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy: - Rather than just reducing fires, the ultimate goal is to return landscapes to a condition of health and resilience that allows for wildfires to burn without becoming catastrophic to either human or natural systems. 14. Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Colorado River Cutthroat Trout in the State of Utah -Natural climatic events such as flood, fire and drought may threaten specific populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT); however, these forces only pose threats as long as CRCT range remains fragmented and populations are small. Small, isolated populations are more susceptible to catastrophic loss and impacts from demographic stochasticity. 15. Bonneville cutthroat trout Rangewide Agreement and Conservation Strategy - State of Utah. The Bear River GMU: There are 10 stronghold populations and five metapopulations within the GMU. Conservation strategies of "Protect" (28% of habitat), "Restore Population" (27% of habitat), and "Restore Habitat" (32% of habitat) were identified as primary needs for the GMU using Trout Unlimited's CSI. The following goals have been identified for the GMU. GMU Goal 1: Maintain all populations within GMU 16. Utah Forest Action Plan 2016 Use all available management tools, including forest industry, to restore and maintain healthy ecosystems. Utah's forested resources are used to meet public need while being appropriately managed to provide sustainability for future generations. 17. Utah Forest Stewardship Plan Doodle Run 2015 -Manage forest resources in the best interest of forest health by minimizing losses associated with injurious insects and diseases. -Maintain or enhance wildlife use for a variety of big game species. -Maintain, improve and utilize range resources for long-term, sustained cattle grazing management, forage production and wildlife habitat. Implement management alternatives that reduce hazardous fuels and the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires. 18. Manorlands Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2013 Goal 3 Action 1 Decrease available fuels Action 1- Decrease available fuels - Remove dead and insect infested trees and spray non-infested trees. Action 3 - Implement fuel modification projects on private land 19. Uintalands Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2004 Goal A - Decrease fuels to reduce wildfire intensity and impact in and around the community.

The use of prescribed fire on the North Slope has been very limited during the past and most wildfires have been suppressed. The last large scale fire was the East Fork Fire near Bear River, and it burned 14,200 ac in June 2002. According to fire statistics, the number of large fires appears to be increasing since 1980. The majority of the project is within fire regime IV (35-100+ years) and V (> 200 years) with a condition class of 2. One of the objectives of this project is to manage hazardous fuel loading, continuity of hazardous fuels, and to minimize the potential for large, high intensity/high severity wildfires. This project will help the North Slope move to properly functioning conditions (composition, stand structure, age classes, and patch size). It will promote aspen regeneration and recruitment and reduce conifer encroachment. Aspens are more fire-resistant than conifers since they have a higher moisture content, have less chemical content, and provide less fuel during their dormant period. Fuel loads would be reduced and aspen regeneration would occur within the proposed project area, which would protect Manor lands and Monviso subdivisions in the event a catastrophic wildfire was to devastate the area.

Runoff and erosion rates associated with high intensity/severity wildfires are much higher than those associated with prescribed burns. After severe and intense wildfires, soils become hydrophobic increasing runoff and decreasing the soil moisture content in the ecosystem. Runoff introduces large quantities of sediment, ashes, and other chemical contaminants into the river system negatively impacting water quality. Intense/severe wildfires can cause riparian areas to be denuded of vegetation, increase water temperature, decrease dissolved oxygen, and lead to eutrophication and poisoning of aquatic organisms. Forest managers can remedy catastrophic wildfire effects on water quality by using prescribed fire and mechanical tools to reduce hazardous fuel loads. The project area encompasses several ecological communities e.g. lodgepole, aspen, aspen-conifer, spruce-fire, Douglas fir, and the tributaries that flow through these forest communities. By implementing these treatments, Bear River (and its tributaries) would be protected against catastrophic wildfire effects.

Archaeology clearances were completed during phase I of the project in FY 21. SHPO has concurred with the project. Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been completed and concurrence letter received. NEPA will be completed before the tentative project start date. Archaeology for private lands adjacent to Uinta Lands will be completed for FY 2022 and on the ground funding will be proposed and implemented during FY 2023.

Phase 2 of this project will focus on the Whitney area. Treatments will consist of; Timber cruising for a deck sale (100 acres) Machine piling, mastication (380 acres) Lop and scatter(245 acres). Phase 2 will also consist of 160 acres of archaeology clearance on private land adjacent to the Uinta Lands. (This Portion of the project has been moved to phase. The contract for archaeology clearance is still in place and has been added to that contract.)

Pre-treatment of photo plots have been performed by Forest Service employees. Planned post-treatment monitoring will occur 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment. Monitoring data will be uploaded to the UWRI website for public access.

For Phase 2, we will be working with Utah State University to burn piles using biochar containers, which would provide a research opportunity for the university. A partnership is being pursued for the mechanical treatment portions of this project. UDWR will be an integral part of this project through WRI and advice and collaboration on areas to target for big game habitat improvements. District staff will work with permittees to ensure safety of livestock. Forestry, Fire and State Lands will be working with private landowners adjacent to Uinta Lands for work carried out in the Phase III proposal.

This proposal is Phase 2 of multiple phases. Future phases continue to implement project restoration efforts. Phases will likely include more mechanical treatments such as lop and scatter, cut and pile, and prescribed burns. Follow-up treatments may be pursued if initial treatments are deemed unsuccessful. Invasive and noxious weeds may be treated where appropriate and allowable. Long term usage of within the project area are not expected to change; public access, motorized and non-motorized use, timber and grazing opportunities and other current uses should not be altered.

Benefit from these post-treatments will promote forage, decrease impediments to travel, increase available surface water, and produce a more productive aspen centric stand offering young aspen for browse. Recreationalists (motorized and non-motorized, hunters, hikers, fishermen, etc.) will find easier access once the standing dead and down component is decreased providing better access and long term benefits will be realized as fish, big and small game populations increase.

06/02/2022

09/07/2023

2024

The Mule Deer Foundation partnered with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to accomplish fuels thinning, meadow enhancements, forest health and wildlife habitat improvements in the project area during the 2022 and '23 field seasons. Treatments were as follows: Hand crew lop and scatter - 525 acres Mechanical piling or mastication - 182 acres

Implementation for this phase began in June 2022 and was contracted through the Mule Deer Foundation. Imperial Forestry was contracted to lop and scatter 257 acres along the Whitney Road within established aspen stands, cutting all conifer under 6" DBH within stands to promote aspen growth. June- July 2022. Deer Valley Sand and Gravel was contracted to mechanically cut, pile, and masticate 182 acres to thin the conifer and open up the established aspen stands. June - September 2022. These mixed methods created mosaic openings, improved fuel conditions and reduced competition for aspen within the project area. GE Forestry was contracted in September 2022 for another lop and scatter to cut all conifer (except spruce) in wet meadows along the Whitney Road for a total of 284 acres, with some re-entry of previous treatments to cut conifer over 6" as well. This meadow enhancement lop and scatter was conducted from September '22 -- June '23 as field conditions allowed. All ground work was completed in FY23 however there was a late invoice from MDF so the project was carried over into FY24.

Bear River Resilience Phases 3 and 4 are currently underway and have continued the fuels work further east along the North Slope Road/ Elizabeth Mt Road. There is a planned Cut/Skid/Deck with MDF and USFS in future phases that will connect all the units that were worked within this project. USFS will continue working in these units to broadcast burn the areas that have been lopped and scattered and burn the piles created in the mechanical thinning units. Outreach to neighboring landowners in the cabin communities directly adjacent to project area is ongoing, in partnership with FFSL, with the goal of addressing forest health and wildfire mitigation efforts beyond the federal boundaries