Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in the Southeastern Region provide crucial habitat for numerous game and nongame species. Many of these WMA's are in close proximity to communities throughout southeastern Utah. These areas provide recreation opportunities, including hunting, fishing, bird watching, wildlife viewing, etc, for DWR's constituents. Associated with many of these properties are valuable water rights, which need to be used and proved up on. Water rights are exercised on many of the properties through active farming and irrigation. Farming, watering, and maintaining these fields provide critical forage for numerous species on the WMAs.

1. Mark property boundaries and where feasible build and repair wildlife friendly fence to reduce livestock trespass. 2. Implement a noxious weed control program by inventory and spraying on an annual basis. 3. Improve wildlife habitat through restoration projects, farming fields, maintaining ponds and guzzlers, and reducing erosion. 4. Maintain public access and recreational opportunities on authorized roads/trails through road maintenance activities. 5.Exercise DWR's water rights on all WMAs. 6. New 2022--Work with UGS and DWRi to conduct a water monitoring study to see if the brine layer is moving which could impact recent restoration work.

Failure to maintain WMAs will result in habitat degradation and loss; conflicts with counties, local municipalities, and adjacent landowners; and failure to meet and/or comply with legal obligations. This proposal will protect and enhance the WMAs for wildlife.

All of the SER's WMAs lie within key habitats identified in Utah's Wildlife Action Plan-including aspen-conifer, desert grassland, gambel oak, lowland sagebrush, mountain meadow, mountain sagebrush, mountain shrub, aquatic scrub/shrub, riverine, emergent, and open water. These habitats on the WMAs support many species of greatest conservation need. SGCN's which benefit from SER WMA management include northern leopard frog, bald eagle, black rosy finch, golden eagle, greater sage grouse, southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow billed cuckoo,bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker, fringed myotis, and white-tailed prairie dog. WMAs also support a variety of important game species including mule deer, pronghorn, elk, wild turkey, chukar, forest grouse, pheasant, sandhill crane, waterfowl, rabbits and black bear. The Lower Fish Creek WMA also provides blue ribbon fishing opportunities for trout including tiger trout and brown trout. The San Rafael properties may provide opportunity for warm water gamefish, but are primarily managed for the three sensitive species. WMAs are within conservation focus areas identified by the Southeastern Region UPCD team. The proposed projects and maintenance activities will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan. It will help the DWR achieve its mission of serving the people of Utah as trustee and guardian of the state's protected wildlife by maintaining and improving key wildlife habitats throughout the region. The DWR has an agency goal of creating a culture of respect, innovation, efficiency, and effectiveness. One objective to reach this goal is to increase coordination with partners, including local, state, and federal agencies; non-governmental organizations; universities and others. On our WMA's we regularly work with the surrounding land owners to try to find a shared management purpose. The Matheson Wetland is prime example of a WMA owned and managed by two entities. We also invite diverse groups to help with projects on the property to reach management objectives. The DWR also has a constituency goal of strengthening support of wildlife management by demonstrating the value and importance of wildlife to all Utahns. Objectives to reach this goal include: increasing participation in hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related activities. This is achieved by allowing sportsmen access to our properties as well as keeping our properties in good condition to allow events for non-consumptive users. In the SER, the WMA's also contribute to increasing hunting and fishing opportunities. We have high elevation and low elevation uplands and streams that provide access to blue ribbon fisheries, trophy big game, and plentiful opportunity for upland and waterfowl hunting. We manage our lands to maintain habitat for species year-round while also providing areas near town for put and take hunting opportunities. One example, the Cold Springs WMA provides some of the only public summer range hunting opportunity for big game in the Nine-Mile unit. Lastly, the strategic plan outlines a goal for conserving, enhancing, and actively managing Utah's protected wildlife populations. Objective 1 tasks the agencies with increasing, decreasing, or maintaining wildlife populations to meet the objectives in our management plans. On our WMA's we strive to maintain quality forage and other needs for wildlife to thrive. Objective R2 is to maintain existing wildlife habitat and increase the quality of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. Our WMA's cover a broad range of key habitats in the state from aspen-conifer communities and cold-water streams, to desert grasslands and streams. We manage for game animals and also non-game wildlife providing protection through managed habitats and maintained water. There are recently updated habitat management plans for the following WMA's: Lower Fish Creek, Cold Spring, Upper San Rafael, Lower San Rafael, and Nash Wash.

Wildfire has long been an active part of healthy ecosystems in several habitat types. Fire/fuel reduction can be a tool to provide a greater diversity of wildlife when set back to an earlier seral stage. On the Gordon Creek WMA, smooth brome fields are burned on a 2-3 year rotation to remove old growth material and increase young succulent vegetation. At the Nash Wash WMA we maintain weeds (cheat grass) by mowing or weed spraying herbicide to reduce fuels loads around the housing infrastructure. The Matheson wetland has experienced numerous human caused wildfires. Weed maintenance through herbicide and mowing, especially along travel ways, is used to reduce fire on the WMA. Pertinent DWR owned roads on WMA's are maintained and will allow easier access for fire personnel to access our properties in the event of a wildlife that is threatening habitat or infrastructure. Additional habitat projects reduce fuels on properties such as Lower Fish Creek, Cold Spring, Upper and Lower San Rafael, and the Matheson but are not typically performed as annual maintenance.

Ponds/guzzlers are annually checked to ensure they are functioning properly and maintaining water for wildlife. Without regular maintenance many water sources would become non-functioning and decrease available water. The DWR maintains healthy wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas on WMAs as they act like sponges, absorbing and filtering out sediment to maintain and improve water quality. The DWR maintains water rights, including water rights for in-stream flow that ensure water is used for the benefit of wildlife and the stream corridor, reducing the amount that may be lost through other water uses. The DWR manages or assists in the maintenance of over 150 guzzlers in the region. These guzzler provide additional water to wildlife in times of need, particularly in the desert regions for pronghorn, and bighorn sheep.

The UDWR archaeologist will be contacted prior to undertaking any projects that may or are likely to require clearance. Surveys will be required for project activities having the potential to affect the ground.

The habitat manager and maintenance specialist will coordinate maintenance activities in the region with other regional personnel. Habitat section personnel will coordinate with the regional Dedicated Hunter (DH) Coordinator to find projects where volunteers can be used. Weed control will be done under the supervision of the lead maintenance specialist with work completed by the assistant maintenance specialist and seasonal employees. Fencing and signing of WMA boundaries will be done by maintenance personnel with assistance from seasonal employees. Road maintenance will be completed by maintenance specialists where possible. The heavy equipment crew out of Ephraim will be used on larger road and pond projects. Irrigation and farming will be under the supervision of the habitat manager and lead maintenance specialist to maintain water rights and produce forage for wildlife species. Larger restoration projects on the WMA's, such as stream restoration in Gordon Creek, will be proposed separately through the WRI process and will be planned by the restoration biologist or other interested biologists.

Properties with a conservation easement will receive annual monitoring. WMA monitoring will be completed through annual WMA inspections and observational weed monitoring. Wildlife will be monitored through annual surveys by UDWR Biologists. Many WMA's have range trend studies established and will continue to be monitored.

The Nature Conservancy assists the DWR with management of the Matheson Wetland Preserve. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a partner on the Gordon Creek WMA through a Memorandum of Understanding. The BLM has created a buffer from grazing to extend the wildlife values of the WMA. The BLM has also partnered to eliminate grazing on the Nash Wash Wildlife Management Area and surrounding BLM. Forestry Fire and State Lands is a partner on several of our properties with assistance with fuels and fire. FFSL also holds a conservation easement on our Cold Spring property. Forest Stewardship plans exist for the Cold Springs and Lower Fish Creek Wildlife Management Areas. We also partner with livestock permittees on our Gordon Creek, Lower Fish Creek, and Upper San Rafael properties to help reach WMA objectives. The dedicated hunter program is used where possible to assist with property management or construction of wildlife-related structures. Several other partners help plan, implement, and fund larger scale habitat restoration projects on WMA's that are proposed through the Watershed Restoration Initiative.

Wildlife Management Areas will be managed according to the Habitat Management plans that are completed. The Gordon Creek and Nash Wash WMA will continue to have crops planted annually and irrigated.

The main purpose of WMA's is to provide habitat for numerous wildlife that can be protected to ensure wildlife prosperity that can be enjoyed by the public. The diversity of habitat types on these 7 WMA's provide for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the entire year. Some of the WMA's have unique hunting and viewing opportunities. The following highlights a few, but by no means captures everything the SER WMA's have to offer. The Cold Spring WMA provides some of the only publicly available summer range in the Nine-Mile Unit and is popular for mule deer and elk hunting. The Lower Fish Creek WMA provides access to several stream miles of a blue ribbon fishery and walk-in hunting opportunity for big game and upland game surrounded by private lands and CWMU. The Matheson Wetland provides waterfowl hunting near Moab, Utah adjacent to the Colorado River. It's also home to numerous neotropical migratory birds that bring tourists bird-watching. It features a heron rookery that is a fun attraction. The Nash Wash WMA provides public hunting and viewing opportunities on a limited entry deer unit. The Lower San Rafael is managed to provide critical water for sensitive fish species to complete their life-cycle. It also provides unique pheasant and turkey hunting opportunities in a desert landscape. The Gordon Creek WMA is our largest and arguably our most visited WMA located near Price, the largest city in our region. It provides numerous hunting and viewing opportunities for big game in the winter (and is one of the best places to see a moose). It also provides for pheasant and chukar opportunities which have become increasingly popular in the area. The Upper San Rafael WMA is becoming extremely popular as recreation in the San Rafael desert. It provides an access point for horseman and river runners to begin their journeys. It is also used for pheasant hunting and protecting native fish. Each WMA has something unique to offer and the SER WMA's provide for great diversity which leads to numerous, diverse recreation opportunities. Grazing is a tool used by the Division to reach habitat management goals/objectives. Grazing will be used on an as needed basis on WMAs following the grazing plans contained in the HMPs for each WMA. Grazing will be permitted under the Divisions Land Use Rule.

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

These funds were used to hire two seasonals, rent seasonal vehicles to access properties, tractor and equipment rentals, seed and irrigation supplies, herbicides, protective equipment, and miscellaneous tools. WMA work included weed control, farming, fence maintenance and new fence construction, and pond and irrigation maintenance. Work was also done by seasonals to check and maintain guzzlers throughout the region and maintain the Sego trailhead drinker. The budget breakdown is as follows (values have been rounded): The intent was to hire three seasonals, but we only two were hired based on availability. Of the $28,000 budgeted, $13,500 was spent on seasonal time. John Deere changed invoicing, so billing for FY 22 lease was charged when the tractor was returned in the fall, but was billed up front for FY23 in April. Both FY leases were charged to FY22 for a total $9,550. A mini-excavator also had to be rented for a week for $1,200. The Oman lease is an annual charge of $8,000. The use of seasonal vehicles cost $4,700. Farm supplies were $1,200. Feed and seed was $2,300. Herbicide cost $1,500. Fencing materials were $500. Irrigation supplies were $350. Maintenance on WMA equipment, including a broken windshield on the Bobcat, a fender replacement on the tractor rental, and other miscellaneous repairs was $5,200. Small tools and equipment for maintenance on the WMA's including fencing, irrigation tools etc was $300. Cell phone enabled cameras for monitoring inappropriate use on the WMA's was $500 for annual subscription. Seasonal uniform and training was $500.

Gordon Creek Wildlife Management Area- planting and irrigating crops for winter wildlife feed and upland game opportunity continues to occur. In September, a forage blend was planted including Austrian field peas and rye grain. Also, triticale, 3 types of wheat, native sunflower, bee plant and coyote tobacco. Beavers continue to dam off the Gordon Creek headgate structure requiring nearly daily removal of material to keep it functioning. Repair/ upgrade is needed to the pipe and water measuring device for the Gordon Creek diversion. Bob Wright diversion needs a water measuring device or equivalent installed to function properly as lack of flow continues to be a hot topic for downstream users. Options are being looked into. The telephone bench fire (approximately 10 acres) was reseeded using remaining seed from a project on Grimes Wash. Monsoon moisture resulted in a good vegetative response. Matheson Wetland- a water study continues to identify water movement and the brine layer on the WMA. The DWR and TNC are working together to find long-term water solutions including the city's effluent discharge. The pump at the north ponds in burned out and needs to be replaced. Heavy bacteria and mineral loads exist in the pipe upon further inspection with a camera. The TNC held a board retreat in the Moab area and looked at work done on the Matheson for razorback sucker. The TNC is contracting some maintenance work on the Preserve. Grand County weed is interested in doing more work on the property. Youth corps were on the property this year addressing non-native trees, particularly Russian olive. Weed control has become a priority on the property as knapweed, and white-top continue to spread. The TNC brought down their marsh master to clean out the central pond, the channel, and reduce some of the mature cocklebur. The water meter was repaired and new walk-overs were installed. Paths were mowed to maintain access to the central pond. Cold Springs WMA- heavy winds in the spring took signs down and these have been re-installed. The gates have been tampered with and were able to be removed off the hinges, but the gates have been fixed, at least temporarily. Piles from past project work still exist on the property and will be addressed through a separate WRI proposal. The conservation easement was monitored with FFSL. An 11-acre fire burned on the property in August 2021. Lower Fish Creek- pile burning and weed control occurred on the property and is planned for future treatment. San Rafael properties- the habitat section has worked closely with the Law Enforcement section and SLO to start addressing trespass livestock issues. Conversations have occurred with the adjacent permittee. Many pasture fences were repaired, maintained, or constructed and issues have been reduced on the Lower San Rafael. Updates to culverts, ditches, irrigation, and fencing occurred on the Hatt's Ranch portion as part of the existing lease. The bridge replacement was completed. On the Upper San Rafael, cattleguards were installed to reduce gates being left open on the property and reduce unwanted use on the WMA. The main pipe at the spring is broken and requires significant repair/ replacement of the wellhead. This repair could result in possible loss of the well so other less invasive options are being explored. A trench was dug from the spring head to the pond to allow the water to access the pond. Nash Wash was planted but trespass livestock and limited water have not resulted in much forage. With the continued drought, more trespass livestock were counted this winter than any previous. Mainly because what little feed and water there is, are being sought after by the adjacent permittee's livestock. We are planning on moving to a more Fall type rotation to try and improve yield. Noxious weeds were also sprayed by the seasonals as well as some general maintenance to the WMA. Sego Trailhead- a committee has been formed to address issues at the Sego Trailhead. Water delivery continues to occur to provide a source of water for our constituents using the Book Cliffs roadless area.

-Trespass livestock grazing on Gordon Creek WMA may need to be addressed through a commitee with permitees and other land managers to discuss potential solutions including fencing -Gordon Creek irrigation projects are still in queue and coordination has started to occur with those having nearby infrastructure. -Nash was limited water supply and trespass livestock need attention to promote more big game forage opportunities -Weeds at Lower Fish Creek have started to establish in burn piles and will need be monitored and addressed for the next several years -Trespass livestock on the San Rafael properties remains a priority. Additional fencing may be required. -Cold Spring gate needs to be repaired. Several other gates on WMA's have been identified for replacement. Materials have been purchased.