This project continues the collaborative planning and implementation processes adopted in FY18 by building off of previously WRI-funded projects, linking to projects funded through other grants and agency budgets, and continues the work of the Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership (SURP). SURP has made native habitat improvement efforts more efficient by combining efforts and reducing costs. This enhanced collaboration between many partners, linking older and newer projects over a large region, facilitates connectivity between projects and collaboration across administrative boundaries. This project exemplifies what can happen when multiple state, federal, county, private and nonprofit organizations come together under common goals. The project unites community members, local organizations, and public land management agencies under the shared goal of river conservation, and has demonstrated effective collaboration between recreation, aquatic habitats, and fire/fuels programs to achieve ecological goals, providing opportunities to link this conservation work to the larger community of Moab and its visitors. The project works towards the following regional goals: (1) Protect and enhance important nursery habitat for juvenile native threatened, endangered, and sensitive fish by reconnecting and revitalizing side channels, backwaters, and confluence habitats while restoring channel complexity, and reinforcing and maintaining locations for naturally occurring fish larvae to grow to sizes that can survive in the main channel. (2) Improve native plant community regeneration in areas where tamarisk is in decline along over 200 miles of the river and its side canyons by controlling Russian olive, elm, tree of heaven, and black locust (3) Promote native plant community regeneration in project areas where passive regeneration has not yet occurred, and in high use areas where active recreation inhibits restoration, through active plant establishment methods benefiting ESA listed birds including Yellow Billed Cuckoo and SW Willow Flycatcher. (4) Contain and control existing noxious herbaceous plants (Russian Knapweed, Canada thistle, perennial pepperweed, and hoary cress) to reduce spread from regularly flooded areas through improved coordination of work across administrative boundaries. (5) Improve mapping, monitoring and control of new invaders, including Purple Loosestrife and Ravenna grass, to prevent them from establishing along these river and canyon reaches. (6) Sustain progress in previously-treated areas through active monitoring and needed follow-up treatments. An attached General Scope of Work (SOW) includes overall project work guidelines and requirements, and lists project locations and work anticipated in FY 2021. Detailed site SOWs are found in the attachments to this proposal.

The overarching goal of this project is to increase biological diversity and watershed health along the Colorado River and its tributaries through strategic vegetation improvements augmenting ecological resilience as tamarisk continues to decline. Employing novel ways to improve habitat and the viability of naturally occurring fish populations will likely improve water quality and quantity as well. OBJECTIVE 1 is to protect and expand riparian plant communities throughout the river corridor as tamarisk trees decline, by removing fast growing exotic species such as Russian olive, elm, locust, tree of heaven and ravenna grass. a. Russian olive and other fast growing exotic trees continue to spread into areas where tamarisk are in decline. Finding and killing these individual trees will ensure that they do not simply replace tamarisk. b. Ravenna grass is a non-native invasive perennial grass that is becoming increasingly prevalent along the Colorado River and its tributaries. As a grass species it often forms dense stands before being noticed, so mapping of current locations and known hot spots (Mary Jane Canyon, Onion Creek, Kane Creek, Mayberry, Castle Creek and others) will help area land managers keep an eye on this relatively new invader. c. Russian knapweed is present throughout the region and Grand County is actively working on its management. Knapweed found above average flood levels at any tamarisk or olive removal site will be mapped and treated. In 2018 active knapweed treatments at locations where flooding does not regularly occur was curtailed by drought conditions, so these areas have been targeted in 2019 and 2020. As knapweed control requires several years of follow-up, during the FY 2021 all retreatment polygons will include knapweed treatment if it is present. Active revegetation efforts will avoid areas of dense knapweed, except for seeding. d. Native plant community establishment will allow river systems to connect to floodplains, allowing for an expanded, more resilient riparian area, providing habitat for fishes, birds and other wildlife as well as minimizing downstream impacts. OBJECTIVE 2 is to mitigate the continuing loss of threatened or endangered fish species habitat through restoring confluence/side channel habitat and enhancing the function of the largest backwater/pond habitat in this reach of the River. a. Removing tamarisk in historic Colorado River side channels that were once excellent habitat for native fish species should improve chances of high-water scouring, the lack of which puts these side channels at risk of becoming permanently vegetated. Once lost, side channels do not seem to reestablish. Clearing the channel openings, and expanding the channel length allows future spring floods to expand on this clearing. Leaving the channels choked with tamarisk (particularly at the inlets and outlets) results in rapid channel filling during medium level spring floods, as is evidenced by the filling of the side channel 1 mile below Dewey Bridge. In these areas 100% of tamarisk biomass will be removed starting at the inlets and outlets. These areas are at risk of becoming so heavily vegetated that they cross an ecological threshold where they are unable to support native fish populations. OBJECTIVE 3 is to facilitate habitat regeneration by increasing native plant diversity in areas where plants are not passively recovering and using natural disturbance, like fire, to help maintain habitat for wildlife. a. Some high use areas as well as areas that have been slow to regenerate warrant active native revegetation to stabilize soils and maintain access, including the use of biochar and possibly biocrust. Seeding, pole planting, long stem planting and nursery-grown plants may be used at each active regeneration site depending on proximity to water, human use patterns, and other site factors. It is expected that 50 acres will be either planted or seeded. More detail about active revegetation is included in the attached SOW. b. A planned prescribed fire within the Matheson Wetland is critical to maintaining the open waters in the wetlands. Prescribed burning is used as a management tool for bulrush and other vegetation to create and maintain open waters for passerine birds, waterfowl and many other kinds of wildlife. It will also recycle nutrients back to the soil and help maintain a healthy wetland. Burning has occurred in the same areas in the past and it has been determined that to maintain open water, prescribed burning will need to occur every 5-7 years. This year a minimum of 200 acres are proposed to be burned to improve wetland habitat. OBJECTIVE 4 addresses the most visible aspect of this project, removing declining tamarisk in a patchwork fashion, starting with areas of healthy native plant communities to protect these areas from fire and provide room for native plant expansion. a. Except in Colorado River side channels, only 30% of the invasive species biomass will be removed at each site to keep cleared areas small enough that native plant regeneration can outpace invasive plant establishment. In areas of high tamarisk concentration, tamarisk removal will begin around native plants on site. b. 100% of the tamarisk biomass removal will also occur in sites where the overall invasive plant composition is 30% or less, which is often found when retreating some legacy sites. One of the main goals of biomass removal is to increase watershed health by improving biodiversity along these critical perennial water sources. Progress will be assessed based on long-term ecological objectives for each project location including: (1) reducing live tamarisk to less than 15 % of the relative vegetation cover in the long term; (2) reducing other herbaceous invasive, non-native plants to less than 5 % of the relative vegetation cover in project areas, and preventing other woody invasive plants from forming well established thickets from which they will spread; (3) maintaining total vegetation cover equal to or greater than 30 % even during removal processes; and (4) documenting recruitment of native plants towards species-specific thresholds diversity goals in the riparian corridor.

Beetle monitoring conducted by Grand County has shown increasing tamarisk mortality over the decade and a half since tamarisk leaf beetle introduction. Without collaborative active management, areas of the riparian community and adjacent uplands areas along the river may transition to a new set of invasive woody and herbaceous weeds rather than to resilient and robust native plant communities. Timely coordinated action to revegetate these important riparian and adjacent upland communities will result in a more resilient river corridor that supports wildlife and livestock while significantly reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. 1) Side channels and backwater fish habitat are currently at risk of transforming into upland ecosystems due to increased vegetation in the channels, which results in aggradation rather than scouring during high water. Once heavily vegetated it is increasingly unlikely that high water years will clean these side channels. Actively opening these side channels and keeping them open so that mid-level flood flows can help maintain scouring will help reduce the risk of losing this habitat along the river. 2) Native fish larvae lack refugia to develop to sizes that can survive the higher flows and exotic predation in the main channel. Side channel and backwater improvements including the fish maintenance of the central pond in the Matheson wetlands will provide locations for these larvae to mature, ideally improving fish populations. If little is done to improve backwater habitats for T&E fish species, populations could decline. 3) Significant increases in recreation user numbers have impacted native plant communities in some areas, and have led to increased spread of noxious weeds. Coordinating control of knapweed and other herbaceous weeds in these areas will reduce the likelihood for seed transport into the wider desert where containment and control will be more difficult and expensive. In addition, campgrounds and other high use areas are adjacent to high density historic tamarisk stands that have high fuel loads. Human caused fires have occurred along the river corridor in the recent past and will likely continue to occur without removal of tamarisk and other woody invasives around these high use areas. 4) Altered river flows coupled with the deep root systems and dense lower growth of tamarisk and Russian olive have altered sediment transport and, in some areas, greatly simplified riverine habitat along the Colorado River. Invasive, non-native plants such as Russian knapweed and kochia tend to colonize these areas quickly, preventing native grasses, forbs, and shrubs from establishing. Without treatment, some scour areas may fill in. In other locations where the bank is narrow and close to roads, rapidly establishing willows and grasses as tamarisk declines will protect infrastructure at lower cost and improve wildlife access, especially for amphibians and aquatic mammals. 5) Declining and dying tamarisk creates ideal conditions for recruitment of invasive plants such as Russian olive or herbaceous exotic species. The phased approach of the work in this project (as outlined in methods and the attached SOW), allows for faster establishment of a more diverse and sustainable plant community than via natural regeneration alone, and will help ensure that other invasive species and noxious weeds do not dominate the system. Careful and incremental tamarisk removal can prevent these areas from transitioning to thickets of kochia, Russian knapweed and other herbaceous noxious weeds, or to dense stands of Russian olive, elm and tree of heaven. 6) Ravenna grass has been spreading very quickly along riparian areas in southeastern Utah. If we do not keep its population in check now it may become very difficult to impossible to manage in a few years when its population is likely to be significantly larger. The NPS is also concerned about reed canary grass and exotic Phragmites expanding in this area. 7) Fremont cottonwood is in decline along the Colorado, and as a foundation species in the southwest, supports a large community of understory plants, insects, microbes, birds, and mammals. Under current lower flow conditions, cottonwood struggles to recruit at sustainable levels. This work helps to clear russian olive and tamarisk, decreasing channelization and increasing sediment mobility, allowing floods to more effectively redistribute sediment and supporting cottonwood recruitment by decreasing competition and increasing available habitat. 7) Past restoration investments to effectively restore native plant communities to a healthier, increasingly self-sustaining level need follow-up to reach completion. In the areas proposed within this project, invasive plant densities are not yet reduced to a level of low-intensity maintenance. Failure to build on past work in these areas in a timely manner will detract from previous restoration efforts and increase costs down the road for improving habitat and reducing fuel loads. Vegetation response monitoring in previously treated areas suggests that sites with follow-up work have increased resiliency in native plant communities.

The work in this proposal relates to a number of regional management plans including several BLM planning documents, NPS plans, and State of Utah wildlife plans and vegetation management policies. In addition, it directly relates to the Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) that links to efforts in Western Colorado. This project is also broadly supported by the Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership's plan, and many of its members are listed as partner organizations. The following section outlines how this work meets various management plan goals in each document. (1) The Moab Field Office (MFO) Programmatic Invasive Species Management Plan (PISMP) is an integrated pest management approach to eradicate, contain, control and prevent targeted weeds within the MFO. The desired goal is to contain or control the spread of invasive species and eradicate species that pose the greatest threat to the biological diversity, and prevent any new weeds from becoming established by utilizing a wide range of treatment options (i.e. mechanical, manual, herbicide, etc.). Proactive vegetation management outlined in this proposal will promote ecosystem health through restoration of diverse native communities, maintaining and improving native forbs and grass species, increasing the regeneration of native cottonwoods and willows in riparian corridors, and ultimately preventing the loss of wildlife habitat, species diversity, and reducing wildfire risk. Mapping and monitoring new exotic species will help reduce additions to the problem. (2) Moab BLM Resource Management Plan (RMP) prioritizes management of riparian vegetation and emphasizes the control of noxious weeds, prevention of the spread of invasive species, and restoration of vegetated areas. Reduction of tamarisk and restoration of native riparian vegetation addresses management objectives for improving the quality and health of riparian habitats while improving the quality of resources used in recreation and reducing fuels in a manner that decreases the likelihood and severity of wildfires. Specific management decisions in the RMP that are directly related to the primary objectives of the proposed project include RIP-9, which calls for restoring riparian vegetation "through biological, chemical, mechanical, and manual methods (e.g., tamarisk control, willow plantings)," and RIP-16, which calls for implementation of strategies to "restore degraded riparian communities" and "protect natural flow regimes." (3) The BLM Utah Riparian Policy states that "riparian areas are to be improved at every opportunity." Under this proposal riparian areas will be improved in terms of native plant distribution, native fish habitat, as well as improved grazing areas for domestic livestock. (4) The NPS Southeast Utah Group conducted an Exotic Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) in 2009. In particular, pages 3-5 in chapter 1 outline specific herbicides and management goals which are supported through this WRI proposal. "1. Restore native plant communities to reduce the need for ongoing exotic plant management. 2. Prevent unacceptable levels of exotic plant damage, using environmentally sound, cost effective management strategies that pose the least possible risk to people, park resources, and the environment." The river corridor was identified as an area of concern in this EA, with targeted tamarisk as one of the goals. This WRI proposal supports the NPS overarching exotic plant management and river specific goals (5) The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan calls for an emphasis on improving riparian habitat and use of seed mixes that include sufficient forbs and browse species. One of the strategies for actively revegetating some of the tamarisk treatment areas includes reseeding with native locally sourced seed mix. In addition, the greater access to the river provided by the reduction of dense tamarisk stands will improve riparian habitat and browse for mule deer. (6) Pursuant to the Utah Noxious Weed Act, Section 7, to every person who owns or controls lands in Grand County, Utah, that noxious weeds standing, being, or growing on such land shall be controlled and the spread of same prevented by effective cutting, tillage, cropping, pasturing, or treating with chemicals or other methods, or combination methods, or combination thereof, approved by the County Weed Supervisor, as often as may be required to prevent the weed from blooming and maturing seeds, or spreading by root, root stalks or other means. Listed species include, tamarisk, Russian knapweed, and Russian olive. Almost all of the individual projects listed under this proposal targets tamarisk, Russian knapweed, or Russian olive for treatment and/or removal. (7) Middle Colorado River Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area Cooperative Agreement (CWMA)- includes partnering organizations working along the Colorado River work towards the CWMA's goal "to promote an integrated weed management program throughout the MCRW-CWMA that includes public relations, education and training in the non-native invasive weed arena as well as inventory, monitoring, controlling and preventing the spread of non-native invasive weeds, sharing of resources, and designing other desirable resource protection measures relative to weed management." (8) BLM Healthy Lands Initiative: The project area has been identified as a focal area of this vegetation- resources enhancement initiative to restore and improve the health and productivity of western public lands. The Healthy Lands strategy increases the effectiveness and efficiency of vegetation enhancement treatments by focusing on treatments on a significant percentage of lands -- both Federal and non-Federal -- within six geographic locations, rather than focusing on the local project level. The strategy increases opportunities to leverage cooperative solutions across ownerships and jurisdictions. (9) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Utah Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Strategic Plan: This project falls within a priority area, priority habitat (riparian), and addresses threats to priority species (SWFL and YBCU). (10) Conservation Planning for the Colorado River in Utah: With the help of local and regional natural resource professionals coordinated through the SE Utah Riparian Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands developed a broad-scale, spatially-explicit assessment of 146 miles (~20,000 acres) of the Colorado River mainstem in Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah that will function as the basis for a systematic, practical approach to conservation planning and riparian restoration prioritization. For the assessment we have: 1) acquired, modified or created spatial datasets of Colorado River bottomland conditions; 2) synthesized those datasets into habitat suitability models and estimates of natural recovery potential, fire risk and relative cost; 3) investigated and described dominant ecosystem trends and human uses; and 4) suggested site selection and prioritization approaches. Partner organizations and others collaborating with the SE Utah Riparian Partnership are using the assessment and datasets to identify and prioritize restoration actions to increase ecosystem resilience and improve habitat for bottomland species. Primary datasets include maps of bottomland cover types, bottomland extent, maps of areas inundated during high and low flow events, as well as locations of campgrounds, roads, fires, invasive vegetation treatment areas and other features. (4) Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan: Objective 1. Maintain and Improve Wild Turkey Populations to Habitat or Social Carrying Capacity. Objective 2. Stabilize populations that are declining outside of natural population fluctuations; especially through catastrophic events (i.e. following fires, severe winters, etc.). Objective 3. Conduct habitat projects to address limiting factors. Objective 4. Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. Objective 5. Conduct habitat improvement projects in limiting habitat(s). By removing dense tamarisk stands and increasing plant diversity along the river we are increasing possible turkey habitat and improving forage areas as well. (5) Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve Habitat Management Plan 1994 outlines ecologic goals including: Preserve wetland and associated habitat patterns including spring and fall migratory stopover -nesting, young rearing, and year-round habitat for local resident wildlife; and, Enhance or create habitat for rare and/or desirable species, where possible, without damaging important existing habitat or wetland functions. By slowly returning areas to native vegetation this project will create more bird habitat. By removing tamarisk in a patchwork pattern, it will prevent the removal of all bird habitat and will allow for native shrubs and trees to grow for birds to use. The prescribed burn in the wetlands will keep the pond area open for birds and other wildlife. (6) Colorado River Comprehensive Management Plan (CRCMP): Two areas of focus defined by the CRCMP are native vegetation enhancement and bank and channel restoration. The CRCMP has defined the following management goals which this project proposal supports: "Support restoration efforts that integrate riverine processes." -- Hydrology Goal 2 "Improve connectivity between the river channel and adjacent wetlands where possible" -- Geomorphology Goal 2 "Identify, target, and treat tamarisk in the planning area" -- Geomorphology Goal 1 "Integrate recreation and restoration opportunities in and along the river as appropriate." -- Recreation Goal 5 (14) Castle Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CVCWPP) Outlined under the Risk Reduction are a number of goals that relate to olive removal work in Castle Creek. - Goal one is to implement defensible space on private land. - Goal two is to cooperate with private landowners to maintain and expand shaded fuel breaks and "brush outs" along existing roadways, fence lines, and natural and existing fuel breaks. - Goal five is to encourage through education firewise landscaping, vegetation and grasses into green spaces and private property where possible. - Goal seven is to seek funding resources for implementation of goals. Removal of Russian olive near houses in Castle Creek helps achieve all of these goals. (15) Grand County's 2020 Community Wildfire Protection Plan: The Colorado River Corridor is identified as a part of the priority 2 area for mitigating wildfire risks. Within priority area 2 it notes that "The County's experience with fire management along the river corridors has been challenging. The recreation activities along the rivers pose a unique problem because fire agencies don't know where people are located at any given time. Winds in the corridor can also make fire management very difficult.". Within the CWPP a number of goals are addressed by this WRI proposal: A-5: Evaluate fuel loading around communities and identify priority areas for fuel reduction treatments. Specifically fuels management projects near water sources. A-6: Conduct fuel reduction treatments in previously identified priority areas. A-10: Control Noxious weeds that contribute to fire hazard. A-12: Reduce undesirable fuels adjacent to riparian areas to reduce fire impacts... B-6: Coordinate with agencies to plan upcoming fuel reduction treatments and offer county support to implement treatments. B-13: Manage recreation to prevent wildfire ignitions and to reduce fuel loading. B-14: Support wildlife habitat improvement projects that also reduce wildfire risk. (16) Moab Valley 2020 Community Wildfire Protection Plan: The Colorado River Corridor from the Matheson to Poison Spider is identified as priority area 3 for wildfire mitigation work, noting that Recreation activities along the corridor increase the likelihood of fire events. In addition UWRAP data identifies this section as potentially moderate to high wildfire severity. The Matheson Preserve is identified as priority area 4 for wildfire mitigation work. The CWPP notes that "Fire fuels are of extreme concern due to both the density of fuels and the proximity of structures to those fuel loads.". Within the CWPP a number of goals are addressed by this WRI proposal: A-5: Evaluate fuel loading around communities and identify priority areas for fuel reduction treatments. Specifically fuels management projects near water sources. A-6: Conduct fuel reduction treatments in previously identified priority areas. A-10: Control Noxious weeds that contribute to fire hazard. A-12: Reduce undesirable fuels adjacent to riparian areas to reduce fire impacts... B-3: Prevent noxious/invasive weed proliferation through management, control, and reduction. B-6: Coordinate with agencies to plan upcoming fuel reduction treatments and offer county support to implement treatments. B-13: Manage recreation to prevent wildfire ignitions and to reduce fuel loading. B-14: Support wildlife habitat improvement projects that also reduce wildfire risk.

Studies have shown that stands of tamarisk as well as associated Russian olive can serve as ladder fuels, carrying fire into the crowns of native cottonwoods, black willow, oak and hackberry. According to the Utah DNR Wildfire Risk Portal (UWRAP) the area is at risk of low to high intensity fire. The project area has had increasing wildfires over the past ten years since the release of the tamarisk beetle in 2004. Studies have shown that contiguous stands of tamarisk in riparian zones lead to fire return intervals that are too frequent for the successful establishment of native cottonwoods and willows -- a key component of our restoration efforts on the Colorado and its tributaries. Dead and declining tamarisk poses a fire hazard to numerous recreation sites, campgrounds, roadways, structures, energy infrastructure, fire personnel, recreating citizens and endangered species habitat. The current fire regime condition class in tamarisk galleries is high (3), and would be reduced to moderate (2) immediately after treatment. Additionally, the removal of dead tamarisk trees creates breaks where firefighters can safely begin suppressing wildfires. Recent occurrences of wildfires in this river stretch have been high intensity with negative consequences including mortality of all native vegetation and up to 100% invasive weed infestation. Work outlined in this proposal will decrease the risk of high severity wildfire in the river corridor and up important side drainages by reducing the density of beetle impacted dead and declining tamarisk trees. a. Treatments outlined in this proposal focus on clearing these ladder fuels from around cottonwoods and other native plants to protect them in the event of destructive fires and protect critical seed sources for cottonwoods and other native plants critical for passive regeneration. b. Treatments in following years will expand these openings as the cleared areas stabilize with lower growing grasses and forbs. c. Treatment areas near campgrounds and high use recreation areas will improve fire safety, and buffer the entire river corridor from the fire risk present in high use recreation areas. Work accomplished in Castle Creek will directly reduce fire intensity, threat, and risk in the town of Castle Valley. This work will build off of previous Castle Creek work (WRI #: 1414, 1970, 2310, 2569, 3592 and 5286) to reduce threat of fire to structures and lives. According to Castle Valley's CWPP there have been 41 fires in Castle Valley in the last ten years of various causes. The Creek is the greatest fire threat to infrastructure and lives in the town. A fire in Castle Creek would be high intensity and difficult to put out due to the density of fuels. This project is one more step towards fire resiliency and safety for Castle Valley. Ravenna grass, (a non-native invasive species) is spreading along riparian areas in this part of the state, and poses a risk to become a combined fine and ladder fuel in riparian areas. Ravenna grass can reach heights of 12 feet and older stands of Ravenna grass may be able to carry fire that would not otherwise burn in these areas. Removing this fuel loading will promote the establishment of under-story native vegetation and will reduce soil erosion, which is critical to maintaining riparian ecosystem resilience.

Tamarisk tend to channelize streams, reducing the width of active floodplains and reducing ecologically valuable riparian habitat via downcutting. Reducing these thickets in areas outlined for this project has the potential to inhibit downcutting, improve the size and roughness of riparian and floodplain habitats, which may improve groundwater recharge. Removing tamarisk and Russian olive from the banks of streams and riverbeds will help establish natural hydro-morphological processes and more effectively distribute water resources throughout the project watershed area. After invasive species are removed, targeted seeding and revegetation as well as passive restoration of native plants may stabilize natural drainage conditions. Decreased erosion rates would be a direct improvement to water quality conditions. Removing tamarisk and Russian olive from the watershed in selected areas can promote channel complexity. The first phase of this project created access to historically high flow channels and potential backwater areas. Opening access to these areas will allow for these projects to continue to clear vegetation from these channels, increasing the potential for fisheries restoration in some areas. This can in turn improve water quality in the river over the long term.

NEPA has been completed by the BLM Moab Field Office's Programmatic Invasive Species Management Plan (PISMP). The project area has a current federal Pesticide Use Plan (PUP). The State of Utah does not have a formal NEPA process to follow for restoration work but will defer to the federal partners involved to ensure compliance with any applicable federal restrictions or reporting requirements. The Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands can assist in any compliance documentation necessary to complete work on this project and looks forward to closely working with federal partners to complete all necessary permitting. Archaeology clearance is usually not required for work within riparian lands adjacent to the river on State sovereign lands. However, if any cultural resources are suspected or discovered throughout work on this project all work will cease until expert archaeologists can assess and determine appropriate action. The burn plan for the Matheson Rx will be updated by the end of FY20 (June 30, 2020). The Tamarisk Programmatic (BLM) plan is current. TNC's burn boss will coordinate with FFSL to make sure all burning activities are compliant with State of Utah regulations and smoke management. Wetland delineation, army corps consultation and all other needed permits have been obtained for dredging activities. Work on NPS Lands is supported by the 2009 Southeast Utah Group Exotic Management Plan Environmental Assessment.

The attached General SOW and table of projects, along with the mapped areas, gives more detail about exact locations of work. Detailed Site SOWs are also attached to this proposal. Ravenna grass, phragmites and other herbaceous weed monitoring and control extends throughout the riparian corridor from Cisco to Potash and up several side canyons including Onion Creek, Professor Creek, Castle Creek, Mill Creek, and Kane Creek. This work will include phragmites genetic testing to verify which stands are native, and mapping of all Ravenna grass and other new invaders before removal work is done as well as continued work to kill all Russian olive that become visible as they grow in the declining tamarisk and some willow stands. Project locations detailed in the SOW are listed below starting upstream and going downstream: BLM * May Flats * Westwater Ranger Station * Mile Marker 32 128 * Dewey Bridge * Lower Onion Ramp and Camp * Above New Rapid * Castle Creek (Zuckerman) * Big Sandy Beach * Mouth of Salt Wash (river right) * BLM Takeout * Goose Island * Lower Goose Island area * Mouth of Mill Creek to Kings Bottom river left * Kane Creek * Near mouth of Kane Creek * King's Bottom * Follow-up from mouth to Amasa Back parking area * Jaycee and Wall Street to Williams Bottom * Williams Bottom * Jackson Bottom * Dispersed woody species along river * Herbaceous weeds at key locations along river * Managing site assessment data NPS * Phragmites genetic testing * Herbaceous weeds at key locations along river within NPS boundaries FFSL * Sorrell side channel * Onion Creek ramp area * Onion Creek river right camps * Castle Creek * Professor Creek (CFI Camp) * Red Cliffs area of Castle Creek (WUI) * Above New * BLM below Zuckerman (WUI) * Retreatments and new removal from Castle Valley Drive to the Town boundary (WUI) * Professor Creek * Mouth of Salt Wash (river right, river access only) * Bills Site (191 Bridge) * Just downstream of 191 bridge * Planting at key sites along river * Dispersed woody species along river * Herbaceous weeds at key locations along river DWR * Matheson Wetlands * Bulrush Burn TNC * Matheson Wetlands * Bulrush Burn GCWD * Noxious weed treatments on private land * Phragmites genetic testing and mapping * Assistance with conservation corps training TBD Contractor Projects * Noxious weeds spraying at sites along river * Scout for, map and control Ravenna in various side canyons and control resprouts UMTRA * Lower Part of UMTRA site RRR * Mayberry * Training for conservation corps * Coordinating site assessment data * Faciliating herbaceous weeds management plan * Coordinating revegetation work at multiple sites In general, the following methods will be used: Russian olive, elm, locust, tree of heaven and mulberry tree treatment: These are to be removed (when in groupings over 3 trees) or treated and left standing (when trees are individual, using herbicide in a frill or girdle cut treatment). Aquatic approved Triclopyr or Glyphosate are the herbicides of choice based on BLM documentation and Pesticide Use Proposal (PUP) for most of this work, except when species treatment suggests otherwise. Ravenna grass treatment: Ravenna grass will be dug out when found and its seed heads bagged. GPS locations will be recorded for future follow-up work. In some situations where digging may be too disruptive or time consuming, Ravenna will be treated with glyphosate. Tamarisk treatment: Crews will focus on the removal of tamarisk in high use areas, and around areas of native trees such as oak, cottonwood, netleaf hackberries and willow. These areas are being targeted to reduce fire risk, and promote the expansion of native vegetation and wildlife habitat. The removal of tamarisk from underneath cottonwood will promote the expansion of cottonwood, and reduce the fire risk. Areas of high recreational use are at risk of human caused fire, which will damage native vegetation habitat areas; therefore, these areas will also be targeted. Due to access concerns, and a focus on leaving existing native vegetation undisturbed, tamarisk removal will be done with chainsaws and stumps treated with herbicide. Biomass will be chipped in high use areas, and burn piles constructed in lower use locations. Biochar burning may be implemented in areas with dense native plant canopies that preclude pile burning, and the resulting biochar will be used to enhance soil structure and water retention. A phased approach is planned for denser stands of tamarisk, removing no more than 30% of the non-native trees during this phase, leaving at least 60% of the existing vegetation and associated multi-storied canopy intact regardless of species composition. In areas of high tamarisk concentration, tamarisk removal will begin around native plants found on site, and move out from these native plants in irregular patterns until 30% removal is completed. This phased approach allows for better shading and cooler surface temperatures to promote passive restoration of native vegetation as well as habitat benefits for bird species. In areas where backwaters form, as well as where there are historic side channels, 100% of tamarisk biomass will be removed. This will open side channels to possible future scouring during high flow events, thus increasing native fish habitat. Removal of 100% of the tamarisk biomass will occur in sites where the overall invasive plant composition is 30% or less. This occurs in some retreatment sites. See site-specific notes below for clarification. Tamarisk will be cut with chainsaws and stumps will be treated with Triclopyr. Many project areas are adjacent to busy roadsides with heavy tourist traffic. Previous Tamarisk treatment areas have had the unintended effect of attracting visitors to river beaches that were previously impossible to access from the road. This created additional riparian degradation and challenges for restoring native plant communities. Future treatment areas will be carefully planned to minimize these impacts. Revegetation: In appropriate areas, cottonwood, willow, hackberry, oak and birch and critical shrub species will be planted using longstem planting techniques to establish riparian overstory species. Natural recruitment of cottonwood and other tree species along the large, dam-affected river systems throughout the desert southwest is extremely limited due to changes in flood patterns and associated encroachment of non-native tamarisk and Russian olive. Whenever possible, primarily local genetic stock will be used in transplanting projects. In areas where the river bank is steep and narrow or near a road or other infrastructure willow poles and wattles (both vertical and horizontal) will be used to establish willows to increase bank stability. Willow material will be harvested from nearby locations. Attached with this document is seed mix to be used for revegetation in areas where native plant regeneration is not occurring without assistance. Some containerized shrubs may also be planted in these areas to help create islands of vegetation and shade to assist with natural recruitment. Prescribed Fire For the prescribed fire within the Matheson Wetland to maintain open water, the burn plan will be up to date before burning operations begin. Implementation will involve partners from FFSL, DWR, Moab Valley fire and other certified fire personnel. FFSL (Lone Peak or Twin Peak) crews will use equipment to prepare the burn lines. We will use local volunteer fire departments when available to help with the prescribed burn.

Monitoring is an integral part of this project to evaluate the success of the treatments and to ascertain if there are additional treatment needs. Local researchers may conduct bird surveys in coordination with UDWR staff. Other monitoring efforts include assessing which treatments were most successful in order to improve treatment techniques over time. Rim to Rim Restoration has been collecting vegetation response data at tamarisk and olive removal sites along the main-stem Colorado River periodically since 2007 and completed new data collection at all river sites in 2020. In 2019, a summary report of the 10 years of data collection was completed for review by project partners and others interested, and this report will be updated with 2020 data. Data collected every 3 to 5 years provides a good indication of site conditions once the initial disturbance area has stabilized, and can be continued at particular sites if land managers so desire. In FY 2022 Rim to Rim will transition to site assessment monitoring work and also implement new native planting mortality monitoring at restoration sites to improve revegetation efforts. The SE Utah Riparian Partnership has developed a site re-assessment protocol that can be used prior to treatment and in the year following treatment to document changes in vegetation present on the site. In 2019, data was collected at legacy sites along the River, and data will be collected at new treatment locations in 2020. In 2020 the BLM has developed this paper assessment into an app based tool through Survey123. BLM Aquatics and Terrestrial crews will conduct monitoring according to recently implemented Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocols. This will include randomly located vegetation transects with the purpose of measuring both overstory and understory vegetation change. Measurements will include line-point intercept cover, tree density, species richness, and seeded species frequency using BLM's AIM protocols. Repeat photography will be conducted from year to year for visual comparison. A sample monitoring report from Rim to Rim Restoration is available upon request, as the file is too large to upload to the WRI database at this time. DWR native fish crews will operate and monitor conditions within the backwater refuge. As river levels rise and light traps indicate larval fish presence gates will be opened allowing Colorado River water to enter the backwater refuge. Water will be held in the dredged pond until oxygen or water levels decline, then it will be released back into the Colorado River. Any native fish released back into the Colorado River will be pit tagged for mark recapture sampling information.

Most partners on this project work together through the Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership (SURP), a group of land management agencies, local governmental units, and other organizations interested in riparian health in Southeast Utah. This group has been collaborating on projects for over 10 years; and writing joint proposals for work on the Colorado River and its tributaries since 2017. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) The BLM Canyon Country District is fully involved with this project and restoration effort. The following BLM programs have supported and contributed to this project; Aquatic Habitats (Fisheries, Riparian, Hydrology), Fire & Fuels, NEPA, GIS, Archaeology, Wildlife, Botany, Weeds, Range, and Recreation. Additionally, Fire & Fuels crews will help implement tamarisk removal and restoration work. The Weeds program will contribute time and herbicide for noxious weed control. Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands; Sovereign Lands (FFSL SL) The Division will assist through in-kind seasonal and permanent staff labor working with crews on the ground, as well as project planning and monitoring support, and matching contributions to contractual services. In FY 2022 FFSL may have several Americorps Individual Placement (IP) members working on Colorado River projects. FFSL Sovereign Lands staff are working with all partners on various Colorado River sites. Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands; Wildland Urban Interface (FFSL WUI) THE FFSL WUI program has worked in Castle Creek for a number of years. We will administer projects in castle creek through contractors as well as on the ground presence. We are continuing to build connections in Castle Valley for further mitigation projects to create a firesafe castle valley. We are also working with the CFI field camp to remove tamarisk and Russian olive adjacent to structures in Professor Creek. FFSL will write/update the burn plan for Matheson Rx as they will be the lead agency on the Rx. Grand County Weeds Department (GCWD) With a focus on noxious and invasive weeds, GCWD has been working on the Colorado River for over 17 years to restore and protect native riparian ecosystems. They have the potential to work on a wide variety of lands, including public, state, and private property. GCWD offers possible technical assistance, on-the-ground efforts, and chemical knowledge. National Park Service The National Park Service is supportive of the project and some NPS lands are included in the proposal along the Colorado River in Arches National Park. In addition, NPS will help treat Russian knapweed upstream of the national parks to help keep this plant outside of the Park. NPS staff can also assist with Ravenna grass, Reed Canary Grass and purple loosestrife monitoring and treatments to keep these weeds out of the park as much as possible. Finally, NPS is spearheading Phragmites genetic testing on phragmites populations in the project area to verify which stands are exotic and which are native to inform future management of the non-native stands. Rim to Rim Restoration (non-profit) Rim to Rim Restoration (RRR) is involved in ongoing vegetation monitoring throughout the project area and provides expertise in riparian restoration design, planning and project management. RRR will assist with project coordination and site assessment efforts between, and in coordination with, agencies. Rim to Rim will also provide training, data collection for vegetation monitoring along the Colorado River, assistance in planning innovative restoration projects, including non-native tree removal throughout the watershed area, and native plant materials for revegetation. RRR may also provide coordination and oversight of IP positions in association with agencies if needed. RRR is uniquely qualified to perform these tasks for the project due in part to their role coordinating the Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership, and due to many years of experience executing these roles. RRR has worked with FFSL, BLM, Grand County, City of Moab, DWR and other local nonprofits and contractors for over 15 years, and can bridge administrative boundaries. RRR also has direct experience with running removal crews, revegetation implementation crews and growing locally collected native plants in Southeast Utah. Plateau Restoration Inc. (non-profit) Plateau Restoration Inc. (PRI) will use WRI funding from this project to continue work at Jackson Bottom as well as assist at other revegetation areas on the Colorado River. PRI is uniquely qualified for this work as they have been working in this area for over 10 years with the land owner as well as the County Weed department, FFSL and the BLM. Their ability to leverage relationships with many volunteer groups has been a valuable means for keeping costs low. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources This state agency provides technical assistance (e.g. surveying for side-channel project) and monitors the avian community along the Utah portion of the Colorado River to increase understanding of how restoration affects bird and aquatic species. UDWR also owns and co-manages lands within the project area. They have actively removed tamarisk and Russian olive from their properties. UDWR promotes wetland and riparian habitats in and along the Colorado River and is an active partner in this project. The Nature Conservancy TNC owns and co-manages lands with the treatment areas. TNC has actively removed tamarisk and Russian olive from their properties. TNC promotes wetland and riparian habitats in and along the Colorado River and is an active partner in project coordination of the prescribed burn on the TNC owned Matheson wetlands. Utah Conservation Corps The Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership is open to working with all conservation corps that want to work in SE Utah, but over the past two years the UCC has worked closely with the Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership on this project. UCC is uniquely qualified to provide consistent and efficient logistical support and project implementation on projects along the Colorado River. The regional coordinator is intimately familiar with these project sites and what treatments work best in our region.

The project is part of a multi-year effort that will require follow-up re-vegetation and treatment to control remaining infestations of priority non-native invasive plant species such as tamarisk, Russian olive, and Russian knapweed. Repeated treatments will be required to remove the remaining 30-60% of invasive species and apply herbicide to any resprouting invasive vegetation. We will be seeding and planting trees in the removal sites each year of the project's duration as well as relying on passive restoration of natives such as the impressive recruitment of willow we have seen in tamarisk removal areas. All partners will be revisiting each site for the next several years to continue tamarisk removal efforts and follow-up with revegetation as needed. For FY 2021, efforts to protect and maintain fish habitat have expanded with the assistance of DNR and BLM, and the Partnership has expanded its focus to include more herbaceous weed monitoring and control thanks to Grand County Weed Department and the NPS. The Southeast Utah Riparian Partnership members are fully committed to provide resources through federal, state and non-profit organization support for the long-term success of this project. As with this project, any future project budgets will be supplemented by individual agency money. Native fish populations will continue to be monitored in the Colorado River System, particularly through the Utah DNR Aquatics Monitoring Program. Programs will continue to work with water users to promote varied water flows that will create beneficial conditions for native fish and create flood conditions to create habitats for many wildlife species. Burning will continue to be used as a management tool in the Matheson wetland. This will reduce bulrush and provide open water for wildlife. This will also allow for the wetland to function in a more natural way.

The removal of tamarisk, Russian knapweed, and other invasive vegetation species will allow the multiple uses of the Colorado River and the surrounding landscape to be more sustainable in coming years. This project will greatly benefit the riparian ecosystem, desert fish, birds, recreational opportunities, water quality, agriculture, and many other areas by: 1) Improving recreational experiences by increasing native vegetation and reducing visual impacts of dying tamarisk and noxious weeds. 2) Reducing potential for noxious weeds to be transported from the river to more remote riparian areas. This also protects native vegetation in upland areas and produces better forage for grazing. 3) Using Biochar as a method for biomass removal and to improve soil structure with increased water retention for regeneration of vegetation. 4) Reducing wildfire risk in the River Corridor to protect recreation infrastructure, public safety and wildlife habitat. 5) Reducing the habitat for mosquitos in the wetland preserve and allow mosquito abatement to effectively reduce mosquito outbreaks. 6) Providing open water for waterfowl, creating and maintaining habitat and hunting opportunities in southeastern Utah. 7) Managing for abundance of quality native grasses and forbs in the project area, increasing forage for wildlife with an emphasis on improving pollinator forage availability. The removal of tamarisk, Russian olive and Russian knapweed is expected to benefit domestic livestock in three ways: First, it will facilitate the re-establishment of perennial grasses, native forbs, and shrubs that have much higher forage value than tamarisk. By creating areas of healthy forage adjacent to grazing parcels and in the small grazing areas near Professor Creek and Dewey Bridge, we can provide seed sources to adjacent land, and reduce invasive pressures on rangeland health. Past knapweed treatments in this reach have led to the rapid re-establishment of perennial grasses, even in the absence of seeding. However, additional seeding will be used to accelerate the recolonization of native grasses in selected areas where native grasses are sparse in habitat adjacent to the treatment site. Second, control of tamarisk can make managing livestock easier. Although large numbers of cattle may not access this stretch of river, native grazers like mule deer do, decreasing pressure on water resources in nearby areas that are grazed. Therefore, grazing and animal distribution will increase as more riverbank is accessible for "watering" wildlife. Third, Russian knapweed is known to be toxic to horses, potentially causing facial paralysis, malnutrition, dehydration, and necrosis (USDA Agr Info Bulletin Number 415). Although horses are not kept directly along this stretch of the Colorado, controlling this noxious weed will reduce the potential for these and other livestock health issues by limiting knapweed spread. Specifically at the CFI site on Professor Creek, removal of tamarisk and olive will allow for access to the creek bottom along the property for school groups to come and learn about desert riparian habitat. CFI is expected to install a small bench area on the downstream end of the property after removal to have a place along the creek to educate students about the Colorado Plateau and Colorado Plateau ecology.

07/01/2021

06/30/2023

2023

The Colorado River Restoration 5.0 project coordinators successfully implemented work across property boundaries and amongst agencies. Coordination took many forms, including planning meetings, as well as site visits with contract crews, interagency work, and final assessments of sites. On the ground methods were primarily: *Hand removal and herbicide treatment to clear tamarisk and Russian Olive from important native plants including willow and cottonwood. *Spraying knapweed and other high priority exotics along the river corridor, focusing first at high traffic sites that can be a vector for seed transportation. *Mapping and removing Ravenna grass, a newly emerging invasive exotic that has shown vigorous growth in the project area. *Mowing herbaceous annuals and other invasive plants at high-use sites along the river corridor. *Revegetation with longstem plantings, containerized plantings, and seeding at tamarisk removal sites. *Frill cut treatment of Russian olive and elm along the river corridor. RRR: Coordination Rim to Rim Restoration successfully facilitated and supervised many projects this season, working across property boundaries and between different agencies. There has also been continued progress on streamlining planning for and communicating project procedures to contract crews on the ground, especially when there is limited contact with those crews. Site Evaluations With help from the BLM, ArcGIS Field Maps has now been fully integrated into our post project reporting. UCC crews gather data on the work the do on each hitch using Field Maps. The data can be used in the field for gathering site data, updating projects after performing work or for future planning. FFSL: As part of its contribution to the Colorado River Cross-Watershed collaboration, FFSL worked with Grand County Noxious Weeds to identify and treat secondary herbaceous weeds through spot applications of herbicide within tamarisk and Russian olive removal sites. Each polygon was visited periodically throughout the year. FFSL also conducted tamarisk and Russian olive removal in Castle Creek and Professor Creek. Final methods for removal in Castle Creek and Professor Creek included felling and chipping all non-native trees on site and chipping as much of the material as possible. There was a considerable amount of non-native poplar on site that ended up taking a lot of time to cut and chip. A dozen trees or so were frill cut and left on site for bird habitat, all other invasive trees within the primary removal unit were removed and sprayed with aquatic safe triclopyr. 6 dump trailer loads of chips were hauled off to Mayberry to be used in future Colorado River planting projects. TNC/DWR Matheson Preserve: UCC Crews completed several thinning, noxious weed treatment and seeding/planting polygons in the Matheson Wetland in fiscal year 2022 for a total of six weeks of work. Plateau Restoration - Jackson Bottom: This phase of the Jackson bottom project focused on thinning several Tamarisk stands, transplanting plant material and conducting monitoring in support of revegetation efforts. Planting and maintenance: Project work involved site visits for planting and maintenance of irrigation, seeding, monitoring, hand-watering new plantings, planning and supervising chainsaw crews. PRI also transplanted Saltgrass, seeded disturbance areas, refilled irrigation rain barrels and hand-watered seedlings not on irrigation weekly from July through October 14. Invasive species control PRI monitored the site for Russian knapweed and perennial pepperweed, met with GCWD for spraying of tamarisk resprouts and cleared annual weeds around new plantings and to clear routes for access to chainsaw areas and to monitor noxious herbaceous weeds. In cooperation with UCC, PRI supervised 8 days of chainsawing tamarisk along the riverbank and old river channels, creating several additional routes to the river in newly cleared openings in tamarisk thickets. Corps crews also relocated six brush piles. BLM: Canyon Country Fire and Fuels staff burned piles just downstream of the the Zuckerman property in castle valley. The BLM also collaborated extensively on maintaining the Field maps tool that was used to collect and track project data. Grand County Weed Dept (GCWD): Grand County Noxious Weeds worked with to identify and treat secondary herbaceous weeds through spot applications of herbicide within tamarisk removal sites previously established, and facilitated projects and trainings with UCC. The GCWD also scouted several large areas for Ravenna grass.

The total proposed area for this project was 882 acres (proposed from WRI database). 4 projects were not executed, May Flats, the Matheson Wetland Burn, part of the work above New Rapid, and the White's Ranch Project. We were, however, able to complete 796 acres of work along the Colorado River for a total of 24 stream miles. We treated 566 terrestrial acres treated and 230 aquatic/riparian acres treated. The difference in acreage numbers for completed work is mostly due to the Matheson burn not being conducted and RRR beginning of invasive mapping in Matheson wetland. The planned prescribed burn could not be completed due to high fire dangers conditions in the Matheson Wetland, and the May Flats work was postponed until next cycle. May flats is still under planning by the BLM and work may occur in FY2024. RRR: Coordination has been fine-tuned over the course of four previous WRI Colorado River Restoration Projects (WRI 4009, 4374, 4952) and this project. Expanding upon and improving these WRI projects years after year has greatly improved coordination between agencies and other partners including Rim to Rim. Other coordination improvements that were implemented in Colorado River 5.0 include the use of the ESRI Field Maps tool for mapping all UCC work that was completed under Colorado 5.0. UCC: In Colorado 5.0 UCC crews successfully integrated ESRI's Field maps tool with training from the BLM. This mapping, in association with streamlined post-hitch reporting has led to more complete tracking of post hitch photos and required follow-up work. TNC/DWR: Coordination with DWR went smoothly and UCC did a great job with the execution of the work, especially in light of the COVID-related scheduling and safety challenges. Evan Kluew, regiproject manager for UCC, ensured the terms of the contract were satisfactorily met. The prescribed burn was not implemented in FY2022 due to dry conditions. Plateau Restoration Inc.: Tamarisk removal and restoration have been conducted on 70 acres at Jackson Bottom since 2010 by PRI and Grand County, Utah DNR, and USFWS partners, with 3 in 2021/2022. This private land near the Potash mine has been set aside as valuable wildlife habitat and is ideal for experimentation and training of future resource managers in SW riparian restoration. During the last decade the site has been flooded twice, in 2011 and 2019. Most other years have seen abnormally low water, with 2020 starting off as the driest April on record with above average temperatures and the lowest water levels since 2013, peaking near 14,000 cfs in June. Monitoring vegetation trends over this period of time has provided insights into rehabilitation of this site. Jackson Bottom The focus of this project is to expand native plant diversity in slow to recover areas, especially on the east side of the service road at both ends. Both areas see abundant wildlife use and have good water access. Ensuring that native species are now on both sides of the road achieves our goal of biodiversity throughout the site. Saltbush that was planted to replace some that had died in Fall 2020 did not survive. However, almost all saltgrass planted survived the fall and most are showing signs of re-emergence this spring. The saltbush that did survive from the initial planting do appear to have survived the winter. Seedlings of suaeda that were transplanted into the roadway appear to have survived. New occurrences of perennial pepperweed and Russian Knapweed have been observed in several spots in the site exposed by chainsaw crew, and known occurrences have come back following spraying in 2019. Additional Saltgrass was transplanted in as part of the Colorado 5 project. Larger saltbush seedlings overcome by gnat hatchings in summer 2020 appear to still be alive. Only one of the introduced cottonwood trees that had been growing well in the lower end of the site, but which were cut down by beavers in 2019, appears to still be alive. Privet planted in the lower end have shown significant growth despite foraging by deer. Several small privet, one baccharis and one rabbitbrush have been exposed by tamarisk clearing near the bank. Goodings willows in the lower end of the site are growing well and forming a canopy. BLM: The Canyon Country BLM office collaborated extensively on creating and maintaining the ESRI Field Maps tool, project planning, site visits, scoping and pile burning. FFSL: FFSL treated a site at Canyonlands Field Institute's Professor Valley Field camp for Russian olive and tamarisk and also a site on private land in Castle Valley. GCWD: GCWD spot treated herbaceous weeds at several sites, for a total of 105 acres of herbaceous weed treatments. They also scouted 143 acres for Ravenna grass. They treated 7.687 acres with UCC, using the corps backpack crews effectively in concert with the larger GCWD spray equipment.

The work on Colorado River 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 has built strong collaborative relations between land managers at the local BLM Field Office, NPS office, the local FFSL Sovereign Lands office, the County and nonprofit land managers. With the many administrative boundaries in our area the continued communication through the SE Utah Riparian Partnership is creating continuity across these boundaries and across intra agency boundaries as well. RRR: Coordination: RRR coordination efforts will continue through Colorado River Restoration 6.0 as well as through the SE Utah Riparian Partnership. Colorado River 6.0 projects beginning at multiple sites and the deployment of the finished Field Maps tool will help refine and track future planning efforts. Mortality Monitoring: RRR began monitoring the mortality of plantings in Colorado River 4.0, and that monitoring will continue in Colorado 6.0. Those efforts will continue this coming fall, and additional mortality data should be available by November/December 2022. FFSL: Through continued monitoring of restoration sites, FFSL will be able to determine areas where the need for active revegetation is greatest. Such sites will be candidates for seeding or planting depending on specific site conditions. In areas where native species are rebounding and naturally recruiting, emphasis will remain on reducing exotic competition. Matheson: The TNC and DNR plan to continue active management of the preserve to improve fisheries habitat, and bird habitat. As conditions allow the area will be burn as prescribed in the burn plan that was developed under this project. Plateau Restoration Inc.: PRI plans to continue working at the Jackson Bottom site. Noxious weed control will be managed by Grand County Weed Department and Utah FFSL. The land owner has pledged to leave the property undeveloped and has offered to rip the road in the center of the property when it is no longer needed for the project. Since the property is prone to decade scale flooding, its value other than open range (or recreation) is limited. BLM: The BLM will continue to provide vital project support, and will continue managing the ArcGIS Field Maps tool. GCWD: The herbaceous weed management plan implemented in Colorado 4.0 will continue to help guide GCWD to continue to coordinate efficiently with grant partners, improve communication and more easily track work areas. This plan will be an important tool in future work, laying out the vision and plan for tackling herbaceous weeds as successfully as past projects in tamarisk and Russian olive.