This has been a multi-year multi-partner project to restore and enhance habitat at a landscape scale, across multiple habitat types, and for multiple land use values. This partnership has restored and enhanced lowland sagebrush, mountain sagebrush, mountain shrub, aspen, wet meadow, mountain meadow, and spring habitat across several landownership types. This project will address priority habitats, species, and threats identified by numerous state and federal agencies, NGO's, and conservation organizations as being important for conservation and restoration. Some of this habitat has been categorized as CRITICAL for priority species such as mule deer, sage grouse, and other sage brush obligate species. Bear Creek also contains a conservation population of Southern Leatherside chub, which are managed under a Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy (UDWR 2010). Additionally, Bear Creek contains dense populations of other native minnows and suckers. Some reaches of Bear Creek have been shown to have heavy fine sediment loading, unstable banks and a lack of habitat complexity. Addressing riparian vegetation health and diversity and upland erosion would help to improve aquatic habitat for native fish species. Notably, funding sources for previous phases have come from many partners such as; Mule Deer Foundation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, Safari Club International, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Utah Division of Wildlife, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, and private landowners. This demonstrates the importance of the project and the scope of the partnership. Taking a watershed approach to this project has allowed us to benefit some extremely important habitat types. We've been able to work on some of Utah's rarest habitat types, such as wet habitats. Habitats near water -- stream sides, wet meadows and wetlands -- support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled. A recent study (Donelly et. al. 2014) reveals a strong link between wet sites, which are essential summer habitat for sage grouse to raise their broods, and the distribution of sage grouse breeding areas or leks. This project area has several springs and wet meadows that are critical summer and brood rearing areas for grouse as well as important big game calving and fawning. Furthermore, these mesic lands and surrounding rangelands are critically important to the health of wildlife populations. Research shows that 60-80% of wildlife is dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). This project area also lies within the Panguitch Sage Grouse Management Area identified in the Conservation Plan for Utah Greater Sage Grouse and is critical habitat for sage grouse brood rearing because of the springs, wet meadows, and adjacent sage brush habitat. It is important that we continue to work in these areas that are critically important to the landscape around them, and because these wet areas are mostly private it is extremely important to work with private landowners restoring these areas whenever possible. The project falls within an identified Bird Habitat Conservation Area (BHCA) with shrub-steppe and wetland habitat listed as priority habitats types for conservation. Sagebrush dependent species such as sage grouse, sage sparrow, and brewer's sparrow are listed as priority birds needing conservation practices implemented. Many of these species identified in the BHCA are not captured in the species portion of this proposal but also need conservation measures implemented. THIS IS MORE THAN A SAGE CHICKEN PROJECT MIKE GOLDEN! This project area is identified as "priority for restoration of crucial mule deer habitat" under the Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan (Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan, 2019-2024). "Crucial" is defined as "habitat necessary to sustain the areas mule deer herd". Not restoring mountain shrub habitat and allowing pinyon and juniper encroachment to continue means less quality habitat to meet mule deer objectives. This project will specifically meet the objective of "working with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering and migration areas". This is where project managers usually insert a whole bunch language and citations about pinyon and juniper encroachment, usually citing the same research papers year after year. For this proposal, we are choosing not to do that but rather we will say this: As project managers, we understand research related to pinyon and juniper removal varies on how it impacts resources. In the spirit of complete transparency we understand not all conifer removal projects have the same results as the "regularly" cited papers indicate in many of these WRI proposals. In this phase and previous phases our project work has been clustered near water resources, because of this we feel the chances of some of the "regularly stated" water benefits may occur here. We are also focusing on areas identified in multiple management plans as critical to species dependent on brush communities and feel justified in strategically removing pinyon and juniper to enhance and restore brush habitat. And finally...because this area has been identified as CRUCIAL mule deer habitat and an important area for increasing sage grouse populations in this Sage Grouse Management Unit we feel this projects importance should be elevated because of the overall impact of the habitat to these species of wildlife. Another qualifier for elevating this project is that the project falls within an identified Bird Habitat Conservation Area (BHCA) as previously discussed. The project will also address several conservation needs for several bird species not captured in the species section of this proposal. And yet another reason we feel this project should be elevated is the multi-year approach on a large watershed scale that this multi-landownership project has and is being implemented.

1) Reduce pinyon and juniper to a sagebrush steppe/mountain brush condition as described in the NRCS ecological site descriptions where applicable. * Reduce conifer cover to <5% within in treatment polygons while leaving islands/corridors for cover, bedding, loafing, etc... 2) Maintain and increase available forage as well as habitat diversity * This will be accomplished by preventing Pinyon/Juniper expansion into sagebrush steppe sites and by restoring hydrology in wet meadows, improving aspen health and with targeted brush treatments. 3) Stop and repair head-cutting and raise water table in and around ephemeral drainages and washes * Increase soil moisture and raise water table 1" to 6" 4) Repair and protect approximately 2 miles of Bear Creek by fencing off sections and establishing woody vegetation. * Increase woody riparian vegetation along Bear Creek by 10% to improve shading 5) Improve wet meadow habitat by mowing rabbit brush. * Reduce rabbit brush by 85% in historical wet meadow. 6) Reduce Total P loading to the Upper Sevier River by increasing ground cover and controlling livestock grazing along Bear Creek.

Below are some of some thresholds/threats/risks we feel impact this project ecologically. We also listed some social and financial thresholds for consideration associated with the project because they too impact our ability to complete the project for ecological benefits. ECOLOGICAL Almost 75% of the proposed PJ removal is phase 1 pinyon and juniper with intact understory vegetation. Working in light to medium densities means the vegetative community hasn't crossed an ecological threshold where high amounts of restoration inputs are necessary. The project as it relates to the pinyon/juniper work is a proactive approach to treat areas where sagebrush steppe habitat is still well established. Doing so has several other benefits to preventing soil loss through erosion, maintaining habitat to high interest species previously listed, water-soil infiltration, etc... Not treating pinyon/juniper in the near future will result in negative ecological consequences. Not doing work in these areas of low pinyon/juniper density means the threat of higher costs, inputs, and risk will become greater over time. We will also be doing some pinyon juniper mastication work in sage brush ecological sites that have advanced to Phase II PJ succession and are moving toward Phase III. This work will be done in areas where the trees are large and dense enough that they are impacting the existing understory vegetation and crossing an ecological threshold. With that said, a decent understory of sagebrush, bitterbrush, grasses, and forbs persists in these areas, along with healthy old and young age class ponderosa pine. We also feel doing the mastication now is fiscally responsible because project partners are already spending time and effort to plan and implement other practices in the area. This project will increase and maintain the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities. A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states within an ecological site. A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife species and people. A diverse landscape is also more resistance and resilient to disturbance. By allowing this landscape to continue to move further into a dominant PJ woodland it increases the risk of losing the sites ability for resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and heal after a disturbance. The wet meadow and erosion control treatments are low risk and offer high rewards. In some of the wet meadows small gullies and head-cutting need to be addressed. Stopping the head-cuts and aggrading small gullies below them can have exponential benefits to soil moisture, water loss, and maintain and increase rare mountain wet meadow habitats that is an extremely limited habitat type. Not implementing this erosion control will certainly lead to head-cuts moving up valley and result in the loss of more wet and mesic habitats. More info on these structures can be found in the project attachments. Also see photos from previous phases. In conjunction with previous phases of this project we have reached out to specialists in these fields and have made plans to use this a workshop area. We are working to see that these structures are installed to provide the greatest benefit to the landscape and the wildlife that use them. Bear Creek head waters start on private and US Forest Service property in Upper Bear Valley and runs north through upper and lower Bear Valleys on Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Private and US Forest Service (USFS) properties. The Bear Creek Watershed was affected by the Brian Head Fire in 2017 and the subsequent flooding and flows that took place following the fire. Now that the watershed has become more stable we plan to reestablish native woody plants along Bear Creek on BLM and private ground and fencing these sections off to remove grazing from the stream. Bear Creek is listed as a 303d waterbody because elevated temperature. The mainstem Sevier River is has a TMDL for Total Phosphorus at the Bear Creek confluence. The Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan shows upstream grazing waste, stream bank erosion and upland erosion all contribute to the Total P loading in this reach. By increasing the woody vegetation, we anticipate we will see an increase of shade, which could assist in alleviating temperature issues. Grazing changes in the riparian areas along with a reduction in sediment loading following PJ removal and seeding should help to reduce Total P loading to the Sevier River from Bear Creek (see Water Quality and Quantity section). Establishing woody riparian species could also aid in expansion of beaver and increase to potential to use BDAs and other techniques to draw beaver to specific areas, which could reduce sediment transport and pool habitats. There is historic and current beaver sign on Bear Creek, and we hope to expand their range as wood vegetation is established. SPECIES Although it was determined by the USFWS that listing under the ESA was not warranted for Greater sage grouse there is an impending review to see if further action or protection is needed. Continuing to do work as identified in the Statewide Sage Grouse Management Plan to conserve sage grouse will support a continued "not warranted" status. Land managers, biologists, and researchers familiar with the project area feel it is very important for sage grouse because available habitat seems to be the limiting factor for population growth here. As habitat is made available VHF and GPS collar data show immediate use. By completing this project we are addressing an immediate threat to one of the primary limiting factors for this population. As previously mentioned, the area has been identified as priority for restoration of CRUCIAL mule deer habitat under the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan. "Crucial" means the areas habitat is necessary to sustain the areas mule deer herd. Allowing the areas of Phase 1 PJ succession to move into phase 2 and 3 will mean less quality habitat to meet mule deer objectives. As described above the area is within a designated Bird Habitat Conservation Area (BHCA) with priority being sagebrush obligate birds like sage grouse, sage thrasher, and Brewer's sparrow. Not doing the project will lead to an increase density of pinyon and juniper that will decrease the amount of available habitat for these sage dependent bird species in an area being designated as important for birds. In 2018 USFWS along with UDWR non-game biologist visited the springs in Phase II that are adjacent of the project area to survey amphibian and mollusks. They found that the springs in and around Phase I of this project had springsnails (Pyrgulopsis sp.) in them. Samples were taken and are going to be sent off for identification but are likely a new population of Toquerville Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis kolobensis). All springsnail species in Utah are managed under a recent conservation agreement signed by UDWR, USFWS, and other partners, and any habitat work that would protect or restore their habitat would show how we're conserving those species. Although springs on the current project site have not been surveyed it is possible and likely these same species occur in the current phase. These private mesic lands and surrounding private rangelands are critically important to the health of wildlife populations. Research shows that 60--80% of wildlife is dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). Working in and around mesic areas preserves the diversity and integrity of the local ecology. Global climate change has come to the forefront as a threat to humans and wildlife alike. Although models vary on future impacts of global climate change one thing stands out is that water may become scarcer in the West. Preserving and restoring wet areas like this has been identified as a key strategy to mitigate impacts like drought, increasing temperatures, and other impacts that a changing climate will have on humans and wildlife. FINANCIAL Financial thresholds need consideration when funding habitat conservation. The type of pro-active work we are proposing reduces future cost from becoming prohibitive. The partnership dollars currently available also need to be taken into consideration as an ecological and/or other threat. With multiple partners actively funding, planning, and implementing conservation practices in the area costs are being shared. If not done now, future costs may make implementing conservation practices at this scale prohibitive. SOCIO-POLITICAL There is also a social threshold to consider with the private lands as part of this project. We have had dozens of individuals part of a grazing associations, other lessees and landowners on the other project sites willing to work with agencies to do these projects. This project, including all phases, has momentum with private individuals willing to work with land management agencies. This has required meetings, presentations, voting, dozens of individuals coming to a consensus, and a lot of signatures and paperwork to get to this point. Not taking advantage of this while everyone is willing may mean a lost opportunity in the future.

This project will to address threats, work within focus areas and with focus species, help meet objectives and goals of the below listed plans. Under those plans are specific language from the plan describing threats, goals, strategies, and objectives this project will help meet. 1) USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Strategic Plan *Project addresses habitat threats for a priority species (sage grouse an UPD) within a PFW priority area (Plateau Focus Area) for restoration work. 2) Utah Greater Sage Grouse Conservation Plan *Increase habitat by 50,000 acres per year and improve an average of 25,000 acres of habitat each year. 3) Utah Mule Deer Statewide Plan (12/5/2019-12/5/2024) "Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering, and migration areas" "Work with local, state and federal land management agencies and ranchers to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges." "Minimize impacts and recommend mitigation for losses of crucial habitat due to human impacts." "Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah." "Support existing and explore additional incentive programs for landowners that will increase tolerance, enhance habitat, and promote deer populations on private lands such as the CWMU, landowner permit, Walk-In Access programs, etc." This project falls in the Crucial Mule Deer Habitat Priorities. 4) Panguitch Lake Deer Herd Unit #28 Management Plan *Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvement projects. Protect deer winter ranges from wildfire by reseeding burned areas, creating fuel breaks and reseed areas dominated by cheatgrass with desirable perennial vegetation. *Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects. *Work with federal and state partners in fire rehabilitation and prevention on crucial deer habitat through the WRI process. 5) Utah Wildlife Action Plan *Mountain Meadow is a key habitat identified in the WAP. *Mountain Sagebrush is a key habitat identified in the WAP. *Aquatic-Scrub/Shrub is a key habitat identified in the WAP. *Mountain Shrub is a key habitat identified in the WAP. *Riverine is a key habitat identified in the WAP. *WAP identifies inappropriate fire frequency as a threat to Mountain sagebrush, and Mountain Shrub habitat. This project will reduce future fire risk and act as a fire buffer to adjacent higher risk areas. Riverine, Aquatic Scrub/Shrub, Mountain Meadow, are threaten by Channel Down Cutting, Drought, Soil Erosion and Loss, and Improper Grazing (Current). One of the main focuses of this project is to restore, protect and enhance riparian areas, wet meadows, and streams. 6) Intermountain West Joint Venture Habitat Conservation Strategy *Support existing public-private partnerships to implement sagebrush habitat conservation, at regional, state, and local scales. *Remove encroaching conifers to functionally restore sagebrush habitat. 7) Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0 Investment Strategy * Restore 25,773 acres in Utah representing 58 percent of non-federally encroached priority areas. * Restore and enhance degraded mesic areas to help increase populations. 8) Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy *Reduce fire risk by managing and removing invasive species 9) USDA Forest Service: Using Resistance and Resilience Concepts to Reduce Impacts of Invasive Annual Grasses and Altered Fire Regimes on the Sagebrush Ecosystem and Greater Sage-Grouse *Use mechanical treatments like cut and leave or mastication to remove trees, decrease woody fuels, and release native grasses and forbs in warm and moist big sagebrush ecosystems with relatively low resistance to annual invasive grasses that are in the early to mid-phase of pinyon and/or juniper expansion. *Prioritize areas where restoration of sagebrush and/or perennial grasses is needed to create large patches of landscape cover of sagebrush or connect existing patches of sagebrush habitat. 10) Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy Version 2.0 *Create, enhance and protect small ephemeral "wet areas" within nesting and brood-rearing habitats for sage grouse. *Manage large blocks of land for contiguous Shrubsteppe habitat and avoid activities that cause fragmentation. 11) UTAH ACTION PLAN For Implementation of Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3362. 2018. * This project is SPECIFICALLY mentioned as being a priority in this plan for restoration work 12) BLM Western States Programmatic Environmental Report The project enhances UPD habitat and is in keeping with BLM recommendations. BLM's Final Programmatic Environmental Report: Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Report, June 2007. 13) All springsnail species in Utah are managed under a recent conservation agreement signed by UDWR, US FWS, and other partners, and any habitat work that would protect or restore their habitat would show how we're conserving those species. This is within Sage Grouse Management Zone III (Southern Great Basin) and is part of the Panguitch/Bald Hills sage grouse population. The 2013 conservation Objectives Final Report (COT) identified this area as the highest potential for increase in Utah due to habitat treatments to remove pinyon and juniper. Key threats identified in the COT report include increased predator populations, vegetation management (conflicting uses or lack of), energy development, and residential/commercial development. BLM Utah also recently completed an, "approved resource management plan amendment for sage grouse, which tied sage grouse treatment objectives and thresholds for disturbance to existing land use plans. Primary to this document is a section that integrates the State of Utah's strategy of improving greater Sage Grouse habitat through vegetation treatments by setting treatment objectives to increase areas available for sage grouse habitat and to reduce the threats of wildfire to sage grouse habitat (pp 1-13) (Appendix C). This project will both reduce threats of wildfire while also increasing available connectivity and habitat. BLM Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan 2015 A. The project is consistent with the SGARMP (2015) goals, objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Special Status Species section as follows: Special Status Species Goal: Maintain and/or increase GRSG abundance and distribution by conserving, enhancing or restoring the sagebrush ecosystem upon which populations depend in collaboration with other conservation partners. Refer to the following Objectives and Management Actions in the SGRMPA (Objectives: SSS-3, SSS-4, SSS-5) and Management Actions (MA-SSS-4, MA-SSS-6, MA-SSS7). B. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Vegetation section as follows: Refer to the following Objectives and Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-VEG-1, MA-VEG-2, MA-VEG-4, MA-VEG-5, MA-VEG-6, MA-VEG-8, MA-VEG-9, MA-VEG-10, MA-VEG-12 and MA-VEG-14). C. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Fire and Fuels Management section as follows: Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-FIRE-1 and MA-FIRE-3) D. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Livestock Grazing/Range Management section as follows: Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-LG-3, MA-LG-4, MA-LG-5, MA-LG-12, MALG- 13, MA-LG-16 and MA-LG-17) The Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah was approved by the Governor in April 2013. The plan establishes incentive-based conservation programs for conservation of sage-grouse on private, local government, and School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration lands and regulatory programs on other state- and federally managed lands. The Conservation Plan also establishes sage-grouse management areas and implements specific management protocols in these areas. The Utah Greater Sage-grouse Management Plan in 2009 identified threats and issues affecting sage-grouse management in Utah as well as goals, objectives, and strategies intended to guide UDWR, local working groups, and land managers efforts to protect, maintain, and improve sage-grouse populations and habitats and balance their management with other resource uses. 18) Southern Leatherside chub CAS -- Conservation Elements B2) Restore habitat where possible, creating habitat complexity and connectivity for southern leatherside, and B3) Implement habitat enhancements that may include some or all of the following: removal of diversion structures, modification of barriers to allow fish passage, bank stabilization, enhancement of native vegetation, riparian fencing, nonnative removal, and implementation of compatible grazing practices. Conservation Element C4) Develop cooperative agreements with landowners. The agreement will specify methods to eliminate or reduce impacts on southern leatherside habitats. Conservation Element D4) Maintain Natural Hydrologic conditions. This project proposes to maintain an improve the water table, create exclosures and riparian pastures on private lands, and enhance native vegetation and bank stability, all of which support these elements of the CAS. 19) Upper Sevier Water Shed Management Plan lists implementation strategies to address Total P loading as: Grazing management: This could include a combination of timing, duration, and fencing to protect streambanks from trampling and limit the introduction of animal waste into canals, ditches and streams. Riparian fencing and pasture rotation are appropriate practices to protect sensitive areas and allow for controlled access to forage. Off-site watering could be provided for cattle that congregate in or near streams or other channels adjacent to pastures. 2. Streambank restoration: The re-establishment of woody, deep-rooted vegetation such as willows and sedges is recommended for the majority of the Sevier River from its headwaters to Circleville Canyon. The potential for bank stabilization and erosion control is high since the water table is typically high throughout the year. Practices could include willow pole planting, willow mats, temporary juniper revetments, and other soft bio-engineering techniques. These restoration projects would have to be coupled with grazing management, development of offsite water sources, and permanent or temporary electric fencing to allow for recovery of riparian vegetation. In some cases which were identified during the SVAP survey bank erosion was so severe that the installation of hard structures such as rock barbs or weirs rock may be necessary to direct flow away from revegetating stream banks.

This project will decrease the risk of high severity wildfire by reducing fuel loading and promoting the growth of understory vegetation, which are critical to maintaining ecosystem resilience. As demonstrated by the nearby Brian Head fire during the summer of 2017, treatments like these can break up the continuity of fuels and act as fuel breaks. This project along with already completed adjacent projects will can be expected to act similarly if a fire were to ignite nearby. The current fire regime condition class is moderate (2), and would be reduced to low (1) immediately after treatment. The habitat type has been identified in the 2015-2025 Utah Wildlife Action Plan that lowland sagebrush is a key habitat and the threats associated with this key habitat are inappropriate fire frequency and intensity. This project will help to achieve this goal. Reducing the threat of wildfire is important because of the critical nature of this habitat to mule deer and sage grouse. Completing this project and reducing the risk of fire will help to protect important sagebrush steppe and mountain brush habitat that is critical for priority species including, but not limited to, Greater sage grouse and mule deer. This project will also help to protect the springs and wetlands. If a high severity fire were to move through the area water soil infiltration would decrease, erosion will increase, and the potential for water to get into the aquifer will decrease and spring flows may decrease. Values at risk from wildfire and post-fire flooding, include SH20, powerlines, private structures, downstream irrigation facilities, livestock forage, sage grouse habitat and Southern leatherside chub habitat.

According to Folliott (2012), research showed that pinyon and juniper expansion into areas historically dominated by higher forbs and grasses impeded streamflow for off-site uses. Because pinyon and juniper is water competitive this often reduces grasses and forbs in an area. "The increase in bare soil, particularly in the spaces between trees, typically leads to increased runoff and soil loss as the juniper infestation increases" (Thurow 1997). Increased runoff and sediment loading decreases water yield and water quality within the watershed. Studies have shown converting from PJ to brush and grassland habitats should enhance stream-flow (Barr 1956). Because the project is large scale, over multiple years, and near springs and meadows the impact to potential water and erosion savings is greater than just this fiscal years project area. As project managers, we understand research related to pinyon and juniper removal varies on how it impacts water resources. In the spirit of complete transparency not all conifer removal projects have the same results as the ones cited above. Because many of our conifer treatments are near springs and wet meadows, we feel that a high probability of some of the stated benefits to water are likely. Also, the overarching project area has several springs and wet meadows that are critical to deer fawning, elk calving, sage grouse brood rearing, and several other species of birds. The project will have direct impacts to improving these wet areas by decreasing runoff and increasing infiltration in the uplands that can come through the soil to these areas. Wet meadow conservation practices have the potential to absorb water and hold moisture on site, make it into the aquifer, and potentially move slowly towards springs later in the year (or years later) rather than just flowing off site during runoff events. The wet meadow erosion control treatments are low impact/low risk/high reward type practices. In some of the wet meadows small gullies and head-cutting need to be addressed. Stopping the head-cuts and aggrading small gullies below can have exponential benefits to soil moisture, water loss, and maintain and increase rare mountain meadow habitats that is an extremely limited habitat type. Bear Creek head waters start on private and US Forest Service property in Upper Bear Valley and runs north through upper and lower Bear Valleys on Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Privative and US Forest Service (USFS) properties. The Bear Creek Watershed was affected by the Brian Head Fire in 2017 and the subsequence flooding and flows that took place following the fire. Now that the watershed has become more stabilized we plan to reestablish native woody plants along Bear Creek on BLM and privative ground and fencing these sections off to remove grazing from the stream. Bear Creek is listed as a 303d waterbody because elevated temperature and evaluated levels of copper. Increasing the woody vegetation, we anticipate with the establish of brush and trees we will see an increase of shade and the creation of pools through Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA) and beavers in the future. There is historic and current beaver sign on Bear Creek, and we hope to expand their range as wood vegetation is established. As mentioned previously Bear Creek is 303d listed for temperature and the Upper Sevier at the Bear Creek confluence has a TMDL for total Phosphorus. Increasing overhanging riparian vegetation, increases shading and can help to lower water temperatures. Similarly, healthy riparian vegetation can trap additional water on the floodplain putting it, at least temporarily into groundwater. Removing PJ in riparian areas, constructing riparian exclosures and pastures and planting willows should all help to lower water temperatures in this section of Bear Creek. Total P loading in the watershed is attributed to livestock adjacent to streams, stream bank instability and upland erosion. The allelopathic qualities of PJ are well documented, as are increases in ground cover and reductions in erosion after their removal. The 1,000 acres of Phase 2 PJ removal should help reduce upland erosion. Construction of riparian pastures and exclosures will help to increase stream bank stability and reduce livestock manure inputs. Riparian vegetation improvements will also improve stream bank stability and reduce sediment inputs.

Any NEPA and archeological survey requirements will be completed by project partners as needed per requirements for federal funding and federal land management oversight before implementation. NEPA for the BLM portion of the project is ongoing and is expected to be completed by April 2021. Funding may be requested from WRI for arch surveys. The cultural survey for the Sage Flat mastication area was funded during phase II of the project. Cultural clearance money requested for FS lands is for a NEPA Decision expected in federal FY2021.

JUNIPER AND PINYON REMOVAL: Most of the units (2,730 acres) will be accomplished using a saw crew to lop and scatter trees as close as possible to 100% in polygons. Mastication will take place in a smaller portion (1,001 acres) of the project where pinyon juniper density is thicker. Additionally, a few small units will be included adjacent to past lop and scatter areas which all have existing shrubs and grasses in them but are about to have the understory lost due to competition from pinyon and juniper. SEEDING: Aerial seeding will be done on only the masticated pinyon juniper treatment area prior to trees being treated. The seed mix consists of 3 native grasses and several forbs to try and diversify the existing understory vegetation. All the sites have existing sagebrush and bitterbrush so we did not feel we needed to include shrubs in the mix. HEAD-CUTTING: Head-cutting is happening in small ephemeral drainages and washes. We propose to use simple rock and/or wood structures that are being use across the West to stop and repair head-cuts and erosion. * See additional attachment for more information on these structures and pictures from past structures built during the last phase of the project. BRUSH: Some patches of rabbitbrush (292 acres) on private and BLM will be mowed and treated with the appropriate herbicide in the fall. FENCE: Construct 1 mile of range fence to better manage to livestock grazing. Fence will be marked with wildlife fence markers. Along the riparian sections UDWR livestock exclusion fence will be built to allow for safe wildlife passage, while excluding livestock from sections of Bear Creek to allow for woody vegetation establishment. SPRING DEVELOPMENT: With an NRCS engineer a spring box will be built and some of the water piped to an off-site trough. CULTURAL CLEARANCE: A cultural clearance contract will be let through UWRI to clear 5,766 acres of future Phase treatments on the Dixie National Forest and 1,265 acres of the treatments proposed in this Phase.

NRCS: Pre and post photopoint monitoring in treatment areas. Sage grouse Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide to be done pre-treatment to assess habitat conditions. UT-2 Range vegetation assessment done pre-treatment and post treatment. NRCS Pinyon and juniper woodland survey will be conducted pre and post treatment Sage grouse monitoring via GPS loggers is going on in the Panguitch SGMA as well as adjacent SGMA's. These are showing connectivity between populations and will show if grouse are using newly treated areas. This could be put together in a map form and uploaded as part of the completion report. USFWS Will work with partners to complete some of the monitoring described as well as doing their own photo point monitoring. Also, as part of the USFWS landowner agreement USFWS biologist will visit the site at minimum once per year to assess needs, success, failures, and need for any follow-up treatments/maintenance for the duration of the 10-year Landowner Agreement. UDWR Annual aerial and ground mule deer count and classifications. Area sage grouse lek counts each spring. BLM In response to aspen over browsing, aspen in the project area will be monitored. Short-term temporary adjustments in livestock/wildlife management may be needed to ensure new aspen regeneration successfully recruits. Pre and post monitoring photos, Frequency trend studies - 2 existing and up to 2 additional studies to be added. Wildlife Monitoring Plans: This year, each BLM Field office will have an entire team devoted to the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM), and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area. This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. Additionally, this project falls within potential sage grouse habitat. Habitat Assessment Framework monitoring is a multiscale, sage-grouse habitat assessment tool that will be integrated with the AIM. This monitoring is done from a broad-to-fine scale. The dataset at the site scale (which includes this project) describes habitat indicators, such as sagebrush cover, sagebrush height, grass and forb cover, riparian stability, and/or proximity of detrimental land uses and structures. These data will ensure appropriate project implementation, as well as guide future actions in sage grouse habitat. Currently, there are no AIM, HAF (sage grouse) monitoring points in this treatment area; however, these areas will be prioritized for data collection during 2021. There are also no UDWR trend studies in this area; however, UDWR will read Southern Region projects during 2019 and a data site could be requested at that time. A raptor survey will be conducted before the project begins. The majority of the raptors in this area, nest along the canyon edges, and those trees are left. Additionally, if nest trees are found during surveys, they are buffered and left as islands to serve as refuges for all wildlife Additionally, archaeological resources that are found within the area are buffered and worked into the overall project design. These islands would also be left for perching raptors. BLM has conducted Multiple Indicator Monitoring along Bear Creek within the project area and these surveys are repeated at 5-year intervals. The Forest Service also has two partial Multiple Indicator Monitoring sites and two Riparian Level III Inventory sites along Bear Creek in the cultural clearance areas. This is measured at approximately 5-year intervals. Additionally, BLM and the DNF have quantitative fish stations upstream and downstream of this phase, with the Forest station being in the cultural clearance area. Qualitative fish surveys have been conducted on the BLM portion of Bear Creek included in this Phase and can be repeated in the future.

USFWS: Will be providing funding/planning/implementation support and is one of the project managers working closely with Stan Gurley from NRCS/UDWR on work directly tied to private land. UDWR: Stan Gurley of UDWR/NRCS is working as a project manager and providing funding/planning/implementation support. We will also be working with habitat and wildlife biologist to address any needs they see. NRCS: Stan Gurley of UDWR/NRCS is working as a project manager and providing funding/planning/implementation support. The NRCS State Biologist has also visited the project area and provided input and support for the project. BLM: We have contacted the field office and received input on the project. They support connecting the private to the BLM treated acres. This project includes project work on BLM managed lands working with the Cedar City Field Office. USFS: USFS is planning to do large scale cultural clearance in order to have it completed once their environmental assessment process is complete. In future phase the USFS will complete stream enhancements, PJ removal, Private landowners and Grazing Association: This project will work with multiple private landowners. The project will be working with a grazing association and several other landowners across multiple private landownerships where planning and implementation will be done to meet their objectives as well as agency objectives. Private citizens who have the BLM grazing leases and private grazing leases have all been part of the planning of this multi-year project. Color Country and Southwest Desert Local Working groups: The project was discussed at both of these local working group meetings and has support from the members of the groups. These groups are made up of agencies, private landowner representatives, and county government. SITLA: The project was discussed has been discussed with SITLA. Approximately 200 acres of State land will be seeded and masticated in this proposal. Sportsmen Groups: Several sportsmen groups have provided funding for this project including: National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Turkey Federation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife.

The private landowners will enter into a contract with NRCS and USFWS. As part of the landowner agreement with USFWS the landowner agrees to leave the habitat restored in place for a 10-year period and during that time will work with the USFWS biologist to monitor and access needs, success, and any needed adaptive management. Landowners will be contracted with the NRCS to manage grazing to maintain a 12" stubble height on in contracted areas for 2 years. Grazing will be allowed, in the areas that are lop and scatter, mowing takes practice does not require seeding and understory in great condition. All the masticated and seeded areas will be rested for two growing seasons, or until the land management agency allows the permittee to return to grazing. This project will also help the landowners better distribute and graze not only his private property but also his adjacent public allotments. This means the potential for improved range management and range conditions moving forward. There is no grazing rest prescribed for this phase III project as current management is adequate to meet project goals and objectives, with the exception of the masticated portion. All areas seeded and masticated would be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons or until the seedings become established. The area is part of the Panguitch Lake unit big game management areas and is managed according to the mule deer and elk management plan cited in the management plan sections. These units are managed for big bull trophy elk through a draw process with permitted OTC spike hunting. The mule deer hunting is managed through the general season draw process. No sage grouse hunting is permitted at this time. The area is also carefully managed as core sage grouse habitat. Any actions undertaken by agencies consider both Federal and State management plans. By generally sequencing the treatment of aspen in this project, browse pressure may be more directed away from newly treated areas; this is expected to increase the probability of regenerating aspen to reach 6 feet tall after treatment. Aspen browse thresholds and adaptive management response options have been developed and will be implemented to help ensure new regenerating aspen successfully recruit (become 6 feet or taller). To assist this effort, aspen monitoring and protection fences will be put in place. Areas that are seeded will be rested for a minimum of two years. The project is located in the Bear Creek and West Spring Allotments, which has been assessed through the permit renewal process. Grazing management systems that identified livestock numbers, season of use and AUMs were identified through this process. The Bear Creek Allotment has authorized livestock grazing from July 1st - August 31st and the West Spring Allotment has authorized grazing from June 1st - June 30th for cattle. Following the 2 year rest period (seeded areas) the majority of livestock grazing will occur following the critical growing period, which is expected to ensure long-term sustainability of the project. Vegetative monitoring data including utilization and nested frequency will continue to be collected within the allotment.

The private and public lands are all part of grazing rotations. This project will have a benefit to the private grazing operations. Working across landownerships will have a greater ecological and economic impact for livestock producers. The PJ treatments will increase available forage and prevent future loss of forage. Wet meadow restoration will increase herbaceous vegetation. The project area also provides important hunting opportunities locally and for people traveling from out of state to hunt on the Beaver and Panguitch units for pronghorn, elk, and mule deer. These hunting opportunities within the project area provide a financial boost to local economies through food, gas, and other supplies purchases, hiring local guides and outfitters, and hiring local taxidermists and meat processors. Continuing to do work to maintain the habitat in this area will help to perpetuate the recreational and economic benefits. ATV and UTV use in these areas is one of the dominant recreational uses on this landscape. Each summer people from all over the country travel in and around these project areas to ride the thousands of miles of improved atv trails. Improving and creating fire resistant habitat adds value to atv rider experience. This area is a highly visited area of Utah for tourism. This project is visible from 2 major highways frequented by tourists. Dispersed camping is also an important recreation opportunity in the area.

09/07/2022

03/03/2025

2025

Pinyon and juniper encroachment: -Lop and scatter 2,729 acres was lop and scatter in areas where understory was still intact. -Mastication and Seeding- 1,001 acres of pinyon and juniper were masticated to improve wildlife habitat (greater sage grouse, mule deer), reduce fuels and risk for catastrophic fire, reduce soil erosion and degraded water quality. This was done with 3 excavator masticators in the winter of 2022. Rabbit Brush mowing and chemical application: Brush was mowed and Tordon 22k was applied with 5 minutes of mowing on 289 acres. Fence: 1.2 miles of top rail fence was constructed to create enclosures around Bear Creek and project springs and wet meadows. BDAs and riparian vegetation planting: 12 BDAs were installed and over 500 willow and cotton wood poles were planted are enclosures along Bear Creek. Cultural Resources Archology was contracted and completed on 5,765 acres of US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Private Lands for this phase and for WRI 6514 Greater Fremont 5-Bear Valley project (2023). This allowed for a more streamline start to WRI 6514 and better pricing.

Based on the provided list of actions, here's a detailed and expanded description of a Pinyon-Juniper Encroachment Restoration Project, providing context for each activity. Lop and Scatter: Targeted Tree Removal A total of 2,729 acres were treated using the "lop and scatter" method. This technique involves cutting down pinyon and juniper trees by hand with chainsaws. This was completed by Summit Forestry. The cut trees are then "lopped" into smaller pieces and "scattered" across the landscape. This approach was specifically used in areas where the understory (the layer of native grasses, forbs, and shrubs) was still intact. By leaving the woody debris on the ground, the project achieves multiple goals: Mastication: This process is highly effective for clearing dense stands of trees. The mulched material is left on the ground, creating a protective layer that suppresses competing weeds and helps retain moisture. This was completed by High Power Equipment. Due to deep snow, the project went in the February on 2023, but was completed with the time line. Seeding: Following mastication, the area was seeded with a mix of native grasses and forbs. The freshly disturbed, mulched ground creates an ideal seedbed, allowing for the re-establishment of a healthy, diverse plant community. This re-vegetation is crucial for providing forage for wildlife and reducing the risk of invasive annual grasses like cheatgrass. Scott Aviation completed this in the Fall of 2022, prior to the mastication. Rabbitbrush Mowing and Chemical Application: On 289 acres, a two-step process was implemented to control rabbitbrush, a native shrub that can become dominant and outcompete other desirable plants. 1) Mowing: Brush was mowed to reduce its height and prepare the area for chemical treatment. 2) Chemical Application: Within five minutes of mowing, Tordon 22K herbicide was applied to the cut stems. This precise timing is essential, as the chemical is absorbed directly into the plant's vascular system, ensuring maximum effectiveness. This targeted application helps control the rabbitbrush while minimizing impact on surrounding vegetation, allowing for the restoration of a more balanced shrubland ecosystem. Fence Construction: A 1.2-mile top-rail fence was constructed to create enclosures around key critical water sources, specifically Bear Creek and several springs and wet meadows. Riparian Protection: The primary purpose of this fencing is to exclude livestock from these sensitive riparian areas. Stream and Spring Health: By preventing cattle from accessing and trampling the banks, the fence allows for the recovery of streamside vegetation. This vegetation stabilizes the soil, shades the water, and improves water quality and flow. Habitat Restoration: The enclosures protect the delicate habitat needed by numerous species of wildlife that depend on these water sources. BDAs and Riparian Vegetation Planting: Enhancing Water Management To further enhance the health of the riparian corridor along Bear Creek, 12 Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) were installed, and over 500 willow and cottonwood poles were planted within the new enclosures. Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs): These are human-made structures that mimic the function of natural beaver dams. They are typically built from onsite materials like wood posts and woven branches. Their purpose is to slow down water. They reduce the speed of water flow, which helps to prevent erosion and stream incision (downcutting). Raise the Water Table: By backing up water, BDAs encourage the water to spread out across the floodplain, raising the local water table. This benefits a wider area of vegetation. Trap Sediment: They trap sediment carried by the stream, which helps to aggrade (build up) the stream bed and re-connect the channel to its historical floodplain. Riparian Planting: The willow and cottonwood poles were planted near the newly installed BDAs and throughout the enclosures. These plantings will grow into mature trees and shrubs, providing long-term benefits by: Stabilizing Banks: Their deep roots will anchor the soil, preventing future erosion. Providing Shade: The canopy will shade the stream, keeping water temperatures cooler, which is critical for fish and other aquatic species. Creating Habitat: The vegetation provides essential food and cover for a wide variety of wildlife.

Monitoring and Long-Term Management Ongoing monitoring is essential to ensure the long-term success of the restoration efforts. The project's progress is being tracked through a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies and landowners. Long-Term Photo Monitoring: An Area Forester from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) is responsible for monitoring two long-term photo points. These designated locations--one on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and one on private property--are photographed regularly. This practice provides a visual record of change over time, allowing project managers to assess the effectiveness of the treatments, track the recovery of vegetation, and determine if further intervention is needed. Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) Maintenance: The Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) on the private property are actively maintained by FFSL and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Each spring, these agencies continue to add new willow and cottonwood poles to the enclosures. The goal of this ongoing effort is to enhance the habitat and create a robust riparian environment that is attractive and sustainable for a future beaver colony. The hope is that beavers will eventually colonize the area and take over the long-term maintenance of the stream and its floodplain. Treatment Monitoring: The various restoration treatments--including seeding, mowing, lop and scatter, and mastication--are jointly monitored by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), and FFSL. This multi-agency monitoring ensures that the project's goals are being met across all land ownerships and allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the project's impact on the overall landscape. This collaboration is crucial for adaptive management, where future restoration strategies can be adjusted based on the observed outcomes.