National Audubon Society's 3,668 ac Gillmor Sanctuary on the south shore of Great Salt Lake is part of a globally important bird area designation of Gilbert Bay by BirdLife International. Named so for having greater than 1 percent of the global population at Great Salt Lake one time or 5% over a season for: Eared Grebe, Snowy Plover, American Avocet, Long-billed Curlew, and Wilson's Phalarope, and California Gull, all of which are regularly observed at the sanctuary during their migration and / or breeding seasons. This region of the lake also qualified as an Important Bird Area in Utah for the following species, which far exceed the numerical criteria and are also frequently found at Gillmor Sanctuary: Snowy Plover (Utah Wildlife Action Plan priority species, International Union for the Conservation of Nature near-threatened, declining); American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt (Partners in Fight Priority Species); Long-billed Curlew (Global Species of Conservation Concern and Partners in Fight Priority Species); as well as Eared Grebe, Canada Goose, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, California Gulls, Franklin Gull, and Ring-billed Gull. Gillmor Sanctuary provides shallow and deep open water habitat with vast spans of unvegetated mudflat with occasional areas of emergent vegetation. During migration and breeding seasons, Gillmor provides important sanctuary for shorebirds, waterfowl and other water birds. Gillmor Sanctuary is also host to many other migrant shorebird and waterfowl species as a major stopover on their way to northern and southern designations. Waterfowl, such as Tundra Swan, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck are common migrants and some commonly breed and rear their young during spring and summer. Common water birds include Western and Clark's grebe, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Heron, White-faced Ibis, and American Coot. The fall can be spectacular with 100's to 1000's of shorebirds on their return migration and over 10,000 single day counts of waterfowl staging before continuing further south for winter. Saline wetlands of Great Salt Lake and specifically those of Gillmor Sanctuary, however, are at risk of loss of shorebird habitat and related reduction in biodiversity of shorebird species, as well as increased risk of water consumption due to increasing biomass of invasive vegetative and woody plant species: Phragmites and tamarisk. These invasives also pose a threat to our waterfowl and water bird emergent marsh habitat. Shorebirds require open, unobscured landscape in moist to shallowly flooded mudflat that may be sparsely vegetated with salt tolerant plants. Among 42 shorebird species at GSL, Snowy Plover is a species that uses the moist saline mudflats exclusively, and we have documented declining numbers at the sanctuary in recent years, partly due to the drying shoreline and declining water level of GSL. Phragmites is invading a large percentage of mudflats in GSL wetlands and has recently taken hold at the sanctuary, equating to habitat loss for shorebirds, and many other species. While the total acreage of Phragmites at the sanctuary is relatively minor compared to neighboring managed wetlands, we have been working towards controlling some of the areas for the past 10 years. However after witnessing so many mudflats of GSL that were historically heavily used by shorebirds become completely invaded by Phragmites during the last 20 years, we believe there is a real threat to losing the mudflats if we don't compliment the work we have initiated in a more aggressive manner. The same holds true for our emergent marsh areas; where Phragmites easily outcompetes and invades native vegetation, rendering the habitat relatively useless for waterfowl and secretive marsh birds. Adjacent uplands are also used by several shorebird and waterfowl species for nesting and brood rearing, and at GSL, these uplands are treeless, ideally covered with grasses, forbes and shrubs. Tamarisk and Russian knapweed are invading these areas, rendering them unfit for breeding Long-billed Curlew, Willet and breeding waterfowl, such as pintail and Gadwall. A third species of concern at the sanctuary is Burrowing Owl, which nest in our uplands and have shown decline in nesting pairs during recent years. Tamarisk and Russian knapweed would also affect Burrowing Owl nesting habitat negatively. * SPECIFIC BENEFITS TO MUDFLATS OF SALINE PLAYA WETLANDS: o Reduces accumulation of organic matter and organic sediment, which would change the biochemistry and physical matrix of the sediment potentially making it less productive with macroinvertebrates and obstruct access to foraging. It also would add structure that fills in the mudflats making it less desirable habitat for shorebirds; o Increased water storage capacity, by reducing evapotranspiration losses o Physical conservation of unvegetated basins (increasingly rare habitat around the lake -- with or in close proximity to water and with little to no vegetation), o Conservation of productive macroinvertebrate habitat o Conserves desirable open mudflats in a globally important bird area for shorebirds o Contributes high quality foraging, loafing, shelter and nesting habitat to that around Great Salt Lake o Provides alternative habitat in the case where other areas become compromised due to lower lake water elevation / increasing water demand, invasive species, and other pressures from human-related development * SPECIFIC BENEFITS TO EMERGENT WETLANDS: o Maintains discrete areas of emergent marsh habitat o Prevents development of monotypic stands of invasive and low habitat quality Phragmites o Maintains diverse setting that provides shelter, forage, loafing and nesting habitat for a diverse group of avian species (waterfowl, secretive marsh birds, wading birds, and shorebirds) o Conserves desirable emergent wetland habitat in a globally important bird area for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds o Contributes high quality foraging, loafing, shelter and nesting habitat to that around Great Salt Lake o Provides alternative habitat in the case where other areas become compromised due to lower lake water elevation / increasing water demand, invasive species, and other pressures from human-related development * SPECIFIC BENEFITS TO SELECTED SHOREBIRD SPECIES AT GILLMOR: o Conserves increasingly threatened and diminishing habitat that is optimal for Snowy Plover in a Globally Important Bird Area o Conserves high quality mudflat habitat for American Avocet, Long-billed Curlew, and Wilson's Phalarope, and many other shorebirds in a Globally Important Bird Area o Black-necked Stilt, common nester and migrant at Gillmor Sanctuary, one of its preferred nesting habitats is on sparsely vegetated islands and dikes or on barren shorelines; they also use flooded saltgrass for nesting. Black-necked Stilts will benefit from Phragmites control on the mudflats, shorelines, and flooded saltgrass areas. o American Avocet, common nester and migrant at the sanctuary, prefers to nest on sparsely vegetated islands and dikes or on barren shorelines and salt pans with clear visibility unobscured from vegetation; they forage in sparsely vegetated to non-vegetated mudflats and would benefit from Phragmites control on the mudflats and shorelines. o Snowy Plover, common nester and migrant at the sanctuary, uses saline mudflats and shoreline, will benefit from Phragmites and tamarisk sapling control. o Long-billed Curlew, common nester and migrant at the sanctuary, uses grasslands and uplands and often forages at sparsely vegetated shoreline, will benefit from control of all three invasive species control: Russian knapweed, tamarisk, and Phragmites. o Marbled Godwit, common migrant at the sanctuary, uses a variety of habitats for foraging and loafing, and often the only avian species to use hypersaline ponds; will benefit from Phragmites control in the wetlands and Russian knapweed and tamarisk control in adjacent uplands. o Bairds Sandpiper, common migrant at Gillmor Sanctuary, forages on saline playas and flooded mudflats as well as uplands, will benefit from Phragmites, Russian knapweed and tamarisk control. o Least Sandpiper, common migrant at the sanctuary, forages saline mudflats and shorelines as well as shallowly flooded to moist mudflats, will benefit from Phragmites control. o Western Sandpiper, common migrant, forage on moist to shallowly flooded shoreline, will benefit from Phragmites control. o Long-billed Dowitcher, common migrant at the sanctuary, forage in shallow fresh water wetlands, but also forage commonly in shallow, saline lakes and flooded playas, will benefit from Phragmites and tamarisk sapling control. o Spotted Sandpiper, common migrant at the sanctuary, uses a variety of wetland habitat and shoreline, will benefit from Phragmites control. o Greater Yellowlegs, common migrant at the sanctuary, forages in shallowly flooded saline wetlands with sparse to moderate short vegetation, will benefit from Phragmites and tamarisk sapling control. o Willet, common nester and migrant at the sanctuary, uses semiarid uplands near shallow, brackish or saline wetlands with open, lightly vegetated cover, will benefit from control of Phragmites and tamarisk. o Lesser Yellowlegs, common migrant at the sanctuary, forages in fresh to hypersaline shallowly flooded wetlands with sparse to moderate short vegetation and adjacent to open mudflats, will benefit from Phragmites and tamarisk sapling control. * SPECIFIC BENEFITS TO SELECTED WATERFOWL AT GILLMOR: o Canada Goose commonly nests at Gillmor Sanctuary and would benefit from conserving mudflat and open shoreline as they prefer clear views in all directions and water nearby. It is a common migrant as well, and will benefit from Phragmites and tamarisk control. o Gadwall, a common nester and migrant at Gillmor, will benefit from our native vegetation of our emergent marsh areas as well as our grassy uplands interspersed with shrubs for nesting; will benefit from Phragmites and tamarisk control. o Mallard, a common nester and migrant at the sanctuary, will benefit from a diverse wetland landscape with adjacent uplands of grasses and shrubs. The sanctuary is also an important stopover for migrants; will benefit from Phragmites, tamarisk, Russian knapweed control. o Cinnamon Teal, a common nester and migrant at the sanctuary, uses vegetation on site to construct and conceal its nest. Cinnamon Teal uses a variety of wetlands for foraging and nesting and would benefit greatly from our proposed work in both mudflats and emergent marsh areas; will benefit from Phragmites control. o Northern Shoveler is a rare nester at Gillmor sanctuary but a common migrant. It will benefit from our efforts on shallowly flooded mudflats and emergent marshes; will benefit from Phragmites and tamarisk sapling control. o Northern Pintail, and uncommon nester and common migrant, will benefit from our shallow wetlands with low vegetation and adjacent grassy uplands with sparse shrubs, where they often choose to nest away from water; will benefit from Phragmites, tamarisk, Russian knapweed control. o Green-winged Teal, a common migrant at the sanctuary, forages on shorelines and mudflats of varying water depths, will benefit from conserved mudflat and controlled Phragmites. o Ruddy Duck, a common migrant at the sanctuary, will benefit from Phragmites control as their preferred foraging habitat is emergent marsh. They also commonly forage in deeper waters on flooded mudflats, which will be beneficial for them by controlling Phragmites.

Our goal is to improve up to 250 ac of habitat by removing the standing cover and treating tamarisk, and treating Phragmites and Russian knapweed to restore the open landscape required by shorebirds and waterfowl and contribute to conservation of the overall shorebird and waterfowl habitat available on GSL over a multi-year, phased project. Our specific objectives for the first phase are 1) initiate tamarisk eradication, 2) continue efforts to reduce Phragmites in mudflats and in associated uplands / dunes to manageable spot treatment to total eradication levels, 3) and initiate eradication of Russian knapweed, 4) convert infested areas to improved habitat by eradicating / reducing areal extent of each species on shorelines and / or uplands with follow up management planning. These efforts will improve watershed health by removing invasive and noxious species and improve biological diversity in a sustainable way by providing the necessary habitat that shorebirds, specifically Snowy Plover, Long-billed Curlew and Willet require, as well as nesting Burrowing Owls. Waterfowl, other shorebirds and wading birds would also benefit greatly.

We feel the sanctuary is at considerable risk of crossing an ecological threshold from invasion by Phragmites. We refer to it as "a ticking time bomb" at which point it would become prohibitively more and more costly and probably impossible to restore to its native state. Since GSL flood waters of 1983 - 1984 receded and salt deposits gradually leached from wetland areas, we have observed the aggressive takeover of a large portion of GSL mudflats wherever freshwater drains out onto the lakebed or is used to impound freshwater wetlands. It quite literally forms a thick, impenetrable wall of vegetation that displaces many species of birds that used to use the habitat prior to invasion. Data in the 5 Year State Waterbird Survey (Paul and Manning 2002) is a good benchmark for habitat that has since been lost to Phragmites. A GIS mapping effort by Long et al. (2017) shows approximately 93 km2 of shoreline invaded by Phragmites since the 1983-84 flooding of GSL watershed. Five more years have passed since the data were gathered for that study. We have observed all neighboring properties struggle to control Phragmites and most properties have lost much of their habitat to it. Many of the neighboring duck clubs lack adequate resources to address it and are possibly past the point where they can reign it in. The sanctuary has only had water introduced to it since 2009, making it a relatively young wetland system in an ancient Jordan river delta. Because it is relatively new, we have many examples of much older managed wetlands to learn from. We have the fortune of knowing what is headed our way and how to prevent it from advancing if we act now. In the short term, Phragmites invasion on mudflat immediately changes excellent habitat to something of little to no value to most species. In the long-term, it is unknown whether Phragmites invaded mudflat can be reverted back to mudflat since there is substantial above and belowground biomass production and accumulation each growing season. If it is possible to restore mudflat, it would require physically removing litter buildup on the playas -- at a minimum. Depending on the areal extent, removal of the litter could be cost prohibitive and finding a place to relocate the litter would prove difficult. Additionally, the standing stock and belowground root mass would need to be left to decay, which could take a very long time in the frequently dry mineral soils. For these reasons, we need to avoid losing our mudflats to Phragmites.* Other wetland types that have accumulated organic soils and are wet most of the year are less vulnerable to long-term habitat loss to Phragmites because once the canopy is opened up after control methods, other vegetation is able to germinate and grow while the remaining belowground Phragmites biomass degrades in time. The challenge of saline mudflats is keeping all vegetation to a minimum, even the salt tolerant pickleweed. A second high threat and risk to the success of the sanctuary is water consumption by invasive woody vegetation (tamarisk) and Phragmites. Tamarisk consumes very large quantities of water per day (up to 200 gal per mature tree) via evapotranspiration and Phragmites has a high water demand as well. With predicted declining precipitation trends due to a changing climate and increasing water use demand, we need to proactively manage the preserve to conserve water for wetland habitat by removal and control of these two invasive species. A third considerable risk to the sanctuary is Russian knapweed. Russian knapweed is rampant throughout the northwest quadrant of Salt Lake City, and if left unchecked at the sanctuary, we stand to lose valuable upland habitat for an assortment of rodents, mammals, snakes, jackrabbits, pronghorn, deer, coyote, and birds. Forage for many of these species would be reduced as native and naturalized, grasses and shrubs would be displaced. Our uplands are important nesting grounds for Long-billed Curlew as previously mentioned (not ranked in the WAP but may be locally at risk from increasing disturbance from encroaching development of the Inland Port), Burrowing Owl (S3B, N4B, N4N), and nesting waterfowl. We have observed a decline in both Long-billed Curlew and Burrowing Owl in recent years. If left unchecked, restoration of Russian knapweed areas would be possible but very costly. *We are not in favor of the use of heavy equipment such as a marshmaster on our playas. The playas are considered geologic relics of the ancient Jordan River delta and would be altered irreparably by compression and track disturbance.

Gillmor Sanctuary Management and Conservation Plan: Overall goal is to provide the natural diversity of wetland habitat to support the ecological requirements for all species of birds that occur on Great Salt Lake with a focus on shorebirds. Adaptive management will be the tool to attain a continuum of diverse habitats: 1) adaptively managing the vegetation/lack of vegetation in each WMU based on target acreage set for each Unit; 2) adaptively managing water to provide dynamic varying water depths and to make the timely availability of a macroinvertebrate foraging base for shorebirds. Tamarisk management: Extensive progress has been made in opening up the landscape by treating and pulling tamarisk. Continued efforts will conserve shorebird and other wildlife habitat for the long term at the Preserve. Phragmites management: An integrated approach toward controlling Phragmites typically shows favorable results. One of the most critical elements of successful control of Phragmites is monitoring results of the control efforts and applying follow up treatment for the long term. Further, monitoring should include a long-term focus on the recovery of the mudflats that have been invaded by Phragmites. Being aware of the many techniques that have been implemented in an attempt to control Phragmites is important in determining the best strategy at the Preserve. Understanding the consequences that may have negative impacts on sensitive habitat and the feasibility of various techniques will help design the most appropriate strategy that is also sensitive to the land. Conservation of mudflat habitat at the Preserve by restricting new outbreaks of Phragmites and controlling current stands is paramount in managing the Preserve. Russian knapweed: has become well established throughout the Northwest Quadrant and has spread into the South Shore area. Russian knapweed seeds are viable for up to three years and spreads rapidly by root buds, which outcompetes other species of plants for nutrients and can perpetually overtake the land if not monitored regularly and treated. Additionally, Russian knapweed uses biochemical aggression, or allelopathy, which increases its ability to infest areas. Control for all three priority invasive species are called for in the Gillmor Sanctuary Management and Conservation Plan. The threat of loss of saline mudflats and sparsely vegetated shorelines will be abated by controlling Phragmites and tamarisk saplings. The threat of loss of native grasses and shrubs in Gillmor Sanctuary uplands is heightened by both tamarisk and Russian knapweed invasion. Controlling outbreaks of both will abate the threat of habitat loss for shorebirds and waterfowl. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Habitat Management Plan is in the process of being updated but outlines: emphasis on priority birds including shorebirds, adaptively managing vegetation to maintain target shorebird and other waterbird habitat. Interestingly, the plan includes silt management details that parallel Gillmor Sanctuary water management strategies for conservation of shorebird habitat: The silt is not only high in nutrients, but can bury highly saline soils, thereby "freshening" soils and providing optimum germination and growth conditions of nondesirable emergent plant species such as cattail and Phragmites. Excess silt levels can smother aquatic plant seeds and larvae of aquatic invertebrates. While the BRMBR Habitat Management Plan objectives for shorebird habitat management are to avoid burying and freshening saline flats by silt deposition, which improves conditions for and promotes the growth of undesirable invasive emergent plants, it parallels the Gillmor Sanctuary objectives. At Gillmor, controlling invasive emergent vegetation reduces organic sediment build-up from above and below ground biomass, thus the threat of changing habitat conditions, and the threat of habitat loss for shorebirds and waterfowl is abated. GSL Management Plan: FFSL: Invasive Weed Program DNR: maintenance and management of wildlife management areas Division of State Parks and Recreation: manages Antelope Island State Park - all programs have objectives to manage invasive vegetative species, namely Phragmites. The proposed project will contribute to the collective effort to control the #1 threat to managed habitat of Great Salt Lake.

Reduction and eventual eradication of tamarisk would substantially reduce fuels and localized wildfire fire hazards. Both Golden Eagle (M) and Ferruginous Hawk (M) are also listed under L3 Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Severity under L2 Fire and Fire Suppression. No major wildfires have incurred since the initial property donation to the sanctuary in 1992. However, the stand of tamarisk we propose to treat extends well to the east of the sanctuary on privately held and other land and there is an abundance of cheatgrass throughout from poorly managed grazing practices. We have observed a notable increase in local fires as close as the Salt Lake International Airport with increasingly hot, dry and windy summer months, posing a risk to our upland habitat that supports these birds.

Gillmor Sanctuary lies directly adjacent to and uses water sourced from the lower Jordan River. The Goggin Drain carries overflow from the lower Jordan River along the southern boundary of the sanctuary out to Great Salt Lake. During high flood events, the Goggin overflows its banks and runs through the sanctuary. Water used to manage the sanctuary flows from the Northpoint Consolidated Canal, also sourced from the lower Jordan River. Currently, the lower Jordan River is designated as impaired for dissolved oxygen (DO) and other parameters including dissolved copper, E. coli, OE bioassessment (observed versus expected macroinvertebrate community), Total P, and total dissolved solids. We have been monitoring wetlands within the sanctuary for shorebird (and other waterbird) use, DO and macroinvertebrates and have documented good water quality in the areas we currently manage with water based on shorebird use, DO, and a diverse macroinvertebrate community (including species that are intolerant of poor water quality). "Water quality standards associated with this beneficial use protect warm water fish species and other wildlife that depend on an aquatic environment (waterfowl, shorebirds, and the aquatic organisms in their food chains). DO in surface water is used by all forms of aquatic life and is a critical measure of water quality and ecological health" (Jordan River DO TMDL Research Synthesis 2020). The shallow basins of our wetland system (playas) provide much more surface area for water to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere then when it is in a channelized system, and aquatic organisms (microbes, phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, macroinvertebrates) quickly establish an ecosystem. Biochemical cycles associated with the aquatic life, particularly biological oxygen demand, oxygen production, and nutrient cycling, are supported and the quality of the source water vastly improves. Wetlands are known to be important for water quality improvement and habitat for aquatic life. These improvements tie into beneficial use support for wetlands of Great Salt Lake. The donated land carries most of the tamarisk and a large part of the Russian knapweed to be addressed, and there is a small portion of Phragmites as well. As mentioned above, tamarisk is known to consume very large quantities of water per day (up to 200 gal per mature tree) via evapotranspiration; Phragmites has a high water demand as well. Once we reduce the water demand by controlling tamarisk and preventing Phragmites from invading the large playa in the 413 ac, the playa wetland will have higher water storage capacity and will be better suited to provide high quality habitat for shorebirds just as our other water management units do. Two habitat requirements of shorebirds are open landscape allowing good visibility of oncoming predators and open (mostly unvegetated) shallowly flooded mudflats providing forage of macroinvertebrates within reach. For example, water that isn't too deep for standing shorebirds to prey on their food base. Herbicide treatment of cut tamarisk stumps will open the landscape adjacent to the wetlands providing security to shorebirds in the wetlands and adjacent uplands, and will reduce excessive water loss off the wetlands making it a more viable habitat to support macroinvertebrates for shorebirds and other waterbirds. By reducing the excessive water loss from tamarisk (and potential Phragmites) consumption, the natural hydrologic storage capacity of the playas will increase and it will be feasible to prevent the wetlands from drawing down too quickly. If the water draws down too quickly, there is massive macroinvertebrate mortality and the habitat quality and area becomes significantly reduced.

Not applicable - we are not disturbing the soil, thus will not be unearthing cultural resources, we will not be dredging or filling wetlands; a private contractor conducted a Phase 1 environmental analysis of the donated land and there were no risks found.

Survey for and map all three priority invasive species prior to treatment for baseline; establish photopoints and photodocument; tamarisk: cut stump and herbicide, retreat re-growth in previously treated areas; Phragmites: spray in July, winter mowing where needed; Russian knapweed: spray after first freeze; collaborate with partners, making management decisions transparent update and develop adaptive monitoring and management plan for subsequent year.

Monitoring will be conducted by on the ground surveys for known and new population outbreaks. any identified populations of our three priority invasive species will be mapped using Avenza software and tablets. Polygon data will be stored in a GIS database and used as baseline benchmark and documentation of our progress. Also important will be photodocumentation of standardized photopoints in three representative areas of each priority species. Both survey and mapping and photodocumentation will be conducted on an annual basis.

Richard Mingo, Utah Reclamation and Mitigation Conservation Commission (UMC) - UMC has funded a substantial portion of the sanctuary through land purchase, water flowage easements, and water rights ($1,950,000) and contributes $40K / year towards our salaries to manage their properties; they are very supportive of our work and this project. Figure 1 shows a total of 19 land transactions to date that altogether include land and water managed as the South Shore Preserve, which includes Audubon Gillmor Sanctuary and Mitigation Properties. Land and water rights owned by the Conservation Commission are anticipated to one day be turned over to National Audubon Society as outright owner and land manager. Thus UMC is a truly vested partner that wants the Gillmor Sanctuary and adjoining South Shore Preserve to succeed. Funding from NRCS, UMC and two private funding sources collectively contributed $350,000 to design and construct a water delivery system at Gillmor Sanctuary. Colton Norman, Rio Tinto Kennecott, supportive of our managing their property as part of Gillmor Sanctuary as a legal lease, contributed $5K toward this project for invasive weed management of their properties. Jake Deslauriers and Greta Schen, Utah Conservation Corps, have worked with us over the last several years successfully controlling tamarisk on the sanctuary with their youth crews and have provided helpful guidance on this proposal. They have an excellent understanding of the sensitive nature of our land and birds. Keith Hambrecht, Forestry Fire and State Lands, is collaborating with us on treating Phragmites that borders on State Lands and on our property in the Lee Creek area with plans to move northward toward the sanctuary on UMC lands, he is very supportive of our proposed work and will continue to collaborate. Phragmites isn't just a threat at Gillmor; it threatens every parcel of the South Shore Preserve. We have been collaborating with Keith for two years, mapping and initiating treatment starting at Lee Creek ($17,905.00 spent FY2021, $35,489.00 planned for FY2022 on Lee Creek area up to the North Point Drainage, which crosses National Audubon Society land, UMC land, and Rio Tinto Kennecott land). A true collaboration and partnership. Amber O'Quinn, USU AmeriCorps Individual Placement (IP), very supportive of us hosting an IP on the project. We plan to have a youth crew member join our team to help identify and map new and known areas of infestation. The Gillmor project manager will mentor and supervise this individual and pair them with an intern from Westminster College. Jaimi Buttler, GSL Institute Coordinator, Westminster College, Very supportive of us have one of their students fulfilling an Undergraduate Research Project. This student will join the USU Americorps IP to help identify and map new and known areas of infestation. The Gillmor project manager will mentor and supervise this student in the field at Gillmor Sanctuary and Jaimi Butler will mentor both the IP and student on campus for production of GIS-based mapping and tracking treatment areas. Chris Brown, TNC and manager of Kennecott's Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve just south of the sanctuary, very supportive and interested in collaborating on management planning of our proposed work; also collaborating with Keith Hambrecht on Phragmites control at the North point outlet bordering Rio Tinto Kennecott and State Lands. Chris has been very successful in bringing Phragmites at the Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve back under control. Rich Hansen, owner Phragmites Control Specialists and manager of Ogden Bay WMA, Harold Crane - currently treating a portion of Phragmites on the sanctuary with very good results and knows how to work on our sensitive the soils and topography, very supportive and helpful in forming management planning efforts for our weed management.

Phase I includes a management planning effort for subsequent years that will address progress or lack thereof in an adaptive manner. The management planning will include a summary of monitoring by on the ground survey and mapping that will track progress of the project from year to year by building a geospatially referenced database of year 1 pre-treatment areas to serve as a reference baseline for future comparison, planning for follow-up treatment of original areas and any newly identified areas, coordination with partners so that all information and management decisions are transparent, determine whether seeding would be beneficial for larger reclaimed Russian knapweed area(s) and most appropriate native seed mix*, plan resources needed to implement seeding if so. Prepare and submit appropriate progress / completion report by August 31. Phase 2 will survey and map of all existing tamarisk, Phragmites and Russian knapweed prior to 2nd year treatment, implement 2nd year spraying Phragmites with winter mowing where necessary, re-treatment of new tamarisk growth or treatment of individual plants that were missed the first year or discovered during Phase 1 surveys, re-treatment of new Russian knapweed growth or treatment of individual plants that were missed the first year or discovered during Phase 1 surveys, revisit project management plan and adapt as needed for Phase 3, continued coordination with partners. Prepare and submit appropriate progress / completion report by August 31. Phase 3 will survey, map and treat remaining and any new areas of the three priority invasive species (Phragmites, tamarisk, Russian knapweed) and determine level of need for following year / Phase 4, Implement seeding large reclaimed Russian knapweed area(s) if timing is appropriate or wait for Phase 4., update management plan to reflect the needs, continued coordination with partners to assess progress and best management planning for adaptive management and monitoring phase (Phase 4). Prepare and submit appropriate progress / completion report by August 31. Phase 4: continue monitoring by surveying and mapping remaining priority invasive species, implement long-term adaptive management and monitoring phase including spot treatment of existing priority invasive species, coordinate with partners to assess progress and need for changing adaptive management approaches. Prepare and submit appropriate progress / completion report by August 31. * Seeding would take place only on tax exempt land that prohibits grazing, therefore no grazing rest agreement would be required. However, it may be determined that trespass grazing is unavoidable and seeding would have a negative return.

Gillmor Sanctuary is a sanctuary for shorebirds and other wildlife and as such, is not open for public use. However, we regularly conduct stakeholder tours (including policy decision-makers) for environmental and conservation causes (importance of water quality and quantity for GSL wetlands and wildlife, protecting conservation lands and wildlife, protection from disturbance issues related to encroaching industrial development, etc.), research to broaden the understanding of saline wetlands systems and their management, sharing of the knowledge we gain with potential future collaborations, and education outreach.