Bookcliffs East Water Developments Phase 2
Project ID: 5687
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2022
Submitted By: 30
Project Manager: Pat Rainbolt
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northeastern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northeastern
Description:
Construction of nine new big game guzzlers and replacement of two non-functioning big game guzzlers
Location:
Eastern portion of Bookcliffs in Uintah County, Utah
Project Need
Need For Project:
The upper elevation area of the Bookcliffs in Uintah and Grand counties has become the focal point for improved management by multiple partners that comprise the Bookcliffs Working Group. Partners include UDWR, SITLA, BLM, NRCS, UDAF, Private property owners, Permitees, and Sportsman's Groups. This group has identified the limiting resources of the Bookcliffs area and developed projects that will benefit all users on the landscape. Water sources in the Bookcliffs big game summer and transitional ranges are limited and the few existing sources experience over-use. Over-use of existing water sources can lead to over utilization of the surrounding forage, animal disease, and degradation of the water source.
Objectives:
The Bookcliffs working group has identified water availability as a priority to address in the bookcliffs summer range area. Strategies, such as the identification and prioritization of areas needing additional water to allow for better animal distribution and forage utilization, were identified as methods to use to help improve the big game (mule deer and elk) summer range. Fulfilling this strategy will help improve mule deer and elk fawning and calving areas, helping those herds approach their management objectives for the Bookcliffs hunt unit. Project objectives include the construction of nine new big game guzzlers with 1,800 gallon tanks and a 12' x 40' apron for additional water collection. Two older, non-functioning guzzlers will also be replaced using the same design.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
The Bookcliffs Working Group performed an inventory of resources available in the bookcliffs summer range and the demand that is placed on those resources. The current permitted demand is almost equivalent to production on average years and during drought years, may exceed forage production. Increasing the number and distribution of water sources will help animals more effectively utilize forage across the landscape. This project will also lessen the degradation of existing water sources, risk of disease spread among congregated animals, and reduce the potential for over-use of adjacent range of limited water sources.
Relation To Management Plan:
This project was identified as a priority action in the Bookcliffs Working Group 5 Year Plan: Issue and Strategy #4: Water Availability a. Identify and prioritize areas needing additional water to allow for better distributions. b. Identify a 5 year plan for water developments. c. Propose at least two water development projects annually to the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative Water Development Fund and the Utah Grazing Improvement Program. Bookcliffs Bison Herd Unit Management Plan Habitat Management Goal 4. Discourage bison from areas with potential conflicts by improving range conditions in areas where conflicts do not exist. Bookcliffs Deer Herd Management Plan Habitat Management Strategy: Maintain and/or enhance forage production through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives.
Fire / Fuels:
N/A
Water Quality/Quantity:
Water quantity available for animal use will increase. Better distribution of animals may decrease erosion and sediment runoff around existing water sources.
Compliance:
Sites for the nine new guzzlers have gone through the BLM NEPA process and are ready for construction. Sites for the two existing guzzler replacements are within existing guzzler footprints and will not require NEPA.
Methods:
The Bookcliffs Working Group Action Plan identified strategies to increase water availability in an effort to help offset forage deficiency in the bookcliffs. Using these strategies will help address one of the biggest summer range habitat issues in the bookcliffs and help deer and elk herds in the area approach their management objectives. Guzzlers and aprons will be constructed by UDWR NER Habitat and Maintenance Staff.
Monitoring:
BLM range staff, SITLA range staff, private citizens and UDWR Wildlife, Habitat, and Law Enforcement staff regularly inspect and monitor water sources in the Bookcliffs for functionality and use.
Partners:
UDWR, SITLA, Vernal BLM, NRCS, UDAF, Private property owners, Permittees, and Sportsman's Groups.
Future Management:
Guzzlers will be monitored for functionality and use. Maintenance needs will be fulfilled by UDWR NER Habitat Staff. Future vegetation treatments may tie directly to this water development project where applicable.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Water in the Bookcliffs will be better distributed and use of the forage by wildlife and livestock will be better distributed.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$91,800.00 $0.00 $91,800.00 $5,500.00 $97,300.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Materials and Supplies 11 of the 1800 gallon "Boss" guzzler tanks delivered to Vernal Game Farm ($5,800 per tank and $3,000 per delivery for two loads of tanks) $69,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
Materials and Supplies Apron materials for the 11 guzzlers at $2,000 per guzzler $22,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
Personal Services (permanent employee) Construction by UDWR staff $0.00 $0.00 $5,500.00 2022
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$91,800.00 $0.00 $91,800.00 $5,500.00 $97,300.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
RMEF banquet funds S055 $5,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) $0.00 $0.00 $5,500.00 2022
Sportsman for Fish & Wildlife (SFW) S027 $6,512.50 $0.00 $0.00 2022
MDF Expo Permit ($1.50) S053 $6,512.50 $0.00 $0.00 2022
UDAF-Water Development Fund U095 $72,975.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
American Bison N4 R2
Threat Impact
Disease – Alien Organisms Low
American Bison N4 R2
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Domestic Livestock
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Elk R2
Threat Impact
Disease – Alien Organisms Low
Elk R2
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Disease – Alien Organisms Low
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Temperature Extremes Medium
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Habitats
Habitat
Aspen-Conifer
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Aspen-Conifer
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Gambel Oak
Threat Impact
Temperature Extremes Low
Gambel Oak
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Droughts High
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Project Comments
Comment 01/07/2021 Type: 1 Commenter: Miles Hanberg
Water development was identified as a high priority in the Book Cliffs Working Group action plan. Additional water is needed to help achieve desired distribution and management. This project will help with that.
Comment 01/13/2021 Type: 1 Commenter: Clint Sampson
One of our goals with bison management is to work towards distributing their impacts across the landscape. Water projects like these have shown to be effective in helping us accomplish this goal.
Comment 01/15/2021 Type: 1 Commenter: Miles Hanberg
I would suggest HC funding on this as well, in case GIP does not fund it.
Comment 01/29/2021 Type: 1 Commenter: Jimi Gragg
If you really think you're doing some good for extant wet spots that are getting pounded with over-use - are any of those available in the habitats menu? E.g., Emergent if a wet meadow around a spring, or both Riverine and Aquatic - Forested (I'm guessing due to elevation?) if it's down by the creeks. Just curious if you're missing something we want to track. Accurate crediting matters to the program. Thanks!
Comment 08/30/2022 Type: 2 Commenter: Alison Whittaker
Thank you for submitting your completion report on time. Don't forget to upload any pictures of the project you have of before, during and after completion.
Comment 01/12/2021 Type: 3 Commenter: Daniel Eddington
The funding source shows WRI Water Development. Those funds have been moved to the UDAF GIP program. If you would like to apply for those funds please work with the local GIP coordinator. Otherwise, please change to either Habitat Council or External Conservation Permit.
Completion
Start Date:
07/01/2021
End Date:
06/30/2022
FY Implemented:
2022
Final Methods:
Construction of nine new big game guzzlers and replacement of two non-functioning big game guzzlers in the summer/transitional range of the bookcliffs area.
Project Narrative:
During the summer of 2021, UDWR staff installed 9 new guzzler tanks and replaced 2 existing tanks. Sites were cleared with a mini skid-steer and tanks were set and leveled by hand. Tanks were allowed to over-winter to allow for any soil settling. During the spring of 2022, UDWR staff returned to each of the 11 sites to construct the 12' x 40' apron connected to each tank. The sites are located in the summer/transitional range of the bookcliffs and will help better distribute animals across the landscape, reduce localized over-grazing of vegetation, and improve/add additional water sources in the bookcliffs area.
Future Management:
Guzzlers will be inspected and monitored by UDWR staff for functionality and maintenance needs.
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
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