The upper elevation area of the Book Cliffs in Uintah and Grand counties has become the focal point for improved management by multiple partners that comprise the Book Cliffs 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 Book Cliffs area and developed projects that will benefit all users on the landscape. Water sources in the Book Cliffs big game summer range 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.

The Book Cliffs working group has identified water availability as a priority to address in the Book Cliffs 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 Book Cliffs hunt unit. Project objectives include cleaning out excess sediment, re-packing dams where needed, contouring spillways where needed, and relining 25 existing stock watering ponds.

The Book Cliffs Working Group performed an inventory of resources available in the Book Cliffs 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.

This project was identified as a priority action in the Book Cliffs 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. Book Cliffs 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. Book Cliffs 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.

N/A

Water quantity available for animal use will increase. Better distribution of animals may decrease erosion and sediment runoff around existing water sources.

The 25 existing ponds are located on SITLA and BLM surface. This project qualifies as a maintenance activity, does not extend beyond the original pond footprint, and will not require NEPA.

The Book Cliffs Working Group Action Plan identified strategies to increase water availability in an effort to help offset forage deficiency in the Book Cliffs. Using these strategies will help address one of the biggest summer range habitat issues in the Book Cliffs and help deer and elk herds in the area approach their management objectives. Pond clean outs and re-lining will be performed with a heavy equipment contractor that has experience performing similar projects.

Ponds will be monitored to ensure new construction and clean outs are successful.

UDWR, SITLA, Vernal BLM, NRCS, UDAF, Private property owners, Permittees, and Sportsman's Groups.

Ponds will be monitored for functionality and will be maintained as needed.

Water in the western area of the Book Cliffs will be better distributed and use of the forage by wildlife and livestock will be better distributed.

10/04/2021

10/29/2021

2022

A private contractor cleaned, repaired, and sealed 25 existing ponds in the bookcliffs area during the month of October 2022.

A local, private contractor with experience in pond maintenance was hired to clean, repair, and seal 25 ponds in the bookcliffs big game summer range. The work occurred during October 2021 when there was no/little water in the ponds. Ponds were excavated using a mini skid-steer and material was used to recontour the dam and spillway features to functional specifications. A mixer salt sealer (preferred by operators in the bookcliffs) was spread across the pond bottom to help seal and minimize seepage. These improved, existing water sources will help better distribute animals across the limited summer range of the bookcliffs and increase water capacity and availability in the area.

Bookcliffs operators and UDWR will monitor the ponds for functionality and maintenance needs in the future.