USFS Guzzlers
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Project ID: 5692
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2022
Submitted By:
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Project Manager: Pat Rainbolt
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northeastern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northeastern
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Description:
Replacement of 2 guzzlers that burned in recent fires and the addition of 4 new guzzlers
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Location:
USFS lands in Duchesne County, Utah at locations within the burn scars of the Dollar Ridge Fire (2018) and the East Fork Fire (2020).
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Project Need
Need For Project:
The Dollar Ridge Fire (in 2018 burned 68,000 acres) and the East Fork Fire (in 2020 burned 89,000 acres) consumed large amounts of higher elevation habitats in Duchesne County, Utah, with the majority of that acreage occurring on USFS lands. Each of these fires burned over a non-functioning, big game type guzzler. Both of the burn scars have been re-seeded and as the vegetation begins to re-establish, there is a need for water to support and distribute the influx of animals that will use these newly productive areas.
Objectives:
Project objectives are to:
1. Replace two non-functioning, big game guzzlers that were burned over.
2. Construct four new guzzlers within the burn scars at appropriate locations.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Existing water sources may experience over-use leading to the degradation of those sites. Congregating animals around water sources increases the spread of disease and can have a negative impact on the forage in the area.
Relation To Management Plan:
The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan
Habitat Objective 2:
Strategy b:
Work with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private
landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative
working groups to identify and prioritize mule deer habitats that are in need of
enhancement or restoration.
Strategy f:
Seek opportunities through the Watershed Restoration Initiative to improve aspen
communities that provide crucial summer habitat for mule deer.
The Utah Elk Statewide Management Plan
Habitat Objective 1:
Strategy b:
Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private
landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative
working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement
or restoration.
i) Identify habitat projects on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve
calving habitat.
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:
The two guzzler replacement sites will have construction occurring within the original footprint. The four new guzzler sites will require NEPA. UDWR can conduct cultural clearance at the sites summer of 2021.
Methods:
Guzzlers and aprons will be constructed by UDWR NER Staff. The holding tanks are 1800 gallon dome top "Boss" tanks. The aprons are 12' x 40' treated wood construction with metal roofing.
Monitoring:
Guzzlers will be monitored for wildlife use and maintenance needs by UDWR staff.
Partners:
USFS
Future Management:
Future 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:
Available water in the burn areas will be increased and use of the forage by wildlife will be better distributed.
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $69,800.00 | $0.00 | $69,800.00 | $7,000.00 | $76,800.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials and Supplies | Six guzzler tanks with delivery to Vernal Game Farm @ $6300 per | $37,800.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2022 |
| Contractual Services | 10 hours of helicopter time | $20,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2020 |
| Archaeological Clearance | UDWR Archaeological Clearance | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4,000.00 | 2022 |
| Materials and Supplies | Apron materials for six 12' x 40' aprons | $12,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2022 |
| Personal Services (permanent employee) | Construction by UDWR staff | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3,000.00 | 2022 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $69,800.00 | $0.00 | $69,800.00 | $7,000.00 | $76,800.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) | UDWR Archaeological Clearance | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4,000.00 | 2022 | |
| DWR-WRI Project Admin In-Kind | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3,000.00 | 2022 | ||
| Safari Club International | S026 | $29,800.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2022 | |
| Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) | S025 | $5,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2022 | |
| Sportsman for Fish & Wildlife (SFW) | S027 | $15,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2022 | |
| MDF Expo Permit ($1.50) | S053 | $15,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2022 | |
| RMEF banquet funds | S055 | $5,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2022 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| Elk | R2 | |||||
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| Elk | R2 | |||||
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| Elk | R2 | |||||
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| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
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| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
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| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
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| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
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Habitats
| Habitat | ||||
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| Aspen-Conifer | ||||
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| Aspen-Conifer | ||||
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| Mountain Meadow | ||||
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| Mountain Shrub | ||||
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Project Comments
| Comment | 01/25/2021 | Type: 1 | Commenter: Derrick Ewell |
| These new guzzlers and the replacement of the old ones will provide much needed water to many wildlife species in the area. With the recent Dollar Ridge fire, many acres of land that previously had little wildlife value, is now excellent wildlife habitat. These guzzlers will allow wildlife to better use this new and improved habitat. | |||
| Comment | 08/30/2022 | Type: 2 | Commenter: Alison Whittaker |
| Thank you for submitting your completion form on time. I have moved this project to completed. | |||
Completion
Start Date:
07/01/2021
End Date:
06/30/2022
FY Implemented:
2022
Final Methods:
Six guzzlers and apron materials were flown to six sites on May 24th 2022. Three of the guzzlers were built that day by UDWR staff. The other three were built by UDWR staff during June 2022.
Project Narrative:
UDWR staff purchased and bundled 6 guzzler/apron kits for this project. On May 24, 2022, 25 UDWR personnel from the Northeast region and Salt Lake office flew in all materials with a helicopter and built 3 of the 6 guzzlers that day in the Strawberry River area. During the month of June 2022, UDWR staff returned to the three sites in the Moon Lake area to construct the remaining three guzzlers. These new water sources will help better distribute wildlife use of the two burn areas and possibly reduce localized herbivory impacts to aspen regeneration in the burn scars.
Future Management:
Guzzlers will be monitored by UDWR staff for functionality and maintenance needs.
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
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