The ecological site description for the Valley Mountains (Lone Cedar) project has both Lowland sagebrush and Mountain Sagebrush with an average annual rainfall of 13-16 inches. This once diverse and productive sagebrush ecosystem has been almost completely filled in by encroaching pinyon and juniper trees. Although pinyon and juniper is a vegetational state within the state and transition model for Mountain Sagebrush, the area is being dominated by this climax community and the area lacks desirable grass, forbs and shrubs putting the ecological health of this site at risk. The need of the project is: 1. Promote the growth of perennial understory species, increase species diversity, increase structural diversity, rejuvenate remnant stands of sagebrush and bitterbrush, and slow encroachment of pinyon/juniper to enhance conditions for critical mule deer winter habitat and improve year around habitat for several species of wildlife including but not limited to mule deer, elk, turkey and many shrub steppe birds. 2. Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fire by breaking-up fuel continuity and reducing hazardous fuels in the area. A hazardous fuels reduction treatment would remove encroaching pinyon and juniper, suppress cheatgrass invasion, and restore perennial understory diversity. 3. Clean and install Bentonite in a existing pond to increase the water use and decrease water loss through seepage into the soil. This will allow for improved water storage of winter snow run off along with seasonal rain storms. The two ponds are critical for wildlife populations along with livestock grazing. Removal of pinyon/juniper encroachment within historic sagebrush communities combined with the thinning of pinyon/juniper throughout the project area will help reduce competition for resources allowing more precipitation and other vital resources to promote understory growth. In addition, thinning of pinyon/juniper as a hazardous fuels reduction project will decrease the threat and catastrophic effects of a wildfire throughout the area. This will help promote long-term stability of soils leading to less erosion (wind and runoff) and protect water quality throughout the watershed. Areas that become dominated by by pinyon and juniper out compete understory herbaceous species and leave bare soil prone to erosion. This herbaceous vegetation is important to reducing overland flow and reducing soil loss. Pinyon and juniper dominated sites can intercept 10-20% of precipitation (Horman et al., 1999). By completing this project this will allow more precip to contact the soil and get into the water table. Treating areas of lower densities will prevent a future situation as described above. According to Folliott 2012, research showed that pinyon and juniper expansion into areas historically dominated by higher forbs and grasses impeded stream flow for off-site uses. Because pinyon and juniper is very competitive for water this often reduces grasses and forbs within the 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 load, decreases water yield and water quality within the watershed. Studies have shown that an evaluation of alternatives using conversion treatments to enhance stream-flow in the pinyon and juniper should be made (Barr, 1956) where possible. It could be thus assumed that by completing the pinyon and juniper removal project that more water will enter the soil profile and streams, wet meadows, and springs will continue to flow and have the potential to increase flow. The area in and around the project site has been identified as being critically important mule deer habitat and the area has been identified in the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan as being a "priority for restoration of crucial mule deer habitat" (Utah Statewide Mule Deer Managment Plan, 2014). Lone Cedar treatment is located entirely within a UWRI focus area and is adjacent to multiple previous UWRI funded projects. The private land adjacent to the project have been previously treated by the landowner. This project will help aid in there efforts along with several other adjacent WRI projects to create a larger more productive footprint. The project (Lone cedar Phase I) that was proposed last year and did not get funded. We received 70K of year end money from the BLM to go towards arc clearance. The arc clearance will be completed spring of 2021 hopefully with funding this year we can implement Phase II in Fall of 2021.

1) Maintain or improve vegetative diversity and age class structure. 2) Re-establish frequency of grasses to 25%, forbs to 10%, and shrubs to 20%. 3) Restore percent canopy cover of grasses to 15%, forbs to 5% and shrubs to 20%. 4) Reintroduce healthy, viable, perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs on critical mule deer and Elk winter range. 5) Decrease hazardous fuels by removing 95% of standing pinyon and juniper. 6) Reduce pinyon and juniper density. 7) Reduce sedimentation through erosion into Sevier River drainage. 8) Clean and install bentonite in existing pond.

Ecological Threats: This project focuses on juniper removal as a means to mitigate threats to critical Mule deer summer/winter range, elk winter range. Sagebrush habitat is at risk of being lost due to excessive pinyon and juniper, wildfire, and high potential for invasive vegetation. High severity wildfire could lead to an Increase in cheatgrass and loss of perennial native species. This project will decrease the risk of high severity wildfire by reducing fuel loading and promoting the growth of perennial understory species which are critical to maintaining ecosystem resilience. This project will increase the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities. As stated earlier the dominant vegetational state is pinyon and juniper woodland. A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states. A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife 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 its resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and heal after a disturbance. Numerous projects have been implemented in the area with more planned to be implemented in the near future. The combination of all these projects are in effort to increase the pace and scale of implementation to help disperse browse pressure for both wild and domestic ungulates. Ground surveys and site visits have allowed us to see the lack of understory plants in both the mountain sagebrush and lowland sagebrush. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ encroachment continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. Some areas within the project have lost a majority of the understory sage/grasses/forbs, but other areas have not. One of the greatest threats to the area is no action. This would facilitate the continued loss of understory from those areas that have some sagebrush/grasses/forbs understory left and the immediate conversion of sagebrush to cheatgrass following the next wildfire. This will continue to be "poor" habitat and range for ungulate animals as well as Livestock. Species Threats: This 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 area to move into phase 2 and 3 pinyon and juniper encroachment will mean less quality habitat to meet mule deer objectives. Elk and Mule Deer: The Lone Cedar area of the Valley mountain range is very important for mule deer and elk. From higher to lower elevations elk and deer depend on the habitat with it's available forage and cover to complete their life cycle requirements. This project will greatly improve available forage for elk and deer populations. Treatments patterns will play an important role within the treatment implementation. One of the primary objectives of this project is to improve habitat for elk and deer. Winter range improvements from this project will benefit elk and deer populations for decades to come. Future monitoring and maintenance of the project will be essential to prolong the integrity of the treatment and health of big game populations. It has been said by land managers, biologist, and researchers familiar with the project area that this area is very important because Mule Deer are space limited here, meaning available habitat and water seem to be the limiting factor for population growth. As habitat is made available by doing this project we are addressing an immediate threat to one of the primary limiting factors for this population. Wild Turkey: Vegetation improvements from the treatments will enhance foraging opportunities for wild turkey. Increased grass and forb production will increase insect use in the newly seeded areas. Domestic Livestock: As treated areas are allowed to establish from seeding and sufficient rest from livestock these sites will produce additional AUM's for the allotments. Allowing livestock to enter the treatment areas before new seed establishment will greatly minimize the integrity of the treatment. Annual operating plans will be in place to reflect the timeline for resting the treatment areas from livestock. Social/Political Threats: The project area also provides important recreational hunting for the local population and people travel from all over the state (and from other states) to hunt on the nebo unit for elk, and mule deer. The highly sought after hunting opportunities within the project areas provide a financial boost to local economies in several ways. Continuing to do work to maintain the habitat in this area will help to perpetuate the recreational and economic benefits. 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 parnters 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.

The project falls within the Central Mountains, Nebo unit management plan. Current winter range surveys show that mule deer winter range in this area is poor. This unit identifies habitat as a limiting factor and states that "P/J encroachment on traditional winter rangelands is decreasing diversity and vigor of browse plants." and then identifies as a habitat management objectives: *Winter range restoration efforts must be completed for this deer herd to reach its population objectives. Pinyon and juniper reduction treatments and sagebrush restoration are necessary to stabilize winter range conditions and allow this herd to withstand heavy winters. *Continue to be committed to the statewide goal of supporting habitat projects that increase forage for both big game and livestock. Discourage the encroachment of Pinyon and Juniper (PJ) trees into sagebrush and other habitats. Seek opportunities to improve habitat through grazing practices and mechanical treatments to improve habitat where PJ encroachment is occurring. The plan also identifies barriers to acheiving unit management objectives: *Degradation of rangelands by woody vegetation. The proposed treatments will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit by removing PJ and improving habitat for deer and elk. The project also helps fulfill the state mule deer management plan section IV Habitat Goal: * Conserve and improve mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. The proposed projects will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: *Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. *Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. CENTRAL UTAH FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN (FMP): *Greater use of vegetation management to meet resource management objectives *Hazardous fuels treatments will be used to restore ecosystems; protect human, natural and cultural resources; and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities *Sagebrush steppe communities will be a high priority for ESR and fuel reduction to avoid catastrophic fires in these areas Federal Land Policy and Management Act *Sec. 102 (a); the public lands be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals *Sec. 103 (c); The BLM is directed to manage public lands in a manner that will best meet present and future needs of the nation. Richfield Field Office RMP *Manage for a mix of vegetative types, structural stages, and provide for native plant, fish, and wildlife habitats. * Sustain or reestablish the integrity of the sagebrush continuity, and quality of habitat that is necessary to maintain sustainable populations of sagebrush-dependent wildlife species. BLM Grazing Management Regulations: *Objectives are to promote healthy sustainable rangeland ecosystems; to accelerate restoration and improvement of public lands to properly functioning condition *Maintenance and enhancement of habitats to promote the conservation of Federal proposed, Federal candidate, and other special status spec. Wildlife Action Plan Improving Conditions Lowland Sagebrush: *Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the Uncharacteristic class, including cutting/mulching/chaining of invading pinyon and juniper trees, herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such as cheatgrass and secondary perennial weed species, and rehabilitation of burned areas following wildfire. *Continuing the development of new plant materials and restoration techniques suited to this habitat. *Developing and deploying techniques to diversify the understory species composition and age classes of decadent even-aged sagebrush stands. *Developing and deploying techniques to diversify species composition in monoculture or near monoculture stands of seeded non-native plants (e.g. crested wheatgrass). *Promoting management that includes seeding a diversity of grasses, forbs and shrubs that will lead to increased resiliency and resistance in the plant community. Mountain Sagebrush: Improving Condition *Promoting policies and management that allow fire to return to a more natural regime. *Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife. *Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the Uncharacteristic and surpluses of older age class, including: Dixie/chain harrow, brush mowing or other treatments that reduce the older age class and stimulate the younger/mid age classes; herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such smooth brome; single tree mulching/cutting of invading conifer. *Continuing the development of new plant materials, especially native forbs. *Promoting zoning/policies/laws that lead to responsible human/energy intrusion and development. *Promoting management that includes seeding a diversity of grasses, forbs and shrubs that will lead to increased resiliency and resistance in the plant community. Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan *Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species. *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. *SITLA Management Plans: Correspond with the Utah Code Title 53C Chapter Five Section 101, 102 and 103 in accordance with Management of Rangeland Resources Utah Administrative Code R850-50-1100 Range Improvement Projects within the SITLA Property. Sanpete County RMP *Support the removal of conifers and manage land to promote the establishment of attendant grass, brush, and forbs. *Sanpete county encourages federal and state agencies to adopt and maintain scientifically sound forest management policies based on high quality, recently acquired data, and to pursue multiple use of public forest resources to provide sustainable and continuous yield of timber, forage, firewood,wildlife, fisheries, recreation, and water. *Support managing forest cover types to perpetuate tree cover and provide healthy stands, high water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat. *Support agencies in providing for harvest of forest products when the activity would improve water production and does not adversely affect water quality. *Support the management of forests and woodlands for healthy conditions that contribute to healthy habitat for animal and plant species, proper watershed functioning conditions, and riparian restoration and enhancement. *Support agencies in prioritizing fuel reduction treatment in high-value/high-risk areas. Implementation of fuels management actions should be prioritized using the following criteria: *Wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. *Areas with fuel loading that could potentially result in the loss of ecosystem components following wildland fire. *Support the prioritization of using native seeds for fuels management treatment based on availability, adaptation (site potential), and probability of success. Where probability of success for native seed is low, desirable non-native seeds may be used to trend toward restoring the fire regime. When reseeding, use fire-resistant native and desirable non-native species, as appropriate, to provide for fire breaks. *Hazardous fuels reduction treatments should be used to restore ecosystems, protect human, natural, and cultural resources, and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities. *Support the reduction of fuel loading conditions in forests and woodlands.

The majority of the area is at moderate to extreme on the fire risk index. Pinyon and juniper trees have expanded and moved into areas once dominated by shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Without this project, fuel conditions are such that a wildfire may be difficult to contain, leading to an increased risk to firefighter and public safety, suppression effectiveness and natural resource degradation. Fire Regime Condition Class within the project areas is predominately FRCC 3 which is where fire regimes have been extensiviely altered and risk of losing key ecosystem components from fire is high. Treatments identified within this proposal, including seeding with more fire resistant vegetation, would help reduce hazardous fuel loads, create fuel breaks, and reduce the overall threat of a catastrophic wildfire which could impact the community's of Scipio, Gunnison, Fayette and outlying residential properties and infrastructure. Treatments in and around the sagebrush areas would break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of wildfire entering these sensitive areas. Removing pinyon and juniper in a mosaic pattern would also break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of a high intensity wildfire. Because there is a geater risk of conversion of shrublands to annual grasslands under a high intensity fire, managed, pro-active treatments proposed would reduce the likelihood of cheatgrass invasion and help perennial grasses and forbs persist long-term to create a more resilient landscape. The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy currently guides fire and fuels management for Utah BLM. The strategy encourages collaboration among all stakeholders and across all landscapes, using best science, to make meaningful progress towards the three goals of: 1) resilient landscapes; 2) Fire adapted communities; and 3) Safe and effective wildfire response. This project will address all three of these goals.

The project is located within the Sevier River 19 Water Quality Assessment Unit which includes west side Sevier River tributaries from Sevier Bridge Dam to Salina Creek Confluence. The condition of the assessment unit has not been determined because insufficient water quality data are available. The assessment unit drains into the Sevier River - 17 assessment unit which is listed as an impaired water due to violations for Total Phosphorus, Sedimentation, and Total Dissolved Solids. The Project would stabilize soils and reduce runoff and therefore would benefit the adjacent assessment unit. Completion of this project would reduce flooding and runoff from heavy rainstorms by depositing woody debris in the gullies to slow and hold back the water. Currently with the pinyon and Juniper on site there is a lot of bare ground available for erosion. By planting this treatment with a variety of grasses, forbs and shrubs the ground cover will be greatly increased, which will decrease the potential for erosion. Areas that become dominated by pinyon and juniper out compete understory herbaceous species and leave bare soil prone to erosion. This herbaceous vegetation is important to reducing overland flow and reducing soil loss. A recent publication by Roundy et al. 2014 (Pinyon-juniper reduction increases soil water availability of the resource growth pool. Range Ecology and Management 67:495-505) showed that phase 3 juniper removal can increase available moisture for more than 3 weeks in the spring. And removing juniper from phase 1 and 2 stands can increase water from 6-20 days respectively. Because juniper are prolific water users they readily outcompete understory species which eventually die off. Removing juniper is critical for restoring sagebrush habitat and ecosystem resilience because of the water available to other species once they're gone. Most recent research (Kormas, et. al.) found that when shrub-steppe communities and grasslands convert to pinyon and juniper woodlands, the water cycle and local weather pattern is significantly altered. Snow deposition and the timing and magnitude of melt can alter delivery of water to the soil, which can then impact plant growth. This study found that more water is lost to evapotranspiration and snow melts earlier in pinyon and juniper than in sagebrush-steppe areas. The study concludes that sagebrush vegetation can effectively capture, store and deliver water and better sustain vegetation diversity necessary for ecological processes than pinyon and juniper dominated areas As stated earlier, areas that become dominated by by pinyon and juniper out compete understory herbaceous species and leave bare soil prone to erosion. This herbaceous vegetation is important to reducing overland flow and reducing soil loss. Pinyon and juniper dominated sites can intercept 10-20% of precipitation (Horman et al., 1999). By completing this project this will allow more precip to contact the soil and get into the water table. Treating areas of lower densities will prevent a future situation as described above. According to Folliott 2012, research showed that pinyon and juniper expansion into areas historically dominated by higher forbs and grasses impeded stream flow for off-site uses. Because pinyon and juniper is very competitive for water this often reduces grasses and forbs within the 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 load, decreases water yield and water quality within the watershed. Studies have shown that an evaluation of alternatives using conversion treatments to enhance stream-flow in the pinyon and juniper should be made (Barr, 1956) where possible.

BLM: Valley Mountains EA completed and signed July, 2013. Arc survey will be complete spring of 2021 with year end money received fall of 2020. Wildlife clearances will be completed prior to the 2021 fiscal year. SITLA: 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. Arc clearance on SITLA will be completed before Implementation.

Chaining: Approximately 1955 acres would be 2 way chained with an ely chain. Seed will be applied prior to the first pass of chaining. Currently there are 650 acres of decedent sagebrush mixed with phase 1 PJ, 810 acres of phase 2 PJ mixed with brush and some grass understory, 495 acres of phase 3 PJ with little to no understory left that will be treated. A few small Islands of pinyon and juniper would remain untreated throughout the unit, creating a mosaic pattern of treated and untreated vegetation. Before chaining begins on this treatment unit the area will be aerial seeded with a mix of native and non-native shrubs, grasses and forbs important for improving mule deer and elk winter range, and stabilization of soils. Pond: BLM will clean and secure this pond along with improving the pond site, compaction of the soil and development to help secure and increase water storage and improve the overall availability of the water for wildlife and livestock. BLM will furnish their own equipment that will include: Dozer, dump truck, and backhoe to construct and rebuild existing pond on the Allotments, WRI will provide the pond clay through the WRI Partnerships and the BLM will haul the clay to the sites clean and reseal the existing pond.

BLM: Vegetation and ground cover data will be collected using the line-point intercept method and nested frequency. Photos will be taken and a qualitative site condition assessment completed. This area is also a designated mule deer route for BLM wildlife biologist and is monitored yearly. This year, each BLM Field office will have 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. UDWR Annual aerial and ground mule deer counts and classifications.

BLM: Will be providing funding/planning/implementation support and is one of the project managers working closely with Scott Chamberlin on SITLA lands. UDWR: Kendall Bagley of UDWR is working as contributors and providing planning/implementation support, project design. SITLA: Scott Chamberlin has been involved from beginning of project and has assisted in planning, seed mix and design of project. Permitee's The project will be working with permitee's to ensure planning and implementation will be done to meet their objectives as well as agency objectives. Private Landowner: The adjacent private landowner has already completed several successful treatments that border the lone cedar project. He doesn't have a need for any additional work with Phase II but will be involved with future phases of the Valley Mountain project. He is very supportive and is also one of the permitee's that has agreed to the rest of the allotments.

BLM: This project area is within three grazing allotments (Lone Cedar, Hayes Canyon, Swedes Canyon) . All areas seeded will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons or until the seedlings become established and set seed. Once seeding establishment has been confirmed, BLM may authorize grazing according the Utah's Fundamentals of Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management (2007). Vegetation will continue to be monitored for utilization, cover and trend. Following the rest period, the current management plan will govern. If needed, grazing adjustments would be made in Grazing Allotment Plans and through the grazing permit renewal process. Future maintenance of projects to protect investments made by UWRI, BLM, SITLA, have been addressed and allowed through the project planning document (NEPA). Adaptive management has been allowed for in the NEPA documents. Many tools have been analyzed in the NEPA planning process to allow other methods in the future. Permitee: The permitees signed agreement that Lone Cedar project will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons.

The treatment will provide a variety of resource benefits, including a grazing management benefit. The Lone Cedar project is within the Livestock use on these allotments occurs between . The acres of the allotments within the project area are in mid to late seral stages with a static to downward trend due to even-aged, decadent sagebrush and encroachment and infilling by pinyon and juniper. Pinyon and juniper is out competing the shrub and herbaceous components thus reducing available forage for livestock and wildlife. The SITLA, and BLM administered lands are all part of grazing rotations. This project will have a big benefit to permittee's. Working across landownerships will have a greater ecological and economic impact for livestock producers. Rangeland conditions are expected to improve following implementation of the proposed vegetation project. The health, vigor, recruitment and production of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs would improve which would provide a more palatable and nutritional source of forage for both livestock and wildlife. This will aid in improved rangeland conditions throughout the allotment. Implementation of this project would eventually improve overall livestock performance (e.g. increased cow weights, increased calf crops, increased weaning weights, etc) and improve the economic stability of the permittees due to an increase in the quantity and quality of grasses and other herbaceous forage which are important to livestock grazing. The project area is used for big game and upland game species. This area is critical for general season mule deer, limited entry elk. The area is popular for dispersed camping, sightseeing, driving for pleasure, wildlife viewing and a overall heavy recreational use. Creating a more fire resistant and resilient landscape will add to a overall positive experience.

10/07/2021

12/07/2021

2022

October 7, 2021 : Aerially seeded 1955 (1878 BLM 78 Sitla) acres of grasses, forbs and shrubs with a fixed wing aircraft. Aerial contract was completed in 2 days. Chaining was completed Dec 7, 2021.

This phase of project was implemented to promote the growth of perennial understory species, increase species diversity, increase structural diversity, rejuvenate remnant stands of sagebrush and bitterbrush, and slow encroachment of pinyon/juniper to enhance conditions for critical mule deer winter habitat and improve year around habitat for several species of wildlife including but not limited to mule deer, elk, turkey and many shrub steppe birds. It was also designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fire by breaking-up fuel continuity and reducing hazardous fuels in the area. The hazardous fuels reduction treatment removed encroaching pinyon and juniper, suppressed cheatgrass invasion, and restored perennial understory diversity. October 7, 2021 Aerially seeded 1955 (1878 BLM 78 Sitla) acres of grasses, forbs and shrubs with a fixed wing aircraft. Aerial contract was completed in 2 days and contractor did a great job. We started chaining October 22, 2021 and Finished December 7, 2021. 1734 acres (1656 BLM 78 Sitla) out of 1955 seeded acres were chained due to arc sites, wildlife corridors being made larger and some unanticipated rock outcroppings. 2 D8 cats were used to complete chaining and chaining was implemented by BLM employees. Everything during chaining implementation went great and a dribbler on both cats were used with a mixture of Alfalfa and Four-wing saltbush. Chaining was completed on December 7, 2021 and both aerial and dozer contracts were let through WRI process and administered by BLM and UDWR personnel.

BLM is planning to do some pile burning in project boundary fall/winter of 2022/2023 to remove some bigger piles that were left while chaining. Project area will be monitored for vegetative trend, cover and wildlife use for the next 3 years. The project area will be rested from livestock for a minimum of 2 complete growing seasons in order to allow the seedlings to become established and set seed. This rest period may be extended if monitoring shows the seeding has not sufficiently established. Maintenance Lop and scatter treatment will be completed in 5-10 years if needed to remove all new saplings and smaller trees that chaining didn't remove.