Utah's man-made waterfowl management areas are under a constant state of erosion due to the natural inflow and outflow of water and the wave action in large units. A Long reach track-hoe rental will be used to repair dike erosion. Also, when water enters Utah's waterfowl management areas from faster moving river systems, water velocity slows. As water velocity slows sediments drop out of the water and settle in the wetland. Sedimentation from this process impedes managers' ability to move water effectively. Long reach track-hoes can be used to clean sedimentation out of channels. Finally, we may use to long reach track hoe to install access bridges across deeper channels for hunting access. The demand for replacing and repairing infrastructure on these man-made wetlands is high. Additionally, a new Waterfowl Management Area was created on the Willard Spur. Managers have also worked diligently to improve waterfowl and upland habitat by increasing infrastructure that allows them to divert and control water more efficiently and effectively in order to create high quality habitat. Some of these habitat improvement projects have included new dikes, water control structures, and ditches or channels. Examples of such habitat improvement projects are the Fullenkamp and Teal Lake units at Farmington Bay; and two new units at Ogden Bay WMA's. The WMA's have also experienced increased traditional and non-traditional recreational use activities, further burdening the roads, dikes, and other infrastructure. Due to the increases mentioned above there is a need to increase capacity and efficiency of the Maintenance Crew. Therefore, we would like to use a portion of funding from this project to help maintenance crew hire a technician.

Objective # 1: repair or improve dikes on Northern Utah's WMAs. Objective # 2: clean sedimentation from channels and culvert inflows and outflows. Objective # 3: install small bridges across deeper channels for sportsman access. Objective # 4: use the long-reach for any other pertinent projects Objective #5: repair muskrat damage on all WMA dikes and roads Objective #6: install new water control structures where needed Objective #7: assist maintenance crew with other tasks as needed

If managers do not maintain or improve dike systems, dikes will eventually breach and managers will not be able to maintain appropriate habitat for waterfowl or access for sportsmen. If managers do not maintain or improve dike systems, access becomes difficult, impeding managers ability to manage the area. If managers do not clean sedimentation from channels water cannot be effectively moved into and out of the wetland, which will lead to poor habitat conditions. If managers do not provide appropriate sportsman's access across deeper channels, less experience sportsmen may get hurt on our properties.

This project relates to Waterfowl Management Plans Goals and Objectives to: 1. Protect the existing resources, wildlife, habitat, public use and capital improvements from deterioration. 2. To maintain, manage and enhance wetland habitat diversity for waterfowl, shorebirds and other wildlife associated with wetland habitats. 3 To restore and, when possible, upgrade and improve capital improvements found on WMA;s. 4. To maintain capital improvements found on WMA's. 5. To manage access (which includes managing vehicle and pedestrian access; & Managing year round recreational uses)

Not Applicable

This project has the potential to improve water quality by decreasing potential soil erosion into surrounding waters.

Not Applicable; This project does not need a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. This project will not affect any waters of the United States, we will not be adding any fill material to wetlands, and we will not be affecting any surrounding cultural resources. We will only be removing Fill material and repairing original dike footprints. Sedimentation will be stacked on the top edges of dikes, and will be dozed, graded, and planted when dry.

Our maintenance crew will operate the long reach track-hoe to clean channels, install bridges, and repair dikes. Repaired dikes and other areas where spoils have been stacked from channels cleaning will be graded and planted with an upland seed mix. The maintenance crew technician will operate all heavy equipment, under the supervision of the maintenance crew supervisor, in order to complete tasks as necessary.

We will monitor the WMA for future maintenance issues.

not applicable

Continued management and maintenance of these WMA's is imperative in order to protect and enhance the resource while providing the best recreational opportunities. The WMA's will be monitored for future maintenance issues.

This project will help insure continued protection and enhancement of Utah's wetland resources by maintaining and improving the infrastructure that is needed in order to provide quality habitat for wetland dependent wildlife. The project will also help enhance recreational opportunities for both consumptive and non-consumptive users by providing quality habitat for the wildlife people enjoy, and by improving access to these WMA's.

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

The Long reach track hoe was used to clean channels and the sediment was used to rebuild dikes. The full time maintenance crew members operated the machine when they had time. We also had cattle grazers that owed us for grazing and dedicated hunters operate the machine. Typically, the operator digs a channel down the middle of the dike and uses the dry material to make a dam to prevent the sediment from sliding back into the channel.

At Ogden Bay WMA, there were over 3 miles of channels cleaned. The sediment was placed on the dike to rebuild and enhance the existing dike. This took place in the Unit one secondary's and hadn't been done for decades. Now managers can move all of the water out of the secondary's to the north or south. We can also manage each impoundment individually from one another. There was also another 1/2 mile of channels cleaned on South Weber delta. The Long reach hoe was used to rebuild about 3 miles of dikes and cleaned channels on Turpin, Fullenkamp unit, state canal, east of Unit one, South Crystal dike and part of Miller unit.

Each WMA will continue to clean channel and rebuild dikes as needed in the future. The WMAs are located at the bottom of river systems, so the sediment will continue to fall out in the channels and ponds. The long reach hoe rental is making a huge difference on the WMAs, but will still need to be used each year to continue to make progress and keep the water flowing. We have hundred of miles of dikes and roads and channels.