The Indian Creek South Pasture project is phase 5 of a multiple phase project designed to treat up to 20,000 acres. The area is dominated by stands of various aged pinyon and juniper trees with young trees encroaching into areas of sagebrush steppe causing a downward trend in herbaceous cover. Some areas within the site have little remnant sagebrush, bitterbrush, forb, and grass component. The project area serves as important seasonal habitat for several species of wildlife including but not limited to mule deer, elk, and many shrub steppe species. In particular, this project is needed and proposed to re-establish healthy sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. High tree density also increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire, thus threatening the communities of Manderfield, and North Creek, Utah, and outlying residential properties. A catastrophic wildfire could also increase the risk of invasive species and erosion. Past phases of this project have proven successful in restoring early seral stages of vegetation, decreasing erosion, improving species diversity, functional plant compositions, improving rangeland conditions for mule deer, elk, and livestock. As well as benefitting many other wildlife species. The project shares a fence line with private property that has irrigated alfalfa fields. Wildlife depredation issues are on going and this project is expected to help alleviate some of the problems, as past phases have been successful at achieving this goal.

1)Restore and enhance 2,439 Acres of Mule deer and elk winter range within the Beaver management unit. 2) Reintroduce healthy, viable, perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs on historical sage and mountain brush sites. 3) Re-establish frequency of grasses to 20%, forbs to 10%, and shrubs to 35%. 4) Restore percent canopy cover of grasses to 30%, forbs to 10%, and shrubs to 30%. 5) Decrease hazardous fuels by removing up to 95% of standing pinyon and juniper. 6) Reduce pinyon and juniper density. Maintain or improve vegetative diversity and age class structure. 7) Reduce sedimentation through erosion into the Beaver River.

The invasion of pinyon and juniper trees into areas once dominated by grasses, forbs, and shrubs increases the risk of losing key areas for mule deer, elk, and many shrub steppe species. The increase of pinyon and juniper also increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The risk of invasion of cheatgrass and rabbitbrush and loss of sagebrush after a wildfire could further impact critical habitat. High tree density also increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire, thus threatening the communities of Manderfield, and North creek. A catastrophic wildfire could also increase the risk of invasive species and erosion. Past phases of projects adjacent to this proposed project have proven successful in meeting objectives. However, as with any surface disturbing activity in sagebrush ecosystems, there is a low potential for weed invasion. BLM will aggressively treat any noxious weeds in the area if found. This project is adjacent to private property that's at risk of being developed and in turn we would loose critical wildlife habitat. By treating this area it would provide a place for these displaced animals to winter that has a high quality and quantity of forage.

Numerous management plans have identified the need for these projects. This project falls within the Beaver Mule Deer Herd Unit Management Plan (Deer Herd Unit #22). This plan was updated in 2015 and 22% of the acres are on BLM. Habitat management strategies listed as part of this plan include: 1) developing specific vegetative objectives and cooperation with federal land management agencies to remove pinyon juniper to maintain the quality of important deer use areas, coordinating with federal and state partners to improve fire resilience and work toward long-term habitat protection and preservation through agreements. This plan specifically calls out the need to reduce pinyon and juniper and to reduce wildfire within sagebrush step areas. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule deer (2008). Section IV Statewide management goals and objectives. This plan will address Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2013 (p11-12). Strategy C. Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that are being taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats. Strategy f. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages. Utah Elk Management Plan (2015) * initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve elk habitat with emphasis on calving habitat and winter ranges. * Remove pinyon-juniper encroachment into winter range sagebrush parks, summer, and transitional range mountain brush communities. The proposed project is consistent with the Southern Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan dated September 9, 2004, which states: Treat up to 12,000 acres with prescribed fire and mechanical treatments. BLM's Final Programmatic Environmental Report: Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Report, June 2007, The Fundamental of Rangeland Health (43 CFR 4180) and Utah's Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health which address watersheds, ecological condition, water quality and habitat for special status species, National Fire Plan (2000), Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 which state protecting forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands from unnaturally intensive and destructive fires. Utah Wildlife Action Plan (2015) Lowland sagebrush is a key habitat identified in the WAP WAP identifies inappropriate fire frequency as a threat to lowland sagebrush habitat. This project will reduce future fire risk and act as a fire buffer to adjacent higher risk areas. Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Utah (2005) Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 which state protecting forests, woodlands, shrub lands, and grasslands from unnaturally intensive and destructives fires Utah Wildlife conservation Strategy (2005)

Removal of pinyon and Junipers will reduce the risks of a catastrophic wildfire. This area is in critical deer and elk winter range where a large uncontrolled fire would most likely have short term and possible long term detriments to the wildlife in the area. This project would greatly reduce the risk of a large wildfire, and detour the growth of a surrounding fire. Our ojectives are to move it from class 2 and 3 back to functioning class 1 fire regime.

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 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 where there is a higher density of pinyon and juniper. 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 streamflow 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). 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.

Archaeological clearances are completed for the South Pasture portion and we will be including the Arc clearance for the out year North Wildcat (873 acres) in this proposal. NEPA was signed in May, 2013. Wildlife clearances will be completed prior to implementation and any concerns will be properly mitigated prior to treatment.

Pinyon, Juniper and decadent Wyoming and Black Sage, which currently occupy and are encroaching on the site will be removed with the use of an Ely Chain. Islands and corridors of pinyon and juniper would remain untreated throughout the unit, creating a mosaic pattern of treated and untreated vegetation. Before mechanical implementation, treated areas would be broadcast seeded with a mix of native and non-native shrubs, grasses and forbs critical to improving winter mule deer and elk range, and stabilization of soils. 873 acres of our year archaeological clearances is being proposed for following years project that is directly north of this proposed chaining. This area clearance will be for a mastication project.

Monitoring would consist of nested frequency and photo points. Information would continue to be collected from existing BLM and UDWR studies. Range monitoring is collected on each allotment on a periodic basis to monitor livestock and their associated impact. Monitoring data included both long-term studies and short term indicators. Long term monitoring would include nested frequency, cover and photo points to determine overall trend of the pasture. This area was brought to my attention by the Division of Wildlife resources as being a high priority area that has some serious on going big game depredation issues, elk and deer are in close proximity to private agricultural areas. Past phases of similar treatments have greatly reduced depredation issues on private agriculture fields. The Divisions Wildlife biologist will be closely monitory this area counting big game numbers using visual animal counts and pellet group counts. NRCS will conduct measurement of vegetation growth for 2 years after the treatment. A non-contracted grazing management plan will also be provide.

On a recent tour with representatives from Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife group, they said they are in support of our previous treatment in the area which is similar to this proposed project. Working closely with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to ensure layout and implementation of the project meets objectives and satisfies the needs of all the species impacted by the treatment. Consulted with Great Basin Research Center to compile the most appropriate species to include in the seed mix.

All areas seeded will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons or until the seedlings become established and successful. The pasture will be rested for two years. Once seeding establishment has been confirmed, BLM may authorize grazing according to 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 projects to protect investments made by UWRI/BLM have been addressed and are allowed through the environmental assessment .

This area is currently used from May 20th to July 20th by BLM cattle permitees. The forage quality and availability would greatly increase in the area after implementation of the project. Completion of this project would help distribute animal use over the area, which would reduce concentrated use in certain areas. This area is popular for wildlife viewing and hunting elk and deer for the public. Improving wildlife habitat and rangeland quality is important for the local community and Beaver County.

11/02/2022

04/26/2023

2023

D8 Dozers were rented from Wheeler Machinery and BLM employees operated these using an Ely chain to remove trees and brush and incorporate the seed which was aerially applied prior to chaining. Trees and sage brush were becoming old and decadent and it was decided to use this method to improve this sight for wildlife and livestock benefit. Seed was applied by Hammond Helicopter using fixed winged air craft in October of 2022. The area was then treated using two D8 dozers and an Ely chain. Project was partially completed in November and December and due to heavy and deep snow it was postponed until March 15th until conditions were acceptable. The project took an additional five weeks to finish chaining the seeded area and was finished April 26th, 2022.

Seed was delivered and application started November 2nd, 2022. Seeding was compled on November 3rd, 2022. The Chaining began with one set of D8 Bulldozers on December 6, 2022. Three weeks into the project the areas received a heavy amount of snow and it was determined due to conditions to post pone chaining until weather allowed for optimal condition. Chaining resumed March 15th, 2022. The chaining was completed April 26th, 2022.

The permittee will not graze the treated areas for two growing seasons. Upon the end of the two growing season the appropriate land management agency will discuss the grazing management determined by the recovery of the treated areas. Bureau of Land management employees will continue to monitor the treatment areas for the two growing seasons and establish some monitoring sites.