Perennial pepperweed, tamarisk, yellow toadflax, russian knapweed, and russian olive, among others are invasive weeds species persisting at Stewart Lake WMA that if left unchecked will expand and compound density throughout the complex. Multitudes of wildlife species use Stewart Lake WMA which would benefit if these invasive weed threats were reduced and a more diverse and complex vegetative component were established. A multi-phase project is needed for a renovation in these identified areas to reduce these perennial weed species and create a more resistant and resilient ecosystem.

Annually treat invasive weeds through herbicide, mechanical, and seeding methods. Reduce perennial weed threat to a point where desirable perennial vegetation can be seeded and planted back. Inadvertently create "food plots" from annual crop seeding in renovation areas until perennial weed threat is low enough to proceed with desirable perennial seeding and planting. Create more beneficial nesting, brood rearing, and food source habitat for a myriad of wildlife species.

Areas at Stewart Lakes are in high threat of crossing ecological thresholds due to the abundant populations of invasive perennial plants (tamarisk, perennial pepperweed, dalmation toadflax, annual grasses, russian olive) and very little effort to combat their presence. Every year this trend continues makes renovation more costly and less effective. Fuel loads will be reduced adjacent to private landowners addressing risk of catastrophic fire event. This project will start the remediation process of decreasing invasive weed presence before future restoration would become much more difficult and expensive.

Stewart Lake WMA Management Plan (work in progress): project correlates to draft plan of "proper habitat maintenance with the WMA to benefit fish and wildlife" Pheasants Forever Mission Statement: "PF is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education, and land management policies and programs. The proposed project is also consistent with the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan by improving quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on crucial ranges by engaging broad vegetative treatment projects. This project is also consistent with Statewide Plans in regards to improving quality and quantity of forage and treating invasive weeds. Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan 2019-2069: project correlates to plan in which land managers "integrate monarch / pollinator conservation...identify target areas for monarch and pollinator habitat restoration" along with encouraging "pollinator friendly landscapes and landowners to voluntarily maintain diversified agricultural landscapes". USDA's Conservation and Management of Monarch Butterflies - project addresses "...management of landscapes to provide host and nectar sources from spring to fall" and "accelerate efforts to control nonnative invasive plant species..." The USDA's Conservation and Management of North American Bumble Bees states that "on more natural lands, management should focus on maintaining diverse assemblages of primarily native flora,such that flowers would be constantly available throughout the nesting season." Project is a successional component to other past WRI Projects on Stewart Lake: Stewart Lake Cattail Herbicide Treatment - Project ID 5351 - 2021 Stewart Lake Prescribed Fire Year 2 - Project ID 4880 - 2020 Stewart Lake Prescribed Fire - Project ID 4644 - 2019 Stewart Lake Wetland Vegetation Management - Project ID 3609 - 2017 Stewart Lake WMA Upland Game Habitat Development - Project ID 2910 - 2015

The proposed project will help reduce fuel loads over time by removing woody debris from invasive species including, but not limited, to tamarisk trees. Stewart Lake WMA is directly adjacent to local residential structures and the reduction of fuel loads will alleviate unexpected fire hazards and create a "fire break" near private landownership.

This project falls in line with the continued remediation of selenium contaminated water and ground sediments throughout the Stewart Lake WMA. The flushing and drying out of the wetlands, but also flooding and dry outs of the uplands (if feasible), will assist in the removal of oxidized selenium.

The project will follow all applicable compliance policies of UTDWR administered land. No formal NEPA required. There will be ground disturbance through the actions of mechanically treating invasive species, seeding using a no till range-land drill, and planting actions. An archaeology assessment on area will be conducted prior to start of fall 2020 ground disturbance practices.

Tamarisk has been shredded by skid steer bullhog method in Phase 1 but there is some debris and "whips" that need to be cleaned up. This can be achieved by slower execution by bullhog or flail mower. These tree cut areas will be targeted by an foliar herbicide treatment to follow up from initial spray of Phase 1. The perennial pepperweed and other succulant perennial and annual weeds will be treated with multiple foliar herbicide applications at opportune times in the growing season for maximum treatment. A no till rangeland with small grain seed box will be used to annually plant back a dry land (with some possibility of irrigation) cover crop and / or food plot to start and out-compete annual and perennial weeds. This will also enable a two pronged approach at weed control as annual broadleaf herbicide spraying will be able to proceed as annual small grain (and other species) cover crop is actively growing. After adequate reduction in perennial and annual weed species has been reduced for greater chance of success a perennial vegetation seeding and planting will occur. Follow up spot spray herbicide treatments will occur along with site monitoring to make next management decisions.

Monitoring actions will consistent with the "Applied Action Feedback Loop" system where every field action will have a monitoring action. Photo plots, line point intercept plots, basal canopy cover plots, wildlife observations recorded. Spring 2021: current site condition photos points established. Perennial pepperweed infestation recorded through vegetation survey. Summer 2021: Photos of site after 1st herbicide application at established photo points and uploaded into WRI database Fall 2021: Photos after and during 1st cover crop seeding action at established photo points and uploaded into WRI database. Spring of 2022: photos and vegetation surveys at established points and results uploaded into WRI database. Summer 2022: photos after herbicide application and uploaded into WRI database

Partners engaged in the project planning include UTDWR, Pheasants Forever, NRCS, and adjacent landowners. UTDWR is land owner and planner of project. UTDWR has contributed equipment, labor, technical service to project and is committed in project longevity and future phases. Pheasants Forever is main project and planner manager for this project and has contributed In Kind labor in terms of on the ground spot herbicide spraying, tree removal, seeding action, seasonal monitoring, and other actions. NRCS has contacted private landowners adjacent to project site and is working with these agriculture producers to potentially sign a EQIP application and contract with the NRCS for a similar project. Adjacent private landowner has land within 100 yards of project, has the same project site conditions of tamarisk and perennial pepperweed. NRCS has contacted landowner and went over cost share practices that would facilitate a similar project of tamarisk and pepperweed reduction, and made aware of WRI potential funding to offset costs that go beyond what the NRCS can cost share on.

Phase 1: 20 acres (COMPLETED: see Phase 2 below) Spring Monitor Site Spray with herbicide at first flush targeting all species in project plots. This would be April-May depending on weather and site conditions. Possible light disc action to break up, reduce dead litter and expose soil. Need mechanized boom sprayer and technician available within 1-week notice. Summer: Monitoring, herbicide and/or mow targeting all species but also targeting species that are more prevalent and which may have more specific and detailed suppression activities and timing (perennial pepper weed and others) Fall: Monitor Site Mechanically treat tamarisk and other invasive woody plants-mechanically cut and herbicide treat tamarisk Herbicide treat cut trunks and shoots. Spray to prep for winter annual grain seeding.Need labor ready when conditions are ripe. Could be anytime between September and December. Need to coordinate with fall moisture. Spray with glyphosate and / or broadleaf herbicide, seed with cover crop. PHASE 2: 30 acres Spring: Monitor Site Document germination, or lack thereof, of triticale. Determine if grain will be sacrificed with a non selective herbicide spray if invasive grass regrowth is a concern. Late Spring / Summer: Determine when to spray for tamarisk foliar and pepperweed, along with invasive grass spray. This could be a one event spray event using a tank mix with glyphosate along with other herbicides targeting pepperweed and tamarisk. Fall: Monitoring and spray actions. Spray action would be glyphosate and or selective herbicide pending species composition. Seed annual grain crop in October / November, after herbicide spray. YEAR 3 Spring: Monitor Site Site prep by herbicide spray. Annual spring grain seeding action, possibly add cheap annual "indicator forb species" along with grain such as lacy phacelia, fleabane, rocky mtn bee plant dependent on current non desirable species composition (knowing that seeded annual forb species will be terminated by following spraying action if surrounded by weeds). Some forbs should be left if herbicide sprayer is cognizant to shut off boom if they reach an area that is weed free. Summer: Monitor Site monitoring, watering, spot spraying Fall: Monitor Site Selective herbicide targeting perennial weed species and possible non selective (glyphosate) in conjunction. YEAR 4 Monitor Site One or two herbicide spray actions to prepare for Spring or Fall perennial seeding and planting action. YEAR 5 and subsequent years: Monitoring, spot spraying, prescribed burning, shrub plantings, ect...

Other sustainable uses are the recreational opportunities at Stewart Lake which this project will promote. Projected improvement of habitat diversity will attract more wildlife species and promote greater wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities. Prescriptive grazing can possibly be a tool to incorporate on invasive species management, including cattails remediation which has been proposed in the past.

07/01/2021

11/30/2022

2023

A wheeled machine was used by local contractor to mow off the leftover tamarisk whips and then they were treated with the herbicide Garlon 3, active ingredient triclopyr, at a rate of 1 quart per acre. The entire 30 acre project area was transected and spot sprayed. The mechanical and chemical treatments were applied in succession in late June. The project site was monitored during the summer and fall to assess the effectiveness of the treatments. It was determined that the treatments worked to control tamarisk whips, however a fall herbicide treatment was needed to control annual and perennial weeds such as kochia, Canada thistle, perennial pepperweed, and undesirable grasses. The contractor EcoPoint came on October 12th and completed the herbicide treatment that consisted of Makaze (glyphosate) at a rate of 1.5 quarts per acre, and Arsenal (imazapyr), at a rate of 1.5 quarts per acre. Methylated seed oil was used as a surfactant. This chemical treatment was applied to the whole project area of 30 acres and was implemented by a truck with boom sprayer. The 30 acres site was then drill seeded by a no-till seed drill and tractor by a local contractor with winter triticale at a rate of 75 pounds per acre on October 18th. This method is used to start outcompeting weeds, while providing food for wildlife the following year, while also allowing a broadleaf herbicide to be used the following year.

Stewart Lake WMA Uplands Renovation Project targeted areas on complex that have over abundance of invasive weeds and renovate these areas into a more complex and diverse vegetation composition to benefit ground nesting birds and other wildlife. Stewart Lake WMA is approximately 1 mile south of Jensen, UT directly adjacent to the Green River and roughly 10 miles east of Vernal, UT.

Stewart Lake WMA Uplands Renovation Project is starting to transition into a wetland and grassland setting without invasive trees and plants which is more conducive to ground nesting birds such as pheasants, quail, and waterfowl. Incorporating an adaptive management approach to continue this transition is vital to a successful project. Annual monitoring events will guide the process of combating invasive weeds and prepare the site for perennial plants. Annual weeds such as kochia need to be reduced before a perennial seeding and live plant plantings are prescribed, along with spot treatments of remaining perennial pepperweed and tamarisk. The tamarisk and perennial pepperweed has been reduced to 10% or less of original infestation. Canada thistle has also been documented in patches that will be targeted in subsequent years. Following phases will incorporate monitoring events, herbicide treatments, and annual grain seedings to reduce competition before the perennial seeding and planting. We predict that in Phase 5 of the project is when the seeding and planting will occur for the entire 30 some acres, with smaller sections seeded and planted in Phase 4 to act as an indicator of how final seedings and plantings should be installed (species selections and timing of installation).