The need for this project is to replace old existing and worn out pipeline with the new HDPE Pipe, this project will tie into an existing pipeline within the East Fork of Eight Mile and continue to the Church Hills Allotment. This pipeline is critical for the overall function of the pipeline to continue, it will upgrade the existing pipeline, provide additional storage and functionality to the pipeline project. We would like to install one (1) new rubber tire or Backwoods Trough at the end of this pipeline to replace an older smaller capacity trough. In addition to this new pipeline five other existing troughs will be connected to this pipeline.

This project will provide additional water to livestock grazing allotments along with providing year round water source for wildlife on the Oak Creek Wildlife Management Unit. This project will partner with the UDWR, local Grazing Association, and Fillmore Forest Service to accomplish this task. Objective are to distribute additional water sources within the allotment allowing cattle to utilize the allotment more efficient. This will also allow additional water for wildlife to utilize during the year. The need to replace and maintain older pipelines is critical to making this project a success, upgrading the holding capacity for water by installing a new water trough is also a critical need within the Church Hills Allotment.

Threats to this project will consist of increased loss of water that can be utilized in this area, allowing for no water to be stored for wildlife species and livestock grazing within the allotment. Increased maintenance on the watering facilities and pipelines by the grazing association, allow for additional time and effort, loss of forage value in specific areas of the allotment due to over grazing, not distributing the cattle effectively enough can increase noxious weed species. By implementing and installing this pipeline, we can reduce the risk of overgrazing areas of this allotment, improve water quality and quantity for wildlife and livestock for better rangeland health and overall grazing management.

The pinyon-juniper and big sagebrush areas lie within the Lowland Sagebrush steppe habitat type which is one of the key habitats identified in the 2015 WAP. #1) The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit 21A (Oak Creek Unit ) including: Continue to improve and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to UDWRs Habitat Initiative. #2) Maintain habitat quantity and quality at a level adequate to support the stated population objectives while at the same time not resulting in an overall downward trend in range condition and watershed quality. #3) Work cooperatively with land management agencies and private landowners to plan and implement improvement projects for the purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat and range resources in general. #4) 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: #5) Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. #6) Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. #7) Objective 3: conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. #8) Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for Division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah. #9) Objective 2: improve communication with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners, and government agencies to obtain support for Division programs. UDWR SR critical big game winter range are important browse communities that need to be enhanced and improved. #10) The Division will employ a variety of methods to achieve this including prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, reseeding and seedling transplants, also mechanical treatments. Priority areas will include sagebrush-steppe and mountain browse communities. Falls within the rangeland focus area for WRI wildlife species for mule deer and elk. #11) This plan is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement and fuels management to improve habitat, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire. Other water enhancement projects have been completed by the Forest Service and UDWR in past years within the John Williams, Whiskey Creek, Ebbs Cyn and Upper Eight Mile HUC 12 areas. #12) Management Plans are also in conjunction with NRCS overall goals of healthy rangelands and communities, improving watersheds and reducing erosion and sediment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. #13)Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (HFI) identifies the following objective; reduce the risks severe wildfires pose to people, communities, and the environment. This project will further decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfire. #14) National Fire Plan (2000) The National Fire Plan provides national direction for hazardous fuels reduction. This direction emphasizes measures to reduce the risk to communities and the environment. *FFSL CWPP Process is a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative plan created by the fire department, state and local forestry, land managers, community leaders, and the public.The planning process maps values at risk, and requires actions to reduce risk, such as prescribed burning, fuel reduction, or other measures that adapt a community to better confront their wildfire threat. Area is also part of the Millard RWPP FFSL Plan which was implemented in 2014, there are Wildfire Codes and Ordinances associated with this plan. Project would also be relevant to NCS Goals and supported through the FS National Cohesive Strategies. CAT FIRE Objectives and Strategies: In 2013, the State of Utah developed the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (CAT FIRE) in response to the severe 2012 fire season. Reducing the catastrophic wildfire requires attention to three interdependent goals identified in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy -- Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Wildfire Response. These goals have been embraced throughout the development of the state's CAT FIRE strategy. Mitigation of hazardous fuels can change fire behavior making it easier to suppress. The effects of the mitigation, however, are not limited to life and property safety but will also affect forest health, water quality, vegetative species abundance, etc. As we continue to implement projects across the landscapes in Utah, the only way to truly be successful is to integrate existing programs, utilize local and federal partners and continue to educate the general public to create the desired shift towards more resilient communities and ecosystems.

Fire or fuels loading will not be a factor with this project, pipeline will be buried under ground, and not be effected buy a wildfire, although the chance of a fire could burn the watering troughs or cause damage to them of one does occur. Watering troughs will be made of galvanized metal and or large tire troughs that may withstand the intense heat of a wild land fire in this area.

This project will improve water quality and quantity due to the fact that we will be collecting water through a head box and delivering it overland through a pipe line will prove to be more efficient than allowing the water to run down a stream, collect sediment, debris and lose water due to evaporation. The quality of the water will be improved as it will be held in water troughs that will allow livestock and wildlife to drink clean clear water verse allowing water to be lost or made unavailable in a stock watering pond or overflow. Water Right is held by the Fillmore Forest Service, approval has been granted to complete this project. Water Right #67-980, UDWR project manager will consult with Eric Anderson on the this project before implementation can take place and coordinate with the Fillmore Forest Service Office.

Compliance of this project will be from the Fillmore Forest Service providing the details of the installation of the pipeline and the setting of the trough, Project Manager will consult with UDWR Archaeologist to conduce survey if needed within this project. Pipeline is scheduled to follow an existing pipeline and may not need NEPA or ESA clearances.

This project will be implemented with the help of the Fillmore Forest Service, UDWR, and Whiskey Creek Grazing Association to re-place a pipeline to deliver water to the Church Hills Allotment, we will tap into the existing East Fork pipeline. This pipeline will deliver water to 5 existing troughs all within Forest Service and BLM Properties. This will be done by the use of a D-8 Cat, which is set up to install and carry the spools of pipe, the pipe will be installed below the surface and ripped in with the dozer. This project will be installed within the Church Hills Allotment, the UDWR and Whiskey Creek Grazing Association will contract with a company that has experience working with this type of pipe and is set up with the proper equipment to have it installed. Permittees will help the contractor install the pipeline and watering troughs along with working along side the contractor to make sure the project runs smoothly. Fillmore Forest Service has looked at this project and is in favor of helping out the permittee to address the need of distributing water within the allotment. UDWR is also in favor as additional watering locations that will benefit wildlife populations of mule deer, elk, and wild turkeys within the Oak Creek WMU.

Monitoring of this project will be done by the Fillmore Forest Service, and the Whisky Creek Grazing Permittees, they will be able to inspect the pipeline, and the watering troughs to make sure all connections are tight and working properly. Also the permittees will be assigned to monitor the collection box or spring development and remove any sediment that may effect the pipeline, water will be turn off in the fall allowing for the pipeline to drain and not freeze. Grazing Permittee, and the Forest Service will also monitor the livestock distribution as it pertains to the grazing allotment moving cattle when needed to allow for grass, forbs and shrubs to not be over utilized. UDWR will also monitor the need to keep the troughs clean and free from debris and small mammals along with allowing access for wildlife and cattle to the watering locations.

Partners for this project will consist of UDWR, UGIP, Fillmore Forest Service and the Whiskey Creek Grazing Association, along with vested Sportsman Groups. We have been successful in working with the fore mentioned partners to implement good projects within this allotment in the past few years, additional support has been leveraged through great partnerships looking for projects that will provide benefits to the local community, that protect the livestock grazing and wildlife within Millard County. Great efforts and strides have been made by Sportsman Organizations to improve the overall goals and objectives to increase and sustain wildlife through these types of projects.

Management of this project will be to ensure that the project is installed correctly, pipeline and watering troughs are set correct and all fittings are secure. The need to fix or repair items associated with this project will be left up to the permittees in the future, they along with the Fillmore Forest Service will be working together to improve this allotment and improve the distribution of cattle during the grazing period. Wildlife escape ramps will be installed as we complete the project to allow for small mammals and birds to escape from the water trough.

This project will be a great asset to help benefit the livestock portion of the project, by increasing the need for water in critical areas of this allotment it will be able to increase the overall utilization of the allotment as far as grazing additional areas that have not been grazed, reducing impacts of grazing on other areas. Water is critical within the allotment improved water will allow for longer use of the allotment time during drought situations, and in the fall of the year when water source have run dry, additional storage through the water trough will allow the livestock to maintain body weights and allow for better weighing weights for the producer due to traveling to different areas to water. Expansion of the water troughs increasing them in size will allow for additional storage, easy to water larger groups of cattle at once. The pipeline portion just allows better distribution of water decreasing the cost to the permittee of hauling water by truck to different locations.

06/01/2021

06/02/2022

2022

Final methods for this project included installing 18,657' of 2" HDPE fuseable pipe along with installing four (4) Rubber Tire troughs within the Church Hills and East Eight Mile Grazing Allotment. The pipeline was installed using a D8 Cat with a vibratory ripper that installed the pipe over 3 feet deep. The pipe was connected to existing water sources and then plumbed into the tire troughs. Two out of the four tire troughs were just replacements with little pipe being used. This project consisted of partnerships with the USFS, UDWR, Whiskey Creek Grazing Association and the Utah Grazing Improvement Program (UGIP).

With this project the need to allow additional water with the Church Hills and East Eight Mile Allotments was needed, this project provided four additional watering troughs and a much needed upgrade in the pipeline. This project has several great partnerships such as UDWR, GIP, USFS, and the Whiskey Creek Grazing Association, hard work and funding would not of happened if not for the partnerships we have involved in this type of project. The fund was "Fast Tracked" funding that needed to be spent by year end. The need to contract the purchase of the pipe and water troughs was implemented through State Purchasing, this alloed us to purchase the pipe and troughs and have them delivered to the site. With GIP Funding the Grazing Association was able to contract with Thirsty Cows.com (Jed Heaton) to do the installation of the pipe, provide labor to install the water troughs and provide soe of the fittings towards the project. Most of the labor was provided by the Whiskey Creek Grazing Association, as well as materials to help with the installation of the pipeline and water troughs. This project was completed in two days and works great, with good contractors, partnerships and a cooperative grazing association projects like this are very successful. Thanks to WRI, Habitat Council and Sportsman Groups and GIP for funding this great project.

Future Management of this project will belong to the Fillmore Forest Service Office and the Whiskey Creek Grazing Association, between the to entities they will monitor the water troughs and the pipeline making repairs or adjustments as needed in the future. In the fall of the year when cattle are removed from the allotments water will still be available for wildlife such as mule deer, elk and wild turkeys as well as small mammals and birds.