Coal Creek is an important, relatively intact riverine ecosystem that flows through scenic red rock canyons in Utah. It stretches over 30 miles and eventually drains into Lake Quichapa in the Cedar Valley. The creek is a critical water source for agriculture and residents of the Cedar Valley, and also serves as the main supply for the Iron County Water Conservancy District's aquifer recharge project. However, the ecosystem faces a significant threat from invasive plant species, primarily Russian olive and tamarisk, which are altering the region's natural functions. These invasive species disrupt the ecosystem in several ways. They can change flooding dynamics, constrain river channels, and alter water temperature and chemistry, which negatively impacts the quality of water. In addition, they degrade native vegetation and provide poor habitat for native birds, especially Neotropical species. As the invasive plants spread, they pose a risk of eliminating native species altogether, which could further compromise the ecosystem's health. To address these challenges, a project has been proposed to control the spread of these invasive plants over 22 acres within the Coal Creek watershed. This area includes three key aquatic habitats identified in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) for 2015-2025: Riverine, Aquatic-Scrub/Shrub, and Aquatic-Forested habitats. These habitats are vital for many species, and the WAP highlights non-native invasive species as a primary threat to biodiversity. The goals of the project include restoring riparian systems, enhancing water quality, and improving habitat for both federally listed species and other wildlife in the watershed. Healthy watersheds provide essential ecosystem functions, including nutrient cycling, carbon storage, erosion control, and biodiversity enhancement. Restoring Coal Creek's riparian ecosystem will help secure these services, benefiting the local wildlife and the human communities that depend on the water. One species of concern is the spotted bat, which is found in arid regions and relies on water sources like streams and rivers for its habitat. Spotted bats roost in cliffs and canyons, often near water, and this project could enhance the quality of their habitat as well. Overall, the initiative aims to control invasive species, restore critical habitats, and ensure that Coal Creek remains a healthy and sustainable resource for both wildlife and human populations in the Cedar Valley.

The proposed treatment area is located at the upstream portion of the Coal Creek Drainage, where the infestation of Russian olive and tamarisk begins. By focusing on this area, the project aims to prevent the further spread of these invasive species downstream, thereby protecting native species throughout the watershed. The specific objectives of the treatment plan are: Remove 100% of Russian olive and tamarisk: Eradicate these invasive species from the treatment area to prevent them from further degrading the ecosystem and threatening native vegetation. Increase cottonwood tree presence by 25%: Promote the growth of native cottonwood trees, which are essential for maintaining healthy riparian habitats and providing suitable conditions for local wildlife. Increase native grasses and forbs by 10%: Enhance the presence of native grasses and forbs, which are vital for soil stability, biodiversity, and providing habitat for wildlife. By achieving these goals, the project will help restore and protect the native ecosystem, contributing to improved biodiversity and the overall health of the Coal Creek watershed. The restoration efforts will also support the long-term sustainability of the area as a water source for the Cedar Valley.

If the project does not go forward, the state of the stream in the new project area will remain in relatively poor condition. Wildlife populations will not reach desirable and/or historic levels because the absence of suitable habitat will persist. Additionally, there is a risk that past work could revert back to a degraded, undesirable state. This project is a spring board for future financial, political, and social support that currently exists with multiple partners to implement the project. These private and public mesic lands and surrounding public rangelands are critically important to the health of wildlife populations. Research shows that 60--80% of wildlife is dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). If true wildlife conservation is to take place on a sustainable level, public wildlife managers must engage private landowners whenever possible. Climate change has come to the forefront as a global threat to humans and wildlife alike. Although models vary on future impacts of global climate change one thing stands out is that water may become increasingly scarce in the West. Preserving and restoring wet areas like this project aims to do has been identified as a keyway to mitigate impacts like drought, increasing temperatures, and other impacts that a changing climate will have on human and wildlife. If the project does go forward, there are few notable threats/risks. Similar stream improvement work has been completed along other portions of Coal Creek without negative impacts and many positive impacts.

There are numerous management plans that address removal of invasive species, increase of wildlife habitat, reduction of fuels, and increasing collaboration and education with landowners. Below highlight some of those plans. --1-- Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Utah Forest Action Plan 2020: This project addresses 3 of the 4 goals of Utah's FAP: 1. Restore healthy and resilient trees and forests across Utah. 2. Reduce wildfire risk to communities, water resources, and other natural resource values. 3. Increase collaborative landscape-scale forest restoration activities across the State. --2--Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025: Invasive species, the project is within the riverine aquatic key habitat. This project helps reduce 3 of the threats to this key habitat: inappropriate fire frequency and intensity, droughts, and invasive plant species. --3--Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program, Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan 2017-2021: this project is within a PFW focus area, priority habitat type (riparian) and priority species (the proposed project addresses invasive species as a habitat threat). --4--Natural Resource Conservation Service, Working Lands for Wildlife Program: this project addresses habitat restoration, invasive species removal and connectivity of suitable habitat for a focus species, the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, through addressing the following goals: protect, maintain and restore riparian habitat; increase and improve occupied, suitable and potential SWFL breeding habitat; improve weed and invasive species management; increase connectivity of existing and potential SWFL habitat. --5--Iron County Natural Resource Management Plan list russian olive as a Class 4 or Prohibited Weed. The eradication of species in the county is the ultimate goal, but control is mandated. --6-- Utah Noxious Weed Act supports this proposal through the continued removal and control of tamarisk, a Class C Weed. Also by meeting Strategic goals and Objectives, Goal I, protect the State's natural, agricultural, and ranching resources including water quality and quantity.

This project aims to mitigate wildfire risks in Cedar Canyon and Cedar City, areas with numerous residences, businesses, and historical buildings that are highly vulnerable due to the presence of Russian olive and tamarisk thickets. These invasive species pose significant fire risks, and with limited access across the creek and between parcels, combating a fire on either side could be exceptionally challenging. Of particular concern is the proximity of these areas to Coal Creek, near a spring that serves as a critical water source for Cedar City. A fire in this watershed could have catastrophic consequences for municipal water supplies and damage the water infrastructure, which is vital for the community. Beyond the immediate danger to property and infrastructure, a fire in this ecosystem could result in the destruction of valuable cottonwood stands, which are a key part of the riparian corridor's native vegetation. This would not only harm the local ecosystem but could also threaten endangered and sensitive wildlife species that rely on this habitat. Additionally, the heat from a severe fire could sterilize the soil, killing essential mycorrhizal fungi that are crucial for cottonwood germination. Riparian ecosystems, such as this one, are not adapted to frequent fire, and any recovery after such an event would be slow, with limited success. The focus of this project is to remove the invasive Russian olive and tamarisk species, which contribute significantly to the fire risk. By eliminating these species, we allow for the restoration of native cottonwood and willow trees, which are better adapted to the natural flooding cycles of the area. These native species will help manage vegetation and fuel load, and by allowing for periodic flooding, natural sand deposits will create gaps in vegetation, further reducing the buildup of fine fuels. This approach will create a sustainable, long-term reduction in fire risk while also supporting the recovery of native vegetation and the health of the local ecosystem.

The removal of Russian olive and tamarisk will have significant positive effects on both water quality and quantity in the Cedar Canyon area. These invasive species contribute to stream channelization, disrupting the natural flow of the river and degrading riparian habitats. By eliminating these species, we can restore a functioning riparian vegetation buffer that will not only improve water quality but also help increase water quantity. The headwaters of this river remain undammed, making the restoration of native vegetation along the riverbanks especially crucial. The restored buffer will allow for natural, periodic flooding, which will help reduce flood damage, enhance sediment filtration, and allow floodwaters to recharge groundwater sources. These benefits collectively contribute to more stable and healthier water resources. Furthermore, a functioning riparian vegetation buffer could reduce the need for lifting the diversion dam gates, potentially increasing the amount of water diverted for municipal use. In addition to improving water availability, a restored riparian buffer will help mitigate the impacts of post-fire runoff, reducing harm to fish, wildlife, and municipal water infrastructure by filtering sediment and pollutants before they enter the water system. Tamarisk, in particular, exacerbates soil degradation by excreting salt, which accumulates in the surface soil and increases the pH. This salty layer prevents native vegetation from thriving and negatively impacts the watershed during runoff events. Removing tamarisk will help improve water quality by eliminating this salt buildup and reducing its adverse effects on both the ecosystem and downstream water uses. Both Russian olive and tamarisk are deep-rooted, drought-tolerant species that access lower groundwater tables, even during dry years. In doing so, they outcompete native species, which are more vulnerable to drought conditions. By removing these invasive plants, we can help restore the natural balance, ensuring that native vegetation has better access to limited water resources and reducing the prolonged drought effects on the landscape. This will ultimately enhance water availability for native species, promote a healthier ecosystem, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the watershed.

The area will be treated with hand crews using chainsaws. There will be no machinery or ground disturbance and therefore no archaeological clearance is needed.

The removal of Russian olive and tamarisk will be conducted using hand-removal methods to ensure precision and minimize disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem. After cutting the invasive species, herbicide will be applied using the cut-stump method, which ensures targeted and effective treatment. The primary herbicides to be used are Glyphosate for Russian olive and Triclopyr for tamarisk. The majority of the cut material will be piled and burned to remove the invasive plants, while slash in areas with road access will be chipped to facilitate easier management and further treatment. Work on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) properties will be carried out by Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) crews or, if necessary, private contractors. For areas under the jurisdiction of Cedar City and Iron County, retreatment of Russian olive and tamarisk resprouts will be managed by local agencies. To minimize disruption to wildlife, all treatment activities will be conducted outside of bird nesting season and fish spawning season--specifically, after August 31st and before mid-April. This timing ensures the project does not interfere with critical periods for local wildlife. Following the initial treatment, seeding will be performed in the late fall, once all invasive material has been cut and removed. Pile burning will take place during the winter months, when weather conditions are favorable for safe and effective operations. If necessary, pile burning will be carefully conducted to further reduce fuel loads and complete the invasive species removal process. The project will include ongoing monitoring for resprouts over a two-year period post-treatment. If any regrowth occurs, it will be promptly addressed by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL), Iron County, and Cedar City, ensuring the long-term success of the restoration efforts.

For short-term monitoring, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL), Iron County, and Cedar City will conduct retreatment efforts in the treated areas for two years following the initial treatment. Any invasive species that are detected during this period will be promptly removed to ensure the success of the restoration efforts. In addition to monitoring and retreatment, additional plantings of willow and cottonwood may be carried out if needed or requested by landowners to further enhance the restoration of native vegetation. Repeat photo points will be taken before, after, and two years post-treatment to document and track the progress of the treatment and provide visual evidence of improvements over time. After the second year of post-treatment monitoring, FFSL and Iron County will collaborate on ongoing efforts to monitor and manage the watershed. This partnership will continue to focus on removing Russian olive and tamarisk from the Coal Creek drainage and work toward expanding future restoration projects downstream, ensuring long-term ecological health and the reduction of invasive species throughout the area.

Forestry Fire and State lands- contract and support local efforts to restore the coal creek watershed through funding and technical assistance. Iron County-Will help supervise and monitor the are for weeds. They are also seeking funding through Invasive Species Mitigation Grant. They will work with Cedar City to conduct follow-up control as needed. Cedar City-will support the project and future projects by allowing for access and workforce with Iron County to do follow-up treatments.

Ongoing outreach and education efforts will be a key component of this project, aiming to engage the community and encourage landowners to actively monitor and remove invasive species from their properties. The Iron County Weed Supervisor and local Commissioners are fully supportive of the project, as is Cedar City, which is the majority landowner in the area. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) will continue to provide education and support to landowners, helping them identify and manage any re-sprouts of Russian olive and tamarisk. In addition, FFSL will encourage landowners to take proactive steps to maintain their properties and reduce the spread of these invasive species. To ensure the long-term success of the project, additional funding sources will be sought to extend treatment efforts downriver and assist landowners with their retreatment activities. These efforts will help maintain progress, prevent reinfestation, and promote broader landscape restoration. Looking ahead, future projects will build on this initiative by continuing to target the removal of Russian olive and tamarisk throughout the watershed. The potential for securing a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant will be considered during the 2026 funding cycle, which would provide further resources for continued invasive species management and ecosystem restoration on a larger scale. Through ongoing community involvement, partnerships, and funding, this project will work toward the sustainable recovery of the local ecosystem.

Ongoing outreach and education efforts will be a key component of this project, aiming to engage the community and encourage landowners to actively monitor and remove invasive species from their properties. The Iron County Weed Supervisor and local Commissioners are fully supportive of the project, as is Cedar City, which is the majority landowner in the area. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) will continue to provide education and support to landowners, helping them identify and manage any re-sprouts of Russian olive and tamarisk. In addition, FFSL will encourage landowners to take proactive steps to maintain their properties and reduce the spread of these invasive species. To ensure the long-term success of the project, additional funding sources will be sought to extend treatment efforts downriver and assist landowners with their retreatment activities. These efforts will help maintain progress, prevent reinfestation, and promote broader landscape restoration. Looking ahead, future projects will build on this initiative by continuing to target the removal of Russian olive and tamarisk throughout the watershed. The potential for securing a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant will be considered during the 2026 funding cycle, which would provide further resources for continued invasive species management and ecosystem restoration on a larger scale. Through ongoing community involvement, partnerships, and funding, this project will work toward the sustainable recovery of the local ecosystem.