The Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) would both benefit from additional data on USFS special status plant species in the Logan Peak area ahead of the DWR's proposed mountain goat augmentation. Priorities and tasks for data collection here follow Forest representatives' direction as to the USFS's rare plant data needs in the Logan Peak area, and addressing the USFS management directions and issues (see relation to management plans section).

There are a number of data gaps regarding the distribution, abundance and condition of several of the special status plant species on the Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest in the Logan Peak region. The Forest and DWR desire to have more information regarding the baseline conditions of these plants to be better able to assess whether an augmentation of the mountain goat population has an effect on these species.

At this time, this project is not considering ecological thresholds as this is baseline data collection.

The Logan Ranger District is a designated Botanical Special Interest Area, has a remnant tall forb community, and the Mount Naomi Wilderness Area. The following documents the underlying Forest Management Objectives and Policies that underlie the baseline data and trend monitoring needs. Management Direction * Endangered Species Act: Current FWS recovery criteria for the threatened Maguire's primrose (Primula maguirei) states "ensure...habitat is protected from environmental degradation through section 7 of the Act" (i.e., actions carried out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats). * Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2670: The Forest Service will develop and implement management practices to ensure that sensitive species do not become threatened or endangered because of Forest Service actions, maintain viable populations, and avoid or minimize impacts to species whose viability has been identified as a concern. * R4 Sensitive Plant Program Handbook 2609.25: All necessary steps will be taken to assure that agency actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of the sensitive species or result in the destruction or modification of their essential habitat. * FSM 2551.03: The Forest Service will ensure soil resource management is consistent with the goal of maintaining or improving soil quality and soil hydrologic function. * Wasatch-Cache National Forest Plan: Desired Condition - Management activities within rare plant habitats will maintain or restore and provide for recovery of populations of current and proposed sensitive plant species at risk. - Proper stocking levels and utilization intensities of wildlife will maintain and protect rare plants and their associated habitat. - Protective measures will be provided for Maguire's primrose and Frank Smith's violet populations in the lower portions of Logan Canyon. - Logan Canyon Botanical Special Interest Area will be maintained to ensure continuance of ongoing natural conditions and processes. It is desirable to maintain habitat for pollinators here and continue carrying out recovery plan for Primula species. - Allow management activities to result in no less than 85% of potential ground cover for all vegetation types. - Remnant tall forb communities will be maintained and protected from levels of use that could cause negative changes in plant composition. - Soils have adequate physical properties for vegetative growth and soil-hydrologic function. - Maintain pollinators and minimize impacts to pollinators or their habitats. - Wilderness is managed and protected, for the plants and animals that live there and their habitat, the preservation of large, intact ecosystems, clean air and water, and primitive recreation opportunities. Natural ecological processes are dominant. Ecosystems are influenced by natural process with little or no intervention. Forest-wide Sub-goals-Biodiversity and Viability - 3b. Maintain pollinators and minimize impacts to pollinators or their habitats. - 3g. Maintain and/or restore tall forb communities to mid-seral or potential natural community (PNC) status. - 3i. Maintain viability of species-at-risk (including endangered, threatened, and sensitive species and unique communities). Standards and Guidelines - Standard 7: Allow management activities to result in no less than 85% of potential ground cover for each vegetation cover type. - Standard 14: Allow no net decrease in areal extent of tall forb communities. - Guideline 14: Manage vegetation for properly functioning condition at the landscape scale. Desired structure and pattern for tall forb cover type is a minimum ground cover of 90% leading into the winter season. - Guideline 23: Avoid action on the Forest that reduce the viability of any population of plant species classified as Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive, or recommended sensitive. Use management action to protect habitats of plant species at risk from adverse modification or destruction. For species that naturally occur in sites with some disturbance, maintain the appropriate level of disturbance. Management Goal The Forest Service management goals for botanical resources on the Logan Ranger District: * Rare and sensitive plant populations and distributions increase or remain stable. * Tall forb plant communities increase or remain stable * Native pollinator populations increase or remain stable. * Soil quality and hydrologic function are maintained or improved in rare and sensitive plant habitat.

No fire/ fuels issues

No water quality/ quantity issues

No compliance issues

Since distribution nor density of populations of the target plants is not clear, time will be needed to both locate populations and evaluate those that are dense enough (and accessible) to allow for a good baseline characterization to detect trends- as directed by the USFS. For rough baseline characterizations, other rare plant teams in surrounding states have used high resolution binoculars to survey for and count plants on a particular rock face. Potential 2021 Schedule (July- August) Viola frank-smithii 1) Verify collection in Mt Naomi area 2) Conduct pilot monitoring if verified -- pilot monitoring should include trials of different quadrat shapes and sizes to capture a robust and relatively precise estimate of a mean density for baseline characteristics Erigeron cronquistii / Draba maguirei 1) Find 2 populations this year that are large enough to monitor, these two plants may be found co-occurring 2) Conduct pilot monitoring Penstemon compactus 1) Find appropriate population(s) to monitor 2) Conduct monitoring -- may be able to use 'wagon wheel' with 5- 120ft transects with a select quadrat size every 5 ft (USFS methods) Musineon naomiensis 1) Map new occurrences if found in the Mt Naomi area 2) If accessible and with other plants of interest, begin pilot monitoring program

Monitoring target plants, particularly in rock outcrops, should be considered a 'pilot' monitoring program in 2021. The Utah Rare Plant Team will gather data on priority species in these habitats that are safe to access, however, appropriate and effective marking of plots, reaching sampling adequacy, and assessing repeatability remains unknown. Thus, much time this field season will be needed to concentrate on locating suitable and feasible monitoring sites that will serve our sampling objectives. Further, it is in our best interest to establish plots of target species and/or communities in 2 to 3 different populations in the region so as to not state baseline conditions nor base any conclusions from a single population.

Utah State University

At this time, it is unknown what future management may or may not be needed to assure the continued persistence of these special status species on the landscape.

The proposed action at this time does not have any potential to improve sustainable uses.