The existing treatment areas being proposed for maintenance are important for both livestock and many wildlife species, including wintering elk and deer, sage grouse, several sagebrush obligate birds, and pygmy rabbits. Eliminating the encroaching trees at this early phase ensures the following: 1. minimizes loss of herbaceous understory 2. protection/prolongment of the initial investment of a excess of a million dollars. 3. minimizes the cost of treatment: Phase 1 removal by hand now (~$50/ac=$250,000) vs phase II removal by mechanical later on(~300/ac=$1,500,000). No seed needed now ($0/ac) versus possible need for seed in some of the areas later on ($50/ac).

1. 98% removal of PJ trees within previously treated polygons.

Standards and Guides for Healthy Rangelands show that none of this area is meeting objectives for healthy rangelands (standard #3), and pinyon pine and juniper encroachment is a contributing factor. In addition, this entire area is in Fire Regime Condition Class 3, meaning more than one beneficial fire cycle has passed. Not improving vegetation in this area would result in conditions continuing to decline and the risk of losing key ecosystem components would remain High. Treating this area has its own inherent risks, including the potential for seeding failure, noxious weed outcrops and potential negative views from the public, due to opening up visibility near private residencies and roadways. Mitigation measures, such as ongoing noxious weed early detection/rapid response programs and outreach with private landowners will help mitigate these potential threats/risks.

In addition to federal statutes and regulations [i.e. Taylor Grazing Act, Endangered species Act (ESA)], this project is in compliance and is supported by the following management plans and documents: Southwest Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan (2005) This action supports at least two objectives: Protection of critical deer habitat and watershed protection (page196); National Fire Plan (2000) This project meets several objectives of the NFP: Protection of Communities at Risk, which there are three listed communities affected, and increased safety of firefighters in the event of an incident.(Policies section) ; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule Deer (2008) This project assists in meeting Habitat Objectives 1 & 2 and Recreation Objective 1 & 2; Pine Valley Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #30 (UDWR 2006) This project addresses a minimum of two limiting factors to multiple objectives, increase in winter range and highway mortality (see limiting factors) , Healthy Forest Restoration Act (2003), Iron county, Utah General Plan (1995), Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy (1995), Utah Wildlife conservation Strategy (2005), 3 individual allotment management plans (2009-2011) and the Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Land Use Plan Amendment (2004). For additional descriptions on how these plans support the Duncan Creek Project and other projects, see EA# UTO-CO12-2011-0011 (pg. 2-8).

As Pinyon and Juniper trees continue to encroach in these areas, live fuel loading and canopy cover will increase. This increase in live fuel loading and a closed canopy will increase the likelihood of an unwanted wildfire and its negative effects. Reducing the number of smaller diameter trees on the landscape now will in turn keep the live fuel loading and amount of canopy cover at a minimum for many years to come. This modification in vegetation allows initial attack firefighting crews more options to safely and effectively suppress unwanted wildfires and limits the negative effects. In addition to modifying fire behavior, treating the vegetation in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving and protecting current habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, maintaining native species diversity, preventing hazardous fuel accumulations and maintaining the dis-continuity of pinion/juniper that currently exists. This treatment will promote a fire resilient environment that reduces the risk for large scale, intense, unwanted wildland fires, with less risk to public and firefighter safety. Existing wildfire risk index in the project areas ranges from moderate-high to very low. Fire modeling results show an unwanted wildfire in these areas at the 97th percentile weather would quickly spread into high risk areas and threaten multiple watersheds, private lands and numerous other values such as structures, summer homes, culinary water systems, utility corridors, etc. The majority of the areas in this project are within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project would be in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. This project will manipulate the vegetation in a manner that will modify fire behavior such that fire suppression personnel can safely initial attack unwanted wildfires in the area. These treatments will provide anchor points, safety zones, and buffer zones for values at risk such as powerlines, communities, range improvements. Instead of a crown fire that is wind driven with flame lengths of 30+ feet in Pinyon and Juniper requiring aerial resources to initial attach, this treatment will reduce the flame lengths to those that are easily managed with engines and hand crews.

The removal of pinyon and juniper trees will improve water quality by reducing TMDLs through the reduction in understory vegetation loss that would occur if pinyon and juniper trees past ecological thresholds into phase 2 and 3 stands.

2 PMArchaeology surveys were completed during the initial project. SHPO concurrence is necessary. NEPA is complete for all project areas included.

Use contract crew to remove trees with loppers and chainsaws.

Photos will be taken and a qualitative site condition assessment completed.

N/A

The previous bullhog and chaining projects have been very successful in reestablishing desirable vegetative and habitat conditions. Removing encroaching pinyon and juniper will only further improve conditions within these ares. No additional or change in management is needed with this project.

The PJ treatments will increase available forage and prevent future loss of forage.