The purpose of this project is to improve wildlife habitat; including big game transition and winter range, improve vegetative understory providing forage and to minimize erosion. Winter range in the proposed project area has depleted resources that are required to provide nutritional needs for big game. Although pinyon and juniper is a vegetational state within the state and transition model for Mountain Sagebrush, the area is being dominated by this climax community and the area lacks desirable grass, forbs and shrubs putting the ecological health of this site at risk. To accomplish this task, the Color Country District, Richfield Field Office Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands (UFFSLs) have determined there is a need to seed and mechanically thin pinyon/juniper (PJ) from ~1007 total acres of sagebrush/grass/forb areas. The PJ expansion and fading understory in this area is having negative impacts to big game wildlife species dependent upon this area and these ecosystems. On the ground surveys and site visits have allowed staffs from the BLM, UDWR and SITLA to see the lack of understory plants in the PJ complex on the south end of the Henry Mountains. Approximately 1007 acres of PJ in the project is in phase II transitioning to phase III. Some understory brush, grasses, and forbs still exists but is about to cross the threshold into phase III dominated PJ and lose the remaining understory. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ expansion continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. This PJ expansion largely results from reduced occurrences of natural disturbance. As PJ has become dominate on the landscape and the loss of understory vegetation increases, big game and small game animals are experiencing loss of foraging habitat. This expansion of more PJ with reduction of sage/grass/forb habitat has contributed to the overall decrease in Mule deer populations and other wildlife species in the area. The UDWR, SITLA and BLM anticipates the PJ areas that currently have very little understory will need to be reseeded and rested from livestock until new seeding is well established. Improving the habitat in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations, reducing the risk for large scale, uncharacteristic wildland fires, which in turn creates a fire resilient environment with less risk to public and firefighter safety. These treatments will create a better balanced ecosystem diversity that will enhance population viability for a variety of big game, small game, neo-tropical migratory birds, upland game, raptors, small mammals, insects and key pollinator species. The need of the project is: 1. Promote the growth of perennial understory species, increase species diversity, increase structural diversity, rejuvenate remnant stands of sagebrush and bitterbrush, and slow encroachment of pinyon/juniper to enhance conditions for critical mule deer winter habitat and improve year around habitat for several species of wildlife including but not limited to mule deer, turkey and many shrub steppe birds. 2. Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fire by breaking-up fuel continuity and reducing hazardous fuels in the area. A hazardous fuels reduction treatment would remove encroaching pinyon and juniper and restore perennial understory diversity. Removal of pinyon/juniper encroachment within historic sagebrush communities combined with the thinning of pinyon/juniper throughout the project area will help reduce competition for resources allowing more precipitation and other vital resources to promote understory growth. In addition, thinning of pinyon/juniper as a hazardous fuels reduction project will decrease the threat and catastrophic effects of a wildfire throughout the area. This will help promote long-term stability of soils leading to less erosion (wind and runoff) and protect water quality throughout the watershed. Areas that become dominated by by pinyon and juniper out compete understory herbaceous species and leave bare soil prone to erosion. This herbaceous vegetation is important to reducing overland flow and reducing soil loss. Pinyon and juniper dominated sites can intercept 10-20% of precipitation (Horman et al., 1999). By completing this project this will allow more precip to contact the soil and get into the water table. Treating areas of lower densities will prevent a future situation as described above. According to Folliott 2012, research showed that pinyon and juniper expansion into areas historically dominated by higher forbs and grasses impeded stream flow for off-site uses. Because pinyon and juniper is very competitive for water this often reduces grasses and forbs within the area. "The increase in bare soil, particularly in the spaces between trees, typically leads to increased runoff and soil loss as the juniper infestation increases" (Thurow, 1997). Increased runoff and sediment load, decreases water yield and water quality within the watershed. Studies have shown that an evaluation of alternatives using conversion treatments to enhance stream-flow in the pinyon and juniper should be made (Barr, 1956) where possible. It could be thus assumed that by completing the pinyon and juniper removal project that more water will enter the soil profile and streams, wet meadows, and springs will continue to flow and have the potential to increase flow. The area in and around the project site has been identified as being critically important mule deer habitat and the area has been identified in the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan as being a "priority for restoration of crucial mule deer habitat" (Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan, 2014). The Indian Springs treatment is located entirely within a UWRI focus area. This project will help aid in there efforts along with several other adjacent WRI projects to create a larger more productive footprint.

Project Objectives: 1) Improve and/or maintain the quality of habitat on big game winter and transition habitat by thinning or removing PJ with prior seeding. Design forage to cover ratios to benefit a variety of wildlife species. 2) Maintain or improve vegetative diversity and age class structure. 3)Increase overall forage production, habitat quality, and species diversity by treating in a mosaic pattern of 60% treated and 40% untreated that will create biodiversity across the landscape. 4) Reintroduce healthy, viable, perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs on critical mule deer. Our goal is to introduce a variety of grass and forbs to the site which will aid in soil stabilization. Mechanically treated PJ areas would be aerial seeded with grasses and forbs prior to mechanical implementation. This proposal and treatment method would help maintain the existing sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area and it would allow for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. This would also help improve age class and species diversity and it would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs. This proposal and treatment method would help maintain existing (even though rated as "poor condition") sagebrush and grass/forb communities in the area while allowing for additional acres of sagebrush/grass/forbs to be restored. A well designed treatment would also help improve age class and species diversity and would improve habitat for wildlife species dependent upon sagebrush/grass/forbs communities and watersheds. Soil erosion from the site will be greatly minimized.

Ecological Threats: This project focuses on pinyon and juniper removal as a means to mitigate threats to critical Mule deer summer/winter range. Sagebrush habitat is at risk of being lost due to excessive pinyon and juniper and wildfire. High severity wildfire could lead to a loss of perennial native species. This project will decrease the risk of high severity wildfire by reducing fuel loading and promoting the growth of perennial understory species which are critical to maintaining ecosystem resilience. This project will increase the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities. As stated earlier the dominant vegetational state is pinyon and juniper woodland. A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states. A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife and people. A diverse landscape is also more resistance and resilient to disturbance. By allowing this landscape to continue to move further into a dominant PJ woodland it increases the risk of its resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and heal after a disturbance. Numerous projects have been implemented in the area with more planned to be implemented in the near future. The combination of all these projects are in effort to increase the pace and scale of implementation to help disperse browse pressure for both wild and domestic ungulates. Ground surveys and site visits have allowed us to see the lack of understory plants in both the mountain sagebrush and lowland sagebrush. Forage productivity has diminished greatly over the past century and the PJ encroachment continues on a yearly basis into the more productive sage/grass/forb communities. Some areas within the project have lost a majority of the understory sage/grasses/forbs, but other areas have not. One of the greatest threats to the area is no action. This would facilitate the continued loss of understory from those areas that have some sagebrush/grasses/forbs understory left and the immediate conversion of sagebrush to cheatgrass following the next wildfire. This will continue to be "poor" habitat and range for ungulate animals as well as Livestock. Species Threats: This area has been identified as priority for restoration of CRUCIAL mule deer habitat under the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan. "Crucial" means the areas habitat is necessary to sustain the areas mule deer herd. Allowing the area to move into phase 2 and 3 pinyon and juniper encroachment will mean less quality habitat to meet mule deer objectives. This project will increase and maintain the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities. A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states within an ecological site. A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife species and people. A diverse landscape is also more resistance and resilient to disturbance. By allowing this landscape to continue to move further into a dominant PJ woodland it increases the risk of losing the sites ability for resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and and heal after a disturbance. Mule Deer: The Henry Mountains is very important for mule deer. From higher to lower elevations deer depend on the habitat with it's available forage and cover to complete their life cycle requirements. This project will greatly improve available forage for deer populations. Treatments patterns will play an important role within the treatment implementation. One of the primary objectives of this project is to improve habitat for deer. Winter range improvements from this project will benefit deer populations for decades to come. Future monitoring and maintenance of the project will be essential to prolong the integrity of the treatment and health of big game populations. It has been said by land managers, biologist, and researchers familiar with the project area that this area is very important because Mule Deer are space limited here, meaning available habitat and water seem to be the limiting factor for population growth. As habitat is made available by doing this project we are addressing an immediate threat to one of the primary limiting factors for this population. Domestic Livestock: As treated areas are allowed to establish from seeding and sufficient rest from livestock these sites will produce additional AUM's for the allotments. Allowing livestock to enter the treatment areas before new seed establishment will greatly minimize the integrity of the treatment. Annual operating plans will be in place to reflect the timeline for resting the treatment areas from livestock. Social/Political Threats: The project area also provides important recreational opportunities for the local population and people travel from all over the state (and from other states) to recreate on the Henry Mountains. Continuing to do work to maintain the habitat in this area will help to perpetuate the recreational and economic benefits. Financial: Financial thresholds need consideration when funding habitat conservation. The type of pro-active work we are proposing reduces future cost from becoming prohibitive. The partnership dollars currently available also need to be taken into consideration as an ecological and/or other threat. With multiple partners actively funding, planning, and implementing conservation practices in the area costs are being shared. If not done now, future costs may make implementing conservation practices at this scale prohibitive.

The project falls within the Henry Mountains Deer Herd Unit #15. Habitat Management Strategies include but are not limited to the following: Continue to improve, protect, and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer. Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvements such as pinion-juniper removal, reseedings, controlled burns, grazing management, water developments etc. on public and private lands. Habitat improvement projects will occur on both winter ranges as well as summer range. Reduce expansion of pinion-juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by pinion-juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects like lop & scatter, bullhog, and chaining. 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 project also falls within the Bison Unit Management Plan Unit #15 Henry Mountains. Habitat Management Goals include but are not limited to the following: *Identify critical bison use areas and work with land managers and private landowners to improve or maintain habitat quality in these areas. *Design and implement habitat projects to resolve conflicts between bison and livestock. Use conservation permit, grazing improvement board, Utah Partners for Conservation Development, and other public and private funds to pay for these projects (see Appendix A). All partners will work together to obtain funding. Increased forage will be allocated to bison and livestock. Habitat work will focus on winter 13 ranges, particularly in the pinyon-juniper/sagebrush zone where projects have been successful in the past *Provide adequate forage on summer and transitional ranges to discourage bison use on winter ranges during summer months The project also falls within the Bighorn Sheep Unit Management Plan Henry Mountains WMU #15. Habitat Management Goals include but are not limited to the following: 1)Initiate vegetative treatment projects to improve bighorn habitat lost to natural succession or human impacts. 2) Cooperate with the BLM and SITLA to utilize controlled burns and/or mechanical treatments to remove conifer encroachment and improve bighorn habitat across the unit. 3) Identify specific habitat restoration projects to benefit bighorn sheep The proposed projects will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: *Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. *Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. CENTRAL UTAH FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN (FMP): *Greater use of vegetation management to meet resource management objectives *Hazardous fuels treatments will be used to restore ecosystems; protect human, natural and cultural resources; and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities *Sagebrush steppe communities will be a high priority for ESR and fuel reduction to avoid catastrophic fires in these areas Federal Land Policy and Management Act *Sec. 102 (a); the public lands be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals *Sec. 103 (c); The BLM is directed to manage public lands in a manner that will best meet present and future needs of the nation. Richfield Field Office RMP *Manage for a mix of vegetative types, structural stages, and provide for native plant, fish, and wildlife habitats. * Sustain or reestablish the integrity of the sagebrush continuity, and quality of habitat that is necessary to maintain sustainable populations of sagebrush-dependent wildlife species. BLM Grazing Management Regulations: *Objectives are to promote healthy sustainable rangeland ecosystems; to accelerate restoration and improvement of public lands to properly functioning condition *Maintenance and enhancement of habitats to promote the conservation of Federal proposed, Federal candidate, and other special status spec. Wildlife Action Plan Improving Conditions Lowland Sagebrush: *Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the Uncharacteristic class, including cutting/mulching/chaining of invading pinyon and juniper trees, herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such as cheatgrass and secondary perennial weed species, and rehabilitation of burned areas following wildfire. *Continuing the development of new plant materials and restoration techniques suited to this habitat. *Developing and deploying techniques to diversify the understory species composition and age classes of decadent even-aged sagebrush stands. *Developing and deploying techniques to diversify species composition in monoculture or near monoculture stands of seeded non-native plants (e.g. crested wheatgrass). *Promoting management that includes seeding a diversity of grasses, forbs and shrubs that will lead to increased resiliency and resistance in the plant community. Mountain Sagebrush: Improving Condition *Promoting policies and management that allow fire to return to a more natural regime. *Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife. *Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the Uncharacteristic and surpluses of older age class, including: Dixie/chain harrow, brush mowing or other treatments that reduce the older age class and stimulate the younger/mid age classes; herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such smooth brome; single tree mulching/cutting of invading conifer. *Continuing the development of new plant materials, especially native forbs. *Promoting zoning/policies/laws that lead to responsible human/energy intrusion and development. *Promoting management that includes seeding a diversity of grasses, forbs and shrubs that will lead to increased resiliency and resistance in the plant community. Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan *Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on drought or fire damaged sagebrush winter ranges, ranges that have been taken over by invasive annual grass species, and ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush or aspen habitats, ensuring that seed mixes contain sufficient forbs and browse species. *Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering and migration areas. *SITLA Management Plans: Correspond with the Utah Code Title 53C Chapter Five Section 101, 102 and 103 in accordance with Management of Rangeland Resources Utah Administrative Code R850-50-1100 Range Improvement Projects within the SITLA Property. **I have also included Garfield County Plans.

The majority of the area is at moderate to extreme on the fire risk index. Pinyon and juniper trees have expanded and moved into areas once dominated by shrubs, forbs, and grasses. Without this project, fuel conditions are such that a wildfire may be difficult to contain, leading to an increased risk to firefighter and public safety, suppression effectiveness and natural resource degradation. Fire Regime Condition Class within the project areas is predominately FRCC 3 which is where fire regimes have been extensiviely altered and risk of losing key ecosystem components from fire is high. Treatments identified within this proposal, including seeding with more fire resistant vegetation, would help reduce hazardous fuel loads, create fuel breaks, and reduce the overall threat of a catastrophic wildfire which could impact private properties which includes structures near Starr Springs. Treatments in and around the sagebrush areas would break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of wildfire entering these sensitive areas. Removing pinyon and juniper in a mosaic pattern would also break up continuous fuels and reduce the risk of a high intensity wildfire. Because there is a greater risk of conversion of shrublands to annual grasslands under a high intensity fire, managed, pro-active treatments proposed would reduce the likelihood of cheatgrass invasion and help perennial grasses and forbs persist long-term to create a more resilient landscape. The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy currently guides fire and fuels management for Utah BLM. The strategy encourages collaboration among all stakeholders and across all landscapes, using best science, to make meaningful progress towards the three goals of: 1) resilient landscapes; 2) Fire adapted communities; and 3) Safe and effective wildfire response. This project will address all three of these goals.

The project area current conditions are a diminished understory of grass and forbs. Proposed aerial seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability, stimulate understory growth and reduce the risk of erosion and sedimentation, another positive for long term water quality. Project treatment may result in short term (1 year) impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated or chained tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion, enhancing water quality throughout the watershed. By removing PJ it is anticipated that water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved) in the short and long term. Some research indicates that PJ removal in mountain sagebrush can increase soil water availability (Roundy et al. 2014). PJ removal activities should have a net positive effect on increasing water yield/availability as fewer conifer trees use water. Risk of fire will be reduced within multiple watersheds. Since the area suffers from a diminished understory of grass and forbs, the planned aerial seeding will be an important factor to establish future soil stability and reduce the risk of erosion. Project treatments may result in short to moderate term impacts to water quality, but project design features will prevent long-term degradation. Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated or chained tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion and protect the water quality throughout the watersheds. By removing PJ this should allow for more precipitation to contact the soil and increase biomass on the ground. In areas where hand thinning will be used there should be adequate vegetation to avoid soil erosion but this should increase the amount of water into the system instead of evaporating before it reaches the ground. Wet meadows and upland plants benefit by utilizing the increase soil moisture, providing for better resiliency during drought years. This provides for an increase in water quantity for herbaceous plants on sites where PJ is removed. Treatments on this project will be occurring in sagebrush and mountain mixed brush ecological communities. Restoring uplands within all of these ecological communities will reduce impacts from future wildfires along with reducing risks of future impairment to the watersheds.

BLM: Indian Springs Vegetation Treatment EA # DOI-BLM-UT-C020-2022-0001-EA will be completed and signed prior to project implementation. Arc survey have been completed on BLM Wildlife clearances will be completed prior to the 2023 fiscal year. SITLA: Any NEPA and archeological survey requirements will be completed by project partners as needed per requirements for federal funding and federal land management oversight before implementation. Arc clearance on SITLA will be completed before Implementation.

In this phase of the project, planned treatment methods will include; BLM -- Phase I 1) aerial seeding followed by a mastication contract for approx. 889 acres. (Fall 2022) SITLA: 1) aerial seeding followed by a mastication contract for approx. 119 acres. (Fall 2022) Slopes over 40% and/or areas classified as phase I PJ expansion will be hand thinned utilizing chainsaws, and/or lopped/scattered . Slopes under 40% or classified phase II or III PJ expansion will be thinned utilizing mastication and chaining methods by machine. A mosaic treatment pattern combined with travel corridors will be designed into the project to allow some hiding, thermal and migration cover for big game. Curl-leaf mahogany and other key brush species will be designed away from fire opportunities to maintain browse integrity and avoid cheat grass invasion. The UDWR, SITLA, UFFSLs and BLM will seed with a mix of brush, grass and forbs. Areas needing to be seeded would be temporarily rested from domestic ungulate use where needed, for 2-3 growing seasons, to allow new vegetation sufficient time to establish. Instructions regarding temporary rest would be incorporated into the Annual Operating Instructions (AOIs) for the livestock permit holders. We realize it is imperative that seedling establishment is achieved before livestock are allowed to utilize newly treated areas.

BLM: Vegetation and ground cover data will be collected using the line-point intercept method and nested frequency. Photos will be taken and a qualitative site condition assessment completed. This area is also a designated mule deer route for BLM wildlife biologist and is monitored yearly. This year, each BLM Field office will have entire team devoted to the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM), and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area. This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. UDWR Annual aerial and ground bison counts and classifications. Annual aerial sheep counts and classifications. Annual ground bison counts and classifications. Collar data on sheep, bison and mule deer is currently being collected

BLM: Will be providing funding/planning/implementation support and is one of the project managers. UDWR: UDWR is working as contributors and providing planning/implementation support, project design. SITLA: Scott Chamberlin has been involved from beginning of project and has assisted in planning, seed mix and design of project. Permitee's The project will be working with permitee's to ensure planning and implementation will be done to meet their objectives as well as agency objectives.

BLM: This project area is within two BLM grazing allotments (Bullfrog, Rockies) . All areas seeded will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons or until the seedlings become established and set seed. Once seeding establishment has been confirmed, BLM may authorize grazing according the Utah's Fundamentals of Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management (2007). Vegetation will continue to be monitored for utilization, cover and trend. Following the rest period, the current management plan will govern. If needed, grazing adjustments would be made in Grazing Allotment Plans and through the grazing permit renewal process. Future maintenance of projects to protect investments made by UWRI, BLM, SITLA, have been addressed and allowed through the project planning document (NEPA). Adaptive management has been allowed for in the NEPA documents. Many tools have been analyzed in the NEPA planning process to allow other methods in the future. Permitee: Currently the Range Manage Specialist is working with the permitees to sign an agreement that East Bench Allotment will be rested for a minimum of two complete growing seasons.

The treatment will provide a variety of resource benefits, including a grazing management benefit. The acres of the allotments within the project area are in mid to late seral stages with a static to downward trend due to even-aged, decadent sagebrush and encroachment and infilling by pinyon and juniper. Pinyon and juniper is out competing the shrub and herbaceous components thus reducing available forage for livestock and wildlife. The SITLA, and BLM administered lands are all part of grazing rotations. This project will have a big benefit to permittee's. Working across landownerships will have a greater ecological and economic impact for livestock producers. Rangeland conditions are expected to improve following implementation of the proposed vegetation project. The health, vigor, recruitment and production of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs would improve which would provide a more palatable and nutritional source of forage for both livestock and wildlife. This will aid in improved rangeland conditions throughout the allotment. Implementation of this project would eventually improve overall livestock performance (e.g. increased cow weights, increased calf crops, increased weaning weights, etc) and improve the economic stability of the permittees due to an increase in the quantity and quality of grasses and other herbaceous forage which are important to livestock grazing. The project area is used for big game and upland game species. This area is critical for general season mule deer, limited entry elk. The area is popular for dispersed camping, sightseeing, driving for pleasure, wildlife viewing and an overall heavy recreational use. Creating a more fire resistant and resilient landscape will add to an overall positive experience