The Upper Provo Watershed is in need of vegetation management in order to maintain and improve conditions, quality, and quantity of water and habitat for the public and wildlife. The primary focus is terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat improvement and hazardous fuels reduction. We are on our 7th phase of the Upper Provo project and hope to continue habitat restoration from the headwaters to the valley bottoms of the Upper Provo Watershed. This watershed is critical to Utah as it accounts for over 70% of the Central Utah Water Conservancy's capacity to meet demand along the Wasatch Front. There are over 21,000 acres of hazardous fuels reduction, Timber Sale Improvement (TSI), and habitat improvement projects that need treatment within the 91,000 acre project area. We have successfully treated over 10,000 acres of the project to date. Our goal with Phase 7 is to treat 1,664 acres under a partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation. This partnership jointly funds a shared position to help increase and maintain capacity for the multiple contracts being implemented in order to increase the pace and scale of restoration. 1) Hazard Tree Removal: A significant amount of hazard trees flank miles of system roads within the Upper Provo Watershed. These standing dead trees pose a risk to the high vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and have potential to interfere with the road and waterways as well as fire spread. Hazard tree removal will drastically help us increase our ability to manage fire in these areas, the more disturbance (i.e. fuel reduction, prescribed fire, disruption of fuel continuity) on the land the less potential we have for large scale fire. Following the procedures of previous stages of the project, some of the cut wood will be decked for future firewood gathering or sale as well. 2) Lop and Scatter: Trees will be dropped and scattered in order to place the serotinous cones on the ground to provide seed for regeneration. In contact with the heated ground these cones would open and disperse the seeds. Boles would be limbed and the branches scattered. In concentrated areas some boles may need to be piled and burned to avoid heavy ground fuel loading. Otherwise, down logs will provide good microsite protection and long term nutrient cycling. 3) Pile Burning: By burning piles of cut conifer, ground fuels are reduced and openings are created on the forest floor. This increases foraging habitat for multiple species of wildlife and lowers the probability of unnatural wildfire.

1) Hazard Tree Removal: We are targeting 667 acres along Highway 150 and in the Murdock Basin area for treatment utilizing hand felling and or heavy machinery such as excavators, skidders, yarders. This treatment will eliminate mostly standing dead that pose a hazard to the Hwy 150 corridor and create a larger fuel break that can be used by Fire Management. 2) Lop and Scatter: East of Highway 150 near the Murdock Basin 997 acres. This treatment will aid in seed dispersal and nutrient recycling as well as increase the availability of forage for mule deer and elk as well as increasing their ability to migrate from transitional/summer ranges. This treatment will reduce fuels that could cause catastrophic wildfire, while providing firewood to fuel wood permittees. 3) Pace and Scale of Pile Burning Effort: Reduces fuels remaining on the forest floor that would increase severity of wildfire. The piles should be burned in a timely manner, once conditions allow, before they increase the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

1) Hazard Tree Removal- Highway 150 is a heavily used recreation corridor, and public safety is potentially at risk should a wildfire occur in the area (as identified in a 2005 Fireshed Assessment). Reducing hazardous fuels along the corridor will help mitigate this public safety issue and create fuel breaks for future fire management. 2) Lop and Scatter- Felling standing dead and unhealthy conifer will provide forage space for wildlife. Clearing these areas will be more difficult and expensive if no action is taken. These clearings will be further reduced if areas are not treated.

UDWR. 2006. CONSERVATION AGREEMENT AND STRATEGY FOR COLUMBIA SPOTTED FROG (RANA LUTEIVENTRIS) IN THE STATE OF UTAH. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Publication Number 06-01, Salt Lake City, UT. Cites that: "Habitat loss and degradation have been indicated as major causes of the declines in spotted frog populations and distribution" pp.22. - UDWR. 2005. BOREAL TOAD (BUFO BOREAS BOREAS) CONSERVATION PLAN. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Publication Number 05-37, Salt Lake City, UT. Indicates that habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and fire intensity/effect are threatening BT populations. pp.12-17. - RANGE-WIDE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT AND STRATEGY FOR BONNEVILLE CUTTHROAT TROUT (Oncorhynchus clarki utah). Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Publication Number 00-19, Salt Lake City, UT. Talks to the risks from large fire on the species. Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest Revised Forest Management Plan (RFP). Uinta Forest Plan - 2003 Land and Resource Management Plan, Uinta National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/uwcnf/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5076960&width=full 2003 Wasatch Cache Forest Plan. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/uwcnf/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5076923&width=full The Upper Provo Restoration Project falls within the Western Uintas Management Area. Vegetation management activities in the project area center on trying to improve soil, water, and vegetation conditions within the Upper Provo Watershed to restore the overall watershed health; the proper functioning of physical, biological and chemical conditions. -Biodiversity/Viability Desired future conditions for Vegetation and Disturbance Processes for the Western Uintas Management Area (USDA Forest Service, 2003; 4-179) include: -Beaver Creek Area: Mechanical thinning of invading species (such as Juniper and Gambel Oak) followed by prescribed fire or mastication will be employed to maintain the unique Ponderosa pine component of the landscape. Gambel oak and mountain brush will be managed to increase age class diversity and reduce fuel loading adjacent to private property. Sagebrush will be managed to increase the diversity of age classes and decrease canopy cover of juniper, as a consequence increase grass-forb cover. Social (non-recreation) Desired Future Conditions for the Western Uintas Management Area include (USDA Forest Service, 2003; 4-190): -Risks to private property from unwanted fire will be reduced through close coordination with local communities. In the Soapstone and Weber River summer home areas, permit holders, The State of Utah Department of Natural Resources and private homeowners will work Cooperatively to provide fuel breaks and defensible space. -Forest-wide Subgoals (USDA Forest Service, 2003) that are applicable to this project and fuels/fire ecology are: -2h. Maintain and/or restore diversity, productivity, vigor, and regenerative capacity of native and desired nonnative riparian and wetland plant communities to provide an amount and distribution of large woody debris characteristic of natural aquatic & riparian ecosystems; provide adequate summer & winter thermal regulation; and to help achieve rates of surface erosion and channel migration characteristic of those under which desired communities develop. -3d. Restore or maintain fire-adapted ecosystems (consistent with land uses, historic fire regimes, and other Forest Plan direction) through wildland fire use, prescribed fire, timber harvest or mechanical treatments. -3f. Maintain or restore species composition, such that the species that occupy any given site are predominantly native species in the kind and amount that were historically distributed across the landscapes. 4d. Reduce hazardous fuels (prescribed fire, silvicultural and mechanical treatments) with emphasis on interface communities (wildland/urban) and increase proactive participation of communities at risk. -Forest Guidelines and Desired Conditions applicable to this project and fuels/fire ecology include: -Minimize the amount and impact of smoke from "fire use" activities by identifying smoke-sensitive areas, using "best available control measures," monitoring smoke impacts, and following guidance in State smoke management plans. -Manage vegetation for properly functioning conditions at the landscape scale. Desired structure and pattern for cover types of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest are as follows except in the Wildland Urban Interface, where vegetation structure and pattern should be managed to reduce threat of severe fire to property and human safety. -(G3.1A-1) Timber harvest, vegetation/fuel treatments, prescribed fire, and wildland fire use are allowed only for the purposes of maintaining, improving or restoring riparian and aquatic habitat to desired conditions or to protect property in the wildland urban interface -(G3.1W-1) Vegetation/fuel treatment, prescribed fire, and wildland fire use are allowed for the purposes of maintaining, improving or restoring watersheds to desired conditions, and to protect property in the wildland urban interface. -(G3.2U-1) Vegetation/fuel treatment, prescribed fire and wildland fire use are allowed for the purposes of maintaining, improving or restoring terrestrial habitat, for hazardous fuel reduction, and to protect property in the wildland urban interface. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan 2014 The project is designated as a crucial summer range for Mule Deer. Section IV Statewide management goals and objectives. This project will address Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2013 (p11-12). Strategy F. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinyon-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages. https://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame/pdf/mule_deer_plan.pdf -Deer Herd Unit Management Plan- Deer Herd Unit #7 (Kamas) The limiting factor for big game in this management unit is the lack of adequate amounts of good quality winter range. There are areas that are experiencing juniper encroachment and are in need of treatments to address this problem. Issues: juniper encroachment and annual grass competition reducing the amount of browse species available to wintering wildlife. - Utah Elk Statewide Management Plan (2015) Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. Strategies: B. Habitat Management a) Coordinate with land management agencies and private landowners to properly manage and improve elk habitat, especially calving and wintering areas. C. Watershed Restoration Initiative a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. i) Identify habitat projects on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat. ii) Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages through the use of controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas with minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns. Habitat Objective 2: Reduce adverse impacts to elk herds and elk habitat. Strategies: C. Noxious Weed Control a) Work with land management agencies and county weed boards to control the spread of noxious and invasive weeds throughout the range of elk in Utah. This project will remove fuels and yet not likely reduce fire risk as moisture content in treated areas would probably prevent wildfire. Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #7 Kamas UNIT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES Habitat -Maintain and improve forage production on all winter range within this unit for the planning period. -Continue working with private landowners and the United States Forest Service (USFS) to protect winter range from future losses. Utah Moose Statewide Management Plan: -Initiate prescribed burns and other vegetative treatment projects to improve moose habitat lost to ecological succession or human impacts. Utah Black Bear Management Plan: -Successional replacement of aspen stands by conifers can significantly reduce bear-food production in aspen communities. Both fire and selective logging of conifers can be used to maintain aspen vigor. State of Utah - Resource Management Plan (pg 236) - Expand Wildlife Populations - Protect existing habitat and improve 500,000 acres of habitat - Produce and maintain the desired vegetation for wildlife and livestock. Summit County Resource Management Plan - Work with jurisdictional agencies to provide for and enhance the health of wildlife habitats in Summit County. State of Utah - Forest Service Shared Stewardship Agreement -This project falls within priority watersheds identified by the State of Utah and the Forest Service for treatment under the signed Stewardship Agreement of May 2019 between Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

In 2018, two large fires occurred in the Upper Provo/Hwy 150 area. Slate and Murdock, these two being the most well known in the Kamas area. The two most prominent differences between these fires were the standing dead component of the Murdock Fire and the more functioning/diverse ecosystem of the Slate Fire and how they burned. The Slate fire had a more functioning ecosystem and less standing dead trees. Murdock burned close to 6,000 acres and with high severity. Slate burned at a more moderate fire severity with more of a patchwork across the landscape. In 2020, the Upper Provo Fire burned over 480 acres of mixed conifer and Lodgepole Pine adjacent to the Murdock Fire burn, but did not burn with such high severity. These burn areas will act as a fuel break, which should prevent future fires from spreading easily across the basin. By mechanically treating throughout the Upper Provo watershed, we hope to mimic the conditions of the Slate Fire with any natural start or RX. The Upper Provo project is located near the community of Samak, which has been identified by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands as a Community at Risk. The project is located along Highway 150, a heavily used recreation corridor and designated scenic byway. Numerous campgrounds and recreation access points dot the highway. The current fuel conditions pose a risk to public safety due to ingress/egress issues, as identified in a 2005 Fireshed Assessment. The 2013 Northern Utah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan identifies this area as a moderate - high risk area for wildfire. In addition, the change fire condition class will reduce the risk of unwanted fire effects and increase public and firefighter safety. This watershed ranks among the highest throughout the state for the new shared stewardship risk to value resources. The priority ranking map developed cooperatively between the State of Utah and the Forest Service looks at drinking water, hazardous fuels and strategic protection. This watershed supplies two primary Central Utah Water Conservancy reservoirs (Deer Creek & Jordanelle) and Utah lake.

These vegetation treatments are expected to result in an overall improvement in Riparian Habitat Conservation Area wildfire resiliency and will contribute to the attainment of the Riparian Management Objectives that have been established for the Upper Provo Project (Upper Provo Watershed Restoration Project Environmental Assessment, 2015), including: * Maintain or improve water quality and attainment of established beneficial uses of surface waters within the project area. * Maintain or improve instream habitat features and characteristics. * Maintain or improve stream channel stability and floodplain function. * Maintain or improve non-point source pollutant filtering capacity of RHCAs. * Maintain or improve timing and variability of water tables in meadows, wetlands, and riparian corridors. All of which will benefit Deer Creek Reservoir (a receiving body for Provo River Watershed) which has a current TMDL for TDS - which this project will mitigate. Additionally, the treatment will result in an increase in ground cover and a subsequent reduction in erosion potential. Water Quality will not decrease as BMP's will be utilized to remove potential impacts during treatment. Wetland Encroachment- Removal of conifers may increase water quantity. Water Quality will not change as BMP's will be utilized to remove potential impacts.

NEPA will be completed prior to project implementation. Projects can proceed forward once funding is received. Archaeology clearances were completed during phase I of the project in FY 19. SHPO has concurred with the project. Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is completed and concurrence letter received. NEPA was completed in March of 2019.

667 acres of Hazard Tree Removal- Trees will be removed with either chainsaws or mechanized equipment. Masticators, feller bunchers, or processor heads may be used to remove trees as well. Some of the cut wood will be decked for future firewood gathering. 997 acres of Lop & Scatter- This will be performed by hand, leaving felled trees on the ground for seed dispersal, nutrient recycling, and habitat enhancement.

Monitoring by USFS personnel will be on-going and consist of two parts. The first will be to determine re-encroachment by non-riparian vegetation and the second will be to assess aquatic and semi-aquatic organism uses, particularly amphibians. 22 established vegetation plots will be revisited and walk through surveys will be completed at least once post treatment by USFS personnel. Data collection will include ocular estimates of shrub and ground cover, and juniper density measurements. A monitoring report will be completed and uploaded to the project database.

National Wild Turkey Foundation- The Forest Service has partnered with NWTF through a participation agreement allowing them to help with contract oversight and administration. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources - Northern Region Aquatics have assisted in selection of meadow encroachment treatment areas and jointly (with USFS) monitor amphibian populations. Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands- Worked with Northern region FMO and WUI coordinator on identifying areas targeted for project work. USFS- Fuels program and wildlife biologist identified and laid groundwork for areas identified. Permittee- Allotment permittee willing to work with USFS on grazing in areas looking to have work implemented, understanding the benefit to livestock grazing.

If FS monitoring efforts show renewed encroachment, further treatments will be undertaken. Grazing will continue where currently allowed. Re-treatments of RX fire, lop scatter and mastication will be undertaken if veg plot surveys indicate a need. All other permitted public uses will continue on Project lands as before

Reduction in fuels will help improve game habitat, increase available grass and sage, propagate aspen, and improve watershed conditions. The project is within an active cattle allotment that will benefit from increased forage. Recreation and hunting will benefit from protection against uncontrolled fire and hazardous trees over travel routes as well as improved habitat. Timber will be made available to the local logging industry through the cut and deck treatments and fire wood will be readily available to the public in the treatment areas. The overall goal of this project is to reduce the potential for uncharacteristically high fire severity. We want to allow fire to naturally play its role within this ecosystem. Both hand and mechanical fuel reduction projects are critical to our success in reaching that goal. Future healthy stands of high quality trees will be created for future timber harvest.

08/01/2022

10/31/2022

2023

553 acres of treatment were completed by Cutting Edge Forestry for phase 7 of the Upper Provo Watershed Restoration Project during 2022. Of the 553 acres treated, 10 acres were lopped and scattered, and 543 acres were hazard tree removal. These treatments focused around FR416 that connects Murdock Basin Road to Broadhead Meadows as well as several ATV trails in the area. The 543 acres of hazard tree removal were spread out over 11 units, while there was one unit of lop and scatter. Hazard Tree Removal- 543 acres of hazard tree removal were completed in October of 2022 in the areas surrounding FR416 in 300ft wide units along roadways as well as wider units to connect them. This treatment involved creating 20-foot bole-to-bole spacing in the conifer for 150ft on each side of the road in units 5 & 6, 150 ft from the edge of wetlands for units 7 & 8, and larger areas for the 7 other units. This was achieved by cutting all standing dead/damaged trees as well as trees under 8" DBH to achieve the spacing. All remaining trees over 8-inch DBH were limbed no less than 6-feet above ground. Maximum stump and cut brush height were no more than 6-inches high from the ground on the downhill side. All cut material under 6" diameter and was then piled to make piles between 8x8x8ft and 20x20x15ft in size. All material with a diameter greater than 10 inches was limbed and bucked into 6-foot lengths and scattered along the ground. Slash (limbless and branchless trees) greater than approximately 8 inches in diameter was left scattered on the ground (for firewood gathers) with limbs and branches removed. Lop and Scatter- 10 Acres of lop and scatter were completed in September of 2022 along a section of FR416 that goes through the burn scar of the Upper Provo Fire of 2020. This treatment involved creating 20-foot bole-to-bole spacing in the conifer for 150ft on each side of FR416. This was achieved by cutting all standing dead/damaged trees as well as trees under 8" DBH to achieve the spacing. All remaining trees over 8-inch DBH were limbed no less than 6-feet above ground. Maximum stump and cut brush height were no more than 6-inches high from the ground on the downhill side. All the cut material was scattered so slash height did not exceed 12-inches above the ground. If boles were stacked or jack-strawed, they must be cut to reduce slash height to 12-inches or less. Cut branches did not exceed 48-inches in length.

Phase 7 of the Upper Provo Watershed Restoration Project was completed from August 2022-October 2022 using a combination of funds from USFS, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Utah DNR, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Safari Club International. The funds ran through the fiscal year of 2023 and consisted of hazard tree removal and lop and scatter treatments. Within the past 4 years there have been 4 separate wildfires in or adjacent to the watershed. Cumulative fuel loading due to beetle infestations and fire suppression has escalated the risk for catastrophic wildfire. These treatments focused on areas within or adjacent to the Upper Provo Fire burn scar to expand the fuel break that the burn scar was providing. These treatments add to the existing system of fuel breaks within the watershed that will aid in future fire management. In addition to the increasing resilience to catastrophic wildfire, these treatments create openings that allow wildlife to forage and move from Summer to Winter grounds. Along with previous phases, over 8,500 acres have been treated within the watershed to create an extensive system of fuel breaks. These areas will enter a maintenance cycle for the unforeseen future to maintain resiliency and restoration.

543 of the 553 acres treated during phase 7 contain piles that need to be burned after 1-2 years of curing. The piles from these treatment areas will need to be burned during future autumn/winter months, which may require multiple entries to minimize scorching and maximize consumption. These areas of strategic fuel breaks can be used to manage future wildfires and decrease fire spread and intensity when they enter the watershed. The hazard tree removal units will be monitored after the piles have been burned to ensure logs/torched trees do not threaten the roadways. The treated areas will enter a maintenance program once completed to ensure their effectiveness. Vegetation plots located within the project area will also be monitored using ocular estimates and post-treatment analysis. Two of the hazard tree removal units that were originally planned were not treated due to lack of funding. These units will be treated in phase 8 and ultimately burned after the piles have cured 1-2 years. There are more phases in the planning process within the watershed that will further the goal of creating a system of fuel breaks across the watershed.