Long Hollow is nesting/brood rearing, winter, and summer greater sage grouse habitat, provides summer and transitional range for mule deer management unit. Pronghorn use the areas for throughtout the year besides winter, and this area provides important fawning habitat for pronghorn. This area also provide year-round habitat for small number of elk on the unit. Cattle are grazed on these two permits (long Hollow and Minersville #5) by two different permit holders. Fire has burned large sections of both permits some as recent as 2018 which provides large areas of different successional states of plant communities. Some of the sagebrush and bitterbrush has become decadent and is not providing much benefit for wildlife and livestock in the area. In these the primary understory is crested wheatgrass from old seedings, and the diversity is lacking, especially in the forb component. While the understory is intact and still relatively healthy, a threshold is nearing that may result in the loss of browse species and result in watershed impacts. Wildlife in this area has a high value to the state of Utah and local economies. The Beaver mule deer management unit has long been a "household" name when it comes to trophy quality and hunter satisfaction. Enhancing mule deer habitat is crucial for the future of this unit. Other highly prized game species includes the Beaver pronghorn herd. Increased forage and plant diversity will also benefit mule deer in this area. Mule deer populations have struggled on the Beaver Unit in recent years and lack of quality habitat is a major contributor to their decline. The Beaver Pronghorn herd is another prized big game species that has thrived in Bald Hills. Some of Utah's largest trophy pronghorn have come from this unit, but trophy aside the resilient of this population has allowed managers to offer generous amounts of tags. The Beaver pronghorn unit provides hunters and wildlife watchers opportunities to enjoy viewing and harvesting pronghorn in the state. With the previous treatments in WRI 5630 including cleaning and lining of a pond and lop and scatter pronghorn are seen in this area regularly. Non-game species have thrived in this valley. Greater sage grouse populations have been in peril for years and petitioned for listing as an endangered species. As mentioned above the treatment area is crucial to every part of the greater sage grouse lifecycle. Breeding, nesting, raising their young, to surviving the harsh winter that can linger on this high elevation. Every stage of a sage grouse's life history takes place in this area and the treatment will increase the amount of available habitat allowing the population to increase. Due to the lack of fire on the landscape sagebrush has reached a ecological threshold, increasing the threat of wildfire, and catastrophic loss of wildlife habitat, and even worst the potential loss of human life and personal property. As pointed out by UDWR Utah Prairie Dog Biologist, the harrow and seeding will improve UPD habitat. Iron County has improved UPD habitat just south on a section that they had purchased. The seed mix planted with it rich forb component will be benefit UPD assuming make it to the treatment site. UPD prefer open spaces that provide vantage points for visibility to establish colonies. In an effort to increase the success of the seeded grasses and forbs and increase watershed health we are planning to place 80 Zeedyks Structures in the treated areas to help slow run off, increase peculation, and increase forb and native grasses. The permittee on this allotment has been hauling water for many years. Constructing this water system will relieve the need for significant time and resources that have been dedicated to hauling water in the past. The water system will improve livestock distribution across the allotment and will provide additional water to wildlife during the season of use. This allotment encompasses 7,536 acres and supports 728 cattle aums. Hauling water can be a large drain on time and resources for permittees

1. Increase water distribution on Minersville #5 Permit. 2. Increase grass and forbs by 40% in sagebrush treated sites. 3. Diversify the age and cover density of brush to serve wildlife and domestic livestock. 4. Allow livestock manager(s) to be able to control their livestock to prevent over utilization by fencing and water distribution.

Below are some of some thresholds/threats/risks we feel impact this project ecologically. We also listed some social and financial thresholds for consideration associated with the project because they too impact our ability to complete the project for ecological benefits. ECOLOGICAL Sagebrush has reached a climax in section 2 and as a result that is also well documented in the literature the range or habitat becomes less productive and the watershed and ecology is threaten (habitat Guidelines for Mule Deer2007). In this case the sagebrush has reached a state where it is old, decanted and as a result grasses, forbs, and young sagebrush are nearly non-existent. By chaining the brush and seeding we anticipate that grasses, forb, and sagebrush will response well and will create a healthier landscape. Dalhgren documented that doing relative small-scale sagebrush treatments will increase the health of the sagebrush community and provide diversity of sagebrush and age class. Sage grouse brooding rearing habit is limit primarily to the lack of grasses and forbs that attract insects crucial to chick survival. Increases these grass and forbs will increase the insects, mixed with the mosaic of older sagebrush this area should be considered excellent for sage grouse brood rear. Proper water distribution is necessary for good range management, A.W. Sampson said in 1929 "in the stocking of the grazing grounds of the Far West the water available for foraging animals was, as it is now, a determine factor in the use of the forage crop". This statement could be more relevant with the drought conditions and lack of water on the landscape. Protection of springs, wet meadows, and riparian habitat, especially in this desert habitat most of upmost importance. Providing water sources in each pasture will allow the livestock producer to follow a rotation, maintain balance in management and provide important water sources for wildlife. Fencing will allow the producer on the Long Hollow permit to rest the harrow treatment for the minimum 2 growing seasons and provide a pasture system for better management in the future. This fence will be built to wildlife friendly standards and be marked with wildlife markers in an effort to reduce wildlife/fence entanglement or collisions. SPECIES Although it was determined by the USFWS that listing under the ESA was not warranted for Greater sage grouse there is an impending review to see if further action or protection is needed. Continuing to do work as identified in the Statewide Sage Grouse Management Plan to conserve sage grouse will support a continued "not warranted" status. Land managers, biologists, and researchers familiar with the project area feel it is very important for sage grouse because available habitat seems to be the limiting factor for population growth here. As habitat is made available VHF and GPS collar data show immediate use. By completing this project, we are addressing an immediate threat to one of the primary limiting factors for this population. As previously mentioned, the area has been identified as priority for restoration of mule deer habitat under the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan. Allowing the areas sage brush and browse species degradation will potentially lead to large scale fire and/or largescale die offs from disease and drought. As described above the area is within a designated Bird Habitat Conservation Area (BHCA) with priority being sagebrush obligate birds like sage grouse, sage thrasher, and Brewer's sparrow. Not doing the project will lead to an increase density of pinyon and juniper that will decrease the amount of available habitat for these sage dependent bird species in an area being designated as important for birds. Global climate change has come to the forefront as a 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 scarcer in the West. Preserving and restoring wet areas like this has been identified as a key strategy to mitigate impacts like drought, increasing temperatures, and other impacts that a changing climate will have on humans and wildlife. 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. SOCIO-POLITICAL There is also a social threshold to consider with the private lands as part of this project. Working with of permittees willing to work with agencies to do these projects. This project, including all potential phases, has momentum with private individuals willing to work with land management agencies. Not taking advantage of this while everyone is willing may mean a lost opportunity in the future.

Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Resource Management Plan Beaver and Iron County Weed Management Area Agreement USDI BLM. Utah Land Use Plan Amendment for Fire and Fuels Management. UT-USO-04-01. September 2005. Standards and Guidelines for Healthy Rangelands and Grazing Management (BLM-UT-GI-98-004-1020). BLM Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan 2015 A. The project is consistent with the SGARMP (2015) goals, objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Special Status Species section as follows: Special Status Species Goal: Maintain and/or increase GRSG abundance and distribution by conserving, enhancing or restoring the sagebrush ecosystem upon which populations depend in collaboration with other conservation partners. Refer to the following objectives and management actions in the SGRMPA (Objectives: SSS-3, SSS-4, SSS-5) and Management Actions (MA-SSS-4, MA-SSS-6, MA-SSS7). B. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) objectives and Management Actions that were identified in the Vegetation section as follows: Refer to the following Objectives and Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-VEG-1, MA-VEG-2, MA-VEG-4, MA-VEG-5, MA-VEG-6, MA-VEG-8, MA-VEG-9, MA-VEG-10, MA-VEG-12 and MA-VEG-14). C. The project is consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Fire and Fuels Management section as follows: Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-FIRE-1 and MA-FIRE-3) D. The project is also consistent with the SGARMP (2015) Management Actions that were identified in the Livestock Grazing/Range Management section as follows: Refer to the following Management Actions in the SGRMPA (MA-LG-3, MA-LG-4, MA-LG-5, MA-LG-12, MALG-13, MA-LG-16 and MA-LG-17). Southwest Local Working Group Conservation Plan 2009. The local Working Group has developed a Conservation Plan detailing the natural history, threats, and mitigation measures for sage-grouse in each conservation plan area; and conservation guidelines for any activities occurring in the area. The Utah State Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 (Draft) is a comprehensive management plan designed to conserve native species populations and habitats in Utah, and prevent the need for additional federal listings. Deer Herd Unit Management Plan, Beaver Mountains WMU #22 (2015) Habitat objectives are to; 1) Maintain or enhance forage production through direct range improvements on winter and summer deer range throughout the unit to achieve population objectives, 2) Maintain critical fawning habitat, and 3) work with federal and state partners in fire rehabilitation and prevention on crucial deer habitat through the WRI process. Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Utah (2005) The priority habitat identified for this area was shrub-steppe, which was identified as a Priority A (High threat, high opportunity, and high value to birds statewide) habitat. Priority birds identified within this area include sage grouse, ferruginous hawk, sage sparrow, and Brewer's sparrow. Sagebrush restoration was identified as an opportunity within this area to address concerns with sagebrush die-off and potential for cheatgrass invasion. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan (2019) -Work with local, state and federal land management agencies and ranchers to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges. -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. Utah Elk Management Plan (2015) * initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve elk habitat with emphasis on calving habitat and winter ranges. * Remove pinyon-juniper encroachment into winter range sagebrush parks, summer, and transitional range mountain brush communities. Elk Management Plan Unit #22 Beaver (2016) -Maintain and/or enhance forage production through direct range improvements throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives. By 2018, improve a minimum of 15,000 acres of elk habitat, with a minimum of 10,000 acres of this total completed in the mountain brush or aspen communities and may include rehabilitation after wildfires. -Work with private and federal agencies to maintain and protect crucial and existing winter Utah Conservation Plan For Greater Sage-Grouse -Protect, maintain and increase sage-grouse habitats within SGMAs at or above 2013 baseline disturbance levels (Gifford et al. 2014), subject to the provisions determined in 1(b) below. -Continue to implement the measures outlined in Govs. executive order (EO/2015/002)--as amended and referenced herein--to conserve sage-grouse populations and habitats while allowing for multiple uses of state, private and federal lands. -Continue to cooperatively implement the strategies outlined in the Utah Strategic Plan for Managing Noxious and Invasive Weeds (2004), including on-the-ground projects that address the threat of invasive weeds on sagebrush ecosystems. -Using the WRI, implement active, passive and natural riparian and mesic restoration projects, including in coordination with those treatments described in 4(d) and 4(e), to increase nesting and brood-rearing habitats. UTAH PRONGHORN STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN (2017) -Identify crucial pronghorn habitats and work with public land managers and private landowners to protect and enhance those areas. -Encourage public land managers, permittees, and wildlife biologists to identify areas of potential conflict between livestock and pronghorn and work together to manage conflicts for the benefit of livestock and pronghorn. -In conjunction with other land management agencies, develop and implement a maintenance schedule for existing water developments and develop new water sources as needed.

The potential for more extreme fires will intensify as brush component ages and increase. By reducing stand densities, the possibility for future larger-scale stand replacing fire events will be decreased. An extreme fire event could lead to a loss of crucial habitat/understory vegetation and the potential for a noxious weed infestation. Fire regimes have been moderately and extensively altered and the risk of losing key ecosystem components from fire is high. Fire has burned large proportions of this area and some areas have burned multiple times due to the conversion to annual grasses. Without this project, fuel conditions are such that an unexpected wildfire may become increasingly difficult to contain, leading to an increased risk to firefighter and public safety, suppression effectiveness and natural resource degradation such as loss of important sage grouse and mule deer habitat.

In the proposed treatment we will be increase the amount of area with health sage brush community. Increasing a healthy brush community should, according to Roth, increase the snowpack amount and the length of time of melting. Increasing moisture infiltration into the soil, thus increasing soil moisture and benefiting the rangelands. Completion of this project would reduce flooding and runoff from heavy rainstorms by depositing woody debris in the gullies to slow and hold back the water. Currently with the pinyon and Juniper on site there is a lot of bare ground available for erosion. By planting this treatment with a variety of grasses, forbs and shrubs the ground cover will be greatly increased, which will decrease the potential for erosion. This herbaceous vegetation is important to reducing overland flow and reducing soil loss. The erosion control treatments are low impact/low risk/high reward type practices. In some of the small gullies and head-cutting need to be addressed. Stopping the head-cuts and aggrading small gullies below can have exponential benefits to soil moisture, water loss, and maintain and increase rare mountain meadow habitats that is an extremely limited habitat type. Concentrated grazing, especially in riparian zones, may reduce vegetative cover and stream bank stability as well as increasing soil erosion (Kauffman et al., 1983). Increasing water across the landscape for livestock not only has benefits for vegetation and the distribution of use, but as a study from Oregon conducted in the fall, Miner et al. (1992) observed that cows spent an average of 25.6 min/d in the stream when it was the only source of water. However, if an off-stream tank was available, cows spent only 1.6 min/d in the stream. Though this treatment site does not have perennial surface water, increasing the amount of available water to livestock and wildlife should decrease the amount of use in areas where seasonal and potentially perennial water may be found.

All practices will be installed according the state and federal requires. Cultural clearances will be done to satisfy appropriate agencies. Treatment will be implemented between August 15 to April 15 to ensure that nesting and brood rearing of sage grouse and other birds are not disturbed.

As ensure that this project is successful, we will be using the state of Utah purchasing to contract the work to take place: Cultural Clearance will be contract though the UDWR Archeologist in coordination with BLM, SITLA and NRCS Archeologist for clearance. Seeding will take place in areas that are to be harrowed and implemented according to the following specifications: SEEDING: Seed will be applied to harrow polygons prior to the harrowing treatment. Seed mix has been developed for wildlife and livestock benefit, including native and drought resistance plants. Seed will be applied using either a fixed winged aircraft or a helicopter. HARROWING: Using a 24' chain harrow from GBRC a contractor will be selected through State of Utah purchasing. The contract will be required to provide the bulldozer style tractor to and systematically pull the harrow through the treatment polygons per UDWR contract. Harrowing will be two-ways in a effort to reduce old and decant brush, stimulate grow, create seed to soil contact to increase grasses and forbs. Fence * New Wood posts, Steel posts, etc. shall be set plumb (vertical), in complete alignment, dirt packed solid and to be sturdy. * All wood posts and wood braces will be Juniper wood (Cedar Posts), unless specified otherwise. * Completed fences shall be in alignment, taut, and solid at all points. * Wire spacing will be measured perpendicular to the ground. * All four strands of barbed wire to be 12.5 gauge, 2 pt. * Tie wire for braces to be 9-gauge steel. * Steel panel gates will be provided and installed by contract. * Steel panel gates must be a minimum of 6-bar, painted, or powder coated, or galvanized, and approved by project manager. * Wood post braces will be used to support steel panel gates. * All metal gates must be hung with a minimum of 8 inches of clearance. * All barbed wire spacing will be 16 inches, 8 inches, 8 inches, and 10 inches, measuring from the ground up. * Height of top strand from ground shall be 42 inches. * Minimum length of 6-foot, quality steel t-posts to be used. * Steel t-posts shall be pounded into the ground such that the spade is completely buried. * Minimum length of 8 ft. Cedar Posts to be used. * Cedar posts shall be buried 3 ft. * Metal: Wood Post Ratio will be 5:1 * Maximum spacing between each post shall be 16.5 feet (one rod). * Two (2) 32 inches stays placed between each fence post. * Line Braces every .25 mile with additional braces where additional stability is required, including tops and bottom of slopes. * All braces will be Juniper (Cedar) Wood. * All corner braces will be constructed from wood "H" style braces. Water system Following NRCS engineer design a contractor will install 2 11' tire troughs, 11 20' ring tanks, pumping plant, 2 storage tanks and pipeline to the troughs for the pumping plant at the well. Zeedyk Structure Construct Zeedyk Structures following erupts from NRCS Conservation Practice 643-Specification Sheet. Construction of structures should be accomplished using materials found on site. Follow-up Herbicide Application Aerial application of herbicide for the control of annual invasive grasses. Herbicide is to be Imazapic at an application rate of 2.5 oz. of herbicide and 5 oz. of crop oil mixed with a minimum of 5 gal of water per acre.

NRCS: Pre and post photopoint monitoring in treatment areas. Sage grouse Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide to be done pre-treatment to assess habitat conditions. UT-2 Range vegetation assessment done pre-treatment and post treatment. UDWR Annual aerial and ground mule deer counts and classifications. Area sage grouse lek counts each spring.

The livestock permitee(s) is committing nearly all of their NRCS 2018 Farm bill dollars to this project. This means that they may not be able to obtain funding from the NRCS till the next Farm Bill which is anticipated in 2023. Through the permittee, the NRCS will be providing over half the funding for the project on public land. It is important to note that these permitees also spent all their 2014 Farm Bill funds on a public lands project just south of this project. SITLA has agreed to partner with us on this project to increase the value of the range and increase the health of their land. The UDWR supports this treatment for the benefit of all wildlife (game and non-game species) that benefit from healthy sagebrush ecosystems. Treatments like these reduce all wildlife utilize more habitat and allow wildlife managers to better manage populations through hunting and hunter dispersal. BLM is helping with the install, fund clearances of the fence, water system, and cultural and environmental clearances. BLM has helped in the planning of the harrow and in the future after surveying for pygmy rabbits plans to also harrow to diversify brush age class.

Any seeded areas will require a MINIMUM 2-year rest to establish seeded species. The permittee has committed to keep livestock off the seeding while it establishes, and fence will allow partial use of the permit and then provide a pasture fence in the future. This project will also help the landowner better distribute and graze not only his private property but also his adjacent public allotments. This means the potential for improved range management and range conditions moving forward. The private landowners will enter into a contract with NRCS. NRCS will monitor the treatment for the first 2 years as part of the permittee contract. UDWR Farm Bill Biologist will establish photo points to a 5-year post treatment reading.

The forage quality and availability would greatly increase in the area after implementation of the project. Completion of this project would help distribute animal use over the area, which would reduce concentrated use in certain areas. This area is popular for hunting elk and deer to the public. Improving the habitat for hunting and wildlife viewing is important for the local community, and Iron and Beaver County. ATV and OHV frequent the areas often to view and enjoy the wildlife and wild places. This treatment will enhance the beauty and the opportunity to view and enjoy Utah's wildlife and wild places. Improving landscapes has the potential and has been proven to have positive economic impacts on the surrounding communities and the business in the area. We anticipate that Beaver and Iron County(s) residents will be see positive economic impacts that will continue to help draw people to enjoy their county.