This mitigation project is needed to gain proper permitting and approval from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to continue the Willard Spur Parking lot expansion project plans. Furthermore, this mitigation project is designed to restore and enhance wetlands at Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area (OBWMA). Currently, there are several small impoundments on the northeastern end of OBWMA that are non-functioning. Historically, culverts were in place, so managers could flood these playas through a diverse culvert system when the river was high. These playas have not functioned for a few decades now, primarily due to lack of water and down cutting of the Weber River. This project is a WIN-WIN, allowing the approval for permitting from the USACE for the Willard Spur Parking lot Expansion project and re-establishing and restoring excellent nesting and foraging habitat for waterfowl and upland birds on OBWMA.

1. Gain approval from the USACE of mitigation plan needed to carry out the project; Willard Spur Parking Lot Expansion (5760). 2. Purchase a 6" trailered diesel pump that will allow managers to fill wetland playas. Ultimately restoring and enhancing non-functioning wetlands at OBWMA, which will fulfill mitigation requirements by the USACE. 3. Refurbish levees and install new water control structures, which will allow managers to successfully manage water levels and restore nesting and foraging habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and upland birds on OBWMA. Furthermore, a 6" trailered diesel pump will allow managers to fulfill mitigation requirements. Once playa's and connecting ditches are filled to meet USACE requirements, the use of the diesel pump would also be advantageous to successfully irrigate shrub rows in various locations on the WMA. In addition to the shrub rows/ditches, the pump could be utilized in growing diversity among food plots that will provide a variety of food types for a variety of species using the WMA. This will help restore many lost acres of wetlands and upland habitat benefiting not only waterfowl, shorebirds, and upland birds, but increasing huntable area and hunter opportunity as well. Having water in this area will also allow for new shrub rows and shelter belts to be planted.

There will be minor threats/risks associated with this project, primarily to the non-functioning portions of wetlands. Reintroducing constant water on the area may germinate invasive species such as phragmites. However, managers perform intensive weed spraying yearly to eliminate these threats. Currently, an engineer is conducting a wetland delineation on the area with both wildlife/habitat assessments before any permitting for the mitigation project is approved by the USACE.

This Mitigation project directly relates to both, the Willard Spur WMA Habitat Management plan (HMP) as well as the Ogden Bay HMP: Purpose of Willard Spur WMA; (c) provide recreational opportunity for traditional marsh-related activities, including hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing, including access with airboats and other small watercraft [See Appendix B]. This enlarged parking area directly supports the HMP by providing more room for both consumptive and non-consumptive users to SAFELY park their vehicles and access the WMA easier and more efficiently for recreation at the Spur. This project relates directly to the primary purpose of Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area as stated in the Ogden Bay WMA Habitat Management Plan: To preserve, restore, and enhance both aquatic and terrestrial habitat for wildlife; increase wildlife populations to meet wildlife management objectives; conserve, protect, and recover sensitive wildlife species and their habitats; protect cultural resources; and provide for recreational opportunities that are compatible with the purpose of upland and wetland ecosystems. In relation to WAP:Objective #1 for Droughts Terrestrial SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought condition over that past several years has reduced the resilience of highly functional upland habitats. In order to maintain, and rehabilitate these upland habitats, renovation and reseeding is necessary in order to minimize the impacts of drought. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 3.3.1 Develop list of priority reintroduction species and locations Objective #1 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-native plant problems remain free from the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants. Actions to achieve objective: 2.2.2 Survey, inventory established, and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Develop public information and educational programs aimed at encouraging attitudes and behaviors that are positive for wildlife conservation. Objective #2 for Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native Invasive plant dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically). 2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.5 Conduct mechanical control of invasive/problematic species. Other Ecosystem Modifications Objective #2 for Other Ecosystem Modifications Land management agencies and agents develop vegetation management projects that avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to species and habitats identified as vulnerable to these threats such as brush eradication. Habitat modification and loss is being mitigated by perennial plantings, food plots and shrub rows.

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Water will be used to fill the playas from current Ogden Bay WMA water rights.

The project area will be reviewed by the DWR archaeologist for cultural resource compliance. Also, USACE will be reviewing this project, to ensure it meets all water quality and USACE guidelines.

The method for this project will be: receiving proper permitting from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Purchase a 6" trailered diesel pump, as well as the needed supplies to pump water from to Weber River into adjacent playas desired to flood. Have Utah's Waterfowl Maintenance crew use heavy equipment to reshape existing levees and install new culverts in locations designated by the project engineer. Ultimately restoring and enhancing nonfunctioning wetlands at OBWMA. This will fulfill mitigation requirements by the USACE, and allow managers to successfully manage water levels and restore nesting and foraging habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and upland birds. Providing greater hunter opportunity and an increased huntable area on OBWMA.

Weekly monitoring will take place in order to ensure that the infrastructure is intact and impoundment water levels are as managers desire in order to fulfill mitigation requirements. when water levels are low, managers will utilize the pump and fill playas to the desired depth. Photo points will be established to monitor changes within the area.

SFW

Management of this mitigation site will be performed indefinitely into the future of OBWMA. Weekly monitoring will persist and managers will budget accordingly to ensure pump runs smoothly and efficiently as needed.

This is an area that has flooded in the spring 2 times in the past 20 years. There is an incredible amount of wildlife habitat that can be improved and wildlife use should prosper. Uplands are becoming a more and more scarce habitat along the Wasatch front and having the ability to improve hundreds of acres because of this project, will benefit both wildlife and hunters.

07/01/2022

06/30/2023

2023

The methods used for successfully completing this project were: receiving proper permitting from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Purchase a 6" trailered diesel pump, as well as the needed supplies to pump water from to Weber River into adjacent playas desired to flood. Our Northern Region Waterfowl Maintenance crew used heavy equipment to reshape existing levees and install new culverts in locations designated by the project engineer. Ultimately, we have restored and enhancing nonfunctioning wetlands at OBWMA. This will fulfill mitigation requirements by the USACE, and allow managers to successfully manage water levels and restore nesting and foraging habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and upland birds. This restored area should increase greater hunter opportunity and increased huntable area on OBWMA.

This mitigation project was needed to gain proper permitting and approval from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to continue the Willard Spur Parking lot expansion project plans. Furthermore, this mitigation project is designed to restore and enhance wetlands at Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area (OBWMA). Prior to this project, there were several small impoundments on the northeastern end of OBWMA that were non-functioning. Historically, culverts were in place, so managers could flood these playas through a diverse culvert system when the river was high. These playas have not functioned for a few decades now, primarily due to lack of water and down cutting of the Weber River. This project was a WIN-WIN, gaining approval for permitting from the USACE for the Willard Spur Parking Lot Expansion project which was completed (09/01/2023) and re-establishing and restoring excellent nesting and foraging habitat for waterfowl and upland birds at OBWMA, enhancing nearly 70 acres of habitat.

Because this is a designated mitigation project with USACE approval, vegetation & habitat monitoring along with a designated report will be conducted yearly and submitted to the USACE for verification that all mitigation efforts are being maintained appropriately. This will be a consecutive report necessary for 5 years. Future monitoring of habitat and desired vegetations will be conducted into the indefinite future @ OBWMA.