PREVIOUS PHASES Before I get into the need of the project I'd like to acquaint you with the incredible work already accomplished with this landowner (See attached photos/documents and please check out the video in the video tab too for complete drone footage). It's amazing what happens when you reacquaint land with water. We've been able to complete incredible wetland restorations with this landowner on land that has been dried up for maybe 150 years. The completed areas restored are buzzing with insects, amphibians, birds, bats, elk, deer, turkeys, and beavers. Not to mention the ground water recharge, water filtration, and temperature cooling processes happening. We've completed 24+ wetlands of varying shapes, sizes, and depth with maybe 40-50 acres of wetted hydric wetland soils. This is a big deal in Desert Southern Utah, I'm yet to see another wetland restoration project of this size here. INTRODUCTION Today, less than 1% of Utah's total land is wetlands. Seventy-five percent of these remaining wetlands are part of the Greater Great Salt Lake Ecosystem. In Southern Utah not only are wetlands rare, they are ultra-rare, making up an extremely small portion of the landscape. Having said this wetlands are disproportionally important on the landscape. Habitats near water -- streamsides, wet meadows and wetlands -- support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled. As stated, wetland habitat is the rarest type of habitat in Utah, yet the role of wetland habitat on the landscape is substantial. Within Utah, 66-75% of all bird species use mesic habitats during some portion of their life history. Typically, diversity and abundance of birds dramatically increases in western mesic habitat compared with other habitat types(Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy 2.0, 2002). Other research shows that 60--80% of wildlife are dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). In Utah it is said as much as 80% of mesic habitat occurs on private lands. These private mesic lands critically important to the health of wildlife populations across public and private lands. If true wildlife conservation is to take place on a sustainable level, public wildlife managers must engage private landowners. It is important that we continue to work in these areas that are critically important to the landscape around them, and because these wet areas are mostly private it is extremely important to work with private landowners restoring these areas whenever possible. Wet habitat is the zipper that ties the ecology of the surrounding landscapes together. Not working in these wet areas puts adjacent habitat and wildlife at risk. Climate change has come to the forefront as a global 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 more scarce in the West. Preserving and restoring wet areas has been identified as a key way to mitigate impacts like drought, increasing temperatures, and other impacts that a changing climate will have on humans and wildlife. The importance of wetlands cannot be overstated, especially in a water starved landscape like Utah and in the midst climate change and drought. PROVEN CONCEPT This project is phase III of wetland restoration with this particular landowner. Previous work has been an incredible success due to many partners and a committed landowner. A WORD ON POLLINATORS Yep, we're claiming pollinators so hear us out. Some of the most forb diverse habitats are those around water. By improving uplands to benefit riparian areas we are improving pollinator habitat. Furthermore, conservationists are coming to realize the importance of late season forb vegetation for migrating monarch butterflies. If you don't know, monarchs are a USFWS candidate species. Late season food sources are necessary to get them through migration and to winter habitats in Mexico and California. Wetted habitats have those late season nectar sources. NOW A WORD ON GAME SPECIES This particular property is a very important to elk, mule deer, and wild turkeys on the Boulder Unit. These species use this property as stopover habitat as they migrate to and from summer ranges.

Grazing * Concentrate surface and subsurface water from springs into wetland depressions to maximize rotational grazing capacity. Natural Wetland Concepts * Construct wetland depressions mimicking natural wetlands (not deep fishing ponds) at varying sizes, depths, and shapes to maximize the diversity in habitat types and maximize the diversity of wildlife benefiting.

There are many ecological threats one could list here. With the added emphasis of why WRI needs to fund this project now and not later I will say only this. Drought, climate change, rising temperatures, water shortages, and threats relating to precipitation timing and amounts are are disrupting natural ecologies and human systems such as agriculture and economies. We need to act immediately whenever the opportunity arises to work with the public in restoring mesic habitats. The opportunity might not be there next year.

1. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Plan (12/5/2019-12/5/2024) "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" "Work with local, state and federal land management agencies and ranchers to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges." "Minimize impacts and recommend mitigation for losses of crucial habitat due to human impacts." "Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah." "Support existing and explore additional incentive programs for landowners that will increase tolerance, enhance habitat, and promote deer populations on private lands such as the CWMU, landowner permit, Walk-In Access programs, etc." This project falls in the Crucial Mule Deer Habitat Priorities. 2. Deer Herd Unit Management Plan, Deer Herd Boulder Mountain "A major proportion of both summer and winter habitat for deer on this unit is on private land. Therefore, it is paramount to work with private landowners to maintain both summer and winter habitat. 3. Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan * "Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat.' * "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 controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas with minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns." 4. USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Strategic Plan "Project addresses habitat threats for a priority species within a PFW priority area (Plateau Focus Area) for restoration work." 5. Intermountain West Joint Venture Habitat Conservation Strategy "Support existing public-private partnerships to implement sagebrush habitat conservation, at regional, state, and local scales." "Remove encroaching conifers to functionally restore sagebrush habitat." 6. Utah Wildlife Action Plan "Wetland habitat is a key habitat identified in the WAP." "This project will be addressing threats to species identified in the WAP of greatest conservation need." 7. State of Utah Resource Management Plan "Develop mechanisms and policies to incentivize private landowners throughout Utah to conserve valuable wildlife habitat throughout Utah." 8. Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy Version 2.0 "Lowland riparian habitat conservation is identified as being critical for several species of songbirds for breeding habitat." 9.State of Utah Resource Management Plan "Conserve, improve, and restore 500,000 acres of mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges." "Protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state by 2025" 10.Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan "Maintain and improve wild turkey populations to habitat or social carrying capacity" Objective1.Stabilize populations that are declining outside of natural population fluctuations; especially through catastrophic events (i.e. following fires, severe winters, etc.). Strategy c: Conduct habitat projects to address limiting factors. Objective 2.Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. Strategy d: Conduct habitat improvement projects in limiting habitat(s).

The current fire regime condition class for the project site and surrounding area is moderate (2) to low (1). Reducing the threat of wildfire is important because of the critical nature of this habitat to upland game, big game, birds, and fish. At first glance the project doesn't seem to have the large benefits of reducing catastrophic fire because most of the restoration activities will be in the pastures and wet meadow habitat. To that, I say think again ;). Areas like these rivers, floodplains, wetlands, and meadows serve as buffers, greenstrips, and/or firebreaks that can be critically important in defending landscapes against large fires and protecting adjacent habitat. Anytime we can increase surface water through wetland restoration we strengthen our natural wildfire buffers. Also wet areas like these can themselves become at greater risk of fire due to degradation like channel downcutting and decrease in water table elevation which leads to changes in vegetation and drier conditions. This project will protect, restore, and enhance these wet areas and decrease fire risk from moderate (2) to low (1). Also by reducing the fire risk (and maintaining the low risk) on the project site and surrounding area we are protecting extremely valuable land types (riparian and wetland) that are critically important to both wildlife and the communities that surround them. Riparian, wetlands, and stream habitat is also very important for filtering heavy sediment, ash, and other compounds from post-fire areas in adjacent upland and up stream habitat. Protecting wetland and riparian habitat protects the watershed from off-site negative impacts to both rural communities and wildlife.

Riparian, wetlands, and stream habitat is extremely important for filtering heavy sediment, ash, and other compounds from post-fire areas in adjacent upland and up stream habitat. Protecting wetland and riparian habitat protects the watershed from off-site negative impacts to both rural communities and wildlife. This project will help directly with water quantity and storage. It is universal knowledge through many years of research that healthy, properly functioning wetland habitat has the capacity to store more water in the soil and below ground aquifer. This storage capacity becomes even more apparent during the driest parts of the season or during drought when these areas put more water back into the aquatic system because of the "sponge effect" they have the ability to store larger capacities of water.

All the necessary compliance and permits will be obtained before work starts.

A naturally appearing and functioning mosaic of emergent, ephemeral, and wet-meadow wetlands would be restored to improve habitat for wildlife on the site. Heavy equipment such as an excavator will be used to fill ditches, contour soil, and remove soil as needed to restore wetlands. Heavy equipment would be cleaned prior to restoration to avoid introducing non-native plants. Slopes may be changed to return natural sheet and braided flow patterns between the wetlands. Spillways and buried vertical grade control structures would be used to protect the wetlands from being destroyed by erosional head-cuts. The wetlands will be restored without using these features that appear unnatural, and require maintenance: 1. No water control structures would be used. 2. No pipes would be used. 3. No pumps would be used. 4. No aerators would be used. 5. No above ground dams would be built. See some of the photos from previous phase. Seeding and planting may occur in and around disturbed soils. Excavator 100 or 200 Series Minimum 60-inch wide bucket (1.0yd³) or larger 140HP Net or greater 46,000lbs or greater Ground pressure no greater than 4.9 PSI (This is critical to staying afloat, minimizing the use of logs) Working thumb attachment

Photopoint monitoring is always a good visual means of depicting progress of projects. And will be used on this project. We have aerial drone fight (photo and video) of the project area before and will do the same after in 3 years. USFWS would like to work with the UDWR non-game biologist for song bird, amphibian, and bat surveys. Can and will upload any data and reports to WRI database for completion reports. USFWS will conduct annual site visits to assess successes and future needs with the landowner/land manager as part of the USFWS contract.

PRIVATE LANDOWNER This landowner wants to manage his properties to maximize wildlife, ecological function, and sustainability. He has spent considerable amounts of money (no need to disclose amounts but it is more than you and I make in a year) implementing phase I and phase II. TROUT UNLIMITED Jordan Neilson with TU has been a large part of this project on all phases of the project throughout the years. He has provided invaluable technical and organizational support. USFWS PARTNERS PROGRAM The Partners Program has been working with this landowner for several years on many phases of this project and others. WATERSHED ARTISIANS Craig Spondtholtz of New Mexico has provided technical advice, surveys, monitoring, engineering, and also implementation on this and other phases.

The private landowners will enter into a Landowner Agreement with USFWS. As part of the landowner agreement with USFWS the landowner agrees to leave the habitat restored in place for at least a 10 year period and during that time will work with the USFWS biologist to monitor and access needs, success, and any needed adaptive management. The landonwer has done other habitat work with USFWS and partners and delivered projects as agreed to.

Here is where I would like to emphasize the diversity of what this landowner does. They aren't your typical landowner. One aspect of what they do is sustainable grassfed beef. Since aquiring properties in Boulder they've worked extensively with agencies, NGO's, and researchers to improve soil health and plant diversity on pastures for sustainable grazing. They've improved water delivery and irrigation practices. They've developed rotational grazing practices. All this with the goal of providing local communities and restraunts locally sourced beef while improving the ecological integrity of the properties. The landowner also runs a guest ranch and restraunt. This business attracts people from all over the world (side note, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost got engaged here in 2020 - I like SNL so I thought this is cool). Part of what they do is they want to highlight their operation as a self-sustaining, low impact business while improving natural ecology of the area. They also hold concerts, habitat restoration workshops, conferences, community celebrations, sustainable gardening workshops, and all kinds of gatherings and learning experiences on the ranch. The area and guest ranch attracts recreationists of all types. Hikers, canyoneering, hunting, fishing, and all types of people come and stay at the ranch and in nearby camping areas. The landowners do allow limited hunting on the property for elk, mule deer, and turkey.

04/08/2023

04/22/2023

2023

Experienced private contractor/consultant was hired, Watershed Artisians. This is the same contractor who has worked with us on the property during Phases 1 & 2. Undertaking and Methods 1) Wetland depressions. Soil was excavated and shaped into naturally appearing and functioning emergent and ephemeral wetlands. 2) Groundwater dams. Underground dams were placed at strategic locations to restore elevation of groundwater in wetlands. These were narrow bands of compacted clay soil, formed underground that interrupts permeable layers of soil. They were placed in along the lower edges of wetlands. 3) Spillways. Naturally appearing and functioning spillways were used to transition water from wetland to wetland. 4) Large woody debris. Large diameter logs, branches, and root masses were placed in the wetlands to improve habitat for a diversity of plant and wildlife species. 6) Planting and seeding. Native desirable species were planted and seeded in newly formed wetlands and other disturbed sites. Restored wetted soils/wetland footprint is actually larger than just the wetland dugouts. Restoration work restored adjacent soil hydrology around the wetlands as well.

The Headwaters Ranch is located between the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument and the Boulder Mountain Range. The ranch sits at the base of the southern side of the Boulder Mountain Range. The property is made up primarily of pasture fields and wooded slopes. The landowner wishes to provide wildlife habitat and preserve ecological integrity on the property. The site proposed for wetland restoration is located in intensively managed and manipulated fields used for grazing pastures. The landowner has recently purchased the property and is interested in using a more holistic management approach to the property. The fields historically were leveled in an effort to dry out low wet spots and irrigate. The fields prior to human manipulation were likely more diverse in topography with a mosaic of wet meadows in low areas and potentially some seasonal and ephemeral wetlands. Under this agreement USFWS will work with the landowner to restore natural topography in targeted areas by excavating historic fill material in low spots to create small shallow season and ephemeral wetlands. No running water exist on site and wetland depressions are designed to slow natural runoff and create a more naturally connected groundwater hydrology. The project would restore key features of natural wetlands such as the elevation of groundwater, presence of shallow water depressions, hydric soils, non-compacted soils, tufts, mounds, ridges, and native plants that were present before landscape manipulation took place. The wetlands would be restored to provide habitat to a diversity of animals and plants. Features would be restored in and around the wetlands to support a diversity of amphibians, birds, invertebrates, and mammals. The landowner is working with Craig Sponholtz (Watershed Arisians), Utah Division of Wildlife, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, Trout Unlimited, and USFWS for design and implementation.

The landowner has had a keen interest in restoring, enhancing, and preserving ecological integrity on this and other properties around Boulder, Utah. The landowner is a long time USFWS Partners Program participant and has several landowner agreements with USFWS for habitat restoration. Under these agreements the landowner commits to several things, one of them being to leave the restored habitat in place for a minimum of 10 years. During those 10 years a USFWS biologist will remain in contact with the landowner and make periodic site visits.