SRO WMA's provide some of the most critical wildlife habitat in the region as well as recreational opportunities for constituents of the UDWR. As such, UDWR has an obligation to maintain, improve, and manage these lands to meet the goals and objectives for which they were acquired. Specific maintenance needs vary from year to year and property to property but typically involve: access improvements, fencing, signage, habitat improvement projects, trash removal, and weed control. Additionally, UDWR has a complex of more than 300 guzzlers that have various maintenance needs each year typically including: turning big game guzzlers on and off in the spring and fall, minor repairs, and noting major repairs needed for future proposals.

1)Securing and maintenance of existing fence boundaries. Also property signage and maintenance; 2)Implement a noxious weed control program by inventory and spraying on an annual basis; 3)Maintain public access and recreational opportunities on authorized roads/trails through road maintenance activities; 4)Maintain water developments for wildlife and livestock grazing; and 5)Implement habitat restoration activities to improve wildlife habitat values of WMA's.

Failure to maintain WMA's, CE's, and wildlife guzzlers will result in habitat degradation and loss; conflicts with counties, local municipalities, and adjacent landowners and failure to meet and/or comply with legal obligations.

WMA maintenance will help achieve the recommendations and goals of each individual WMA Management Plan. In addition this project will help implement goals A-D of the UDWR's Strategic Plan. Improvements on WMA lands will help specific Tier I, II, and III species listed later in this proposal and identified in the WAP. Numerous key habitats as defined by the WAP will also benefit from improvement and protection of WMAs in the SRO. Water developments and their maintenance are called for in many of the Elk and Deer herd unit management plans.

Implementing annual noxious weed control programs by inventory and spraying will reduce the fire risk by reducing quick burning annual weedy species and maintaining more desirable fire resistant species. Maintaining fences also aids us in controlling grazing regimes; this further reduces weedy fire prone species. Proper grazing practices also help reduce annual fire prone grasses and weeds.

WMA maintenance (fencing, vegetation) of desirable healthy landscapes improves water quality and quantity. Also guzzler construction and maintenance provides critical water sources for wildlife throughout the southern region.

Archaeology, UDWR archaeologist will be contacted prior to undertaking any projects that may or are likely to require clearance. Survey required for project activities having the potential to impact the ground.

Primary tasks include; fence maintenance, construction of new fences, water developments, road closures, weed control, cattle guard construction, surveys, and sign construction. The habitat manager and maintenance specialist in the region will coordinate maintenance activities in the region with other regional personnel. Habitat section personnel will coordinate with the Volunteer Services Coordinator to find projects where volunteers (Dedicated Hunters) can be used. Weed control will be done under the supervision of the lead maintenance specialist. Special attention will be given to Weed Control in the Richfield and Parowan areas this year due to known weed outbreaks. Fencing and signing will be done by maintenance personnel with assistance from seasonal's and volunteers where appropriate. Road maintenance will be completed by maintenance specialist where possible and in conjunction with county road departments in some instances. Guzzler maintenance will be carried out by assistant maintenance position with assistance provided by other staff as requested.

Established range trend studies on WMA's will be read on regular rotation. Photos and documentation of specific maintenance duties will be collected as needed. Wildlife monitoring will be conducted on those WMA's in which specific surveys for game and non-game species are already in place. Many of the WMA's are included in big game classification routes. Continued development and use will occur with the WMA Maintenance App and Guzzler App with visits being recorded including items such as current condition and recommended future tasks.

The SRO holds several Conservation Easement Properties in conjunction with multiple NGO's. Several of those are maintained by the SR habitat staff. We work in conjunction with those groups to ensure the integrity of the objectives for which they were purchased. UDWR also works cooperatively with counties on management plan implementation and has partnered with them on activities such as road maintenance and weed control.

Lands owned and managed by the Division will continue to be managed for wildlife according to individual Habitat Management plans. This year efforts will be made to update HMP's for the Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area. We have also recently entered into an agricultural lease agreement with a local rancher at the Elbow Ranch and the nature of that lease will be evaluated and changed as needed as we watch and see how that relationship works out.

Grazing is utilized by the Division to reach habitat management goals/objectives within the southern region. Grazing will be used on an as needed basis on WMA's following the grazing plans contained in the HMP's for each WMA. Grazing will be permitted under the Division's Land Use Rule by SRO habitat section personnel.

07/01/2022

06/30/2023

2023

During FY 23 fenced WMA's were maintained throughout the year to ensure property boundaries were secure and signed. Future HC proposals will continue to be brought forward to address aging fence concerns throughout the region. Yankee Meadows restrooms continue to see significant use and are managed under a cleaning contract with Cedar Superior Cleaning. The fence at Yankee Meadow received significant damage this past year with trees burned in the Brianhead fire beginning to come down on it. A majority of the fence had trees removed so this wouldn't occur but the couple of sections that they were not removed are proving to be a problem and we are seeking options to remove trees on those sections as well. The Elbow Ranch was a bit more self sustaining with the livestock permittee handling all the irrigation at the pivot, the maintenance crew was utilized to help maintain the headgates by assisting to remove debris. They also designed and built a screen to place below the clean out headgate to make the diversion a more effective fish barrier. The Black Cedar Hill unit of the Fillmore WMA received some extra attention this year as a boundary discrepancy was discovered and we had a need to build a new boundary fence of about a half mile. This fence was built utilizing the habitat maintenance crew. The crew also spent a good bit of time at the shooting range on the Black Cedar Hill unit doing cleanup and improving fire resisitance. Road closures both seasonal and permanent were worked on at both the Fillmore and Parowan Front WMA's. This included some new gates that make the seasonal closures much easier to implement. Also included a drift fence to prevent go-arounds on the Summit Unit of the Parowan Front WMA. A new cattleguard was installed at the Halfway Hill unit of the Fillmore WMA to help control grazing due to some challenges created by the Halfway Hill Fire. Fence improvements are still in need of funding to get this area back in shape. A cattleguard was also purchased to install at the South Creek Unit of the Beaver WMA and will be installed during FY24. At Indian Peaks we worked on the roads with both the county and a private contractor to help make it easier for a road grader to navigate without being damaged. Maintenance at the cabin on this property also included a deck re-build. Weeds are controlled on an as needed basis with the biggest emphasis continuing to be ongoing work to combat a thistle infestation on the Summit Unit of the Parowan Front WMA. The patch appears to be shrinking as a result of the diligent and consistent efforts of the crew. Guzzler maintenance sees Mike Jenson continue to handle the role and continuing to fulfill the needs with assistance from the habitat seasonal crew as needed. Mike has continued to learn and utilize the guzzler maintenance collector app and we continue to be excited about its utility in helping collect and pass on information. Some of the guzzlers Mike performed some significant maintenance to include Bob Jones, Gasline, Mormon Gap, Mud Springs, Parowan Gap and School Wash. The seasonal crew helped Kendall Bagley with several guzzler installs that are connected to habitat treatments he has completed, including one at Lost Creek.

Kerry Hanks, Lead Maintenance Specialist, oversaw a majority of this work utilizing a team of seasonals and dedicated hunters to accomplish the needed maintenance tasks. Mike Jensen oversees the guzzler maintenance program and utilizes the habitat seasonal crew as needed. Various other Division employees help out with work on WMA's on an as needed/requested basis.

Grazing continues on select units on the Parowan Front, Parowan Valley, Fillmore, and Kingston Canyon. Parowan Valley also continues to be farmed under an agricultural lease. WE have also been able to finalize and formalize the lease agreement at the Elbow Ranch which involves both grazing and farming aspects. WMAs will continue to be assessed annually for fence, weeds, habitat maintenance, and other needs.