Henry Mountain Water Improvement Maintenance
Project ID: 6125
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2022
Submitted By: 385
Project Manager: Kade Lazenby
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Southeastern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Southeastern
Description:
The Division of wildlife Resources in cooperation with sportsman for fish and wildlife and local cattlemen created water improvement projects to benefit deer, bison, and domestic livestock on Tarantula Mesa and McMullan spring on the Henrys Mountain that have fallen into disrepair to the point that replacement is the most cost effective plan of action. DWR, Grazing Improvement Program, Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife, and Bureau of Land Management have partnered to install new catchment basins.
Location:
Tarantula Mesa and McMullan spring on the Henrys Mountain.
Project Need
Need For Project:
In 2008, the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) in cooperation with sportsman for fish and wildlife (SFW), and local cattlemen created water improvement projects to benefit deer, bison, and domestic livestock on Tarantula Mesa and McMillan spring on the Henrys Mountain. In the years preceding 2008, water storage catchments have fallen into disrepair to the point that replacement is the most cost effective plan of action. DWR, Grazing Improvement Program (GIP), Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife (SFW), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have partnered to install new water catchment basins (tires).
Objectives:
1) To maintain reliable water source on Tarantula Mesa and McMillan springs for mule deer, bison, and domestic livestock. 2) Decrease the chance of cross contamination of the water source at McMillan springs campground.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Alternative water sources supplement and increase utilization across the landscapes. This project will repair existing water sources, provide water to wildlife and domestic ungulates, and decrease utilization around natural water sources. Cattle and wildlife can negatively impact water improvements at the water outlet site, by providing water catchment basins there is less propensity for animals to congregate at the water outlet.
Relation To Management Plan:
Henry Mountains Bison Herd Unit Management Plan Henry Mountains Unit 15 Deer Herd Unit Management Plan
Fire / Fuels:
Better distribution of livestock and wildlife leads to reduction of fine fuels in a greater area.
Water Quality/Quantity:
Maintenance on McMillan springs will decrease the probability of cross contamination of the water source to the BLM campground. This will be accomplished by the removal of the existing float system.
Compliance:
This project will be considered as maintenance of existing infrastructure on BLM lands. A work order has been placed and no NEPA is required. BLM should have water rights for the McMillan and Tarantula water developments if they were required.
Methods:
DWR will deliver tires (catchment basins) to the project sites. BLM will provide the equipment needed to excavate and place troughs at the desired locations. Labor and assistance will be provided by DWR, BLM staff, and dedicated hunters.
Monitoring:
DWR and BLM will monitor water development for future maintenance needs.
Partners:
Sportsman for fish and wildlife will provide funding from external conservation permit funds for the benefit of distributing wildlife. GIP will provide funding through an ITA to DWR for benefiting livestock in the project area. DWR will provide delivery of tire troughs to the project sites. BLM will provide the equipment needed to place toughs at desired locations.
Future Management:
Big game populations including deer and bison will be managed according to statewide and unit management plans. Coordination meetings will continue on an annual basis to present DWR permit recommendations.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Improving water resources on the landscape leads to better distribution of wildlife and livestock which creates more even use of available forage and the ability to use areas in greater distances from other existing water sources.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$2,800.00 $0.00 $2,800.00 $3,500.00 $6,300.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Equipment and/or Seed Transport DWR in-kind to deliver materials $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 2022
Equipment Rental/Use BLM equipment for project implementation $0.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 2022
Equipment Purchase Tire troughs- half from GIP, half from SFW external CP $2,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$3,000.00 $0.00 $3,000.00 $3,500.00 $6,500.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
UDAF-Grazing Improvement Fund (GIP) U094 $1,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
SFW Admin Expo Fund ($3.50) S114 $1,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
Habitat Council Account QHCR $200.00 $0.00 $0.00 2022
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) $0.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 2022
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 2022
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
American Bison N4 R2
Threat Impact
Livestock Farming and Ranching High
Domestic Livestock
Threat Impact
No Threat NA
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Habitats
Habitat
Desert Grassland
Threat Impact
Improper Grazing – Livestock (current) Medium
Project Comments
Comment 10/03/2023 Type: 1 Commenter: Makeda Hanson
Project Update 10/02/2023- both tire troughs are now in place. At McMillan Spring, the tire trough was placed over the old valve box. There are no longer any valves at that location. The water from the top trough is tied in to the bottom trough, meaning the outflow from the top trough feeds the bottom trough.
Comment 08/29/2022 Type: 2 Commenter: Alison Whittaker
I am tempted to leave this project as current until the project is completed next spring. Then we can document the remaining DWR in-kind for this year and the BLM in-kind. Also we will then have the final locations for the trough. Any reason I shouldn't do that?
Comment 08/29/2022 Type: 2 Commenter: Makeda Hanson
That makes complete sense to me, and I agree. Is there anything I need to do to keep the report of the naughty list?
Comment 08/29/2022 Type: 2 Commenter: Alison Whittaker
I have moved the project back to the current list so you should be good. Thanks.
Comment 09/26/2023 Type: 2 Commenter: Makeda Hanson
Hey Alison, I just spoke with the BLM and they have not had a chance to install one of the tire troughs. Joe Chigbrow is going on-site on Thursday to look at Tarantula Mesa. I have updated the completion report, but wasn't sure if you wanted me to submit since the install on one trough is still pending.
Completion
Start Date:
05/05/2022
End Date:
06/30/2023
FY Implemented:
2023
Final Methods:
The DWR in cooperation with SFW, GIP, and BLM purchased two tire troughs (approximately 12 ft in diameter) to replace non-functional drinker systems at McMillan Spring and Tarantula Mesa on the Henry Mountains. Tires were purchased from and delivered by Toters Trucken and Ranchen on May 5, 2022 to Sandy Ranch. Tires were $850 with $650 delivery each. Tires were delivered on-site by the DWR on 10/19/2022 and 10/26/2022. The tire on Tarantula Mesa has been installed by the BLM. The tire at McMillan springs is still in the queue.
Project Narrative:
Water catchments at Tarantula Mesa and McMillan spring were in disrepair. To maintain reliable water for livestock and wildlife and help with their distribution, two tire troughs were installed to replace the older systems. The BLM has not completed installation at McMillan Spring, the float will be eliminated there to decrease the chance of cross-contamination of the water source at the McMillan Springs campground.
Future Management:
Water systems will be monitored to determine maintenance needs.
Map Features
ID Feature Category Action Treatement/Type
2523 Water development point feature Reconstruction Trough
2524 Water development point feature Reconstruction Trough
Project Map
Project Map