This project will consist of the rehabilitation of the Halfway Hill Fire that burned in Millard in July of 2022. This fire was associated with human activity that cause a 10,000 + acre wildfire. This Wild Fire has burned UDWR, FS, BLM, and Private Property. All if not most of the property is critical to Utah's Wildlife species such as mule deer, elk, wild turkey, upland game birds, small mammals and Domestic Livestock.

This project objectives will consist of aerially seeding the burned areas of the Halfway Hill Fire with suitable grasses, forbs and shrubs. This will be done through the use of contracting through State Purchasing a contractor to seed a primary and a secondary seeding, after the primary seeding has been aerially applied we would like to single chain the suitable areas to cover the seed and reduce erosion areas within the burn. This aspect of the project will be done through contracting again with a contractor the use of two D8 or D9 tracked cats to cover the seed in the fall of the year. Additional efforts will be to inventory all WMA and BLM fence lines in the area to see what needs to be replaced or fixed, UDWR will be working closely with the Fillmore Forest Service and Fillmore BLM office to complete these tasks. UDWR, BLM, and the Forest Service will work together as a partnership to accomplish these objectives and complete the restoration needs to ensure a diverse rangeland community of grasses, forbs, shrubs and browse species are reseeded through this effort. We will also be working with the private landowners associated within the burn scar as well to reseed and chain their portion as well.

Risk of not doing any restoration work will allow for invasion of noxious weed species, and little to no grasses, forbs and shrub recruitment, in the high severity burn scar. In additional areas that had moderate to low severity will come back or should show a response in the future. Erosion of soil will be present due to rain and snow precipitation allowing for flooding of lower elevation properties. Rangeland plant health will be compromised due to lack reseeding efforts and covering the seed through proper implementation efforts. The need for soils to stabilize is critical within the next year or two. Perennial grass, forb and shrub species that will become established in the future will benefit livestock and wildlife within the Pine Canyon Watershed. Post Fire flooding also pose a risk to human life and safety, debris basins have been installed within Pine Canyon and Dry Creek areas of the burn. Storm Patrols will be necessary to protect USFS values at risk and implementing early flood warning systems could significantly mitigate risks to human life and safety. Severe risk to roads and trails is very likely as well, loss of soil due to erosion will be significant within the burn scar. Areas of UDWR, Private USFS and BLM will be treated through reseeding efforts.

The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit 21B (Fillmore Pahvant Unit ) including: *Continue to improve and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to DWRs Habitat Initiative. *Maintain habitat quantity and quality at a level adequate to support the stated population objectives while at the same time not resulting in an overall downward trend in range condition and watershed quality. *Work cooperatively with land management agencies and private landowners to plan and implement improvement projects for the purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat and range resources in general. *The project also helps fulfill the state mule deer management plan section IV Habitat Goal: Conserve and improve mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. *The proposed projects will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: *Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. *Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. *Objective 3: conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. *Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for Division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah. *Objective 2: improve communication with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners, and government agencies to obtain support for Division programs. *UDWR SR critical big game winter range are important browse communities that need to be enhanced and improved. The Division will employ a variety of methods to achieve this including prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, reseeding and seedling transplants, also mechanical treatments. Priority areas will include sagebrush-steppe and mountain browse communities. Falls within the rangeland focus area for WRI wildlife species for mule deer and elk. *This plan is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement and fuels management to improve habitat, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire. *Other project have been completed by the Forest Service and UDWR in past years within the Ebbs Canyon. Along with the Meadow Creek and Baker Canyon Fire Rehab Project completed on Forest Service, BLM and Private Properties. *Project within the are also benefit the management plans objectives of the lower Sevier River Watershed, as this will reduced sediment run off and create a healthy rangeland communities. *Management Plans are also in conjunction with NRCS overall goals of healthy rangelands and communities, improving watersheds and reducing erosion and sediment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment *FFSL CWPP Process is a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative plan created by the fire department, state and local forestry, land managers, community leaders, and the public.The planning process maps values at risk, and requires actions to reduce risk, such as prescribed burning, fuel reduction, or other measures that adapt a community to better confront their wildfire threat. Area is also part of the Millard RWPP FFSL Plan which was implemented in 2014, there are Wildfire Codes and Ordinances associated with this plan. Project would also be relevant to NCS Goals and supported through the FS National Cohesive Strategies. CAT FIRE Objectives and Strategies: In 2013, the State of Utah developed the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (CAT FIRE) in response to the severe 2012 fire season. Reducing the catastrophic wildfire requires attention to three interdependent goals identified in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy -- Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Wildfire Response. These goals have been embraced throughout the development of the state's CAT FIRE strategy. Mitigation of hazardous fuels can change fire behavior making it easier to suppress. The effects of the mitigation, however, are not limited to life and property safety but will also affect forest health, water quality, vegetative species abundance, etc. As we continue to implement projects across the landscapes in Utah, the only way to truly be successful is to integrate existing programs, utilize local and federal partners and continue to educate the general public to create the desired shift towards more resilient communities and ecosystems.

The need to reseed and establish a improved community of grasses, forbs, shrubs and browse species is critical to support wildlife and livestock in the future. Through restoration efforts from the USFS, UDWR, Private Landowners, BLM, and Grazing Permitees this will be a partnership that can obtain the goals and objectives by working together to restore and maintain the area effected by the Halfway Hill Fire. We need to make sure the reseeding efforts are a success to allow for reduction in wildfire behavior due to the resilient seed species being planted that can help suppress fire activity in the future. The Pahvant Management Unit has burn several time over the past 10-20 years, which include but not limited to the Lower Ebbs Fire, Baker Canyon and the Meadow Creek Fire. Fuel loading has transitioned to more of a grass and shrub community over this time adding lower concentrated fuels due to cheatgrass invasion over time. With the implementation and reseeding efforts of perennial grasses and forbs we are hopeful we can establish grasses and forbs that can complete and resist or control large scale fire behavior.

Water Quality and Quantity should greatly increase due to the nature of old standing PJ trees along with some conifers in the top end of this project being burned. After reseeding efforts and restoration occurs we are more likely to see the improvement of springs, increase water flow to rangeland water troughs, increase grass and fob establishment due to loss of competition from the pinyon-juniper trees. Water should be better utilized by the perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs increasing the quantity down stream for water users and irrigation systems. Until establishment is obtain we will likely see sheet and rill water erosion of land, water will continue to erode the landscape, reseeding efforts will reduce erosion effects and improve water erosion. We have also installed two debris basins to catch overland flow of water and soil erosion to help protect the community of Fillmore downstream.

As we are implementing treatments, the identified areas are to be single chained, they will need to be surveyed for all culture resources and also a cadastral survey will need to be completed finding the section corners and quarter corners of the treatment areas. Certain inventories have been completed in the past for the Private, UDWR and the BLM portions. Project Manager will follow up to ensure treatments can move forward without any complications. UDWR Project Manager will consult with UDWR Archaeologist to make sure of consultation lead from the BLM, UDWR and Private.

The proposed methods of this project are to re-seed areas of the UDWR Halfway Hill WMA, BLM, Private Properties and Forest Service. some portions of the UDWR, BLM and Private Lands will be single chained after seed is aerially applied. UDWR and BLM will also be providing fencing contracts to replace the existing burned fences along property boundaries. Some of the implementation will be done through State Contracting, and the UDWR will be augmenting seeding on BLM and Forest Service properties providing additional grasses, forbs and shrubs towards the fire rehab efforts.

Fishlake Forest Service, BLM and UDWR will be looking at utilizing photo points within the treatment site, along with wildlife monitoring from agency Wildlife Biologist that will include spring and fall classifications of deer and elk. Forest Service and BLM Range Conservationist will be conducting and gathering rangeland data as grass, forbs and shrubs respond to the treatments within the Halfway Hill Fire Restoration efforts. The BLM will also be involved with the project and overseeing their properties, making sure establishment of the grasses, forbs and shrubs are growing before grazing will return. UDWR Habitat Biologists will be looking at the need to re-establish fences along with re-seeding the Halfway Hill WMA and manage them in accordance with UDWR Management Plans and objectives. We will continue to work with the private landowners to make sure establishment of grasses, forbs and shrubs are suitable for grazing after the two years of deferred grazing.

Partnerships will include the UDWR, BLM (Fillmore Office), USFS (Fillmore Office), livestock permittees, Private Landowners, FFSL and Millard County Road Dept. along with Millard County Commissioners and other elected officials.

Grazing of the properties will be deferred for at least two growing seasons or until establishment of grass, forbs and shrubs are deemed ready to be grazed. When grazing is re-established a grazing management plan will be developed and monitored by the Fillmore Forest Service Range Conservationist, and BLM Range Conservationist allowing for proper grazing management of the reseeding efforts. UDWR Representative will also work with grazing permittees to ensure the seeding efforts are successful on UDWR Lands as well. We will be entering into Cooperative Agreements with the private landowner for the seed donation and equipment equipment rental as well. UDWR would also like to request that the Private Landowner allows for two growing seasons to be deferred from livestock grazing.

No direct livestock benefit as of right now due to the Halfway Hill Fire, within the FS, BLM, UDWR and Private properties that where effected by the fire. Through Private, State and Federal Agencies Fire Rehab efforts and restoration work will prepare us for the future benefits in the years to come. Through these restoration efforts we will be able to reseed and chain portions of the Halfway Hill Fire with perennial grasses forbs, shrubs and browse species that will contribute to improved rangeland health conditions, increase water production for grasses species and improved water capabilities for rangeland water troughs. Overall grazing permittees and private landowners should see improved forage production and better weight gain and overall, calf production in the future due to the restoration efforts that are to take place through this fire rehab effort. In addition the improvement of grasses, forbs and shrubs will benefit the wildlife populations of big game and upland game in this area.

11/29/2022

12/03/2022

2023

The final methods for the Halfway Hill Fire Rehab Project consisted of aerially seeding over 5,250 acres of the 11,728 acres of UDWR, BLM and FS properties within the fire scar. A single pass "Ely" chaining occurred on over 1,110 acres of UDWR/Private (1,074 acres) and BLM (36 acres) properties. Both of the aerial seeding and chaining portions of the project was contracted through the state purchasing process. Before all of this process took place the UDWR needed to conduct Culture Resource Surveys of the acres that was to be effected by the chaining. With great assistance from Arie Leeflang (UDWR) we contracted with PaleoWest who completed the survey work for us in a timely manner. PaleoWest's archaeological survey resulted in the documentation of eleven sites and fourteen isolated occurrences. Two sites were previously recorded and nine were newly discovered. PaleoWest recommended all eleven sites and fourteen IOs not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and no avoidance or further management is recommended. PaleoWest recommended no resources eligible for listing on the NRHP. DWR consulted with SHPO on the findings with a determination of "no historic properties affected" for the proposed rehabilitation project. Great partnerships made this fire rehab process run smooth and seamless.

The Halfway Hill Fire of 2022 started on July 8, 2022 on UDWR State owned ground, four miles southeast of Fillmore, Utah. Through great partnerships and a resilient team of Fire Fighting Personnel the fire was contained and controlled at 11,728 acres. UDWR worked with the BLM, Private landowners and FS employees to develop a restoration effort that would improve the rangeland aspect of the burn scar as well as develop and construct two sediment basins for expected debris from flooding. In July, two location where selected for the debris basins to be constructed both locations selected on UDWR Properties. The construction of the debris basins was done by the Millard County Road Department and Brandon Winget (Road Supervisor). Next step of the project was to conduct the necessary Arch Clearances to be ready for the single chaining in the fall. This contract was handled by Arie Leeflang (UDWR) that contract consisted of surveying the UDWR and Private Landownerships prior to the implementation of the seeding and chaining. The contractor was PaleoWest, they completed the project in 8-10 days and was a great company to have working for us. In late November the UDWR contracted with Scott Aviation from Fort Morgan, Colorado to aerially seed over 5,250 acres of UWDR, BLM, Private and FS Properties associated with the Halfway Hill Fire. Around December 3, 2022 the UDWR contracted with Kesler Enterprises to implement the single "Ely" chaining to cover seed on over 1,090 acres of BLM, UDWR and Private Lands within the Halfway Hill WMA. In the spring of 2023, the seeding and chaining portions look good, we had some good response in some areas but also some invasive grass species where present as well. No funding was available for the replacement of the WMA fence, we have struggled with trespass cattle all spring/summer, we hope funding will be available to complete that project in the future. We had great working partnerships on this fire rehab effort and appreciated everyone's help including UDWR, HC, FS, BLM, RMEF, Private Landowners and the Millard County Road Dept. We are excited for the next couple of years to see the results from our rehab efforts and the effects it will have on mule deer, elk and turkeys in the area.

Future Management of this WMA will involve resting the newly seeded areas from grazing for at least two or possibly three growing seasons. The BLM and FS is resting their properties that where effected by the fire as well. The FS has been working this year with the livestock permittee on a virtual fencing program that has work well in some cases but we are needing more improvements to the program. As for the fencing for the WMA, we were not able to obtain funding to replace all the fencing on the WMA, this will need to be addressed as we have repaired several places to address trespass livestock this summer. On June 1, 2023 the UDWR installed a much needed cattle guard on the WMA that will allow for improved access for vehicle and ATV/UTV use while allowing cattle use to remain in current pastures during the grazing seasons. The Millard County Road Dept. continue to monitor the debris Basins and have cleaned them out several time over the past year due to flooding.