The need to enhance Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens; hereafter UPD) habitat on protected lands within the project area has been recognized for many years. The project area was treated with Tebuthiuron (Spike 20P) in 2017 (Minersville 3 (Phase 1) - Utah Prairie Dog Enhancement - Project ID 3757) with the primary goal of enhancing and expanding habitat for UPDs. Tebuthiuron (Spike 20P) was applied to the site to kill and thin stands of woody brush to achieve vegetation conditions more conducive (< 10% brush cover) to UPDs (USFWS 2012). This project proposes to remove approximately 242 acres of the standing, dead sagebrush "skeletons" via one-way, Ely chaining. Additionally, aerial seeding with appropriate UPD seed mixes would occur on 63 acres within the project area. The project is located within the Minersville 3 Utah Prairie Dog Management Unit area identified in the Utah Prairie Dog Path to Recovery Plan. The project area would provide future UPD translocation opportunities and consists of the following acreage: Polygon 1 (179 acres) - Chaining (Note: Aerial Seeding is not necessary because the area is dominated by perennial grass Polygon 2 (63 acres) - Chaining/Aerial Seeding Currently, most UPD populations in the West Desert Recovery Unit are below the levels identified for recovery goals and habitat conditions are a limiting factor. The goal of the treatments would be to provide habitat for UPD by removing sagebrush skeletons providing for a diverse composition of perennial grasses and forbs. In addition, a mosaic landscape containing areas dominated by shrubs, perennial grasses and forbs (sage-grouse nesting and winter habitat) and areas that are dominated by perennial grasses and forbs (UPD habitat and sage-grouse brood rearing habitat) is crucial to ensure that both species have adequate habitat within the project areas. The project is also utilized by big game species (e.g., pronghorn, mule deer) and domestic livestock, all of which would benefit from increased forage abundance and diversity. The areas that are dominated by perennial grasses and forbs would be intended to increase and maintain adequate habitat to meet the needs of Utah prairie dogs and other wildlife by reducing sagebrush canopy cover and improving the amount and diversity of desirable grasses and forbs. The Nature Conservancy and BLM completed a UPD Habitat Suitability Model based on slope, elevation, depth to restrictive layer, soil texture and vegetation structure. Through this effort it has been determined that the project area is suitable for UPDs (Refer to Attached documents (suitability map and PowerPoint).

As discussed, approximately 242 acres would be treated and managed primarily as a UPD perennial grassland treatment. The goal of the treatment is to eliminate shrub skeletons while providing for a diverse perennial grass and forb component within the areas. Furthermore, the treatment will facilitate UPD connectivity between colonies allowing for increased colonization, increased genetic exchange and buffering against potential sylvatic plague epizootic events. The objectives for this proposal are as follows: 1. Eliminate existing sagebrush skeletons to reduce sagebrush and other shrub canopy cover to less than 10% in Utah Prairie Dog Habitat. 2. Improve health, composition and diversity of grasses and forbs. 3. Maintain adequate habitat components to meet needs of UPDs and brood-rearing for greater sage-grouse, where applicable, in accordance with current guidelines and in coordination with USFWS, UDWR, UPDOG, UPDRIT and SWARM. 4. Provide opportunities for UPDs to ensure connectivity of populations through corridors and opportunity for expansion and dispersal. 5. Improve forage availability and diversity for big game and livestock. 6. Reduce fuel loads and consequential habitat destruction for these focal species through mechanical brush reduction.

Minersville 3 Vegetation Treatment EA/FONSI/DR - July 2015 The EA/FONSI/DR recognized the importance of the Project Area with regard to improving the vegetation component within the Bald Hills Sage-grouse Priority Habitat Management Area. A variety of vegetation treatments were authorized that would improve/maintain Rangeland Health. From a management perspective, the focus within the project area is to improve UPD habitat and greater sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat while maintaining the dominant aspects of the sagebrush community to ensure adequate cover and forage is available. In addition, high quality brood-rearing habitat has been identified as a limiting factor for sage-grouse in the Bald Hills population area. The Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah was approved by the Governor in April 2013. The plan establishes incentive-based conservation programs for conservation of sage-grouse on private, local government, and School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration lands and regulatory programs on other state- and federally managed lands. The Conservation Plan also establishes sage-grouse management areas and implements specific management protocols in these areas. The Utah Greater Sage-grouse Management Plan in 2009 identified threats and issues affecting sage-grouse management in Utah as well as goals, objectives, and strategies intended to guide UDWR, local working groups, and land managers efforts to protect, maintain, and improve sage-grouse populations and habitats and balance their management with other resource uses. Southwest Desert Local Working Group Conservation Plan 2009. The local Working Group has developed a Conservation Plan detailing the natural history, threats, and mitigation measures for sage-grouse in each conservation plan area; and conservation guidelines for any activities occurring in the area. The Utah State Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 (Final) is a comprehensive management plan designed to conserve native species populations and habitats in Utah, and prevent the need for additional federal listings. In addition, the Project Planning Areas (PPAs) in the Great Basin Fire and Invasive Assessment Tool (FIAT) have identified Bald Hills as a high priority for Conifer Focus (Removal). Through this process the top FIAT PPAs, including Bald Hills, had the highest priority for sagebrush restoration, protection and conservation within the 5 Great Basin FIAT assessment areas. The highest priority PPAs is those that contain Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFA), high breeding bird densities, conifer threats, wildfire and invasive species threats. The Project Planning Areas (PPA) prioritization will be used to develop an integrated multi-year program of work for all fuels and vegetation management projects and other related activities aimed to protect, conserve and restore sagebrush and sage grouse habitat. The priority PPAs will be used to inform and influence funding decisions by the BLM. Utah Prairie Dog Revised Recovery Plan 2012 The project is located within one UPD Management Unit Plan (Minersville 3). The project would provide for UPD specific vegetation treatments that would provide for habitat improvements, which would allow for movement and genetic exchange between colonies. In addition, the treatments would provide for future translocation areas for UPDs, which is expected to allow for the recovery of UPDs on public lands. Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Resource Management Plan Resource Management Plan (1986). Although the Project Area was not specifically discussed in the RMP vegetation treatments were identified throughout the Field Office. Southwest Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan (May, 2006). The SUSAFMP identifies the Black Mountains as a priority for conversion of encroached pinyon and juniper dominated communities to a sagebrush community with a diverse component of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. This would be consistent with the vegetative monitoring data that has been collected within the Project Area to identify the Ecological Site Description. National Fire Plan (2000), BLM National Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy (2004) The project is also consistent with the NFP. The goals and objectives of the NFP is to manage BLM administered public land to maintain, enhance and restore sagebrush habitats while ensuring multiple use and sustained yield goals of FLPMA. Southwest Desert Deer Herd Unit Management Plan (2015) The project will be consistent with the habitat management strategies identified in the Deer Herd Unit Management Plan for Deer Herd Unit #20 (Southwest Desert) (UDWR) which pertain to the Project Area are as follows: 1. Evaluate and implement potential habitat improvement projects on BLM, state and private lands. 2. Evaluate opportunities to address problems created by closed canopy pinyon pine and juniper. Utah Pronghorn Statewide Management Plan (2009) Habitat Management Objective (B.e.), Under the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, design, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of habitat improvement projects to benefit pronghorn. Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Utah (2005) The priority habitat identified for this area was shrub-steppe, which was identified as a Priority A (High threat, high opportunity, and high value to birds statewide) habitat. Priority birds identified within this area include sage grouse, ferruginous hawk, sage sparrow, and Brewer's sparrow.

The Minersville 3 Vegetation Treatment EA/FONSI/DR was completed for the M3 project site in July 2015. The polygons receiving aerial seedings would be rested from livestock grazing for a minimum of two years following project implementation to ensure adequate rest and seedling establishment. A cultural resources inventory will need to be completed prior to project implementation. Monitoring data (upland and wildlife) will be collected prior to project implementation to provide baseline data to determine the success of the treatments.

The project has been flagged and GPS'd. The BLM will provide overall project oversight for treatment implementation. The following provides information pertaining to the treatment: The project area was treated with Tebuthiron (Spike20 P) in 2017. This phase of the project would remove sagebrush skeletons using an Ely chain (one-way chaining). The area would also be seeded with a diverse perennial grass and forb mix to provide suitable habitat for UPDs in the long-term.

Monitoring of the site has been ongoing and primarily consisted of nested frequency, line intercept and utilization. Prior to the treatment general wildlife use surveys, raptor nest surveys and noxious weed monitoring will occur. Pre and post monitoring will help determine the success of the treatment. In addition, project inspectors will be available to monitor the contract to ensure that all specifications are adhered to.

UPDOG and UPDRIT, which is comprised of partners from USFWS, DWR, local County governments, etc..., the local SWARM group, livestock permittees (livestock management) and The Nature Conservancy (UPD habitat suitability identification).

Coordination has taken place between Iron County, UWDR, USFWS and the BLM with regards to creating translocation sites within the project area. The Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Plan contains specific guidelines for maintaining habitat characteristics in Management Units. Vegetation is routinely monitored in these project sites, and those efforts will continue. The treatment area will be maintained as a perennial grassland, which is expected to provide valuable forage for livestock. The project is expected to maintain/improve health, composition, and diversity of grasses and forbs in accordance with Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines and the Ecological Site Description, which will be beneficial to livestock grazing. Furthermore, the project will be proactive in improving vegetative communities and removing fine fuels within the area, which will minimize the potential for a wildfire within the area. Utilization within the allotment has not been an issue. The amount of forage throughout the allotments will help ensure that the area is not over utilized by livestock. The scale of forage availability will be largely dependent upon yearly precipitation amounts; however, it is expected that adequate amounts will be available due to the high elevation of the project area. The project is expected to promote short-term and long-term recreational big game hunting and viewing opportunities throughout the area. Mule deer are prevalent within the project area. A large number of hunters frequent this area prior to and during the hunting season. As discussed in the livestock grazing portion of the sustainable uses of natural resources section, the treatment will maintain/improve health, composition and diversity of grasses and forbs in accordance with Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines and the Ecological Site Description. This is expected to be beneficial to mule deer populations.

11/30/2020

12/16/2020

2021

The Penny Hollow (Phase 2) -- Utah Prairie Dog Enhancement project area included a two-way chaining treatment of 242 acres to remove dead sagebrush skeletons from a previous herbicide treatment in 2017. Of the 242 acres chained, 63 acres were aerially seeded with a diverse seed mix and 179 acres were not seeded due to the area being dominated by perennial grass. Monitoring data including rangeland health, nested frequency, general wildlife surveys, raptor nest surveys, Utah prairie dog counts, Utah prairie dog vegetation surveys, and greater sage-grouse telemetry have been and continue to be collected in the project area.

The project area was tailored to primarily meet the needs of expanding and enhancing Utah prairie dog habitat and increase sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat. The removal of dead sagebrush skeletons by chaining was carried out for reducing shrub cover to meet the needs of suitable Utah prairie dog habitat (shrub cover < 10%). Aerial seeding was carried out to increase desired Utah prairie dog forage vegetation and provide desired forage for sage-grouse broods. It is expected that nearby occupied Utah prairie dog colonies will expand into the project area and future UPD translocation sites may be established within the project area.

Potential future herbicide treatments may be planned, depending on the success of the seeding and expansion of invasive species. Although the primary benefactors in this project were the Utah prairie dog and greater sage-grouse, other wildlife species may benefit including mule deer, pronghorn, and other wildlife species of conservation concern.