The need for this project is to acquire and protect habitat for the Mojave Desert tortoise to complement the goals of the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and contribute to the tortoise's recovery, as a species. In 1990, the Mojave Desert tortoise was listed as a threatened species due to various threats, including loss of habitat, invasive plants, wildfire, disease, increased predation and illegal collecting. Management and recovery of this species is particularly complex because it encompasses several states, each with different agencies and land uses. In 1996, Washington County, Utah established a 61,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve to protect the tortoise and its most valuable habitat remaining in the state. Creation and management of the Reserve were the primary recovery contributions of the County's Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). In 2009, the Reserve was also granted federal protection with the designation of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA). Under this designation only the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) -administered lands were considered part of the NCA, however any future purchases or exchanges of the private property within the Reserve could become a part of the NCA as well. The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve is the primary habitat for Mojave Desert tortoise in the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit (Figure 1). With an average of 19.6 tortoises per square kilometer, the Reserve boasts the highest densities of Mojave Desert tortoises remaining in the wild (McLuckie et al. 2017). Occurring at the very northeastern limit of the tortoise's range, the Reserve is also the smallest recovery unit, representing less than 1% of all tortoise management areas. Marked by its spectacular red rock canyons and basaltic lava flows, the Reserve is located at an intergrade zone between the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin Desert. As a result, it contains a unique combination of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Since the Reserves' inception, Washington County, BLM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Utah Department of Natural Resources (UDNR) and other partners, have been working diligently to purchase or trade out all private inholdings within the Reserve. The HCP agreement identified three major land acquisition strategies (3.2 HCP 1996) and carefully outlined the acquisition responsibilities: 1. State School Trust - BLM land exchange, 2. Private -BLM land exchange, and 3. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Additionally, UDNR has been awarded Section 6 funds to assist in the acquisition of Reserve inholdings. All of these strategies rely on support from Federal agencies and do not specifically require the County to purchase the lands as a part of their mitigation (the County's primary HCP mitigation responsibility is management of the Reserve). To date, approximately 10,000 acres of private property have been acquired through purchase or land exchange in the Reserve and over $100 million dollars have been spent in cash and land exchange value. In 2015 UDNR was able to complete the purchase for 101 acres of private Reserve inholdings largely from funds awarded through another section 6 grant. Although we are closer to buying out all of the inholdings, nearly 660 acres of the Reserve remain in private ownership. The 198-acre Brennan property is one of the largest remaining parcels in private ownership. Long-term protection of this entire parcel is vital because it supports high tortoise densities and provides quality habitat for a number of other desert species. Acquisition and protection of this and other remaining in-holdings is essential to maintain the integrity and connectivity of the Reserve design. Recent wildfires have damaged neighboring parts of the Reserve, while this parcel was unburned and represents some of the best tortoise habitat remaining. Given the central location of these private lands in the Reserve, failure to acquire them would result in reduced connectivity of the tortoise population and would be a significant setback for tortoise recovery in this unique part of its range. These lands represent some of the most crucial habitat for the desert tortoise, and if not acquired, could be at risk of development. The risk is especially great considering that Washington County has been one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation. Overall, the Section 6 funds requested under this proposal and matching funds would be used to purchase 90.79 acres of the Brennan parcel. Washington County will donate an additional 22.72 acres of the recently acquired Brennan parcel (see Table 1 in Approach, below), a value of $1,000,000. In addition, Mr. Brennan has committed to donate the remaining portions of his land (107.61 acres) if the full amount of this Section 6 grant is awarded (see Table 3 in Approach, below). In total, 221 acres, would be acquired or donated through or as a result of this project. This grant and donations to follow would complete the acquisition of the entire Brennan parcel.

To complete the acquisition of the entire Brennan parcel, in as short a time frame as is feasible, given the requirements to satisfy all conditions of the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition (2016), during efforts by the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

This project essentially helps implement the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for Mojave Desert tortoise, and fits well with Washington County's plan for management of key landscapes within their jurisdiction, as outlined in their Comprehensive Resource Management Plan -- http://arcgis10.washco.utah.gov/arcgisportal/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=096cd19348c64da79275eb65d7560990 Additionally, this project would support many of the recommendations of the 2015-2025 Utah Wildlife Action Plan.

Not applicable; all affected natural resources would come under government protection, and would be added to the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve as per prior plans and public involvement processes; federal grant issuance has already been conducted, hence no further federal action is contemplated. All existing cultural or natural resources would be safeguarded and protected in compliance with existing laws.

Standard land acquisition processes would be applied, which fully satisfy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's updated requirements in their Service manual, and would result in purchasing privately owned land belonging to Robert Brennan or his company. Title to the purchased lands would be held by UDNR and managed in accordance with HCP desert tortoise conservation objectives, consistent with the rest of the reserve. Long-term management of the Reserve would be completed by BLM, UDNR and other partners, facilitated by support from HCP funds.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources would attain title insurance for all purchased lands, and would submit the certificates along with evidence of valid recordation of deeds, for all properties which were purchased under this grant. Biological monitoring of tortoise population responses is a standard aspect of management with the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources typically carries this out, funded in part by HCP budgets.

Washington County US Fish and Wildlife Service Species Recovery Office, Utah Department of Natural Resources The Nature Conservancy

These private inholdings in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve are being acquired for assimilation into the Reserve. The Reserve is managed largely to mitigate the impacts of development on Mohave Desert tortoise. Most major threats to that species, including those from development, are avoided or minimized within the Reserve, so that the properties will continue to provide valuable habitat for the Mojave Desert tortoise and fifteen other state sensitive species such as the Gila monster, chuckwalla, Mojave Desert sidewinder, western threadsnake, zebra-tailed lizard, western banded gecko, burrowing owl, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, fringed myotis, big free-tailed bat, western red bat, spotted bat, Townsend's big-eared bat, and kit fox.

07/01/2020

06/30/2021

2021

The need for this project is to acquire and protect habitat for the Mojave Desert tortoise to complement the goals of the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and contribute to the tortoise's recovery, as a species. In 1990, the Mojave Desert tortoise was listed as a threatened species due to various threats, including loss of habitat, invasive plants, wildfire, disease, increased predation and illegal collecting. Management and recovery of this species is particularly complex because it encompasses several states, each with different agencies and land uses. In 1996, Washington County, Utah established a 61,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve to protect the tortoise and its most valuable habitat remaining in the state. Creation and management of the Reserve were the primary recovery contributions of the County's Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). In 2009, the Reserve was also granted federal protection with the designation of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA). Under this designation only the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) -administered lands were considered part of the NCA, however any future purchases or exchanges of the private property within the Reserve could become a part of the NCA as well. The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve is the primary habitat for Mojave Desert tortoise in the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit (see Figure in attached documents). With an average of 19.6 tortoises per square kilometer, the Reserve boasts the highest densities of Mojave Desert tortoises remaining in the wild (McLuckie et al. 2017). Occurring at the very northeastern limit of the tortoise's range, the Reserve is also the smallest recovery unit, representing less than 1% of all tortoise management areas. Marked by its spectacular red rock canyons and basaltic lava flows, the Reserve is located at an intergrade zone between the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin Desert. As a result, it contains a unique combination of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Since the Reserves' inception, Washington County, BLM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Utah Department of Natural Resources (UDNR) and other partners, have been working diligently to purchase or trade out all private inholdings within the Reserve. The HCP agreement identified three major land acquisition strategies (3.2 HCP 1996) and carefully outlined the acquisition responsibilities: 1. State School Trust - BLM land exchange, 2. Private -BLM land exchange, and 3. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Additionally, UDNR has been awarded Section 6 funds to assist in the acquisition of Reserve inholdings. All of these strategies rely on support from Federal agencies and do not specifically require the County to purchase the lands as a part of their mitigation (the County's primary HCP mitigation responsibility is management of the Reserve). To date, approximately 10,000 acres of private property have been acquired through purchase or land exchange in the Reserve and over $100 million dollars have been spent in cash and land exchange value. In 2015 UDNR was able to complete the purchase for 101 acres of private Reserve inholdings largely from funds awarded through another section 6 grant. Although we are closer to buying out all of the inholdings, nearly 660 acres of the Reserve remain in private ownership. The 198-acre Brennan property is one of the largest remaining parcels in private ownership. Long-term protection of this entire parcel is vital because it supports high tortoise densities and provides quality habitat for a number of other desert species. Acquisition and protection of this and other remaining in-holdings is essential to maintain the integrity and connectivity of the Reserve design. Recent wildfires have damaged neighboring parts of the Reserve, while this parcel was unburned and represents some of the best tortoise habitat remaining. Given the central location of these private lands in the Reserve, failure to acquire them would result in reduced connectivity of the tortoise population and would be a significant setback for tortoise recovery in this unique part of its range. These lands represent some of the most crucial habitat for the desert tortoise, and if not acquired, could be at risk of development. The risk is especially great considering that Washington County has been one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation. Overall, the Section 6 funds requested under this proposal and matching funds would be used to purchase 90.79 acres of the Brennan parcel. Washington County will donate an additional 22.72 acres of the recently acquired Brennan parcel (see Table 1 in Approach, below), a value of $1,000,000. In addition, Mr. Brennan has committed to donate the remaining portions of his land (107.61 acres) if the full amount of this Section 6 grant is awarded. In total, 221 acres, would be acquired or donated through or as a result of this project. This grant and donations to follow would complete the acquisition of the entire Brennan parcel.

The 52.72 -acre Brennan parcel was acquired August 17, 2020 and recorded in the Washington County Recorder's Office on September 15, 2020 as Entry Number 20200050173. The 22.72- acre parcel donated by Washington County was acquired December 1, 2020 and recorded in the Washington County Recorder's Office on December 12, 2020 as Entry Number 20200070555. A copy of the recorded deeds are included as attachments to this project.

DWR will continue to fulfill the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) needs by securing the private in-holdings within the HCP. This goal is a major objective of the HCP and will protect habitat for the Mojave Desert tortoise. In fiscal year 2021 the Brennan parcel was acquired and this phase of the project was completed. Future project needs will be to acquire the other identified in-holdings within the Red Cliff Desert Reserve and continue to meet the goals of the HCP.