Busby Complex Fire ESR
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Project ID: 6467
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2023
Submitted By:
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Project Manager: Mark Farmer
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Central Region
Lead: Bureau of Land Management
WRI Region: Central
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Description:
Aerial seeding 460 acres of BLM land on the Busby and nearby Royal wildfires
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Location:
South west corner of Tooele county on the north slope of Dutch mountain about 5 miles north of the town of Gold Hill on the edge of the salt flats of the Great Salt lake desert.
T7S, R18W, Sections 1,2,10,11, and 12.
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Project Need
Need For Project:
The Busby Fire burned primarily on the east-facing slopes. The Royal Fire mainly burned on the north-facing slopes. Both fires started by lightning on July 21, 2022, burned in hilly and mountainous terrain, and are approximately a half of mile from each other. The burned area vegetation consists of grasses, sagebrush, pinyon pine and juniper ranging from approximately 4,600-6,400 feet in elevation. The burned area is located near the Utah-Nevada border in the southwest corner of Tooele County, Utah on the northern tip of the Deep Creek Mountain Range, approximately 36 miles southeast of Wendover, Nevada. The fire is located in T. 7 S., R. 18 W., SLM. The fire removed the majority of the soil's protective vegetative cover. Many portions of the fire burned hot enough to kill existing perennials. Both fires saw significant growth at night with extreme downslope runs, as well as uphill runs, torching and backing during the day. Without seeding, this burned area may cross a threshold to become a plant community dominated by undesirable annual vegetation.
Objectives:
Aerial seed 460 acres of burned areas of BLM land to help prevent large scale flooding and erosion and to establish perennial Plants plants back into the community.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Aerial seed the areas of high fire severity to help prevent large scale flooding and erosion and to establish perennial plants back into the community.
Relation To Management Plan:
This treatment is consistent with the Pony Express Resource Management Plan (1990), the Salt Lake Field Office Fire Management Plan Amendment (1998)-Alternative 2: Integrated Fire/Resources, and the 2010 West Desert District Normal Year Fire Rehabilitation Plan (DOI-BLM-UT-W000-2010-0001-EA).
Fire / Fuels:
We will be planting species that will be more fire resistant in the future.
Water Quality/Quantity:
The seeding will prevent water from scouring the soil and allow for water to soak into ground.
Compliance:
No ground disturbing activity planned.
Methods:
Aerial Seeding
Monitoring:
BLM will continue to monitor the success of the seeding and evaluate if future action is needed.
Partners:
BLM
DWR
Future Management:
BLM will continue to monitor the success of the seeding and evaluate if future action is needed.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
We are protecting the health of the ecosystem which will increase wild life viewing opportunities in the future.
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $86,200.00 | $0.00 | $86,200.00 | $500.00 | $86,700.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
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| Contractual Services | Aerial seeding 460 acres | $20,700.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2023 |
| Personal Services (permanent employee) | Project admistration | $0.00 | $0.00 | $500.00 | 2023 |
| Materials and Supplies | Seed mix for 460 acres | $65,500.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2023 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $71,000.00 | $0.00 | $71,000.00 | $500.00 | $71,500.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
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| BLM ESR | A111 | Mod 11 | $71,000.00 | $0.00 | $500.00 | 2023 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
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| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
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| Pronghorn | R3 | |||||
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Habitats
| Habitat | ||||
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| Lowland Sagebrush | ||||
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| Lowland Sagebrush | ||||
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Project Comments
| Comment | 08/11/2023 | Type: 2 | Commenter: Alison Whittaker |
| Thank you for submitting your completion form on time. I have moved this project to completed. Don't forget to upload any pictures of the project you have of before, during and after completion. | |||
Completion
Start Date:
10/01/2022
End Date:
01/04/2023
FY Implemented:
2023
Final Methods:
Approximately 460 acres of BLM administered land burned by the 2022 Busby fire was aerially seeded by fixed wing aircraft on January 3rd of 2023. A total of 8.9 bulk pounds of grass and forb seed was flown on.
Project Narrative:
The 456 acre Busby fire and 36 acre Royal fire were started by lightning on July 21st of 2022. These fires comprise the Busby Complex fire. Only the BLM administered part of the Busby fire was aerially seeded in this project. Seed was flown on later than planned due to the early start of winter weather in late November of 2022 and the workload of the contractor.
Future Management:
This project is primarily on BLM administered lands. There is a small piece of SITLA land within the Busby fire perimeter (less than 40 acres). The BLM will be responsible to monitor this project.
Map Features
| ID | Feature Category | Action | Treatement/Type |
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| 12631 | Terrestrial Treatment Area | Seeding (primary) | Broadcast (aerial-fixed wing) |
Project Map
