Phase I of this project helped to re-established SWFL habitat since the area is part of the northernmost extent for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher's breeding range and it is a key breeding site for the St George study area SWFL population. It is one of very few nesting areas for SWFL in Utah. It is currently the only SWFL breeding site along the Virgin River that is dominated by native vegetation. Fire is identified as an imminent threat to occupied SWFL habitat. Fires in riparian habitats are typically catastrophic, causing immediate and drastic changes in riparian plant density and species composition- post fire rehab must be done in order to maintain/recreate suitable habitat. Phase II is important to help treat the rest of the landscape that was affected by the fire in order to reestablish the native upland mojave desert vegetation and help discourage the establishment of invasive weeds.

- re-etablish upland mojave desert vegetation by burning the vegetation piles that were created post-fire and then plant seed acquired from GBRC during Phase I - reduce invasive weed establishment - restore the landscape to pre-fire conditions

Seeding the mojave upland desert landscape could reduce undesirable plant species taking over in the areas where all the veg. was cleared.

1. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher FINAL Recovery Plan Aug 2002. At the federal level, our proposed activities address a number of recovery actions outlined in the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher recovery plan. By implementing our proposed activities, we will contribute to recovery actions 1.1.2.2, 1.1.2.3, 1.1.3.2, 1.2, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.1.5, 2.1.6 (USFWS 2002). 2. Utah Wildlife Action Plan a. Key Habitat- Mojave Desert Shrub- Enhancing the prevention and suppression of ignitions in areas that have burned once, which often retain a component of recovering native vegetation and are good candidates for otherwise-passive restoration. b. Key Habitat- Aquatic Shrub/Scrub- Continuing the use of appropriate methods for reducing the spread and dominance of invasive weeds c. Fire/Invasive Nonnative Plant Species- Conservation Action- Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. -Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. -Conduct post-fire rehabilitation. Invasive Non Native Plant Species- - Close areas, roads, or trails during times of severe fire danger Virgin River Resource Management and Recovery Program (VRP)- Our proposed actions fulfill a central objective of the VRP which is the enhancement and protection of riparian and 100-year flood plain habitats.

Fuels such as dead tamarisk that had died due to the tamarisk beetle were removed by the fire and this project will establish healthy native riparian species that will help reduce tamarisk from spreading and establishing, reduce fuel loads and protect critical SWFL habitat.

Getting suitable native vegetation established in this area could help reduce erosion and sediment that could make its way to the virgin river.

Not applicable. UDOT is working to convey the property to Washington County Water Conservancy District to help protect SWFL habitat.

Burn slash piles and then use baby rangeland drill to drill seed the upland desert seed mix.

Annual SWFL nest monitoring and presence/absence surveys during breeding season (May-July). Monitor the success of seeding and Phase I's pole plantings progress towards re-establishing suitable habitat for SWFL.

Virgin River Program and Washington County Water Conservancy District.

Use monitoring data to inform future actions that may be necessary. If weed control is needed, work with local ACE crews and Virgin River program for removal. Continue to help facilitate discussions with UDOT and Washington County Conservancy District about transferring the UDOT property the Washington County Water Conservancy District.

Restoring ecosystem function post fire by reestablishing riparian and upland desert vegetation and habitat. Mule deer, coyotes and many bird species had been observed here so once the site is revegetated it could be good for low impact recreation activities such as bird watching and wildlife viewing.

11/21/2022

05/17/2023

2023

In November we brought a bobcat in to remove tall weeds and pile them into the existing slash piles that were made after the original fire. Took two days to clear ~5 acres of weeds. We left a patch of arrowweed that had reestablished on its own. An ACE crew organized through the Virgin river program also performed some work on the property where they cleared weeds and planted Coyote willows within a 1.0 ac plot located immediately around and adjacent to the ponded spring water (i.e. Brinton Pond) from 2/8/2023-2/15/2023. The total planting effort was approximately 704 person-hours. The willows were harvested from the Santa Clara River in St George. A total of 1,779 Coyote willow stems were replanted in approximately 593 holes. In March, FFSL burnt the slashpiles. Following the burn we used the bobcat and mini dozer to level the ground and prep the seeding area. On March 15th flooding along the Virgin River changed the course of the river and part of the bank and fence on this property were engulfed into the river. The river overflowed onto the property and brought in silt, therefore March 20th we seeded a smaller area than planned and doubled down our seeding. We used an electric seed broadcaster on the back of side by side and then ran the carpet harrow behind the side by side to help bury and distribute the seed. We didn't use the baby rangeland drill since the flooding had made the area wet and we thought it may get stuck. In May we noticed that white top, an invasive weed was popping up on the property and to help protect our seeding and the control the spread of the invasive weed. We hand sprayed the areas where whitetop was growing within the project. We avoided the area near the nesting SWFL habitat and the areas with the newly planted willows. Last visit in mid-May showed the seed was beginning to grow. The herbicide to treat the whitetop was successful when monitoring in June. SWFL monitoring observed two nesting pairs where two females at Brinton Pond produced seven fledglings. Both pairs of flycatchers at Brinton Pond had first nest attempt failures, however both re-nested and were successful on their second attempt. Brown-headed Cowbird trapping and removal were in place at both nesting sites. No flycatcher nests were parasitized by cowbirds during the 2023 breeding season.

A fire in 2021 burnt SWFL habitat, and the adjacent upland desert habitat was altered by vegetation removal that was piled into large slash piles. The slash piles from cleaning up the vegetation during the original fire in 2021 were finally burned, and therefore we were able to seed the upland area. Following seeding, white top was observed on the property. The whitetop was treated using roundup.

Monitor the establishment of the upland Mojave desert seed. If the viability was high we might want to seed other areas in the future as the flooding kept us from applying the seed across the whole upland area. We will continue to monitor for white top and other weeds to assess if we need to apply herbicide to kill it and reduce the spread of the noxious weed. Monitoring of SWFL nests will continue, as well as establishing willows in the burn area.