The Dollar Ridge Fire in 2018 burned approximately 65,000 acres of USFS, Private, and DWR managed lands near the Strawberry River between Soldier Creek Dam and Red Creek. Over the years since the fire, Duchesne and Wasatch Counties have spent millions of dollars through NRCS emergency watershed protection grants to rebuild the strawberry river road and build erosion control structures to protect the river and human infrastructure from further damage. Still, large storm events produce debris flows that threaten the river, the road, and downstream interests, including private property and water quality in Starvation reservoir. Money left over from the Wasatch County EWP project is being used to do additional seeding in areas to reduce the severity and likelihood of future erosion events. The areas targeted for seeding in this project include areas that had not previously been seeded, and which are contributing to severe erosion events, even several years after the fire. Stabilization of these slopes is important for reducing potential runoff into the Strawberry River.

Stabilize slopes surrounding the Strawberry River to reduce run-off potential. Increase vegetative diversity in burned areas to benefit big game species such as elk, deer, and bighorn sheep.

The largest threat to the project area is soil erosion. Re-seeding burned areas will help reduce erosion potential during storms.

The Utah Wildlife action plan identifies Lowland sagebrush, Mountain Sagebrush, and Mountain brush as key habitats. The WAP identifies "Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity" and "Soil Erosion and Loss" as threats to these habitats. The Utah Elk Statewide Management Plan has an objective to improve the quality and quantity of forage on elk habitat by initiating broad scale vegetative treatment projects. The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan has an objective to improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on crucial ranges by initiating broad-scale vegetative treatment projects. The Utah Bighorn Sheep Statewide Management Plan has a habitat management goal to provide good quality habitat for healthy populations of bighorn sheep. The Strawberry River WMA Habitat Management Plan's goals are to protect, improve, and restore watershed, soil, and vegetative resources for the benefit of fish and wildlife.

This project is focused on rehabilitating areas that already burned, rather than to reduce risk of fire.

Since the fire in 2018, several storm events have produced major debris flows, dumping sediment into the Strawberry River, which is then carried downstream to Starvation Reservoir. Most of these debris flows have occurred on drainages that did not get seeded in the initial rehabilitation efforts. This project seeks to stabilize these drainages to reduce further erosion events.

No ground disturbance is involved in this seeding, so archaeology surveys are not necessary.

Seed will be applied aerially using a fixed wing aircraft or helicopter. Steep slopes and difficult terrain preclude any mechanical treatments on the ground.

USFS and DWR personnel will regularly monitor for seeding success and weed infestations on USFS and DWR managed property, as well as erosion events that may indicate where future work needs to be done.

A Burned Area Emergency Response team from the USFS provided data regarding soil burn severity and erosion potential. The USFS is cooperating with the UDWR to seed areas of public lands. The NRCS and Duchesne and Wasatch Counties are providing funds through an EWP grant. UDWR will take the lead on contracting efforts and on providing seed. The Bureau of Reclamation and the Utah Mitigation Reclamation and Conservation Commission own lands along the Strawberry River, under management of UDWR, and have cooperated in discussions of rehabilitation efforts and plans.

It is anticipated that the Strawberry River corridor will require further restoration efforts for some time. As partners have met to discuss strategies and priorities, the general consensus is that seeding on the slopes above the river is still a high priority as storm events are likely to continue to produce more erosion. Once the slopes stabilize and the probability of major erosive events is reduced, restoration efforts will shift to the river corridor itself. These efforts may include riparian planting, bank stabilization, and in-stream habitat work.

Areas on USFS lands are grazed and should benefit from the re-seeding efforts there.

11/20/2022

11/27/2022

2023

Seed was flown onto the area beginning November 20, 2022 and concluded November 27, 2022.

The Dollar Ridge Fire in 2018 burned approximately 65,000 acres of USFS, Private, and DWR managed lands near the Strawberry River between Soldier Creek Dam and Red Creek. Over the years since the fire, Duchesne and Wasatch Counties have spent millions of dollars through NRCS emergency watershed protection grants to rebuild the strawberry river road and build erosion control structures to protect the river and human infrastructure from further damage. Still, large storm events produce debris flows that threaten the river, the road, and downstream interests, including private property and water quality in Starvation reservoir. As the Wasatch County EWP project neared completion, it was realized that additional funds would be left over and could be used to seed additional areas to reduce the severity and likelihood of future erosion events. The areas seeded in this project are primarily those that had not previously been seeded, and which are contributing to severe erosion events, even several years after the fire. Stabilization of these slopes is important for reducing potential runoff into the Strawberry River.

The DWR, in cooperation with the Mitigation Commission have already contracted a watershed assessment to guide future projects and management actions to improve the health of the watershed, protect water quality in the Strawberry River, and to protect infrastructure downstream. Future management may include additional seeding and erosion control structures, weed control, and fish habitat enhancements in the river.