This project is a continuation of work achieved, and ongoing, by UWRI and many other partners on BLM, State, and private lands to the north of Bear Valley on the Greater Fremont Plateau (see UWRI projects 4402, 4806, 5221, and 5638). The Cedar City Ranger District has identified almost 86,000 acres of sagebrush, mountain brush, bitterbrush, pinyon and juniper woodland and riparian communities across the Ranger District where vegetation management could maintain and improve wildlife habitat, while reducing the risk of uncharacteristically high severity fire in its Sagebrush Steppe and Woodland Restoration project (see attachments for Environmental Analysis). Bear Valley was selected as the first proposed implementation area out of the Sagebrush Steppe and Woodland Restoration project because it is contiguous with the cross-boundary efforts of other partners (see UWRI projects listed above and Partners section) and has large benefits to multiple high priority terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species. During planning for the Sagebrush Steppe and Woodland Restoration project we used remote sensing data from Forest Service's Vegetation Classification Mapping and Quantitative Inventory (VCMQ, USDA 2016 -- see attachments) validated by Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) ground truthing and our own ground truthing efforts (see Monitoring section) to identify areas of sagebrush, mountain brush, and bitterbush that were being overtaken by pinyon and juniper succession. In Bear Valley we found over 7,000 acres of sagebrush, mountain brush, bitterbrush, and riparian areas in various stages of pinyon and juniper (PJ) succession. During project planning we also found areas of livestock overuse, failing range infrastructure, declining habitat for UPD, sage grouse, and big game, lack of riparian woody species along Bear Creek, upland vegetation encroachment onto the floodplain of Bear Creek, areas of low stream bank stability and cover along Bear Creek, and an elevated risk of uncharacteristically high severity wildfire. Bear Creek and the Upper Sevier River have also been identified with water quality problems. This project will work to address all these issues and, with the exception of wildlife species and habitat, issues will be addressed in subsequent sections of this proposal. Need and benefits to specific wildlife species are addressed below. The project area contains three Utah Prairie Dog (UPD) colonies. UPD are a State of Utah Species of Greatest Conservation Need and are listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. While annual counts are variable the population across Bear Valley has remained relatively stable from 2017 through the present (average of 37 and maximum of 66 across the three colonies); however, prior to 2017 one or fewer UPD had been observed at these colonies since 2006. Colony mapping shows the colonies are persisting in relatively the same areas each year. The areas surrounding the majority of these colonies are mapped as previously occupied habitat. Currently, the occupied habitat is undergoing infilling by brush species and the historically occupied habitat is dominated by sagebrush and/or rabbitbrush. There are few occupied colonies on USFS land in the West Desert Recovery Unit. Colonies in the project area contribute towards the recovery goal for the species, one of which is to have 1,000 adult UPDs counted on public or protected land (USFS land) in each recovery unit. The proposed treatments will help maintain and improve currently occupied habitat while increasing the amount of available habitat for UPD by removing sagebrush and rabbitbrush. In addition to maintaining the existing colonies removing brush in surrounding areas could allow for colony expansion into historic habitat that is currently unsuitable. This could be particularly beneficial because of the relatively high moisture and production potential of project area habitat for UPD. All of the implementation proposed in the project is within the Panguitch Sage Grouse Management Area. In the years leading up to 2021 multiple soft and hard trigger for management were reached in this SGMA because of lek count declines and declines in the number of males per lek. While lek counts in the SGMA doubled between 2021 and 2022, compared to historical counts numbers still remain low. Currently there are three sage grouse leks immediately adjacent to proposed treatments. All three leks are within 0.5 miles from treatments to remove Phase I PJ succession from sagebrush and within 3miles from the proposed Phase II/Phase III PJ succession treatments. Wildlife Tracker shows that collared sage grouse used portions of the proposed treatments; however, location point density immediately outside the proposed treatment areas is considerably higher (see attachments). Sage grouse are an Intermountain Region Sensitive species and a State of Utah Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Currently sagebrush habitat throughout the project area has various stages of pinyon and juniper succession which decreases habitat effectiveness near leks and can reduce food and habitat quality in brood rearing and wintering habitat, as well. Project activities support actions in state and federal conservation plans, as well as published science, that indicate tree removal within 4 miles of a lek, should improve lekking habitat. Additionally, brush mowing, wet mowing, light mechanical, hand treatments and seeding will increase the amount of grass and forbs available for sage-grouse throughout the lekking and brood rearing seasons. These activities will also help increase age class diversity in sagebrush and well as reduce the amount of rabbitbrush. Proposed riparian and wet meadow treatments are designed to expand the extent of mesic areas and improve the diversity of grasses and forbs, which should also improve brood rearing habitat for sage grouse. Bear Creek itself contains a conservation population of Southern leatherside chub (SLSC), which are an Intermountain Region Sensitive species and a State of Utah Species of Greatest Conservation Need. SLSC are a small (< 6 inch) minnow, but are drift feeders with habitat preferences somewhat similar to trout. SLSC populations are highly variable and are inversely related to brown trout abundance. Throughout the project area Bear Creek is located within a historic incision that varies from 6-20 feet. While the stream has developed a new floodplain within the incision, that new floodplain is experiencing active downcutting and erosion in some areas (see photos in attachments). Pinyon and juniper trees dominate the edge of the terrace throughout the majority of the project area and have moved into the floodplain choking out river birch, willows, and other woody species in some areas. Riparian greenline vegetation trend data show sites on Bear Creek meeting Forest Plan objectives, but partial Multiple Indicator Monitoring shows bank stability and bank cover to be below objectives at some sites. Visual observations immediately off the greenline show many areas where the current floodplain is disconnected from the channel leading to a quick transition from hydric to mesic and upland species (see photos in attachments). The channel itself lacks overhanging and instream cover. Proposed treatments are expected to maintain and elevate the water table, trap sediment, expand hydric species, and improve overhanging and instream cover. Warm Spring and Bear Creek also contain a population of springsnails, currently identified as a species in the Toquerville springsnail complex (Pyrgulopsis kolobensis). Springsnails in Utah are managed under a Conservation Agreement and Strategy. The Toquerville springsnail complex is in need of taxonomic revision and is likely comprised of multiple species, some of which may be endemic smaller locales like Bear Creek (Liu, Hershler, & Hovingh, 2018). Sampling by UDWR has shown that springsnails are distributed throughout Bear Creek from at least Warm Springs downstream to the Forest boundary (see attachments). It is uncommon for springsnails to be so widely distributed so resolving the taxonomy of this populations is important. Springsnails are not highly mobile and are generally considered sensitive to changes in water quality, so the risk of impacts from post-fire ash and debris flows to this population would be high if a wildfire were to occur in this area. The mule deer population on the Panguitch Lake unit is in a slightly downward trend with an estimated population of 10,000 deer and an objective of 11,000. The elk herd on the Panguitch Lake unit is also below objective with and estimated population of 840 and an objective of 1,100-1,300. The proposed treatments will help improve summer substantial habitat for mule deer and elk through a reduction in pinyon and juniper, allowing for an increase in available forage and in increase in available habitat that can be utilized for foraging. The project will also help improve elk winter substantial range and crucial mule deer winter range by discouraging and reducing the encroachment of pinyon and juniper into sagebrush steppe which is recommended in the elk herd management plan and the deer herd management plan for the Panguitch Lake unit. Bear Valley is one of the areas specifically listed as an area in need of restoring shrublands by removing pinyon juniper succession. As with sage grouse, Wildlife Tracker shows that mule deer and elk use portions of the proposed treatments; however, location point density immediately outside the proposed treatment areas is considerably higher (see attachments). Bear Creek also contains a population of brown trout. The population is variable and probably dependent on flow conditions in a given water year. Currently the fishery is not heavily used; however, if the channel were to widen or beaver ponds were to be created the area may receive more pressure. Speaking of beaver increasing riparian woody species and providing existing instream structure would improve the potential for beaver colonization reintroduction success (see Water Quality and Quantity section). We acknowledge that there are a host of other species that may, or may not, indirectly benefit from the proposed treatments (e.g. pollinators, California condors [Stan Gurley made me say that], small mammals, migratory birds, aquatic invertebrates, bobcats, cougars, lions, and tigers, and bears...oh my...sasquatches, jabberwockies, etc.); however, we believe the species addressed above are the ones most likely to have direct or substantial indirect benefits from completion of the proposed treatments.

The overarching purpose of the project is to maintain or improve vegetative resilience, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce the risk of high intensity and high severity wildfires to public and firefighters. Specific objectives of the Bear Valley project include: 1) In areas of Phase II and Phase III succession reduce conifer cover to <5% within in treatment polygons while leaving islands/corridors. This should improve lekking habitat for the three sage grouse leks adjacent to the project area and will move areas in FRCC 2 and 3 to FRCC 1. 2) In areas of Phase I succession reduce conifer cover to < 1%. This will maintain and improve lekking habitat for sage grouse and maintain FRCC1 in these areas. 3) Maintain and increase available forage by 20-30%. 3) Improve fish habitat and trap sediment by adding large woody debris every 100-200 feet along Bear Creek. 4) Increase woody species and shading by 10-30% along Bear Creek through willow plantings and improve bank cover and bank stability to over 80% by removing riparian conifers, planting willows and adding large woody debris. This should help to maintain and improve water temperature and reduce E. coli in Bear Creek and reduce Total P and sediment loading to the Upper Sevier River. 5) Stop and repair head-cutting and raise water table in and around ephemeral drainages and washes on private lands and Increase soil moisture and raise water table 1" to 6". 6) Reduce bank alteration to below 20% and increase bank stability and bank cover to above 80% at Navajo Spring by excluding livestock. 7) Improve wet meadow and expand UPD habitat by reducing rabbitbrush by 85% in wet mowing treatments. 8) Expand UPD habitat by reducing sagebrush by 85% in brush mowing treatments. 9) Improve habitat in existing UPD colonies by removing all brush greater between 20-50 feet from colonies.

The current conditions of both vegetation and fuels within the project area and the areas proposed for treatment create an elevated threat for a fire of uncharacteristically high severity within the project area. The risks of an uncharacteristically severe wildfire in the project area include, but are not limited to: 1) Increased erosion and sedimentation (increased Total P, Sediment and possibly E. coli loading) 2) Potential loss of the Bear Creek SLSC and Toquerville springsnail complex populations 3) Stream channel incision and loss of fish habitat 4) Increased risk of flooding and debris flows (potential loss of range, irrigation and road infrastructure) 5) Threat of noxious weed invasion and conversion to cheat grass dominated ecosystem (potential impacts to GSG, UPD and big game) 6) Loss of soil productivity 7) Loss of later seral stage wildlife habitat 8) Loss (at least temporarily) of wildlife and livestock forage On 1,822 acres of the treatment pinyon juniper succession varies from early Phase II through Phase III. A considerable amount of the Phase II is transitioning to Phase III and much of the Phase III still has a little residual understory of shrubs. Waiting to treat these areas of late Phase II risks them completely converting to Phase III and increasing the cost of treatment, as well as decreasing treatment effectiveness as residual shrubs are lost. The amount of pinyon-juniper woodland succession into sagebrush steppe ecosystems in Phase 2 and Phase 3 areas has started to deplete, or has completely depleted, herbaceous understory and shrub ecosystems. Without fire, mechanical, or another disturbance for 40 to 50 years the shrub and sagebrush areas could be completely converted to woodlands. Within the proposed 1,822 acres there are light infestations of cheat grass (0-8% of the vegetation cover). If a wildfire were to occur, the potential for cheat grass to expand would be high. Cheatgrass infestations shorten the fire cycle and could lead to an increase in the frequency of negative fire-related impacts across the proposed project area (Pierson, et al., 2011). Mechanical treatments have the potential to increase cover of nonnative annual grasses (e.g. cheat grass) instead of more desirable species. Disturbance method, existing site conditions, seeding methods, and post-treatment precipitation patterns probably all effect the potential for cheat grass to increase following treatments (Coultrap, et al., 2008; Redmond, Cobb, Miller, & Barger, 2013; Havrilla, Faist, & Barger, 2017; Williams, et al., 2017; Jones A. , 2019; Madsen, 2019). While data is mixed on the success of the proposed seeding treatments following the types of treatments proposed in the project, with the right seed mix, the appropriate site conditions, and normal precipitation seeding has been shown to be successful following treatment (Bybee, 2013; Stephens, Johnston, Jonas, & Paschke, 2016; Svecjar, Boyd, Davies, Hamerlynck, & Svecjar, 2017; Roundy, et al., 2018; Jones A. , 2019). Given this we believe the proposed treatments are likely to maintain or reduce the relative abundance of cheat grass in the project area. On the 878 acres of Phase I PJ succession to be treated, the risk of not treating the project now is that these sites advance into later Phase I or even Phase II PJ, some shrub and understory vegetation is lost, and the cost to treat these acres increases anywhere from 5-10 fold. UPD are a Threatened species on the cusp of potentially being delisted. Failure to continue population and habitat improvement efforts for this species could imperil the chances of it being delisted. Similarly, lek counts on the Panguitch SGMA have been low for many years which could risk additional forced management actions by federal agencies without additional actions to improve habitat. Without additional habitat improvement projects such as this, big game numbers on the Panguitch Unit risk staying below objective. For the most part Bear Creek has an intact floodplain within a historic incision; however, the channel is showing signs of additional downcutting that could abandon the new floodplain. Without efforts to improve riparian vegetation, improve bank cover, and stabilize banks, this could risk another incision aggradation cycle before a new floodplain is developed. In the interim the erosion would contribute to increased nutrient and sediment loading to a TMDL listed Assessment Unit in the Upper Sevier River. Currently the permittees on the allotment are supportive of the work and have engaged NRCS in helping to fund the work (see Partners Section). Additionally, cooperative private landowners in and adjacent to the project area have engaged NRCS in cross boundary work. Delays in moving forward with the project risk losing their cooperation and the NRCS funds that they have been pursuing. If the project is not completed it is probable that range conditions will continue to deteriorate possibly resulting in a loss of AUMs, as well as watershed health and landscape ecological integrity. Currently NRCS is planning to provide up to $519,000 in partner funds that are at risk of being lost without matching funds from WRI.

This project will work to address threats, work within focus areas and with focus species, help meet objectives and goals of the below listed plans. Under those plans are specific language from the plan describing threats, goals, strategies, and objectives this project will help meet. 1) USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Strategic Plan Project addresses habitat threats for a priority species (sage grouse an UPD) within a PFW priority area (Plateau Focus Area) for restoration work. 2) Utah Greater Sage Grouse Conservation Plan Increase habitat by 50,000 acres per year and improve an average of 25,000 acres of habitat each year. This is within Sage Grouse Management Zone III (Southern Great Basin) and is part of the Panguitch/Bald Hills sage grouse population. 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. 3) Utah Mule Deer Statewide Plan (12/5/2019-12/5/2024) "Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering, and migration areas" "Work with local, state and federal land management agencies and ranchers to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges." "Minimize impacts and recommend mitigation for losses of crucial habitat due to human impacts." "Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah." "Support existing and explore additional incentive programs for landowners that will increase tolerance, enhance habitat, and promote deer populations on private lands such as the CWMU, landowner permit, Walk-In Access programs, etc." This project falls in the Crucial Mule Deer Habitat Priorities. 4) Panguitch Lake Deer Herd Unit #28 Management Plan Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvement projects. Protect deer winter ranges from wildfire by reseeding burned areas, creating fuel breaks and reseed areas dominated by cheatgrass with desirable perennial vegetation. Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects. Work with federal and state partners in fire rehabilitation and prevention on crucial deer habitat through the WRI process. 5) Utah Wildlife Action Plan Mountain Sagebrush is a key habitat identified in the WAP. Aquatic-Scrub/Shrub is a key habitat identified in the WAP. Mountain Shrub is a key habitat identified in the WAP. WAP identifies inappropriate fire frequency as a threat to Mountain sagebrush, and Mountain Shrub habitat. This project will reduce future fire risk and act as a fire buffer to adjacent higher risk areas. Riverine, Aquatic Scrub/Shrub, Mountain Meadow, are threaten by Channel Down Cutting, Drought, Soil Erosion and Loss, and Improper Grazing (Current). One of the main focuses of this project is to restore, protect and enhance riparian areas, wet meadows, and streams. 6) Intermountain West Joint Venture Habitat Conservation Strategy Support existing public-private partnerships to implement sagebrush habitat conservation, at regional, state, and local scales. Remove encroaching conifers to functionally restore sagebrush habitat. 7) Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0 Investment Strategy Restore 25,773 acres in Utah representing 58 percent of non-federally encroached priority areas. Restore and enhance degraded mesic areas to help increase populations. 8) Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy Reduce fire risk by managing and removing invasive species 9) USDA Forest Service: Using Resistance and Resilience Concepts to Reduce Impacts of Invasive Annual Grasses and Altered Fire Regimes on the Sagebrush Ecosystem and Greater Sage-Grouse Use mechanical treatments like cut and leave or mastication to remove trees, decrease woody fuels, and release native grasses and forbs in warm and moist big sagebrush ecosystems with relatively low resistance to annual invasive grasses that are in the early to mid-phase of pinyon and/or juniper expansion. Prioritize areas where restoration of sagebrush and/or perennial grasses is needed to create large patches of landscape cover of sagebrush or connect existing patches of sagebrush habitat. 10) Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy Version 2.0 Create, enhance and protect small ephemeral "wet areas" within nesting and brood-rearing habitats for sage grouse. Manage large blocks of land for contiguous Shrubsteppe habitat and avoid activities that cause fragmentation. 11) UTAH ACTION PLAN For Implementation of Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3362. 2018. This project is SPECIFICALLY mentioned as being a priority in this plan for restoration work. 12) Dixie National Forest LRMP Goal 15 -- Maintain or enhance the terrestrial habitat for all wildlife species presently on the Forest (page IV-5). All the vegetation treatments proposed should increase browse and or forage for Forest MIS species, such as mule deer, elk and wild turkey. Goal 17 -- Managed Classified Species habitat to maintain or enhance their status through direct habitat improvement and agency cooperation (Page IV-6). This project has the potential to benefit a conservation population Southern leatherside chub. SLSC is an Intermountain Region Sensitive species and is managed under Conservation Agreement and Strategy that both DWR and the Forest Service are signatories or involved partners. This project is also designed to benefit Utah Prairie Dog a federally Threatened species and Greater sage grouse an Intermountain Region Sensitive species. 13) Conservation Strategy for springsnails in Nevada and Utah All springsnail species in Utah are managed under a recent conservation agreement signed by UDWR, the Forest Service, BLM, and other partners. The subsequent Conservation Strategy identifies the following conservation actions fulfilled by this project: Develop strategy, rationale, and contingencies for addressing taxonomic revisions, reclassification, discovery of new species and haplotypes, extirpation/extinction of SCT identified species, and potential rediscovery of species thought to be extinct. Ensure optimal habitat conditions and requirements are met at each occupied site to the extent feasible through enhancement or restoration projects. 14) Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment The Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment lists pinyon and juniper expansion as one of the threats to sage-grouse habitat and encourages prioritizing removal in occupied habitats, Upper Bear Valley is currently and has historically been used by sage-grouse. Additionally, the plan states "where sagebrush is the current or potential dominate vegetation type or is a primary species within the various states of the ecological site description, maintain or restore vegetation to provide habitat for lekking, nesting, brood rearing, and winter habitats" wet mowing will reduce rabbitbrush and allow for sagebrush reestablishment and will also allow for a release of grasses and forbs which is be beneficial to sage-grouse. 15) Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Plan The recovery action narrative for UPD advises "Currently occupied as well as historic UPD habitat (much of the brush mowing and light mechanical will take place in historic habitat) can be improved with vegetation treatments such as thinning of dense sagebrush via mechanical or other methods and reseeding with seed mixes beneficial to UPD. Implementation of this project will follow guidance directly from the UPD recovery action narrative. 16) Southern Leatherside chub CAS -- Conservation Elements B2) Restore habitat where possible, creating habitat complexity and connectivity for southern leatherside, and B3) Implement habitat enhancements that may include some or all of the following: removal of diversion structures, modification of barriers to allow fish passage, bank stabilization, enhancement of native vegetation, riparian fencing, nonnative removal, and implementation of compatible grazing practices. Conservation Element C4) Develop cooperative agreements with landowners. The agreement will specify methods to eliminate or reduce impacts on southern leatherside habitats. Conservation Element D4) Maintain Natural Hydrologic conditions. This project proposes to maintain an improve the water table, create exclosures and riparian pastures on private lands, and enhance native vegetation and bank stability, all of which support these elements of the CAS. 17) Upper Sevier Water Shed Management Plan lists implementation strategies to address Total P loading as: Grazing management: This could include a combination of timing, duration, and fencing to protect streambanks from trampling and limit the introduction of animal waste into canals, ditches and streams. Riparian fencing and pasture rotation are appropriate practices to protect sensitive areas and allow for controlled access to forage. Off-site watering could be provided for cattle that congregate in or near streams or other channels adjacent to pastures. 2. Streambank restoration: The re-establishment of woody, deep-rooted vegetation such as willows and sedges is recommended for the majority of the Sevier River from its headwaters to Circleville Canyon. The potential for bank stabilization and erosion control is high since the water table is typically high throughout the year. Practices could include willow pole planting, willow mats, temporary juniper revetments, and other soft bio-engineering techniques. These restoration projects would have to be coupled with grazing management, development of offsite water sources, and permanent or temporary electric fencing to allow for recovery of riparian vegetation. In some cases which were identified during the SVAP survey bank erosion was so severe that the installation of hard structures such as rock barbs or weirs rock may be necessary to direct flow away from revegetating stream banks. 18) Upper Sevier River Total Maximum Daily Load and Water Quality Management Plan The Plan calls for the following actions to address Total P loading in Assessment Unit UT16030001-007: Riparian fencing and grazing management. Reduce irrigation by increasing efficiency and riparian buffers. It is reasonable to assume that these same actions would help with the new 303d listing for sediment in this unit and the E. coli 303d listing in Assessment Unit UT16030001-004_00. The riparian treatments and planting as well as the pasture fence rebuild and exclosure around Navajo Spring fit these actions. 19) Iron County Resource Management Plan (2017) The Iron County Plan discusses objectives and expectations for Fire Management, Fisheries, Floodplains and River Terraces, Forest Management, Livestock and Grazing, Riparian & Wetland Areas. This document is attached and the project supports the Plan's objectives for these resource areas.

Sagebrush stands in this area are classified as FRCC 2 in areas with phase 1 pinyon-juniper succession and FRCC3 in areas with phase 2 and phase 3 pinyon-juniper succession. In sagebrush steppe groups 1,2,3 current fuel loading averaged 2 tons per acre. Pinyon-juniper cover type phases 1,2,3 fuel loading ranged from 3 to 9 tons per acre with the average being around 4 tons per acre. Total fuel loads in encroached sagebrush ecosystems can be almost six times more than sagebrush ecosystems that have not been encroached, which causes significant changes in how fires burn (Putz and Restaino 2021). The current continuity and structure of sagebrush groups and phases of pinyon-juniper greatly limits the ability of firefighters to directly attack wildfires as they would be overwhelmed by very high rates of spread in the finer fuels coupled with high flame lengths coming off of the trees. Thick live fuels also slow fire line construction due to all the dense fuels firefighters have to cut through to create and then hold a fire line. The goal of treatment is to improve health and vigor of stands by moving them toward a FRCC of 1 and away from 2 and 3, reduce fuel loading, fuel continuity and to reduce the risk of large-scale fires of uncharacteristically high severity that could result in a degradation of watershed conditions. As discussed under Threats and Risks, large, high severity fires can have dire consequences terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitats. In addition to potential impacts to vegetation communities and species (noted in Threats and Risks), multiple residential structures exist on the private lands within and downstream from the project area Several areas at the private lands/public lands boundary within the project are considered Wildland Urban Interface Areas with a priority for treatment. A wildfire in the project area would most certainly threaten these structures. Any post-fire flooding and debris flows would also have a major impact on the diversion and irrigation facilities of downstream water users. Range improvements in the project area would also be at risk. This project would also work in concert with the past phases of the Greater Fremont to protect SH20 and its utility corridor from wildfire impacts.

Part of the purpose and need for this project is to improve/secure watershed conditions for SLSC. Currently, Bear Creek (Assessment Unit - UT16030001-004_00) is 303d listed for the following parameters: pH, E. coli, Copper, and temperature (UTDEQ 2022). The receiving waters of Bear Creek in the Upper Sevier River (Assessment Unit UT16030001-007_00) has a TMDL for Total Phosphorus and Sediment and is also now 303d listed for benthic macroinvertebrates and temperature. Pinyon Juniper removal projects have been shown to increase the ground cover of grasses and forbs, thereby reducing bare ground and erosion (Roundy & Vernon, 1999; Pierson, Bates, Svejcar, & Hardegree, 2007a; Peterson & Stringham, 2008; Stam et al. 2008; Pierson, et al., 2010; Cline, Pierson, Kormos, & Williams, 2010). Proposed mastication and seeding treatments should contribute to reducing sediment and total phosphorus loading in the Upper Sevier River. Accelerated erosion in pinyon-juniper and sagebrush stands was identified as a key issue in the Bear Creek watershed in the Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan (see attachments). Part of the project includes rebuilding pasture fencing to reduce unauthorized livestock use and a riparian exclosure around Navajo Spring, which has been shown to sustain consistent overuse (see attached photos). Navajo Spring has shown bank alteration as high as 88% in past monitoring efforts. That kind of bank damage changes channel morphology and contributes lots of fine sediment to the channel. Both of these fences should help to reduce livestock use and overuse of riparian areas which should help contribute to reducing E. coli loading in Bear Creek and were practices identified in the TMDL for the Upper Sevier River (see attachments). Additionally, riparian conifer removal, large woody debris additions to the stream, and willow plantings have the potential to trap sediment and improve the areal extent and diversity of hydric species in riparian areas. Increased ground cover and additional aggradation of the stream bed should help reduce fine sediment loading in the remainder of the stream and help contribute to reduced levels of E. coli in Bear Creek and reduced levels of sediment and phosphorus in the Upper Sevier River. These issues and activities were also identified in the Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan and the TMDL for this section of the Upper Sevier River. Additionally, the density of overhanging vegetation is expected to be increased which will increase shading and could contribute to reducing water temperatures in Bear Creek. As has been discussed and debated in UWRI projects and ranking for many years, the effects of conifer removal on water yield is variable and inconsistent; however, some research indicates that pinyon-juniper removal in mountain sagebrush can increase soil water availability (Roundy et al. 2014). This portion of the project has numerous wet meadows and small seeps throughout the proposed treatment areas, and recent research in California indicates that removing conifers from wet meadows can elevate the water table and increase soil moisture (Fie 2018). This project proposes to remove pinyon and juniper from sagebrush grass lands and improve the amount and diversity of riparian hydric and woody species. The combination of these activities should have a net positive effect on increasing water yield/availability. Beaver have used portions of Bear Creek sporadically over the past 15-20 years. Within the project area beaver had built several dams between 2016-2021; however, all of the dams appeared inactive after flooding in 2021 and 2022. Dams were primarily constructed from conifer and sagebrush, because of the paucity of riparian woody species. The riparian conifer removal and willow planting should provide a much better food source for beaver in the future and pave the way for beaver reintroductions which could have a sizeable impact on water yield and delivery from the project area. Additionally, the wet meadow erosion control treatments proposed on private lands are low impact/low risk/high reward type practices. In some of the wet meadows small gullies and head-cutting need to be addressed. Stopping the head-cuts and aggrading small gullies below can have exponential benefits to soil moisture, water loss, and maintain and increase rare mountain meadow habitats that is an extremely limited habitat type. Finally, the pinyon and juniper removal treatments proposed in this project will help to reduce fuel loading and fuel continuity along channels that drain into Bear Creek and Bear Creek itself. This will reduce the risk that fire behavior would cause a large, high severity wildfire and the negative water quality repercussions associated with ash flows and debris flows following wildfires. The treatments proposed in this Phase will connect with treatments conducted in previous phases of the Greater Fremont project to reduce the risk of an uncharacteristically high severity fire, the aftermath of which could result in lowering water tables through stream incision and cause short and long-term impacts to sediment and nutrient loading, negatively affecting water quality. Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that cheat grass dominated landscapes have altered hydrologic properties and could inherently have increased runoff and erosion when compared to non-invaded areas (Boxell & Drohan, 2009; Wilcox, et al., 2012; Weltz, et al., 2014). This project should reduce the risk of expanding cheat grass by reducing wildfire risk and seeding treated areas.

This project was initiated in the fall of 2021. A scoping and notice of opportunity to comment was sent to a list of potentially interested parties. A scoping notice was mailed out on November 19, 2021 and the comment period lasted for 30 days. The project was additionally posted on the Dixie National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) and posted to the Forest project website. The Legal Notice announcing the publication of the Draft Environmental Assessment for a 30-day Notice and Comment period was published on 10/3/2022. The Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Specialist Reports were posted to the project web site (https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60744) and mailed to a list of potentially interested parties and was open for Notice and opportunity to Comment for 30 days. A third Alternative was added and analyzed, after which the EA was finalized and put out with a Draft Decision Notice and FONSI for the 45-day objection period on 12/20/2022 (see attachments). The Objection period closes on 2/3/2023 and a Decision will be finalized immediately unless there are objections. If Objections are received, we still anticipate a final decision by 4/1/2023. Update - Decision finalized, signed, and attached in documents. 2/14/2023.

Note: the riparian lop and scatter on Forest Service lands had a 3 m negative buffer applied because of overlap issues loading in the database. Polygons meet and are contiguous in most areas where space is shown between them and difference between acres claimed in the text and shown on the map are a result of this buffer. 1) Phase II and Phase III Pinyon Juniper succession sites (1,822 acres): a. Contracted mastication and aerial seeding - Areas within Inventoried Roadless Areas will leave all trees greater than 11 inches DRC. Aerial seeding with attached seed mix. 2) Phase I pinyon juniper sites a. Forest Service Phase I Pinyon Juniper sites (776 acres) will be treated with a combination of skid steer mastication and lop and scatter depending on the density, or trees, proximity of trees and accessibility of trees. The target would be to remove all small trees from sagebrush areas. Work will be completed by Forest personnel. b. Private lands Phase I Pinyon Juniper sites (146.5 acres) -- Contracted lop and scatter of all Pinyon and juniper trees. 3) Bear Creek riparian treatments (35 acres): a. Lop and scatter (35 acres) -- Contracted lop and scatter all pinyon and juniper except those flagged for bank stability. b. Large woody debris additions (1 acre/1.6 miles) - Junipers will be flagged for whole felling into the stream during the lop and scatter contract. c. Willow planting (1 acre/1.6 miles) -- Willow stakes will be locally harvested and planted 1-3 feet from the edge of the channel at 6-foot intervals using a conservation crew. 4) UPD habitat treatments -- For all the following treatments timing and distance stipulations to limit impacts to UPD in the EA, and agreed to by USFWS, will be adhered to. a. Rabbitbrush wet mowing (82.3 acres combined private and Forest) -- In areas adjacent to UPD occupied colonies but greater than 350 feet from the colonies, rabbitbrush will be mowed and treated with the Tordon in the fall through a contract. b. Brush mowing (55.5 acres) -- In areas adjacent to UPD occupied colonies but greater than 250 feet from the colonies, Sagebrush adjacent to occupied colonies but outside of a foot buffer will be mowed to expand UPD habitat through a contract. c. "Light mechanical" brush mowing and seeding (20 acres) - In areas adjacent to UPD occupied colonies and between 50-250 feet from the colonies a tracked skid steer will be used to mow brush and seeding will be performed from ATVS (seed mix attached). Forest personnel will complete these treatments. d. Lop (no scatter) hand brush removal and seeding (6 acres) -- All brush within occupied UPD colonies will be removed with chainsaws, Pulaski's, or other hand tools by Forest Personnel while maintaining a 20 foot buffer around burrows. Seed will be applied by hand (seed mix attached) 5) Fence construction -- a. Middle Canyon Pasture boundary fence (26,378 feet) - Four strand barbed wire fence will be installed using a fence contractor. b. Navajo Springs Exclosure fence (2,192 feet) - Four strand barbed wire fence will be installed using a fence contractor. 6) Zeedyk construction - We propose to use simple rock and/or wood structures that are being use across the West to stop and repair head-cuts and erosion using a contractor. See additional attachment for more information on these structures. 7) Hardened low water crossing construction -- Road base will be transported to the site and BLM personnel will use it to create a hardened low waster crossing that maintain the appropriate stream morphological dimensions.

Pre-implementation drone flights of riparian and UPD habitat treatments -- Prior to implementing Phase IV of the Greater Fremont project Utah State University completed a drone flight of the Bear Creek riparian for future evaluation and comparison of treatment effects and potential beaver recolonization. This project proposes to fund flying an additional 1.6 miles of Bear Creek where riparian treatments, large woody debris additions and willow plantings will occur, prior to implementation for post-implementation comparison. Additionally, we are proposing flying the areas to receive UPD treatments prior to treatment for future comparison of habitat change following treatment (See attachments for SoW and cost estimate). Fish -- The Forest has one quantitative electrofishing station on Bear Creek in the treatment area. It has been sampled four times since 2006, most recently in 2019. The Forest tries to sample quantitative fish stations on a 5-year interval. Results are reported in Biennial Monitoring Reports (see documents). Springsnail monitoring -- UDWR, the Forest Service and other partners have participated in presence absence surveys for springsnails throughout the project and treatment area and UDWR has completed relative abundance surveys in warm Spring and Bear Creek. These efforts have been documented in field reports (see documents). This project also proposes funding to support genetic analysis of springsnail populations in Phase IV and Phase V of the Greater Fremont projects. Upland vegetation -- Within the treatment area the Dixie National Forest has established three upland vegetation trend studies: one in the UPD hand treatment, one in the contract mastication and seeding, and one in the Forest Service mastication/lop and scatter. These studies are repeated every 5 years and are detailed in biennial monitoring reports by the Dixie National Forest and can be uploaded to the WRI web site (see documents). Riparian Vegetation -- The DNF has two Riparian Level III Inventory locations established within the riparian treatments along Bear Creek. These studies are repeated every 5 years and are detailed in annual monitoring reports by the Dixie National Forest and can be uploaded to the WRI web site (see documents). Multiple Indicator Monitoring - The DNF has three areas monitored for bank stability, bank cover and greenline to greenline width within Bear Creek riparian treatments. These sites are repeated every 5 years and are detailed in annual monitoring reports by the Dixie National Forest and can be uploaded to the WRI web site (see documents). Wildlife monitoring -- Cooperative Forest Service/UDWR UPD annual colony counts go on each year in the spring. Aerial lek searches are scheduled annually by DWR, using a fixed wing plane with infrared imaging. UDWR flies the unit every 3 years for elk counts, they also use collars and look at post-season survival rates to determine mule deer population size and trends. Fuels monitoring -- During environmental planning for the Cedar City Sagebrush, Steppe, and Woodland restoration project 100 photo plots were set up throughout the whole project area. One of those plots is in the mastication and seeding treatment in this project. At this site all trees counted 1/10 acre circumference from plot center.

Cross boundary coordination on this project began in 2019 when the Cedar City Ranger District began the initial planning stages of the Cedar City Ranger District Sagebrush, Steppe, and Woodland Restoration project. Conversations with NRCS and UDWR led to a field tour in 2020 looking at the entirety of the project and focusing on a few key areas of common interest, Bear Valley being one of those. This led to a joint BLM, NRCS, USFWS, Forest Service State FY2022 UWRI project submission (5638 - Greater Fremont Plateau Habitat Restoration Phase IV) which funded cultural clearance work for over 5,700 acres in and around Bear Valley on Forest Service lands. This proposal includes treatments on a large portion of the culturally cleared acres from Phase IV. Since that time the Forest Service has worked closely with the NRCS Farm Bill Biologist to coordinate private lands projects in, and adjacent to, this project area. Multiple field tours have been conducted in the area with Forest Service, UDWR, BLM, NRCS, and Mule Deer Foundation personnel. Permittees on the North Red Creek allotment were notified of the potential project during AOI meetings and were offered a chance to review and comment in the project at an in-person meeting with the Forest Service and NRCS in November 2022. Seven of eight permittees attended the meeting and all that attended were very supportive of completing work on the allotment. The remaining permittee has not voiced any opposition to the project. NRCS, private landowners, and permittees have been integral partners on this project and are expected to provide up to $519,000 toward project implementation. The Mule Deer Foundation has also expressed interest in participating in this project. This project has been previously discussed with the Southern Leatherside Conservation Team who have expressed support for riparian and aquatic treatments, as well as reducing the risk of high severity wildfire. All private landowners in Bear Valley have been contacted about participating. For those who chose not to participate in this phase, we hope that once they see the results on public and other private lands they may change their mind. In October 2022 a meeting to discuss potential joint monitoring and research on this project and other ongoing and completed projects around Bear Valley. Participants included BLM, Forest Service, Mule Deer Foundation, NRCS, Rocky Mountain Research Station, UDWR, Utah State University, USFWS, and the Wildlands Network. Several project ideas from this meeting are included on the proposal.

On public lands all permittees have met directly with FS personnel and verbally agreed to resting the Middle Canyon pasture (containing the 1,822 acres of mastication and seeding) for two years. During the two years following treatment, the Annual Operating Instructions will be adjusted to reflect rest of the seeded area and that will constitute the signed agreement. For the seeded UPD treatments, herding and electric fencing will be used to rest those seedings for two years and these will also be included in the signed operating instructions. As discussed under the Sustainable Uses section the current conditions of the allotment have resulted in grazing rotations and use patterns that work in the short-term but are beginning to cause issues in the long-term. This is primarily the result of declining forage, lack of water sources, and failing range infrastructure. This project addresses those issues for the Middle Canyon Pasture. The Cedar City Sage Steppe and Woodland Restoration NEPA authorizes additional vegetation treatments on the remaining pastures, which will help to increase forage on those pastures. The Cedar City Ranger District is also in the beginning stages of developing a range infrastructure project for this and other allotments, which should help maintain and improve the number and quality of water sources across the allotment. The Brian Head Fire has already created forage increases on one of the pastures which is helping to allow a portion of the herd to remaining on that pasture for longer and defray use on other pastures. The goal of vegetation treatments and infrastructure improvements is to have an allotment where timing, duration, and intensity can be better controlled because of more widespread distribution of grazing pressure. As mentioned previously this would be the first implementation area of an 86,000-acre project that authorizes treatments in adjacent allotment and watersheds. We anticipate implementation will move to the next allotment before returning to the North Red Creek allotment as reflected in the proposed cultural clearance surveys (shown as an Affected Area on the map). Once implementation is completed on all surrounding allotment and watersheds wildfire risk and habitat issues should be addressed enough to focus on maintenance of investments. As mentioned elsewhere in the proposal there are four species managed under conservation agreements/plans or recovery plans in this project area. Both the State, the Forest Service, and the BLM are participant and signatories to the agreements and plans. Once treatments in the entire project area are completed the goal is to manage fire adapted ecosystems through a combination wildfire (managed for Forest Plan benefits) and low intensity prescribed fire. In terms of treatments overlapping riparian areas, and sagebrush treatments, monitoring will determine the success of original treatments and maintenance will be conducted as necessary to remove whips and missed trees. On private lands, the private landowners will enter into a contract with NRCS. Grazing will be allowed, in the areas that with the lop and scatter and wet mowing because there is not any associated seeding. This project will also help the landowners better distribute and graze not only his private property but also his adjacent public allotments. This means the potential for improved range management and range conditions moving forward.

North Red Creek is one of the bigger cattle allotments on the Cedar City Ranger District with 392 cow/calf pairs authorized over 1,572 head months. Currently this allotment is run on a 5-pasture deferred rotation, with one of the pastures being a riparian pasture primarily used for gathering at the end of the season. Because of declining forage and lack of water sources, the rotation on the remaining four pastures has had to be adjusted to split the herd on two of the pastures and then run full numbers on the remaining two pastures. This has increased and concentrated use on areas with forage and water in all of the pastures and resulted in overuse, particularly in riparian areas like Bear Creek and Navajo Spring, in some years. Additionally, the failing Middle Canyon pasture boundary fence has resulted in unauthorized use further exacerbating use issues along Bear Creek. The proposed mastication and seeding will help to increase forage off the stream in the Middle Canyon pasture. Similar actions of past phases of the Greater Fremont project have increased forage by approximately 35%. The proposed pasture fence reconstruction will help reduce unauthorized use and the proposed exclosure around Navajo Spring should eliminate use from livestock along the spring and spring channel. As discussed under the Future Management section, implementation of this project along with planned vegetation treatments and range improvements in the remaining pastures should result in increased forage, better distribution, and improved resource conditions. It will also make the allotment more resilient to drought periods which are expected to be longer and more intense under some climate change scenarios. All of this should allow for livestock grazing to continue under a variety of annual weather conditions, while improving livestock weights and resource conditions. Lop and scatter treatments on the Cedar City Ranger District and surrounding areas have been very popular for personal firewood gathering and we anticipate that given the proximity of this area to multiple communities and the accessibility of the treatments that much of the lopped and scattered wood will be collected for personal firewood use. The other major use of the Bear Valley area is hunting, shed hunting, and wildlife viewing. As outlined in the purpose and need and relationship to plans sections Phase III treatments should improve forage for mule deer and elk winter and summer range. Hopefully this leads to higher use by big game which should translate into additional hunting pressure/success. A 2017 report by the Outdoor Industry Association showed that nationally, outdoor recreation generates $887 billion in consumer spending annually, supports 7.6 million jobs and generates $59.2 billion in state and local tax revenue. Hunting along generated $27.1 billion in revenue in 2016. According to 2018 data from Southwick and associates hunting in the Intermountain West contributed to more than 16,200 jobs, $214,100,000 in retail sales and $25,300,000 in State and local tax revenue in the Intermountain West. Withing Utah itself the ripple effect of hunting to the economy could be estimate at $925 million (https://huntingworksforut.com/economic-data/). With Bear Valley relatively close to Cedar City, Parowan, Paragonah, and Panguitch these communities are sure to benefit from hunting and wildlife viewing generated dollars. This area is also visible from SH20 which receives a larger amount of tourist traffic and the improved visuals from tying private and Forest Service treatments into the completed and ongoing BLM treatments should provide and improved experience for tourists. Finally, we expect that this project will contribute to conservation actions for a federally Threatened species on the precipice of downlisting and three species that are managed under Conservation Agreements/Plans designed to alleviate the factors that would warrant listing these species under ESA. Working toward downlisting species and preventing listings allows for multiple use management to continue for all sustainable use.