Tamarisk is an invasive species that consumes large amounts of water and outcompetes native vegetation. Without treatment, tamarisk continues to expand and reduces the diversity present in the area. By removing tamarisk, native vegetation is passively encouraged to grow, potentially making more forage available to wildlife.

- Passively increase the populations of local willows in the WMAs through tamarisk removal. - Provide better access to water for the local terrestrial wildlife. - Reduce and prevent channelization that results from dense tamarisk stands. - Increase diversity of vegetation along riverscapes in the project WMAs.

Invasive Plant Species - Non-native: This threat is identified for the aquatic-scrub/shrub habitat type. Tamarisk negatively alters the native ecology by increasing soil salinity and decreasing microbial activity. A reduction of native flora has been connected to tamarisk populations. As the population of tamarisk continues to become more dense, removal of this detrimental species will become increasingly difficult and expensive. It is also possible that stream channelization will increase as stands of tamarisk are left untreated along the riparian corridor of the properties in this proposal.

The Utah State Resource Management Plan has several applicable objectives and policies & guidelines: --Protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state by 2025. -- Improve vegetative health on public and private lands through active management of invasive plants and noxious weeds. -- The State will seek to protect, conserve, and improve Utah's fish and aquatic wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. -- Improve vegetative health on public and private lands through range improvements, prescribed fire, vegetation treatments, and active management of invasive plants and noxious weeds. -- The state of Utah supports proactive management of noxious weeds. -- The State of Utah supports adequate funding to combat the spread of noxious weeds. In addition, the state supports the removal of noxious weeds from affected areas and rehabilitation of effected areas post treatment. -- The State supports the removal of invasive species from riparian areas on public lands. -- The State supports the use of mechanical treatments, controlled burns, livestock grazing, and other tools to control invasive plants and other plant species that compromise wetland health, in accordance with best available practices. The Uintah County Resource Management Plan has the following applicable objectives: -- Reduce or eliminate noxious weed infestations.... -- Manage noxious weeds to enhance wildlife habitat and farmland. -- Employ a variety of (integrated) weed management techniques including prevention, biological controls, chemical controls, and mechanical controls. -- Conserve and protect riparian areas through application of best management practices. -- Support the eradication of invasive species, e.g., Phragmites, tamarisk, and Russian olive, which can degrade habitat value and impact groundwater levels.

Tamarisk is more likely to burn than native riparian vegetation. Removing this invasive species reduces the likelihood of a fire starting and spreading in the area.

A single Tamarisk tree uses about the same amount of water as a single willow or cottonwood tree. However, as they tend to grow in dense stands, the amount of water consumed would be greater than a common stand of cottonwoods. With the elimination of Tamarisk from the willow creek area, we would expect that riparian and upland health would increase due to the water being utilized by native vegetation. We also expect water quality to increase as salinity would decrease and soil sedimentation would also decrease.

All of the work is taking place on DWR managed land. Consultation with the state archeologist will take place.

Tamarisk will be cut with loppers or chainsaws depending on maturity. Within 15 minutes of being cut, stumps will be treated with Garlon 4(or 3A) or equivalent.

The Project locations will be monitored by employees of the DWR. Future management will determine when more tamarisk control needs to be implemented.

UCC

Tamarisk is approached with the expectation that eradication will take many years to complete. Future projects to eliminate tamarisk in the area are expected. Monitoring efforts will dictate frequency of re-treatments.

Improving forage resources on winter ridge will help protect and enhance livestock operations in the book cliffs and provide additional feed for livestock. Projects that improve forage for livestock also help contribute to a better working relationship between permitees/ranchers and government agencies. Enhancing wildlife habitat will protect and enhance wildlife populations, which are utilized for hunting, wildlife viewing, and shed antler gathering.