Wildlife management areas (WMAs), conservation easements (CEs) and sportsman access points provide some of the most critical wildlife habitat in the state. They also provide recreational opportunity for the Divisions constituents. As such, DWR has an obligation to maintain, improve, and manage these lands to meet the goals/objectives for which they were acquired. Specific maintenance needs are varied depending on property location and WMA type, but include such activities as fencing, signage, access management, noxious weed control, trash removal, erosion control, and habitat restoration. The Central Region maintains and manages 42 Wildlife Management units and 6 conservation easements totaling nearly 111,000 acres.

1)Secure and post property boundaries 2) Implement a noxious weed control program by inventory and spraying on an annual basis 3) Maintain public access and recreational opportunities on authorized roads/trails through road maintenance activities 4) Maintain water developments for wildlife and livestock grazing 5) Implement habitat restoration activities to improve wildlife habitat values on WMAs.

Failure to maintain WMAs and CEs will result in habitat degradation and loss; conflicts with counties, local municipalities, and adjacent landowners; and failure to meet and/or comply with legal obligations.

Many of the WMAs and CEs lie within key habitats identified in the WAP, including sagebrush-steppe, mountain brush, and riparian. WMAs and CEs support many of the sensitive species listed in the WAP including Columbia spotted frog, leatherside chub, June sucker, least chub, Bald Eagle, Greater sage grouse, mule deer, raptors, and neotropical migratory birds. WMAs and CEs also support a variety of important game species not previously listed including bighorn sheep, elk, wild turkey, and Chukar. WMAs and CEs lie within conservation focus areas identified by the Central Region UPCD team. The proposed maintenance activities will help address strategies outlined in the WDARM and SVARM sage grouse conservation plans which include: Reduce pinyon/junpier stands from sage-grouse use areas; reduce the threat of conversion of sagebrush stands to invasive/noxious weed communities; and work with public and private partners to implement livestock management plans that address seasonal needs of sage-grouse and livestock operations. The proposed project will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: Resource Goal: OBJECTIVE R2 Maintain existing wildlife habitat and increase the quality of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. OBJECTIVE R4 Decrease risks to species and their habitats through integrated implementation of the Wildlife Action Plan, species recovery plans, conservation agreements and other management plans (species, AIS, disease, etc.). OBJECTIVE R5 Manage sensitive species populations to prevent them from being federally listed as threatened or endangered, and work to delist those species that are currently listed. OBJECTIVE R7 Decrease the number of wildlife-related incidents -- including property damage, crop depredation and threatened or endangered species listings -- that negatively affect private property owners. CONSTITUENCY GOAL Strengthen support for wildlife management by demonstrating the value and importance of wildlife to all Utahns. OBJECTIVE C1 Increase participation in fishing, hunting and other wildlife-related activities. OBJECTIVE C6 Increase hunting and fishing opportunities. The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans in the Central Region which include: continue to restore and improve sagebrush steppe habitats; cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvements such as seedings, controlled burns, water developments etc; and maintain and/or enhance forage production through direct range improvements throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives.

Not applicable

Not applicable

No ground disturbing activities are planned with normal WMA maintenance activities except for road maintenance.

The habitat manager and maintenance specialist will coordinate maintenance activities in the region with other regional personnel. Habitat section personnel will coordinate with the regional Dedicated Hunter (DH) Coordinator to find projects where volunteers can be used. Weed control will be done under the supervision of the lead maintenance specialist with work completed by the assistant maintenance specialist and seasonal employees. Fencing and signing of WMA boundaries will be done by maintenance personnel with assistance from seasonal and volunteers where appropriate. Large fencing projects will be contracted out. Road maintenance will be completed by maintenance specialists where possible or with help from the heavy equipment crew.

Many of the WMAs within the Central Region contain existing range trend studies. These will be read on the regular 5 year rotation by the Divisions range trend study crew. Additional monitoring, including line intercept and/or photo points will be done by regional personnel on an as needed basis. Wildlife monitoring conducted under the direction of the wildlife section includes aerial flight counts, fall/spring population classifications etc.

A variety of groups help DWR manage WMA and assist with various projects including; DWR MDF FNAWS SFW WTF MEF Wasatch, Utah, Sanpete, Juab and Tooele counties

Lands owned and managed by the Division will continue to be managed for wildlife according to individual Habitat Management plans.

Grazing is a tool used by the Division to reach habitat management goals/objectives. Many of the Region's WMA are grazed annually. Grazing will be used on an as needed basis on WMAs following the grazing plans contained in the HMPs for each WMA. Grazing will be permitted under the Divisions Land Use Rule.

07/01/2023

06/30/2024

2024

Routine maintenance activities were carried out on the 46 Central Region WMAs primarily by the CRO habitat section including: weed spraying, hanging signs, road maintenance, and fence and guzzler maintenance and construction. Major accomplishments include: * Major fence building on the Lasson draw WMA * Replacing fence on the Pine Canyon WMA * Timpanogos WMA trail improvement and signing work. * Updating the Black Hill and White Hill access maps and plans * Repairing guzzlers damaged by heavy snow * Scalping and seeding Sagebrush and planting seedling transplants on the Wallsburg, Santaquin, Levan and Timpanogos WMAs.

Many WMAs receive considerable recreational use and user established roads are a major problem. Shooting is also common on many WMAs and long range shooting is a continuing issue on the 6-Mile and Santaquin WMAs. Shooting and the trash that results continues to be a problem on the Wallsburg WMA in the Big Hollow area.

WMAs in the Central Region will continue to be managed as specified in HMPs.