In previous phases of this project, we worked to improve several springs that went dry on the Manti Meadows WMA. This has been very successful to increase water and restore historic ponds that have gone dry. Now that we have restored the ponds we are seeing many waterfowl and amphibian species return and use the property. In the summer of 2022, the UDWR relocated least chub to these ponds to serve as a refuge population. These fish were sourced from the Mud Basin refuge, which was stocked with chubs originating from the San Pitch River below Gunnison Reservoir in 2020. The Manti Meadows refuge is one of only two refuges for this unique population, first discovered in 2016. There are future plans to introduce Columbia spotted frogs as well. This has been an exciting project and highlights the good work that the WRI program is doing. However, these successes have been diminished by the continued trespass of illegal cattle grazing on the property that have trampled the banks of these newly created ponds and eaten much of the new vegetation. The cattle use of the ponds and riparian habitat has greatly reduced the quality of the new habitat for waterfowl, pheasants, amphibians, and endangers the newly released least chub populations. Our habitat staff has tried to work with the livestock owners to resolve these trespass issues for many years, but they have a legal trailing right through the property and it is difficult to respond to lost cows before they have time to damage the property. Therefore, we are proposing this project to build exclosure fences around the newly created ponds and to improve the border fences. This will ensure that these ponds and other riparian and upland habitats are protected even when only a couple of cows get on the property for a temporary amount of time. With the restored water on the property, it has also provided some more opportunities to build additional ponds and improve ditch systems to spread the water farther across the property. We are requesting funds to hire the DWR heavy equipment crew to do some additional earthwork to spread the water more and create even more habitat. This work will improve habitat for many wildlife species, it will create more green areas to reduce fire risks to nearby communities, it will improve water quality, and increase recreational opportunities of hunting waterfowl and upland game birds.

1. Protect ponds and riparian areas from trespass livestock. 2. Improve ponds and wetland habitat for fish, waterfowl, and upland game species. 3. Improve water quality by preventing cattle from trampling banks and defecating in water. 4. Reduce fire risks to the community of Manti by creating a greener area. 5. Increase waterfowl and pheasant hunting opportunities by improving habitat.

1. We relocated least chub to this site to serve as a refuge population and by not doing this project we threaten the success of that restoration effort. 2. By not stopping cattle from damaging the newly created riparian areas we risk losing native plant species and introducing more weeds that can outcompete native vegetation.

Utah Wildlife Action Plan One of the main key habitats that we would be increasing would be open water. Our plan is to improve ponds where many species of wildlife can benefit. The water at this property has been impacted by usage and drought which is one of the very high threats identified in the Wildlife Action Plan. 2. The WAP identifies several species that will be benefited by this project. - Northern Leopard Frogs, addressing threat of habitat loss from piped irrigation. - Columbia Spotted Frog, addressing threat from habitat loss from water usage - Little Brown Myotis, addressing threat from water loss to livestock watering. We will have open water ponds and troughs that are open and allow drinking and feeding for bats. - Least Chub, addressing threat from habitat loss from improper grazing Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Least Chub. 1998. Goal is to ensure long-term persistence of Least Chub within its historic range and support development of statewide conservation efforts. Objectives include to: 1) eliminate or significantly reduce threats to least chub and its habitat to the greatest extent possible, and 2) restore and maintain a minimum number of populations throughout its historic range that will ensure the continued existence of Least Chub. The CAS's goal and both objectives are applicable to the proposed project. Mule Deer Management Plan- The spatial distribution of mule deer populations is often positively associated with the availability of water in arid regions of western North America (Hervert and Krausman 1986, Boroski and Mossman 1996). This project will help to increase the availability of water and help to distribute mule deer across the landscape. Among the UDWR's directors office priorities are to increase waterfowl and pheasant hunting opportunity in the state. This project will increase the available habitat for waterfowl and pheasants and help to reach these priorities. North American Waterfowl Management Plan Habitat Objectives- 1. Acquired areas should be managed to improve habitat Quality, minimize the risk of disease and increase the carrying capacity of overwintering sites. 2. Agricultural and industrial practices that impact migration and wintering areas should be examined and alternative practices developed that benefit waterfowl and complement other land uses.

Increasing the water on this property has allowed us to create fire breaks with water and wetland vegetation that is less likely to burn. By fencing livestock out of the riparian areas it will ensure that there is more green vegetation that will help reduce the spread of wildfire.

By keeping the livestock out of the ponds and riparian areas we will improve the water quality. By continuing to improve the springs and spread the water across the property we will increase the water quantity and the availability of that water.

All necessary cultural clearances have been conducted in previous phases of the project. All water rights and other permits required have been taken care of. We have inspected the property with Eric Andersen, UDWR water rights specialist, and he has said that we will be able to work under existing water rights that we own for the property.

1. We will build a barb-wire fence on the west side of the property to create a narrow corridor where trailing livestock will be forced to move through, instead of lingering all over the property. 2. We will use our seasonal crew to repair the existing perimeter fence to ensure that neighboring livestock don't trespass on the property. 3. In case livestock get past these other fences we will build a post and rail fence around the critical ponds and riparian areas to ensure that they are protected. 4. We will plant seed species in two areas with a range land drill to improve the habitat and hunting cover for pheasants. 5. The heavy equipment crew will use an excavator to dig ditches, ponds, and get the springs flowing better.

The UDWR has full time employees who manage the Manti meadows property and will ensure that water systems are working properly and continue to maximize benefit for wildlfie and livestock. Photo points have been taken before implementation of the project and will continue to be taken as project progresses to document success.

The UDWR has partnered with multiple sportsman groups to help fund previous phases of this project. The UDWR has worked with local Scout Troops for Eagle Scout projects to plant vegetation and build kiosks. The UDWR has also partnered with Snow College in Ephraim to have students come out and help plant. We will continue to partner with volunteer groups and sportsman to continue work on the property. We have not extended the project beyond the WMA because adjacent land is agricultural and cannot be worked on.

The property will continue to be managed to maximize the benefit for wildlife and livestock. These water and vegetation improvements will be maintained with wildlife management area maintenance budgets and personnel as needed.

By doing this project it will help reduce conflicts with adjacent grazers. It will allow the UDWR to use grazing more as an effective tool and not have damage to critical riparian areas. This will increase recreational opportunities on the property by improving waterfowl and upland game hunting.

09/01/2023

08/28/2024

2025

This project has been carried over into FY 25 and is ongoing, but we will provide some information of what has been completed to this point. In November of 2023, we planted a combination of grasses, forbs, and shrub plants with our mad max planter on the north end of the Manti Meadows WMA. We did this to try and improve the cover and food for upland game birds, such as pheasants. The mad max planter tills a row that removes the grass competition and simultaneously plants the seed. We did this on a 10 acre plot. In the spring of 2024, we purchased fencing materials and had our seasonal employees repair several sections of perimeter fencing to make sure that livestock do not trespass on the property and damage the wetlands. We also have livestock that trail through the property on occasion and so we hired a contractor in May of 2024 to construct a livestock exclosure fence around some newly constructed ponds to protect them from those trailing livestock. Least chub have been released into those ponds and other ponds on the property and are doing very well. Recently our native aquatics biologists reported that the least chub have reproduced and that thousands of least chub are now in those ponds. This protection fencing will greatly protect these least chub and their habitat from damage from livestock. The remaining funds have been carried over into FY 25 and will be used to construct additional fencing to protect wetlands against the trailing livestock and work with our heavy equipment crew to restore another spring head and build additional ponds.

In previous phases of this project, we worked to improve several springs that went dry on the Manti Meadows WMA. This has been very successful to increase water and restore historic ponds that have gone dry. Now that we have restored the ponds we are seeing many waterfowl and amphibian species return and use the property. In the summer of 2022, the UDWR released least chub into these ponds to serve as a refuge population. These fish were sourced from the Mud Basin refuge, which was stocked with chubs originating from the San Pitch River below Gunnison Reservoir in 2020. The Manti Meadows refuge is one of only two refuges for this unique population, first discovered in 2016. There are future plans to introduce Columbia spotted frogs as well. This has been an exciting project and highlights the good work that the WRI program is doing. However, these successes have been diminished by the continued trespass of illegal cattle grazing on the property that have trampled the banks of these newly created ponds and eaten much of the new vegetation. The cattle use of the ponds and riparian habitat has greatly reduced the quality of the new habitat for waterfowl, pheasants, amphibians, and endangers the newly released least chub populations. Our habitat staff has tried to work with the livestock owners to resolve these trespass issues for many years, but they have a legal trailing right through the property and it is difficult to respond to lost cows before they have time to damage the property. In this project we built exclosure fences around the newly created ponds and to improve the border fences. This will ensure that these ponds and other riparian and upland habitats are protected even when only a couple of cows get on the property for a temporary amount of time. With the restored water on the property, it has also provided some more opportunities to build additional ponds and improve ditch systems to spread the water farther across the property. This work will improve habitat for many wildlife species, it will create more green areas to reduce fire risks to nearby communities, it will improve water quality, and increase recreational opportunities of hunting waterfowl and upland game birds.

The property will continue to be managed to maximize the benefit for wildlife and livestock. These water and vegetation improvements will be maintained with wildlife management area maintenance budgets and personnel as needed.