Utah's many wildlife management areas (WMAs) are vital in helping the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources achieve its mission of serving the people of Utah as trustee and guardian of the state's wildlife. The WMAs help the UDWR achieve its resource goal of expanding wildlife populations and conserving sensitive species through protecting and improving wildlife habitats. The Hardware WMA is a popular recreation area, especially for those living in the Cache and Ogden valleys. The WMA is heavily utilized for camping from Easter weekend through the elk hunts in November. The Wapiti Area, in particular, is very popular. It's near the upper and more huntable end of the WMA. It's also close to the Blacksmith Fork River and the highway. On busy weekends, including the Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekends, camping outfits (RVs) can exceed 30 units, with every conceivable spot in the area holding a tent, a trailer, or a passenger vehicle. Camping also occurs in other dispersed areas on the WMA along SR-101 and between the Curtis Creek and Rock Creek drainages. These numerous sites are filled almost every weekend and if a spot is not available new ones are "carved out" by the camping public.

This project meets Objectives 4 and 6 in the HWMA management plan to reduce camping-related habitat impacts by 25% and maintain or enhance riparian & aquatic habitats in the following ways: 1) Protect sensitive areas by adjusting high-use recreation patterns away from these areas. 2) Remove the existing toilet which could contribute to water contamination. 3) Improve the riparian corridor through fencing. The fencing will protect the area and allow both active and passive restoration to happen. 4) Establishing a WMA camping season, implementing a site plan for camping areas, and identifying camping areas through signage and structure.

The increase in camping usage has also seen a rise in the amount of litter left in campsites, new areas being utilized, fences being taken down to access restricted areas, etc. The increased presence of OHV/ATV machines has contributed to the increase of invasive weeds along the WMA roadways. During an assessment of Rock Creek, that passes through the Pole Hollow region of this project, it was found there significant growth of algae not found in this type of stream nor in the quantity that was found in the area downstream of the Pole Hollow area. The type and amount of algae found was indicative of a nutrient load being introduced to the water somewhere up stream. In the Pole Hollow area there is long term camping and camping with livestock which takes place. Many camp trailers have been observed hanging the backends of their trailers over the river. There is potential for contamination from human waste as well as concentrated livestock use.

Per the 2018-2023 HRWMA Management Plan: Wildlife Goal - Objective 4: Decrease habitat impacts in controlled and dispersed camping sites by a minimum of 25% over the life of the plan. -Strategy 1: item b. Establish a camping season. -Strategy 2: items c, e, & f. c) Reduction or elimination of approved camping locations. e) Develop a site plan for Camp Wapiti. f) Identify designated camping sites using logs, rock structures, and/or signage. Objective 6: Maintain existing riparian and aquatic habitat and explore opportunities to enhance these habitats during the life of the plan. - Strategy 1: Identify riparian areas that require habitat enhancement...

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Portions of Rock Creek have higher than expected amounts of nitrogen, resulting in increased algal growth due to the introduction of nitrogen from nearby camping and areas of extended livestock use. This project will remove this nutrient source and relocate the cause of the source away from the river while continuing to permit wildlife-related recreation in the area.

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1) Enforce established WMA Camping Season: * Signage placed at the 3 main entrances to the WMA (SR-101, Ant Flat, & Laketown Rd.) indicating camping is in permitted areas only within designated dates. * Signage identifying designated camping areas & conditions of use 2) Reduction or Elimination of Approved Camping Sites: Consolidation of some camping sites and elimination of others will improve our ability to monitor public use, reduce the drain on man-hours utilized to monitor camping, and simplify enforcement of rules and regulations that deal with camping. It will also protect the resource by removing problematic contamination sources to waterways and reducing widespread impacts on surrounding habitats. * Convert Pole Hollow/Tie-out area to Day Use livestock access and parking. * Relocate the camping area over on Baxter Sawmill Rd. away from the river. * Remove existing feed bunks and relocate to the Baxter-Rock Creek camping area on Baxter Sawmill Rd. 3) Identification of Approved Camping Sites: Identified sites will direct the camping public to areas we designate and feel can sustain the impact, will reduce the amount of pollution in WMA streams and rivers, and simplify enforcement for where camping can occur. (See Baxter/Rock Creek, & Hardware Flats Maps) * Baxter-Rock Creek Camp, Baxter Rock Creek Livestock, & Hardware Flats Designated Camping Areas o Use fencing and rock blockades to covert Pole Hollow to Day Use o Use signage to designate sportsman access points, parking, and livestock areas * Baxter/Rock Creek Designated Camp Area o Use signage to designate permitted camping and livestock areas in order to protect sensitive habitats and waterways o Use rock blockades to separate regular camping & livestock camping portions o Install feed bunks and tie-outs in the livestock area * Hardware Flats Designated Camp Area o Permitted camping from Aug 1 -- Dec 31 (limited to hunting seasons) o Use rock blockades and fencing to close the southern half of this high meadow to camping and vehicle damage.

The use will be monitored by both WMA staff and DWR law enforcement, both to inform and enforce recreation that is consistent with a day-use area.

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Frequent contact with the public using the area will be needed to inform and educate the reason behind the restoration and to provide regular maintenance to fencing protecting the restored area.

This development will continue to allow for hunting, angling, and other wildlife-oriented recreation associated with Hardware WMA while enabling the protection and restoration of sensitive habitats for the future.

07/01/2023

06/30/2024

2024

A wildlife-friendly drill pipe fence was installed to create the Pole Hollow Parking Area. The top rail of this fence is set at 42" with 2 sucker rod rails. The bottom rod is 16" above the ground and the middle rod splits the difference. A new gate and sign were also installed. Large boulders were also purchased to block off the lower riparian area in the Hardware Flats Camp Area and separate the livestock area from regular camping in the Baxter/Rock Creek Camp Area.

A contractor was hired to build the Pole Hollow Area fence and new gate. Large boulders were purchased and delivered to the WMA. WMA staff placed them in their final locations.

The parking area at Pole Hollow will be brought to grade and leveled into a proper parking area with adequate drainage to improve use and reduce compaction and destruction to the area. The old horse feed bunks will be relocated to the Baxter/Rock Creek Livestock Area for the public to be able to camp with their livestock.