Stewart Lake WMA is an important Wildlife Management Area near Jensen, Utah. The WMA is adjacent to and has connection with the Green River. It provides good habitat for waterfowl and upland game birds, and is extremely important habitat for rearing Razorback Suckers. This project has several components that will improve habitat for razorback sucker as well as upland game and non-game species. Prescribed Fire Aquatic vegetation at the Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area (WMA) has accumulated to a point where management practices have become increasingly difficult. This condition originates from management obligations mandated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remediate selenium. Specifically, mandatory remediation of selenium that has built up in wetland sediments over decades at Stewart Lake requires a fill and drain cycle to oxidize the sediments to slowly remove the contaminant (Naftz et al. 2005, uploaded). Under current management protocols (required of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [BOR] by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service [FWS]), Stewart Lake is covered by water 3-4 months out of the year and dry for the remainder, providing ideal conditions for cattails to thrive. Following prescribed burns to knock down this vegetation (last prescription burn completed on February 17, 2022), cattail densities quickly grow to the point where wildlife habitat (e.g., Mule deer, Ring-neck pheasants) is quite limited on the WMA and the wetland itself no longer has open water habitat after filling. In 2019, Open water was limited to 4.6 acres of dredged channels within Stewart Lake WMA. Lack of open water habitat limits UDWR's ability to successfully implement an important project to benefit endangered razorback sucker recovery, which has proven to be the most successful recovery project for this species (Partlow et al. 2022; Schelly et al. 2016, uploaded) since the inception of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (UCREFRP) in 1988. With that, waterfowl habitat is severely limited in Stewart Lake, which happens to be adjacent to the Green River, an important migration corridor. Additionally, in 2017 cattail densities were so thick that the inlet canal was unusable (water backed up and would not flow into the wetland) to provide a maximum fill. Given the mandatory nature of selenium remediation, prescribed fire will be a necessary component of Stewart Lake management until selenium levels are reduced to EPA standards. Herbicide Treatment This will be a follow up to burning, intending to knock back the cattail regrowth that occurs after a fire. This will better maintain open water in Stewart Lake for the benefit of Razorback sucker. Experimental grazing We intend to determine if grazing by goats can help us manage cattails in the wetland. We have tried many actions to manage cattails (burning/filling, chemical application, mechanical destruction) but they are a constant problem. In years when we cannot burn the wetland due to scheduling or environmental conditions, we would like to have a backup alternative. If funded, part of our grazing will be within the area dominated by cattails to see if the goats can be effective in grazing this kind of habitat. We will graze the goats in the cattail habitat once the water level starts going down and the outer perimeter no longer has standing water. We will allow them to graze as much of the cattails as possible given the length of time and amount of funding we have. We also have a need to see how they will do with the dense woody vegetation on the south side of the wetland. This area has become completely overgrown, even encroaching on the management access roads on this side of the wetland. The vegetation is mostly salt cedar which are smaller and Russian olive, which have grown very big in this area. There are cottonwoods and willows in this area as well. The goats would be fenced by the contractor to graze in very specific areas which we will determine as a group effort. We would not allow them to roam freely through the area as our goal is to thin the trees out in these areas. This would make access easier and minimize the pin-striping of vehicles and provide more ability for us to access key areas for Razorback Sucker wetland management. Russian olive and tamarisk removal and planting native plants The areas targeted for Russian olive and tamarisk removal are those on the east end of the WMA and are still relatively open and sparse. By removing the invasives in this area we hope to prevent a somewhat intact upland area from becoming overgrown and unmanageable. This will also preserve the wildlife values that the dense stands of Russian olive provide to upland game. By planting native shrubs in the areas we are hoping to maintain free of Russian olive and tamarisk we hope to enhance upland game habitat values. At some point in the future, if we can establish good stands of native shrubs, we would then remove denser stands of Russian olive. Hopefully, this approach will allow us to make progress on removing invasive species without having a large negative impact from losing the benefit they do provide.

Prescribed Fire The overall goal for this project is to maintain an annual program using prescribed fire to maintain adequate habitat conditions at the Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area, while ensuring safety of local residents. 1) Reduce aquatic vegetation and enhance fish & wildlife habitat. This objective is directly measurable by the amount of open habitat created for fish & wildlife, including increased survival of larval razorback sucker pulled in from the Green River during spring filling and released as healthy juveniles during fall draining. 2) Maintain fuel loads to ensure safety of local residents. This objective is directly measurable by fuel load densities in subsequent years. If vegetation is successfully knocked down to lower densities, resident safety is no longer compromised and prescribed fire can occur as needed (i.e., every other year or smaller-scale fire plots). Herbicide Treatment This project is intended to ensure mortality of cattails and increase the area of open water habitat within the wetland. Increased open water will increase production of endangered razorback sucker, other endangered fishes, and improve habitat for waterfowl. Experimental Grazing Our goal for this project is to determine if goats can be an effective vegetation management tool in the northeastern region. In addition, we expect that the project will improve habitat for upland game, Razorback Sucker, and work areas for humans. To this end, we plan to meet the following objectives: 1. Allow goats to graze in cattails with dry soil and areas with wet soil to determine if they can be effective in mowing down cattails in these types of areas and if so, how long it will be before the cattails come back (with goats, do we see at least one year before the cattails come back?). 2. Allow goats to graze in areas of dense woody vegetation to see how effective they can be in thinning out the smaller vegetation like salt cedar and the thicker willow stands. We also want to see if they can injure some of the larger Russian olives by stripping bark around the tree. The contractor will fence small sections of habitat at a time so we can be very specific about which trees or stands of trees we want them to graze. There are many cottonwoods in that area and we can fence around those to keep the goats from killing them. Russian olive removal and native shrub planting Keep relatively open areas free of Russian olive and tamarisk. Establish native shrubs in areas where Russian olive and tamarisk are not currently competing

Loss of open water habitat has become prohibitive for fish and waterfowl species. Although not irreversible, waiting to remedy the situation will only make future habitat modifications more difficult and costly. Likewise, fuel loading presents a fire risk to property neighbors and the severity and potential for wildfire to occur versus a prescribed fire only increases with time. For more on ecological benefits to native fishes, razorback sucker were nearly extinct until recent stocking programs in the Green River led to successful reproduction of wild-spawned fish each year. However, larval fish drifting downriver after hatching, must become entrained in floodplain habitats to live out the early part of their life history in order to survive to a larger size and avoid predation by nonnative fishes. Stewart Lake has been a breakthrough location for entrainment of larval razorback sucker from the Green River. Since 2012, Stewart Lake has provided the only consistent recruitment of this species since the pre-Flaming Gorge Dam era. However, each year that vegetation is not managed it aggressively fills in open water habitat of the wetland, and razorback sucker survival and recruitment is limited as a result. For example, in 2016 when UDWR was able to fill Stewart Lake completely, over 2,000 young-of-year razorback sucker were released back to the Green River at a much larger size after surviving for 3 months in Stewart Lake (Schelly et al. 2016, uploaded). In contrast, in 2017 when growth rates and densities of cattails had skyrocketed limiting floodgate control structure capabilities to get a complete fill, only two razorbacks were released back to the river alive. Additionally, Stewart Lake WMA is a release site for Ring-necked pheasants (comprehensive statewide program) and also year-round crucial range for Mule deer; habitat for both species is severely limited without regular treatment of this area. This project addresses the following specific threats as outlined in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan: Droughts: This threat has been identified for Razorback sucker, bonytail, flannelmouth sucker, northern leopard frog, and sandhill crane, as well as for the emergent and open water habitat types. After previous success in this wetland, it is clear that continued vegetation management is key for razorback sucker survival. Open water habitat is important for these fish and without it razorback sucker may be unable to persist. In order to keep this open water and expand it further continued management is needed or cattails will encroach again. Invasive Plant Species - Non-native: This threat has been identified for Razorback Sucker, Bonytail, Bluehead Sucker, Flannelmouth Sucker, Colorado Pikeminnow, Roundtail Chub, Northern Leopard Frog, Ring-necked Pheasant, and California Quail, as well as all the habitat types. Natural Rarity: This threat has been identified for Razorback Sucker and Bonytail. Stewart Lake is a key spot for Razorback Sucker recruitment. Maintaining open water here will help this species increase. Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity:~ This threat has been identified for bluehead sucker, razorback sucker, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, flannelmouth sucker, and roundtail chub. In this particular system, due to required management for selenium remediation, cattails dominate and choke off the wetland and open water necessary for the native fish to thrive. This project will introduce fire to counteract that effect. Water Allocation Policies:~ This threat has been identified for bluehead sucker, razorback sucker, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, flannelmouth sucker, and roundtail chub. While this project won't change any policies that endanger these species, this project will allow for better management of these species with the policy that is currently in place. Risks associated with completing this project: We recognize that Russian olive does provide food and cover for upland game. By leaving dense stands of Russian olive in tact, we will preserve the positive aspects of this invasive species for those wildlife that are utilizing it. At the same time, we will mitigate the loss of the younger, less dense Russian olive stands by planting native shrubs in their place. This will also allow us, in the future, to remove denser Russian olive stands with less impact because we will have already created additional food and cover with native shrubs in other areas.

The Stewart Lake WMA Management Plan is not yet completed, but this project will address several areas of this plan geared towards proper habitat maintenance within the WMA to benefit fish & wildlife. Activities from this project provide direct benefits to recovery actions undertaken by the UCREFRP through the Larval Trigger Study Plan. This is a collaborative multi-agency (FWS, UCREFRP, BOR, UDWR) and multi-year management plan focused on Flaming Gorge Dam releases to connect middle Green River floodplain habitats to entrain larval razorback sucker and aid in their recruitment and recovery. Decisions for this study plan occur through the Flaming Gorge Technical Workgroup, which includes partners listed above as well as several additional stakeholders. Under Endangered Species Act compliance, recovery actions at Stewart Lake have largely been responsible for the September 2018 decision by FWS to consider razorback sucker for downlisting from endangered to threatened, making it even more crucial for Stewart Lake management to succeed. The project supports selenium remediation efforts in the BOR selenium remediation plan and EIS. It is vital to flush the wetland with as much water as possible to oxidize and reduce selenium concentrations. Cattail vegetation limits the flow of water from the Green River to the wetland as described above. The project also supports objectives and strategies outlined in the management plans listed below: RANGE-WIDE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT FOR ROUNDTAIL CHUB, BLUEHEAD SUCKER AND FLANNELMOUTH SUCKER - Restore altered channel and habitat features to conditions suitable for the three species. - Provide flows needed for all life stages of the subject species. - Maintain and evaluate fish habitat improvements throughout the range. STATE OF UTAH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN - The State will pursue opportunities to conduct and assist other partners with fuel reduction work including mechanical treatments and prescribed fire. - The State will seek to protect, conserve, and improve Utah's fish and aquatic wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. - The State will seek to provide for the varied demands of fish and aquatic wildlife recreationists. - The State supports ensuring the persistence of the diversity of native fish and aquatic wildlife in Utah. - Restore floodplain connectivity for threatened and endangered species that rely on these locations in areas outside human habitation while preserving the health and safety of residents. - Cooperate across administrative boundaries to maintain or improve water quality where possible. Cooperative efforts include sharing data and collaborating on project planning and implementation efforts. - The State supports using a combination of active water management where necessary and maintaining or restoring natural hydrology when possible to support wildlife habitat and healthy functioning of aquatic ecosystems. - 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. - Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. - Increase current populations or establish new populations of wildlife in all suitable habitat within the state as outlined in approved management plans. - Work with local governments and federal agencies to identify and conserve critical wildlife habits. - The state of Utah supports proactive management of noxious weeds. UINTAH COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 7.4.6 Identify and remove fire hazards on public lands. 8.4.2 Encourage the protection and preservation of water quality and fish habitat. 8.4.9 Support efforts to improve fish habitats. 9.4.1 Restore floodplain connectivity for wildlife that rely on these locations in areas outside human habitation while preserving the health and safety of residents. 9.4.2 Encourage the restoration of floodplain connectivity for improved flood control in suitable areas. 17.4.1 Reduce or eliminate noxious weed infestations and minimize the establishment of new weed species. 17.4.3 In areas where weeds have been treated, revegetate and restore with desirable native plant species. 17.4.4 Manage noxious weeds to enhance wildlife habitat and farmland. 17.4.10 Employ a variety of (integrated) weed management techniques including prevention, biological controls, chemical controls, and mechanical controls. 22.4.1 Maintain or improve water quality to protect the health and well-being of county residents and the desirability of the county as a place to visit and recreate. Bureau of Reclamation Selenium Remediation Record of Decision The Bureau of Reclamation EIS ROD requires selenium concentrations in water and bottom sediments at Stewart Lake to be reduced to acceptable levels. In order to reach those goals, a drain/dry cycle is required to allow selenium to oxidize during dry periods greater than 180 days. Following drying, a flush of water coinciding with high river flows will uptake selenium and move it out of the Stewart Lake system. Dense cattail vegetation inhibits both drying and flushing. This project will address these factors. Upper Colorado River Recovery Project--Razorback sucker larval trigger study plan The larval trigger study plan involves timing releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir with razorback sucker larval presence to entrain them into flooded wetlands. A major component of the larval trigger study is sampling and monitoring. Dense cattail vegetation limits the ability to sample the project area. Ashley Creek TMDL The Ashley-Brush Watershed, from the confluence with the Green River upstream for 8 miles is classified as impaired due to Selenium and TDS. Stewart Lake is part of the system that is impaired by Selenium. The BOR has a selenium remediation plan for Stewart Lake, which is complementary to Razorback sucker management. This project should help meet the goals of both that plan, as well as the Ashley Creek TMDL. Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Three Species (2006) This document outlines the importance of enhancing and maintaining habitat for flannelmouth sucker, roundtail chub, and bluehead sucker, including providing flows needed for all life stages. Stewart lake is and important component in the reproductive cycle of native fish in the green river system. Intermountain West Joint Venture Coordinated Bird Conservation Plan: ~ This plan has strategies for preserving and increasing high quality wetland habitat, including adjoining uplands, including aggressively controlling invasive species to maintain productivity, and restoring and enhancing wetlands to mimic natural wetland systems. Intermountain West Waterbird Conservation Plan (2006): ~ this document identifies conservation issues and threats to waterbirds, including water quality, exotic species (e.g. Russian olive, tamarisk). It also identifies Sandhill crane as a species of high concern in BCR 16 (where Stewart Lake is located). Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan (2014): ~ Identifies insufficient winter habitat as a high priority. Winter habitat is characterized by food and roosting cover. By planting native berry-producing shrubs, this project should help provide food for turkeys. Utah Wildlife Action Plan: ~ The Wildlife Action Plan identifies a number of the species and habitat identified in this project as priorities. See the Threats and Risks section for more detail.

The proposed project will significantly reduce fuel loads on an annual basis, limiting the threat of harmful wildfire that would be extremely hazardous for wildlife habitat and local residents. Fuel loading can occur on >500 acres at Stewart Lake and several adjacent private residencies are located <100 yards from fuel loads. The safety of local residents is clearly at stake if this project does not occur. Furthermore, cattail vegetation is highly combustible when it is dry, thus limiting this fuel source is crucial. Herbicide application and experimental grazing willl reduce fuel loads of highly flammable cattail stalks. The increase of open water will provide a fire break in the event of ignition. Stewart Lake is bordered by residential dwellings that would be at risk in the event of a fire. The areas targeted for Russian olive and tamarisk removal in this proposal lie just outside the area typically burned. By preventing Russian olive and tamarisk from becoming dominant in this area, this project will help provide additional fire safety during these prescribed burns.

By controlling and maintaining habitat conditions through this project, the quantity and quality of water in Stewart Lake will increase each year of implementation; see attachment "2022 openwater" which estimates open water habitat created following the February 2022 prescribed burn at Stewart Lake. Maintaining lower densities of aquatic vegetation at Stewart Lake by future prescribed burns will not only increase the volume of water we can pull into the wetland, but also make it an easier process due to full functionality of inlet and outlet floodgates and canals. As a method of removing selenium, contaminated bottom sediments are exposed to air for 180 days to allow for oxidation, and then the wetland is flushed with high flows from the river. To facilitate maximum drying and oxidization, it is important to remove cattail and its shading effects. It is also necessary to allow as much water to flush through the wetland as possible during high flows, to remove as much oxidized and soluble selenium as possible. Dense vegetation limits flushing potential. The end goal is to reduce selenium from current levels and meet EPA water quality standards.

Compliance with all prescribed fire rules/guidelines/and procedures. Given that Stewart Lake A formal burn plan has been developed for the project (see project attachment), and air quality requirements will be met through burning during approved smoke clearing levels. Other treatments will be able to occur without ground disturbance, eliminating the need for Arch surveys. As the project is entirely on DWR lands, NEPA is not necessary.

Prescribed fire Complete details of prescribed fire plans at Stewart Lake can be found in the uploaded burn plan (see project attachment). For a general overview, border areas will be mowed by UDWR and black lined to establish perimeter and safe zones. Once weather conditions permit ignition, the interior will be burned in sections designed to limit the possibility of spread into adjacent residential areas due to prevailing winds. Aerial herbicide application Aerial application will occur in August 2024 at a rate of 3 quarts per acre of Rodeo Aquatic Herbicide. This will occur as a follow-up to burning that may take place in FY2023. The prescribed fire from this proposal will ideally be followed up by another herbicide application the following year or as necessary to help control cattail growth. Experimental Grazing For this project, we have identified about 20 acres within the Stewart Lake WMA that would benefit most from grazing. We have identified that we would prefer to see goats used rather than cattle due to the potential for hoof rot if cattle were released into the wetland. Once we have awarded the project to a goat herder, the herder will fence off a small portion of the target area (3-4 acres at a time) and then release the goats (60-70 goats at a time) into the fenced area. Any trees that we would prefer to save will be fenced in order to prevent the goats from being able to access that tree. The herder will check the goats every other day at first, then less frequently, fencing off a new 3-4 acre plot when they are nearing completion of the previous plot. Once the initial plot has been grazed in its entirety, the goats will be moved to a new plot until the entire area has been grazed. A herder we have been talking to expects this would take about 2 months. We would prefer to see it happen in the fall, in Sept or Oct when the wetland is being drained or has been drained for the year. Russian olive removal and native shrub planting Hand crews using chainsaws or similar equipment will remove Russian olive and tamarisk in the project area. Immediately after cutting, crews will spray the stumps with Arsenal herbicide. This treatment will occur in the fall. Cut material may be piled within the planned wetland burn area. Native shrubs will be planted by DWR personnel on an annual WMA work day. Planting will be done in the spring.

Prescribed fire Post-fire monitoring will be completed by UDWR Northeastern Habitat and Aquatics personnel on an annual basis. Habitat personnel will monitor changes in the plant community to determine if aquatic vegetation densities decrease over time. Monitoring of vegetation has been completed through GIS analysis of aerial photography images over time (see project attachment for 2022 assessment). Previous estimates indicate that >95% of open water habitat can be invaded by cattails and other emergent vegetation if given the opportunity to thrive when a prescription burn is not implemented for more than one year. Sediment samples (20) are taken every 2-3 years (BOR obligation) and analyzed by the USGS lab to measure the amount of selenium. Over time, the selenium concentrations have trended downward. Water quality samples are taken three times throughout the summer by Utah DEQ to measure selenium and other water quality standards. USU-Uintah Basin Campus, is proposing a study of selenium at Stewart Lake to compare soil, water, vegetation, fish, and bird samples with samples collected in the 1990 time period. Another proposal will be submitted to the Division of Water Quality for FY24. Aquatics personnel will monitor razorback sucker production via a fish trap at the outlet structure during fall draining. Experimental Grazing We will continue to monitor grazed plots 1-2 years into the future. For the FY24 effort, the cattails will be monitored in fall 2023 and spring 2024 to determine regrowth in the grazed area. The woody area will be monitored in spring 2024 and spring 2025 to determine the extent of regrowth there. Russian olive removal and native shrub seeding Photo points and repeat visits will document re-sprouts of Russian olive and tamarisk as well as success of the plantings.

Every year, we partner with the US Bureau of Reclamation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program, and Uintah Water Conservancy District to manage Stewart Lake WMA for Razorback Sucker grow out. We also partner with Forestry, Fire and State Lands to burn the wetland. This project has the potential to influence our interactions with all of these partners and so, if awarded funding, we will let them know our plans and keep them posted on progress/success. All partners listed below approve of and have been informed of these activities through on the ground site visits, organizational meetings and workgroups (i.e., Stewart Lake Workgroup, Flaming Gorge Technical Workgroup), and door to door visits in the case of local residents. Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Jensen Fire Department Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Colorado River Endangered Fishes Recovery Program Bureau of Reclamation Utah DEQ USGS Bureau of Indian Affairs Pheasants Forever Local residents

Prescribed fire will be used every year or every other year when conditions allow, depending on vegetation densities. To compliment this project and ensure a greater level of success, UDWR will be working with the Bureau of Reclamation and Uintah Water Conservancy District to deliver supplemental water from the Burns Bench Pipeline to Stewart Lake shortly after prescribed fire occurs in order to cover up cattail rhizomes to limit regrowth. Selenium remediation is a slow process, and future management will depend heavily on the success of the remediation program. Currently, an adaptive management approach is being developed to try to balance selenium remediation, waterfowl, fish, and other needs. As we learn more about the effects that management activities are having on goals, we will adjust methods accordingly. Cattail management will be an ongoing focus at Stewart Lake, and we are learning how to manage cattails under the conditions we manage selenium. As we proceed into the future, we will incorporate other tools as possible including additional herbicide applications and prescriptive grazing by goats to help manage cattails. Ultimately, if management of the wetland (after selenium targets are met) allows us to return to a year-long fill, water levels will be used to manage cattail. In the meantime, we are left to develop vegetation management strategies that compliment selenium remediation activities. If large scale mortality of cattails can be achieved, smaller scale herbicide applications may be used to maintain open water and slow encroachment. Prescribed fire may be used to reduce fuels around the perimeter of open water and further slow encroachment into created open water habitat. If the use of goats is successful in this 20 acres, we will develop a rotational schedule and have the goats graze in 20-40 acre plots annually. Plots will be determined each year and will be decided as a group within the NER. High priority areas will be those affecting recreation, management activities, open water habitat, and pheasant habitat. In the future, if we can complete our selenium remediation efforts, we will incorporate waterfowl as well, although their need may be quite similar to the Razorback's needs. Repeat treatments will almost certainly be necessary to maintain an area relatively free of Russian olive and tamarisk. Additional plantings will likely be necessary to establish good stands of native vegetation. Once healthy stands of native vegetation are established and are providing good wildlife benefit, we will examine the possibility of removing denser adjacent stands of Russian olive.

This project will improve the capacity of the wetland for recreation. Even though waterfowl hunting has not been an option for many years, hunters regularly enjoy the area in November for pheasant. In addition, locals often enter the wetland area for walking, biking, and for fishing access to the Green River. By keeping more areas free from vegetation, access for these individuals will be easier. All of these recreation opportunities are sustainable. This will preserve and promote populations of endangered fishes primarily razorback sucker and bonytail. Increased open water may also benefit waterfowl hunting in the future. Prescriptive grazing is a tool that we proposing to implement for the first time in FY24 to incorporate into cattail management. High intensity goat grazing on newly growing cattails may serve as a way to facilitate control and reduce densities. We will be evaluating the logistics of this tool if funded. The Stewart Lake WMA is increasingly popular with birders. By removing invasive species and planting native shrubs, we anticipate that birding will improve and use of the WMA by birders will increase.

10/24/2023

03/22/2024

2024

Russian olive and tamarisk trees were cut with chainsaws and stumps sprayed with herbicide (10% imazapyr, 90% methylated seed oil). Cut material was piled for later burning or habitat piles. Native plants were planted in both the fall of 2023 and the spring of 2024. Plants planted in the fall of 2023 included 125 skunkbush sumac, 10 golden currant, 50 woods rose, and 25 boxelder. Plants planted in the spring of 2024 included 40 golden currant, 30 Fremont cottonwood, 40 skunkbush sumac, and 3 peachleaf willow. Goats and Sheep, as contracted by We Goat This LLC, were utilized on 27 acres adjacent or directly on cattails in the WMA. Prescribed burn plans were created with Forestry Fire and State Lands, but due to weather and their busy schedule a burn was not completed.

Stewart Lake WMA is an important Wildlife Management Area near Jensen, Utah. The WMA is adjacent to and has connection with the Green River. It provides good habitat for waterfowl and upland game birds, and is extremely important habitat for rearing Razorback Suckers. Several components were planned to address important habitat needs for the various species that use Stewart Lake. Russian olive and tamarisk are present on the WMA and have been expanding into previously open areas. It was determined that a treatment was needed to address this weed issue. Crews began cutting Russian olive and tamarisk on Oct 24, 2023 and finished by Nov 1, 2023. DWR personnel planted native trees and shrubs on 6 September 2023. Volunteers, including local Scouts planted native trees and shrubs on 23 March 2024. The way water needs to be managed to control Selenium levels in Stewart Lake promotes excessive cattail growth, which can interfere with the ability of the lake to support razorback sucker. A controlled burn, followed by an herbicide treatment were planned, but did not take place due to a lack of appropriate weather conditions. An experimental grazing study was also planned to see if that approach could provide an alternative form of cattail control on years when other methods aren't available. After putting out a bid for a contractor to graze potentially 25-30 acres of vegetation, goats and sheep began grazing cattails on 17 April 2024 and continued until 3 June 2024. Contractors moved goats on and around cattails anywhere from every few days to weekly depending on vegetation consumption. 27 acres in total were grazed this year. Approximately 230 total grazers were utilized with 45-55 of those being sheep and the rest goats. This mixture allowed for sheep to target more grassy new growth vegetation and for goats to target rougher/older stalks as well as tree bark and brush. With this mixture of goats and sheep areas that were grazed sometimes were eaten down to the dirt effectively clearing all vegetation.

Follow-up herbicide treatments will be completed in 2024, and likely for several years to maintain control of Russian olive and tamarisk. Most of the shrub/tree plantings suffered mortality before May 2024. Project manager is re-evaluating planting locations/timing/methods to ensure higher success for additional plantings scheduled to take place take place in the fall of 2024. Additional areas of Russian olive will be removed at Stewart Lake after native plants have grown up to provide good habitat for upland game and other species. After seeing the success of grazing on cattails even in small patches adjacent to the wetland it seems that follow up grazing or coverage of more acreage would benefit vegetation management in the future. Ideally a combination of burning and then grazing could be applied in the future in order to make fencing and moving goats and sheep around the wetland easier. However it was noted that goats and sheep would clean up dead stalks as well as new growth if it was available. Goats were also noted to impact Russian olives and other brush when in the vicinity as they scraped bark and trampled smaller trees/brush.