The overview of this project is to implement fences, water pipeline and troughs and treat previously bulldogged and chained area though lop and scatter methods in critical areas within the Fillmore WMA's located in Millard County. Within the Youngsfield WMA UDWR would like to replace and old fence with a new construction fence located between two pastures the need for fencing is critical as we support livestock grazing on our WMA's. Another project we want to implement on the Youngsfield WMA includes a new HDPE pipeline and associated culverts, in August a seasonal rain event destroyed the pipeline connecting the two troughs together, incised the stream bed and destroyed the road. The culverts and pipeline are critical to making the WMA function correctly. Within the Pioneer WMA we would like to remove smaller pinyon-juniper whips that have regrown in both the chaining and bullhog treatments that where done in 2013. There is a need to provide water for wildlife in this area, a local landowner several years ago through an easement agreement provided UDWR with a water stub out of a pipeline, we would like to install two watering troughs and a pipeline allowing year round water on the Pioneer WMA. The Halfway Hill WMA experienced a wildfire this year burning over 800 acres on the WMA, the loss was critical to mule dee, elk and turkeys in the area. Through fire rehab efforts the seeding and chaining has taken place on the WMA. With the latest news from SLO funding was cut short and we are now looking to replace all the fencing on the Halfway Hill WMA . We will be partnering with the BLM to replace a section of their fence as well. Included with the Halfway Hill fencing project we would like to, reduce smaller pinyon and juniper trees within the WMA, targeting trees that are < 6" in diameter this will leave a lot of cover for wintering mule deer, elk and turkeys.

Several objectives of this project are to improve the Millard County WMA's, through great habitat improvement projects and implementing and repairing older fences and pipeline infrastructure. Objective #1 - Replace and install approximately 8,150 feet pf 1.5" HDPE Pipeline associated with the Pioneer and Youngsfield WMA. Objective #2 - Install two watering troughs on the Pioneer WMA Objective #3 - Install an estimated 31,975' for barbwire fencing and gates on the Halfway Hill and Youngsfield WMA. Objective #4 - Install two (2) 40' Culverts on the Youngsfield WMA. Objective #5 - Treat an estimated +686 Acres of encroaching Pinyon and Juniper trees with the Halfway Hill and Pioneer WMA's from past habitat treatments.

Threats to this project will consist of additional loss of water that can be utilized in this area, allowing for no water to be stored for wildlife species and livestock grazing within the allotment. Increased maintenance on the watering facilities and pipelines by the grazing association, allow for additional time and effort, loss of forage value in specific areas of the allotment due to over grazing, not distributing the cattle effectively enough can increase noxious weed species. By implementing and installing this pipeline, we can reduce the risk of overgrazing this allotment, improve water quality and quantity for wildlife and livestock for better rangeland health and overall management within the UDWR Youngsfield and Pioneer WMA. Ecological Threats and risks to of not treating encroaching young trees will allow for these trees to become larger overtime and encroach in on the treatment areas, providing a fuel loading for wildfire, over take treatment areas where valuable forage value for livestock and wildlife has been established. Additional threats will include soil erosion and loss of shrubs and perennial grass and forbs, if this project is addresses now would be the time to remove these smaller trees due to the size and height. General maintenance of these types of projects is key for wildlife species such as Sage Grouse, allowing for these trees to get lager will cause a reduction in the potential habitat for grouse and movement from one area to the other during different times in their life due to the increasing number of trees with the treatment areas. In addition, grazing opportunities may result in increased noxious weed invasion due to heavier utilized areas where better forage is available. The increasing fuel loading is always a concern for wildfire in these areas, removal of these smaller trees will allow for less flame length and reduced topping of flames due to the removal of these pinyon juniper trees, a fire break could be utilized from the edge of these treatments to stop or reduce a future wildfire.

The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit 21B (Fillmore Pahvant Unit ) including: *Continue to improve and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to DWRs Habitat Initiative. *Maintain habitat quantity and quality at a level adequate to support the stated population objectives while at the same time not resulting in an overall downward trend in range condition and watershed quality. *Work cooperatively with land management agencies and private landowners to plan and implement improvement projects for the purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat and range resources in general. *The project also helps fulfill the state mule deer management plan section IV Habitat Goal: Conserve and improve mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. *The proposed projects will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: *Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. *Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. *Objective 3: conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. *Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for Division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah. *Objective 2: improve communication with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners, and government agencies to obtain support for Division programs. *UDWR SR critical big game winter range are important browse communities that need to be enhanced and improved. The Division will employ a variety of methods to achieve this including prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, reseeding and seedling transplants, also mechanical treatments. Priority areas will include sagebrush-steppe and mountain browse communities. Falls within the rangeland focus area for WRI wildlife species for mule deer and elk. *This plan is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement and fuels management to improve habitat, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire. *Other project have been completed by the Forest Service and UDWR in past years within the Ebbs Canyon. Along with the Meadow Creek, Half Way Hill and Baker Canyon Fire Rehab Projects completed on Forest Service, BLM and Private Properties. *Project within the are also benefit the management plans objectives of the lower Sevier River Watershed, as this will reduced sediment run off and create a healthy rangeland communities. *Management Plans are also in conjunction with NRCS overall goals of healthy rangelands and communities, improving watersheds and reducing erosion and sediment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment *FFSL CWPP Process is a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative plan created by the fire department, state and local forestry, land managers, community leaders, and the public.The planning process maps values at risk, and requires actions to reduce risk, such as prescribed burning, fuel reduction, or other measures that adapt a community to better confront their wildfire threat. Area is also part of the Millard RWPP FFSL Plan which was implemented in 2014, there are Wildfire Codes and Ordinances associated with this plan. Project would also be relevant to NCS Goals and supported through the FS National Cohesive Strategies. CAT FIRE Objectives and Strategies: In 2013, the State of Utah developed the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (CAT FIRE) in response to the severe 2012 fire season. Reducing the catastrophic wildfire requires attention to three interdependent goals identified in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy -- Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Wildfire Response. These goals have been embraced throughout the development of the state's CAT FIRE strategy. Mitigation of hazardous fuels can change fire behavior making it easier to suppress. The effects of the mitigation, however, are not limited to life and property safety but will also affect forest health, water quality, vegetative species abundance, etc. As we continue to implement projects across the landscapes in Utah, the only way to truly be successful is to integrate existing programs, utilize local and federal partners and continue to educate the general public to create the desired shift towards more resilient communities and ecosystems.

As Pinyon and Juniper trees continue to encroach in these areas, live fuel loading and canopy cover increase as well. This increase in live fuel loading and a closed canopy will increase the likelihood of an unwanted wildfire and its negative effects. Reducing the number of smaller diameter trees on the landscape will in turn reduce the live fuel loading and decrease the amount of canopy cover. This modification in vegetation allows initial attack firefighting crews more options to safely and effectively suppress unwanted wildfires and limit the negative effects. In addition to modifying fire behavior, treating the vegetation in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving and protecting current habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and breaking up the continuous fuel bed of pinion/juniper that currently exists. This treatment will promote a fire resilient environment that reduces the risk for large scale, intense unwanted wildland fires, with less risk to public and firefighter safety. Fire risk would be reduced to multiple watersheds. Existing wildfire risk index in the project areas ranges from moderate-high to very low, looking at fire modeling results, an unwanted wildfire in these areas at the 97th percentile weather would quickly spread into high risk areas and threaten multiple watersheds, private lands and numerous other values not only wildlife habitat, but structures, culinary water systems, and utility corridors to name a few. The majority of the areas in this project are within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project would be in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. This project will manipulate the vegetation in a manner that will modify fire behavior such that fire suppression personnel can safely initial attack unwanted wildfires in the area. These treatments will provide anchor points, safety zones, and buffer zones for values at risk such as powerlines, communities, range improvements. Instead of a crown fire that is wind driven with flame lengths of 30+ feet in Pinyon and Juniper requiring aerial resources to initial attach, this treatment will reduce the flame lengths to those that are easily managed with engines and hand crews Sevier County Resource Plan States Objectives: #5. Upon project completion, fuels projects should be managed and monitored to ensure long-term success, including persistence of seeded species and/or other treatment components, such as implementing maintenance actions and control invasive vegetation post-treatment. #13. Hazardous fuels reduction treatments should be used to restore ecosystems, protect human, natural, and cultural resources, and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities. Millard County also states: Vegetation/Forage Management Several County industries depend on open range grazing opportunities. Therefore, the County supports responsible rangeland management. The County encourages private and Federal/State agency partnerships organized to improve range conditions. Methods supported by the County include prescribed burns, reseeding and reclamation. The County is particularly interested in wildfire management and post-burn rehabilitation efforts. The County also supports vegetation manipulation programs designed to re-establish traditional uses and use levels. The County will continue, and expand as financially feasible, current noxious weed management programs. In order to adequately protect the land and accompanying resources, management decisions must be made in a timely manner and programs implemented quickly. Millard County will actively participate in these processes. Within the Fillmore WMA's specifically the Youngsfield, Nixon, Circus Hollow, Black Cedar Hill, Cemetery, Halfway Hill, and the Kanosh-Dual Springs units. Future projects will focus on maintaining these treatments as well as addressing more Pinyon and Juniper encroachment on all units within the WMA.

This project will improve water quality and quantity due to the fact that we will be improving the efficiency of how the water is delivered on the WMA. We will improve and increase the capacity of the pipeline on the Youngsfield WMA, in addition the added troughs and pipeline on the Pioneer WMA will play an important roll for mule deer elk and turkeys on the WMA. The improved pipeline will prove to be more efficient than allowing the water to not be captured and disbursed on site, collecting sediment, debris and lose water due to evaporation. The quality of the water will be improved as it will be held in water troughs that will allow cattle and wildlife to drink clean clear water verse allowing water to be lost or made unavailable in a damaged seep. Water Right is held by the USDA Fillmore Forest Service, approval has been granted to complete this project. Water Right #XXXX. With water being in short demand during the summer months wildlife such as mule deer, elk, turkeys and small mammals will benefit from using this water. The water will also allow the livestock permittee grazing the WMA to better utilize the allotments and cattle will be distributed over the landscape evenly. With the development of this water system and the installation of watering troughs and cleaning of existing pond we are positive that this will help improve this aspect of the allotments, reduce time and energy from the permittee, save in fuel, labor and vehicle cost. This project will allow for distribution of water within the the spring and fall grazing season as cattle move from UDWR properties in the spring on to the USFS allotments in the summer. Water infrastructure and distribution is critical for all wildlife species and livestock associated with the UDWR WMA's.

As we implement these treatments, the identified areas that will need to have survey work completed will be the pipeline aspects of the project, and installation of the troughs. All the lop and scatter treatment will be exempt from culture resource surveys. In regards to the installation of the fences we should be covered on this aspect as well, we will remove the old fences and replace them with newly constructed fences in the same location. A cadastral survey has been completed on the BLM portion of the fence project finding the section corners and quarter corners of the fencing project. Certain inventories have been completed in the past for the Private, UDWR and the BLM portions. Project Manager will follow up to ensure treatments can move forward without any complications. UDWR Project Manager will consult with UDWR Archaeologist Arie Leeflang to make sure all consultation is completed if needed.

Methods for these habitat improvement will be a combination of UDWR, Dedicated Hunters or Grazing Permittees working together to install or help install and prep the water troughs and or culverts and pipeline. The other aspects of the project will include the UDWR using State Contracting to facilitate a contract with a contractor to install the fencing and pipeline portions of this project as well as the Lop and Scatter Treatment. Specifications will be provided to the contractors as per SOW, UDWR Project Manager will be on site to oversee the project during implementation.

Monitoring on this project will consist of photo points and vegetation transects along with data collected on shrub and browse species. Wildlife Surveys will also be done in the terms of post season and spring classifications as it pertains to deer management plans on the Pahvant Mountain Unit, counts and survey data will be collected by the area Wildlife Biologist. This project is a follow up maintenance project from previous WRI funded treatments, removing the small pinyon-juniper trees now is critical and cost effective in preserving our initial investment. Continual monitoring in the coming years will be to re-read browse and plant transects through line intercept monitoring, which can be uploaded within the WRI Data Base for additional reference and use in the future. Project Manager will work with Area Biologist to collect browse data and winter pellet counts as determined by the Wildlife Biologist. As monitoring pertains to the fencing and pipeline/trough aspect of this project, inspections will be done by the UDWR Project Manager and the Grazing Permittees. They will be able to inspect the pipeline, and the watering troughs to make sure all connections are tight and working properly. Also the permittees will be assigned to monitor the collection box or spring development and remove any sediment that may effect the pipeline, water will be turn off in the fall allowing for the pipeline to drain and not freeze. Permittee, and UDWR will also monitor the livestock distribution as it pertains to the grazing allotment moving cattle when needed to allow for grass, forbs and shrubs to not be over utilized. Inspection of the fences will also be monitored by the Grazing Permittees, UDWR Project Manager and the UDWR Habitat Maintenance crew from our SRO Cedar City Office, this is usually done each year with seasonal technicians who inspect each WMA within the SRO.

Partners for this project will consist of UDWR, Fillmore Field Office BLM, Pioneer Grazing Association, Stevens Livestock and Buchannan Livestock. Included as well are Sportsman Groups such as SFW, NWTF, MDF, SCI, UBA, along with the UDWR Habitat Council, Millard County Commissioners and Millard County Road Dept. We have been successful in working with them to implement good projects within this area in the past few years, additional support has been leveraged through great partnerships looking for projects that will provide benefits to the local community, that protect the livestock grazing and wildlife within Millard County. Great efforts and strides have been made by Sportsman Organizations to improve the overall goals and objectives to increase and sustain wildlife through these types of projects.

Within several of our WMA's livestock grazing of the properties occurs, we typically grazing the spring of the year during the months of May to June. Within the WMA's over the past several years we have made great improvements on them to allow proper grazing and continued year around wildlife use. Many projects have been implemented and completed, we continue to maintain and repair older aspects of the WMA's, future management will come from partnerships with UDWR and the Livestock Grazing Associations that graze our lands. Each year we meet with the permittees and sign the grazing agreement, at that time it gives us an opportunity to discuss the range conditions within the WMA's. We make adjustment s if needed and identify areas we can improve the WMA in a whole. When opportunities arise for funding to complete habitat or water projects it is the partnerships that work well together, often time the permittees are the first to help repair or maintain what has been done. Good partnerships and working together makes our WMA's a showcase for all involved.

One aspect of this project has already been completed, the Halfway Hill Fire Rehab efforts included a single chaining of a 1,090 acres fire scar. This chaining and reseeding project will increase the understory of the treatment area dramatically, allowing for increased feed for wintering mule deer, elk and wild turkeys as well as future forage value for grazing livestock on UDWR Properties. Other sustainable resources will include but not limited to hunting both big game and small game, hiking , wood cutting both cedar post and cedar fence stays. Horseback riding and mountain biking is becoming more popular on our WMA's, as well as the need to enjoy the outdoors camping and spending time with family. Millard County has a ATV/UTV Jamboree each year and the overwhelming access points run though our WMA's and they receive alot of use.

07/01/2023

06/30/2024

2024

Final methods for this project included installing water toughs, pipelines and cattle guards within several Fillmore WMA's located on the west side of the Pahvant Mountain Range. Each WMA has different aspects of infrastructure that will make the WMA's more productive for livestock grazing and wildlife. On two of the WMA's Youngsfield and Halfway Hill cattle guards were installed that will help control the aspects of livestock grazing. On both the Youngsfield and Pioneer WMA's, 1.5" HDPE fusible pipe was installed along with setting new watering troughs that will help grazing allotments on the WMA's as well as providing additional year round water for wildlife.

This project had several working parts and instillation of several grazing type aspects that would help improve grazing on our Fillmore WMA's located in Millard County on the westside of the Pahvant Mtn Range. First and foremost I want to "THANK" the Utah Division of Wildlife Habitat Council and the Utah Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation for providing funding for this project. Several areas were identified within the Fillmore WMA's to make improvements. First, I will start with the funding for the Halfway Hill WMA, this funding was provided by DWR HC which allowed a 8 x10' Cattle Guard to be installed. This cattle guard served a great purpose as it pertained to grazing on our WMA. With the Halfway Hill Fire of 2022 it left the upper portion of WMA burned, the overwhelming need to have a cattle guard installed allowed for the grazing permittee to continue to graze the lower portion of the WMA. Installing this cattle guard has paid dividends with the permittee, he has kept the fences maintained and is will to always help work on other aspects of the WMA to support wildlife and livestock grazing for the future. This cattle guard cost estimate was around $7,100 and was purchased by the UDWR and installed by the UDWR Habitat Section Employees. Due to prior commitments the permittees were not able to help us install the cattle guard. Moving on to the Youngsfield WMA, located north of Holden Utah, funding from the HC and the NWTF provided for the installation of two (2) 8' x 8" Cattle guards estimated value $9,893.00. This cattle guard was installed at the lower entrance of the WMA, this has been a great addition to this WMA. It allows the general public to enter and exit the WMA with opening and closing gates. The need for this was critical when livestock grazing was present in the spring the gates were being left open and cattle would escape and wondering up the frontage road with the possibility of being hit by the public. This cattle guard was installed by the UDWR Habitat Employees and the two grazing permittees on the WMA. The Grazing Permittees furnished a backhoe and a skidsteer for the project. Another aspect of the Youngsfield WMA was the installation of a new pipeline. This pipeline consisted of installing approximately 5,100 feet of 1.5" HDPE Fusible pipe this pipeline replaced an old existing pipeline that was 1" PVC pipe. Along with replacing the pipeline on the Youngsfield WMA, a new pipeline was installed on the Pioneer WMA, this consisted of 3,022 feet of new HDPE 1.5" fusible pipe. Two (2) 500 gallon galvanized water troughs were installed with wildlife escape ramps. This project was contracted through State Purchasing, the contractor was Jed Heaton of Thirstycows.com. Jed and his crew work hard to meet our deadlines and was a great contractor to work with. The contractor's bid was to furnish the the pipe and the installation of the pipe along with setting and plumbing the two water troughs. Total cost of the pipe and labor was $19,882.50. The UDWR and the grazing permittees are extremely happy with the results of the project and the funding came from the DWR HC and NWTF. Without the great funding partnerships and awesome contractor's, this project would not be able to get done. Water projects are great asset to our WMA's and provide water for wildlife during critical times of the years as well as providing water for livestock in the spring and summer grazing months. We appreciated all that were involved from the UDWR, HC, NWTF and the great permittees that helped with this WRI project.

Future Management of this WMA project will consist of monitoring the pipeline and wafer trough aspect of the project, these types of project will consist of checking for leaks within the valves and fittings, adjusting floats, monitoring escape ramps for small mammals and making sure the overflow lines are clear of debits. Mentoring aspects of the two cattle guards should be minimal, cleaning out the cattle guard may nee to be addressed if heavy rain or flooding may occur. Fencing needs have been addressed, making sure cattle and or smaller calves will not be able to cross over the cattle guard. We installed a wire or metal gate to the side of the cattle guard for the purpose of moving cattle in the spring and fall. UDWR and the Permittee's will continue to work together on the grazing management of these WMA's, each year as we meet to discuss grazing fees and stocking rates we look for ways to help make our WMA's better for livestock and wildlife moving forward.