The current vegetation communities in Logan Canyon are in a condition that if a wildfire started it would be higher in intensity, difficult to control, and would threaten private and/or State lands and other developments in Logan Canyon including recreation residences and developed campsites. Juniper have encroached on the mountain shrub community that provides critical winter range for deer, elk, and moose as well as summer and transitional habitat. By reducing the expansion of juniper there would be increase in forage for these species. The treatment would allow water retention benefiting cutthroat and brown trout in nearby streams and the Logan River. Grouse will also be able to utilize the treatment areas having reduced predator cover. The river restoration will provide better habitat for beaver in the future and the vegetation treatment will allow better native species growth and expansion which may provide yellow-billed cuckoo habitat down the road. Where the juniper dominates, they outcompete understory species for light, moisture, and nutrients eventually resulting in nearly complete removal of the understory. Without understory vegetation, the native seed bank is depleted, and the site becomes susceptible to soil erosion invasive and noxious weeds. The purpose of the river restoration and canal piping portion of the project is to restore the flood plain connectivity where possible, provide more reliable management of agricultural water, and to increase opportunities for public recreation. The project proposes to restore approximately 11,000 feet of the Logan River near Trapper Park in Logan City. In addition to benefitting the ecosystem and community as a whole, it would serve as a demonstration of how river restoration can be accomplished in a mixed development and agricultural area as a joint cooperative effort between agricultural, development, commercial, local water district, state and federal agencies, and special interest groups.

Increase grass and forb production and plant species and age class diversity in sagebrush and pinyon/juniper by treating 2000 acres annually on the forest. Treatment will improve wildlife habitat and help retain water. Current project will include removing junipers on 1664 acres. Objectives also include replacing a diversion structure; piping the existing canal; removing old car bodies, concrete rubble, car tires, etc.; improving ecological conditions on lands in a recently created river corridor conservation easement; and improving in-channel habitats, stabilizing channel banks, restore channel habitats, provide a sustainable riparian habitat, improve water quality, construct a fish-friendly diversion structure, provide access for recreation, and conserve water.

Historical photos show that forests were patchy with open areas that would help stop the spread of wildfires. Not doing the project will result in continued expansion of the junipers resulting in a loss of more understory, water resources and an overall increase in the risk of catastrophic wildfire. A large portion of Logan canyon is at very high risk for wildfire hazard potential according to the Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal and implementing treatment in this area will benefit summer home residents and other forest users by providing options when a fire does occur. Without treatment junipers will continue to expand making it nearly impossible and cost prohibitive to treat in the future. The river restoration and canal piping portion of the project is made up of multiple collaborators that each had the need to make improvements along the Logan River near Trapper Park. Some participants have had need and have been seeking funding for several years. The reason this portion of the project was able to move forward at this time is because the cooperating entities had the opportunity to collaborate and secure funding through the U.S Bureau of Reclamation Environmental Water Resources Projects WaterSMART program.

Forest Plan of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest: Forest wide Goal 2-Watershed Health-Maintain and/or restore overall watershed health (proper functioning of physical, biological and chemical conditions). Provide for long-term soil productivity. Watershed health should be addressed across administrative and political boundaries. Subgoal 2a. Identify areas not in properly functioning condition. Improve plant species composition, ground cover and age class diversity in these areas. Subgoal 2b. Maintain and/or improve water quality to provide stable and productive riparian and aquatic ecosystems. Subgoal 2j. Maintain and/or restore habitat to sustain populations of well distributed native and desired non-native plant, vertebrate, and invertebrate populations that contribute to viability of riparian dependent communities. Forest-wide Goals: 3-Biodiversity & Viability: Provide for sustained diversity of species at the genetic, populations, community, and ecosystem levels. Maintain communities within their historic range of variation that sustains habitats for viable populations of species. Restore or maintain hydrologic functions. Reduce potential for uncharacteristic high-intensity wildfires, and insect epidemics. Subgoal 3d: Restore or maintain fire-adapted ecosystems (consistent with land uses, historic fire regimes, and other Forest Plan direction) through wildland fire use, prescribed fire, timber harvest or mechanical treatments. Subgoal 3f: Maintain or restore species composition, such that the species that occupy any given site are predominantly native species in the kind and amount that were historically distributed across the landscapes. Subgoal 3g: Maintain and/or restore tall forb communities to mid seral or potential natural community (PNC) status. Subgoal 3o: Provide adequate habitat components for sustainable big game populations coordinated with State wildlife management agencies, private lands and other resource needs and priorities. The project is consistent with the following Forest Plan Objective: 3d: Increase grass and forb production and plant species and age class diversity in sagebrush and pinyon/juniper by treating approximately 2,000 acres average annually for a 10-year total of 20,000 acres. Standards and Guidelines: (G14) Manage vegetation for properly functioning condition at the landscape scale. Desired structure and pattern for cover types of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest (from USDA Forest Service 1996) are as follows except in the Wildland Urban Interface (defined in Glossary), where vegetation structure and pattern should be managed to reduce threat of severe fire to property and human safety. (G26) Protect key big game calving, fawning and lambing habitat and provide security in summer concentration areas. Utah Elk Statewide Management Plan (2022): Statewide goal A: Improve management of Utah's elk populations. Strategy Bb. Properly manage elk populations to minimize competition with mule deer on crucial mule deer range. Habitat Management Goal B: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1. Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. Strategies A, B and C. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan (2019): Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. Strategies A and B. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2024. Strategy A. DEER HERD UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN, Deer Herd Unit # 2 (Cache): Meets habitat goals and objectives for this plan. * Logan, Green, Providence, and Blacksmith Fork Canyons. Projects should be focused on removal of encroaching juniper, and reestablishing understory with winter browse species as well as species of plants that can be used in the spring by wintering deer. ELK HERD UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN Elk Herd Unit # 2 (Cache): Habitat objective: Maintain and/or enhance forage production through direct range improvements throughout the unit on winter range to achieve population management objectives. Pay special attention to WMA's and areas were holding elk could alleviate pressure on private landowners experiencing damage by wintering elk. Work with private and federal agencies to maintain and protect critical and existing winter range from future losses. Utah Moose Statewide Management Plan (2017): D. Habitat - The primary limiting factor for moose in Utah and across their range is the availability of suitable habitat. - Moose have done well in drier habitats in northern Utah which are dominated by mountain mahogany, Gambel oak, serviceberry, quaking aspen, and burned over coniferous forests A. Habitat Degradation or Loss. - The single biggest influence on moose populations in Utah is the quantity and quality of available habitat. Habitat can be degraded, fragmented, or lost to a variety of causes including human development and plant succession. Habitat Management Goal B: Assure sufficient habitat is available to sustain healthy and productive moose populations. Strategies A, C, and E.

This project will address the long-term lack of fire in Logan canyon and the expansion of junipers in the area. Attached in the images are photos in a nearby canyon, one from 1935 and one from 2017 in the same location for reference of the expansion of juniper in the area. Forests used to manage themselves with small, frequent fires that would have eliminated all but the junipers along the ridgelines. Logan Canyon is a scenic byway and heavily used recreation area. A fire along Logan Canyon would likely require closure of the scenic byway and put many forest visitors at risk. Conditions in many areas are conducive to large severe wildfires and removal of the junipers will allow for safer firefighting conditions. Thinning will be done in mosaic patterns to mimic natural disturbance regimes like fire.

This project will mitigate the intensity and severity of future wildfires and its effects to water quality by utilizing mechanical treatments to reduce hazardous fuel loads and change the structure of the vegetation. Some stands of trees within the project area are susceptible to high intensity crown fire which could result in high levels of soil erosion, habitat loss and flooding. Water quantity may increase with a reduction of trees competing for available ground water. Recent studies have shown that juniper removal from a watershed might result in significant water savings. At the peak of summer, a mature juniper uses a daily average of 38 gallons of water per tree per day. The increase in water availability associated with juniper control can increase understory vegetation and potentially benefit hydrologic processes. The Logan River restoration near trapper park will improve the overall water quality by filtering suspended sediments during flooding and stabilizing banks from erosion during both flooding and lower flows. The water quality will also improve by eliminating the need to access the river with large equipment to maintain the diversion of water which will protect the channel banks and bed from mechanical damage on a regular basis. Mitigating the areas of exposed blue clay will help improve the water quality by reducing total phosphorus contributions from the environment. Enhancing the functionality of the flood plain within the easement will improve hydraulic functionality, water quality, terrestrial habitat, and wildlife. The canal piping portion of the project located near Trapper Park would build long-term resilience to drought by reducing water loss in the Logan River Blacksmith Fork Irrigation Company canal by an average of 14.9 percent annually. During the August measurements in 2019, the losses were closer to 22 percent, which is also the most critical water demand period for many crops. Piping the canal was estimated to save 1,225 acre-feet of water annually based on a detailed water measurement study completed by Franson Civil Engineers in 2019. The Logan River eventually flows into the Great Salt Lake.

Botany surveys that were funded by WRI will be conducted in Spring of 2024 and will complete NEPA for this project for proposed treatment in Fall of 2024 for the juniper thinning portion of the project. A decision on NEPA should be complete in the next couple of weeks. The NEPA compliance for the Logan River restoration and canal piping portions of this project near Trapper park are under way. All cultural and environmental field work has been completed and the EA has been drafted and is being reviewed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

1-Cut, pile & burn: Cut and pile will be performed by hand and will occur on 341 acres in units located near summer homes in Chokecherry and Preston Valley, and also near Rick Springs where densities are greater. Piles will be burned at least one year after treatment. 2- Lop & scatter: Lop & scatter will be performed by hand and will occur on 1180 acres in units located near the mouth of Logan Canyon, Spring Hollow, Wood Camp, Chokecherry, near Tony Grove turnoff and the turnoff to Beaver Mountain. Local fire crews will treat 620 acres of the lop & scatter and 631 acres will be completed by contractors. This will change the arrangement of the fuels and reduce fire behavior from the canopy to a surface fire. 3- Mastication: Mastication will occur on 72 acres in units located by at the mouth of Logan Canyon and near Temple Fork. Mastication will be accomplished utilizing wheeled equipment capable of mechanical mulching/shredding. This will result in the reduction of canopy and create reduced fire behavior for future wildfires. Removing juniper will benefit the sage/grass communities by increasing water, sunlight and nutrients to the soil. 4-Bank Sloping - Over 7,000 feet of the Logan River will be cleaned by removing concrete or car armoring and sloped back and planted with appropriate pole plantings and seed mixes based on a detailed field survey and the completion of a concept HEC-RAS 2D model. 5-Wetland Seeding and Revegetation - Approximately 35 acres will be restored by removing Reed canary grass and invasive species and seed native riparian and wetland species. 6-Benching and Reconnection -re-establish a flood plain by benching and reconnecting to the new conservation easement.

Juniper thinning- Monitoring protocols will be designed and collected before, during and after any future implementation phases of this project. These future protocols include photo points and invasive and noxious weed surveys, photos will be uploaded to the WRI database. River restoration- Monitoring will be done by drone flights capturing images and data, cross section inspections and habitat inspections. Results will be documented in the annual mitigation reports with the ACOE documenting vegetative density and restoration success and will be published regularly. Coordinated monitoring efforts to measure the enhancement to the riparian and river habitat corridor would last approximately 5 years after completion.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Mule Deer Foundation- Have assisted in the selection of areas to be treated. Berdineau and Chokecherry Summer homeowners' associations- Forest Service personnel have attended meetings to inform and work with residents on removal within the summer home tracts and near cabins. Rocky mountain power- Planned thinning under all powerlines in Logan Canyon beginning in 2024. Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands- Worked with WUI coordinator and Northern Area manager to identify any areas of cross-boundary work, however none were found for this particular project. US Forest Service- Fuels specialist and wildlife biologist identified treatment areas and completed NEPA for this project. Cache Water District - Sponsoring the Logan River restoration, diversion, and canal piping portion of the project. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Lead agency on the Logan River restoration, diversion, and canal piping portion of the project. Providing $2,000,000 of funding. Utah Department of Agriculture and Food - Contributing $500,000 to the Logan River diversion and canal piping portion of the project. Logan River Blacksmith Fork Irrigation Company - Improving agricultural system by including diversion structure with fish bypass and by piping portion of canal system to conserve water. Logan City - Providing support and funding for the Logan River restoration, diversion, and piping portion of the project. Willow Lake Land Holdings - An adjacent corporate landowner suggesting and working to provide a perpetual conservation easement. They are supporting the project and providing funding and in-kind work toward the Logan River restoration portion of the project.

There are five future phases of similar juniper treatments planned in Logan Canyon and in Lefthand Fork. Invasive and noxious weeds will be treated where needed. Planning started to complete NEPA for areas adjacent to this project which require an amendment to the forest plan due to being in a primitive prescription, this should be complete within the next couple of years. The implementation of the Logan River restoration portion of the project will eliminate the need to access the river with large maintenance equipment to maintain the diversion of the water. This will protect the channel banks and bed from mechanical damage on a regular basis.

Natural disturbances like fire help keep forests healthy. However, the increase in disturbance extent and severity threatens forest sustainability. These treatments will increase forest health, mitigating intensity and severity of future wildfires. Future wildfires and smoke could hamper forest recreation, potentially closing the Logan Canyon scenic byway and scenic river, affecting fishing and hiking. Some biomass will be utilized for firewood collection with a permit.

07/23/2024

08/02/2024

2025

Juniper- We were funded for the lop/scatter and mastication portions of the project. Originally, we requested funding for 1180 acres of lop/scatter with 631 acres to be completed by a contract. We added an additional 146 acres in Lefthand Fork.

776 acres of Lop and Scatter was completed in one week in Logan Canyon and Lefthand Fork, this includes units in Wood Camp, Card Canyon, Spring Hollow, near the Forestry Camp and near the turnoff to Beaver Mountain.

All remaining units (341 acres) are planned to be Cut/Pile/Burn and will be completed once funding is acquired. In the future we will revisit units to remove sprouting junipers with loppers.