As part of this phase II continuation of the San Pitch Collaborative, we plan to implement additional lop and scatter treatments, a small mastication project, and begin ignition implementation of the Rx Fire. We plan to phase out the Rx fire, with this proposal asking for about 1/3 of the funding to complete the total polygon seen in the map, which we estimate may get us 2200 acres burned. INTRODUCTION The Sanpitch mountains lie south of the Nebo unit and between the Manti and Gunnison Valleys. Quite frankly it's a mountain range that is kind of an afterthought because of its location and size. The past 2 years, multiple partners and landowners have met in the field and in the office to coordinate a larger scale, more collaborative cross-boundary projects than has previously been done to our knowledge in this area. It has become apparent that although this mountain range is sometimes an afterthought, many conservation partners/landowners see the Sanpitch as an opportunity to reduce fire, improve forage, and increase opportunities for wildlife. Project partners worked through several treatment prescriptions across thousands of acres to develop a project that meets goals and objectives of several agencies, NGO's, and private landowners. Previous completed and funded work under phase I is a brush thinning, lop and scatter, Rx burn fire line and defensible space. Some stream work is planned for summer 2024 as part of phase I as well. BIG GAME The range is important to many species of wildlife and often is overlooked as big game habitat. Per discussion in the field with project partners, this project is seen as potentially increasing available habitat to mule deer and elk. Additionally, the UDWR is having elk depredation issues on farms below and improving elk habitat on the mountain has the potential (no guarantee) to mitigate depredation issues. Looking at the Wildlife tracker (see photos for map), it shows collared deer, elk, and even cougar using our project area as a literal migration corridor between the north and south end of the mountain. Speaking with unit biologist on site, he supported the project and mentioned the mountain under-produces big game and this project had the potential to help big game. BIRDS The San Pitch project lies directly adjacent to an identified Bird Habitat Conservation Area (BHCA). BHCA's are mapped as important bird areas in the state. Several raptor species are listed as priority for conservation, including Golden Eagle, as species needing habitat conservation practices implemented in this BHCA. Per personal communication with a wildlife biologist who does raptor surveys in the area adjacent to the project area, Golden Eagles are known to nest here. Improving adjacent foraging habitat will benefit these species. Additionally, this area supports a population of wild turkeys. NWTF supports this project and the benefits that may come to sportsmen through increasing and enhancing turkey habitat through this proposal. WATERSHED HEALTH. Because of the large acreage and multiple habitat treatments, habitats treated, and ecological communities affected, this project has the potential to have a large impact on watershed health. Proposed treatments will diversify and improve overall health of the vegetational communities, thus improving the watershed resistance and resilience to future disturbance. OPPORTUNITY This project was brought to WRI in 2022 and had a lot of comments. At the time it was agreed more planning needed to take place. Several partners have met in the field and in the office for several days in the attempt of taking the advice from WRI, with the understanding more partners, more planning, and more coordination would result in a more beneficial and comprehensive project. This proposal and the proposal for phase I is the manifestation of that collaborative work over the last couple years. We now have the opportunity to work at a much larger scale, across multiple landownerships, and working with FFSL to replicate some of the awesome Rx fire work they are doing on the Manti unit. A lot of pieces have fallen into place currently and we have a really good opportunity if we act now. ENCHROACHMENT There are many areas within the Sanpitch range that have seen large scale pinyon and juniper encroachment over the years. To date there have been many treatments to address this. Expansion of those treatments into additional areas where encroachment of pinyon and juniper into sagebrush systems expands the habitat benefits to a wide number of species. The BLM has identified additional treatment areas where conversion from sagebrush dominated systems to one where pinyon and juniper are more prevalent on the landscape (See Map as well as "Vegetative Cover Class Changes Since 1986 in the Images section"). These sites represent sites in Phase I through late Phase II transitions from sagebrush sites to pinyon and juniper dominated sites. Treating these areas now would prevent further loss and allow perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs to increase within these sites and provide a more cost-effective solution than waiting until the sites become fully dominated by pinyon and juniper. A WORD ON MONARCHS and POLLINATORS We're claiming monarch and pollinator benefits on this project. Some of the most forb diverse habitats are those around water. This coming spring/summer some riparian work will be completed under last year's proposal. Furthermore, conservationists are coming to realize the importance of late season forb vegetation for migrating monarch butterflies as a limiting factor. Our fire and seeding will provide more diversity in forb species. Late season food sources are necessary to get monarchs through migration and to winter habitats in Mexico and California. Additionally, if we can increase aspen habitat through our Rx fire work, aspen habitat is some of the world's most diverse and forb abundant habitat there is. This will directly benefit many pollinator species (birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, etc..).

1) Hand-cut or masticate 99 percent of young invading pinyon and juniper trees within the treatment polygons. 2) Within the landscape, maintain a mosaic of treated/untreated areas to serve both as natural fuel breaks and movement/thermal/obscurement corridors for wildlife and livestock. 3) Prolong the financial and restoration efforts invested by the BLM, WRI, sportsmen, landowners, and counties. 4) Maintain a mix of plant communities consisting of patches of old and young shrubs, open patches, perennial grasses and forbs and a healthy understory to benefit sagebrush obligates, wildlife, and livestock. 5) Using Rx fire, reduce catastrophic wildfire risk while creating a more diverse and resilient ecosystem

Why here, why now? We believe of all the projects in the region, this project should be at the top of the list of greatest need for doing RIGHT NOW for many reasons. Below is a list of some of those reasons. RX FIRE A major component of this is the Rx Fire project. Anyone who has worked in land and vegetation conservation/management knows how difficult it is to actually implement a Rx Fire for a variety of reasons. Here is why we believe we need to do this Rx Fire NOW. 1) We have the right people at the right time in the right place. Right now, we have a team from UFFSL who are experienced carrying out Rx burns with private landowners in the area. In addition to that, the team is made up of several other agencies, landowners, and county fire departments. Bottom line is, this team led by UFFSL knows what it takes to implement Rx burning from concept to on the ground, with much of the initial planning work done and underway. Just last year UFFSL completed Rx burning on the Old Women Plateau and is equally invested in seeing this Rx burn done. Additionally, we have several landowners who are on board, excited, and providing substantial in-kind to see the project done. UFFSL is excited about this project and want to get it done now. If they can't, they may move on. 2) Proof of concept. Proof of concept is important on this project, especially the Rx burn. UFFSL have successfully carried out similar project work with private landowners on the Old Women Plateau. They know how to do this successfully and this project is reflective of what will be completed on this landscape. 3) WRI invested funding and fire lines have been completed. One of the most important aspects of funding this project is the investment already spent by WRI, several Sportsmen Groups, substantial match from counties and landowners, and a fuel trailer purchased by NWTF. The fact is for the Rx fire part of the project, we were told if we could complete the fuel breaks last year with funding from WRI, several sportsmen groups, counties, and landowners, funding to start burning would be likely this year. WE COMPLETED FIRE LINE WORK WITH FUNDING THROUGH WRI, WE NEED TO BURN NOW OR WE LOSE OUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY. Below are some other thresholds justifying "why here and why now" we feel the impact this project ecologically based on the criteria in the ranking sheet. We also listed some social and financial thresholds for consideration associated with the project because they too impact our ability to complete the project for social and ecological benefits. ECOLOGICAL Most of the pinyon and juniper removal is phase I to early phase II with intact understory vegetation. Working in light to medium densities means the vegetative community hasn't crossed an ecological threshold where high amounts of restoration inputs are necessary. The project, as it relates to the pinyon and juniper work is a proactive approach to treat areas where sagebrush steppe habitat is still well established. Not doing work in these areas of low pinyon and juniper density means the threat of higher costs, restoration inputs, and risk will become greater over time. Lack of disturbance over the past 100 years has allowed conifer encroachment into what were once mixed aspen stands. Rx fire is the most cost effective and ecologically effective way to restore aspen. If left untreated, a continued decline in aspen is expected. We are at a threshold now where multiple partners are ready to implement a Rx fire treatment. We may lose the support in the future. Additionally, because aspen ecosystems are some of the most ecologically diverse habitats in the world and because of the rapid decline we need to act when given the opportunity. This project will increase and maintain the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities. A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states within an ecological site. A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife species and people. A diverse landscape is also more resistant and resilient to disturbance. By allowing this landscape to continue to move further into a pinyon and juniper dominated woodland, it increases the risk of losing the sites ability for resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and heal after a disturbance. We also can reduce the risk of future large-scale fire by using Rx fire treatments. Being proactive with fire will reduce prohibitive costs that would be associated if a much larger fire were to burn. The Rx burn will also reduce fire intensity if a fire were to burn through here in the future during the hot dry summer months. Treating now will reduce future costs if we implement the Rx burn now. FINANCIAL As discussed above, financial thresholds need consideration when funding habitat conservation. The type of proactive work we are proposing reduces future cost from becoming prohibitive. The partnership dollars and in-kind currently available also need to be taken into consideration as justification for why do this right now. With multiple partners actively funding, planning, and implementing conservation practices in the area, costs are being shared across a larger group. If not done now, future costs may make implementing conservation practices at this scale prohibitive. WRI, LANDONWERS, SPORTSMEN GROUPS, AND COUNTIES ALL INVESTED ACTUAL FUNDING INTO STARTING THE PROJECT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING IT WOULD BE FUNDED IN FUTURE YEARS. Not funding this project would be a breach of trust with our sportsmen groups but most importantly, our landowners who have made substantial financial sacrifices to see this through. As for BLM proposed treatments, the proposed project areas are areas that are seeing a continual loss of perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs to continued pinyon and juniper dominance (See Image section for vegetation cover changes since 1986. Treating these areas now will allow for a more minimally invasive and cost-effective approach to sustaining desirable vegetation within the area. Allowing these areas to continue to trend toward pinyon juniper dominance will lead to far more intensive and costly treatments in the future. SOCIO-POLITICAL There is also a social threshold to consider with the private lands as part of this project. We have multiple landowners on board and willing to sign agreements. Also, the landowners have the ability to provide a substantial amount of in-kind work, saving the government a lot of money. This project has momentum with private individuals willing to work with land management agencies and implement a suite of treatment types across a large landscape. If we miss this opportunity, we may not get it again as the landowners have mentioned trying for years to implement a project like this for years and being frustrated. Not taking advantage of this while everyone is willing, may mean a lost opportunity in the future. We have a unique opportunity NOW, not later. GEOSPATIAL AND REMOTE SENSING INFO/ PLANNING DOCUMENTS -WILDLIFE TRACKER Not a lot of animals in this area have had GPS collars so there isn't a ton of data. With that said, there is data available and it shows this area is underutilized. Inferences taken from the data show (see pics in photos) this area being used as a travel corridor between summer habitat and winter habitat. Interestingly enough, the summer habitat has burned in the last several years and on-site discussion with the unit biologist were that this project might open up new habitat and receive more use by big game. Additionally, the biologist mentioned this project might help alleviate depredation issues in the valley. -USGS BIOME-SAGEBRUSH CORE HABITAT MODELING These data were compiled as a part of a landscape conservation design effort for the sagebrush biome, and are the result of applying a spatially explicit model that assessed geographic patterns in sagebrush ecological integrity and used these results to identify Core Sagebrush Areas (CSAs), Growth Opportunity Areas (GOAs), and Other Rangeland Areas (ORAs). This model is being used biome-wide to target core intact sagebrush habitat to focus sagebrush protection and restoration with the Department of the Interior. This project falls in modeled core intact sagebrush habitat to prioritize for restoration and protection. -UTAH WILDFIRE RISK ASSESMENT PORTAL A quick assessment using this fire risk explorer (screen shot in photo section) shows the project are in high to very high risk for extreme wildfire and suggests taking action by implementing practices to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire. Our project, especially the Rx burn, will accomplish this. Simply stated, there is no better way to reduce risk of catastrophic fire at these elevation than with Rx fire. -HISTORIC IMAGERAY ANALYSIS Extensive comparison between available high-resolution imagery from 1963 to imagery from 2018 shows extensive conversion of sagebrush sites to ones with significant encroachment of pinyon and juniper. This data was used to delineate project boundaries on the BLM and are represented in the proposed treatment projects for phase II of this project. Additional areas on lands administered by the BLM, TLA, and private lands have been identified and may be proposed in future phases of this project. -RANGELAND ANALYSIS PLATFORM Analysis using BLM's treatment polygons through the RAP shows that since 1986, tree cover has seen a notable increase in cover while at the same time, perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs have decreased. Additionally, there has been a increasing trend in annual grasses and forbs within the polygons (See Vegetative Cover Classes spreadsheet in the Images section). This data highlights a concerning trend as these once sagebrush dominated sites are slowing declining due to pinyon and juniper encroachment. A search of WRI supported Landscape Forecasting was conducted and no data exist for this area. Additionally, no other remote sensing data is available to the project partners knowledge. PLANS One aspect related to maintenance and mule deer mentioned above, is the fact that in the Deer Herd Management Plan (see in plan section) it specifically calls out the need for maintenance work to manage mule deer on this unit. Phase I of this project included thousands of acres of maintenance lop and scatter within old chaining's to specifically address it. Phase II would see the expansion of these treatments into new areas where the BLM has identified sagebrush sites that are in decline due to pinyon and juniper expansion. Project partners have looked through the Sanpete County Resources Management Plan and identified many objectives, resource concerns, and management actions this project would positively address. A list of those items would be too long to list here but fall under a diversity of needs such as agriculture, water resources, wildlife, livestock grazing, watershed protection, wildfire threat. See relationship to management plans for a small list of objectives and actions.

1) Sanpete County Resource Management Plan. 2017. * Related to fire the County specifically states in their RMP. -- The county will support projects that alleviate the possibilities of catastrophic wild fire. -- Sanpete County will support pre-planned prescribed fire resulting from planned or unplanned ignitions to accomplish resource management objectives, such as reducing fuel load build-up, range or wildlife habitat improvement, etc. -- Sanpete County will support watershed management and protection including using prescribed fire to avoid catastrophic fire, encourage aspen regeneration, remove dead standing trees, manage bark beetle impacts, and increase vegetation and diversity in plant communities. -- The county supports comprehensive fire management that helps reduce catastrophic wildfires. WE COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT SEVERAL GOALS OBJECTIVES AND MANAGMENT ACTIONS IN THE SANPETE COUNTRY RMP THIS PROJECT MEETS BUT WE WILL LEAVE IT AT THIS. 2) Deer Herd Management Unit #16A(Nebo subunit) and #16C(Manti subunit). They are addressed under the same Herd Unit Management Plan. Current winter range surveys show that mule deer winter range in this area is poor. The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the management plans including: OBJECTIVES: *Protect, maintain, and/or improve deer habitat through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives. *Work with federal, private, and state partners to improve crucial deer habitats through the WRI process. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES: * Continue to improve, protect, and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer. Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvements such as pinion/juniper removal, reseedings... Habitat improvement projects will occur on both winter ranges as well as summer range. * Reduce expansion of pinyon-juniper and other woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects like lop & scatter, bullhog, and chaining. * Seek opportunities to increase browse in burned areas of critical winter range. * 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. DISCUSSION and RECOMMENDATIONS: *It is recommended that areas with significant conifer encroachment be treated (e.g. bullhog, chaining, lop and scatter, etc.) where feasible and MAINTENANCE SHOULD CONTINUE on sites that have already been treated. 3) 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: *Objective R2: Maintain existing wildlife habitat and increase the quality of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. 4)Federal Land Policy and Management Act *Sec. 102 (a); the public lands be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of... environmental, water resource...; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals 5) Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy: *Shrubsteppe habitats ranked out as the 4th highest habitat priority for the state of Utah. This places the shrubsteppe into a "key" habitat type *Shrubsteppe habitat should be a target for restoration and conservation. *Recommends where decadent pinyon juniper has increased into shrubsteppe due to lack of disturbance to disturb the decadent vegetation. 6) BLM Grazing Management Regulations: *Objectives are to promote healthy sustainable rangeland ecosystems; to accelerate restoration and improvement of public lands to properly functioning condition *Maintenance and enhancement of habitats to promote the conservation of Federal proposed, Federal candidate, and other special status species 7) Richfield Field Office Resource Management Plan: *Hazardous fuels treatments will be used to restore ecosystems; protect human, natural and cultural resources; and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities *The BLM will work together with partners and other affected groups and individuals to reduce risk to communities and to restore ecosystems *Maintain vegetation based on desired future condition to provide adequate ground cover to prevent accelerated erosion in wind erodible soils *Sagebrush/steppe communities will be a high priority for ESR and fuel reduction to avoid catastrophic fires in these areas. 8) USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Strategic Plan *Project addresses habitat threats for priority species within a PFW priority area (Plateau Focus Area) for restoration work. 9) Intermountain West Joint Venture Habitat Conservation Strategy *Support existing public-private partnerships to implement sagebrush habitat conservation, at regional, state, and local scales. *Remove encroaching conifers to functionally restore sagebrush habitat. 10) USGS Biome-wide sagebrush core habitat and growth areas estimated from a threat-based conservation design. 2022. * This project falls within modeled and mapped core intact sagebrush habitat prioritized for protection and restoration for the. 11) Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan. 2023. *Enhance wild turkey habitat -- quality and quantity -- by 100,000 acres statewide by 2029.

Forest ecologist Frank Kanawha Lake is quoted as saying, "Fire is a form of medicine for the land and its people. It is necessary to prescribe the right amount of medicine through a process of understanding how to live with fire and adaptation to a changing environment. But if you don't have adequate medicine on the landscape, the ecosystem and the people are sick." Whenever we have the opportunity to prescribe the right medicine to avoid a future overdose, we need to act now. UTAH WILDFIRE RISK ASSESMENT PORTAL A quick assessment using this fire risk explorer (screen shot in photo section) shows the project area is in high to very high risk for extreme wildfire and suggests taking action by implementing practices to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire. Our project, especially the Rx burn, will accomplish this. Simply stated, there is no better way to reduce risk of catastrophic fire at these elevations than with Rx fire!!!! If any project deserves fire/fuels reduction points, this proactive Rx fire project does. This project will directly reduce risk of catastrophic fire on a large scale and reduce risk from very high to high and down to moderate. The reduction of fire risk will have a direct impact to reducing risk to structures and infrastructure on the project site and in the adjacent area (homes, cabins, grazing infrastructure, major telecommunication infrastructure, etc..) Additionally, project managers have met with UDWR and USFS to discuss other Rx fire project work on the Sanpitch. You can read about that in the "Partners" section for more details but relative to reducing fire risk and fuels, this project in addition to other planned projects will substantially reduce fire risk and reduce fuel loading on the Sanpitch.

Aspen forests are considered a benefit to watershed conditions compared to conifer forest, with studies in Utah documenting higher snow water equivalents and greater potential water yield (Burke and Kasahara 2011, LaMalfa and Ryle 2008). In a 2005 and 2006 study published in 'Ecosystems', measurements of snow water accumulation, snow ablation (melting), soil water content, snowpack sublimation, and evapotranspiration (ET) were measured in adjacent aspen and conifer stands. Peak snow water equivalent (SWE) averaged 34-44% higher in aspen in 2005 (average snow fall) and 2006 (above average snow fall), respectively, whereas snow ablation rates were greater in aspen stands (21 mm day"1) compared to conifer stands (11 mm day"1). When changes in soil water content (due to over-winter snowmelt) were combined with peak snow accumulation in 2006, aspen had greater potential (42-83%) water yield for runoff and groundwater recharge (LaMalfa and Ryle, 2008). Aspen treatments may have an important and critical role in water quality and quantity changes. In all transparency, our aspen stands will be pockets here and there but will still impact water characteristics as described above. Wilkinson et al (2006) documented that fire elevates the concentration of suspended sediment and phosphorus during high flow events. This data was found when there were high intensity wildfires. Our Rx burn will prevent large scale fire and mitigate future negative impacts, as stated above, to the several drainages in the area. Additionally, a low intensity spot Rx fire will benefit both water quality and quantity by creating a more diverse vegetative community across the landscape and increasing early seral plant species. These herbaceous plant communities reduce overland runoff, increase water soil infiltration, and also filter water as it moves through the vegetation and soil profile. In a study from 2008, Deboodt, et. al (2008) mentions that juniper trees can use up to 30 gallons of water a day, when adequate moisture is present. It also states that Vegetative modeling has shown that 9 to 35 trees per acre can utilize all the precipitation delivered to a site in a 13-in annual precipitation zone. In their study researchers monitored two watersheds 12 years prior to treatment (cutting). After the treatment, analysis indicated that juniper reduction significantly increased late season spring flow by 225%, increased days of recorded groundwater by an average of 41 days, and increased the relative availability of late season soil moisture to soil depths of .76 meters. It was also noted that managing vegetation for water yield may be obtainable at a much lower precipitation threshold than what was previously understood. Now understanding our project site is phase I and possibly light phase II juniper removal, we don't expect dramatic changes now but anticipate the benefits stated above will be realized in the long-term as we prevent high levels of conifer encroachment. Our low-tech stream restoration efforts being completed this summer under the previous phase of the project will have direct impacts on water quantity and quality. Practitioners are increasingly turning to cost-effective, low-tech restoration options that restore soil moisture and improve vegetation, which can be more easily implemented at large scales. New research shows low-tech restoration methods effectively increased vegetation productivity by 25% and kept plants greener longer during the year. Restoration efforts also showed reduced sensitivity to precipitation over time, resulting in greater resiliency against the impacts of drought and climate variability. Low-tech stream restoration is like a water bank where you can draw from the stored soil moisture during the hot part of the year. Low-tech restoration activities increase the ability of a stream to filter sediments and other water contaminants.

All compliance associated with all landownerships and treatment types will be completed prior to implementation by all partners. This also includes the proper permitting as needed. Some archeology support is being requested and is currently underway for the Rx burn area. We have been in contact several times with the state archeologist and SHPO office and will have the necessary cultural resources clearances complete by this spring. Action on BLM land is authorized under: San Pitch Mountains Fuels Reduction and Habitat Improvement (DOI-BLM-UT-C020-2014-0007-EA). Signed Sept. 2015 Richfield Field Office Noxious Weed and Invasive Species Control (DOI-BLM-UT-C020-2018-0021-EA) signed Dec. 2020

LOP AND SCATTER TREATMENT Lop and scatter will be completed in identified polygons using hand crews. Within polygons, 99% of the encroachment will be cut. Any old growth trees within the project areas will be marked and removed from the treatment polygons. Contract will be administered through DNR avenues. MASTICATION Mastication will be completed on one identified polygon using mechanical treatment methods (bull hog). Archeological surveys will take place prior to any ground disturbing activities. Any sites found will be removed from the treatment areas. Sensitive species surveys including migratory bird surveys will take place prior to implementation of the mastication project. If active nesting sites are found, appropriate buffers will be placed, and the area will be removed from the treatment area. The site will be seeded with and appropriate seed mix (see Seed section) prior to treatment. Any old growth trees within the project area will be marked and removed from the treatment polygon. The contract will be administered through DNR avenues. RX FIRE The San Pitch prescribed fire will be completed mostly on private lands. There are some scattered inholdings of State Trust Lands and Color Country BLM Lands and the appropriate land managers for those lands have been contacted and are part of the project. Spring burning is desired due to longer more achievable burn windows and Higher soil moisture content which will less likely damage non-targeted vegetation. A 40 -- 75 percent mosaic burn is the goal of the prescribed fire. Starting mid to late March and burning to as late as mid-June. Starting as soon as we can get into the area with tracked UTV's, and the snow melts off South slopes we will begin burning and work through the window until green up shuts us down. Progressing next to West and East facing slopes in the same fashion. Vegetation will dictate desired outcome. If it needs to burn it will. Sage Brush will not be targeted unless burning is needed to facilitate holding. Oak and Maple will be targeted for regrowth and to eliminate understory to facilitate regrowth of forbs, forage, and grasses and to open and rejuvenate decadent stands. More mortality will be expected in the oak and less in the maple. Pinyon Juniper will be targeted and the maximum mortality in these stands will be pursued. Areas with high dead to live ratio and dead and down will also be targeted to facilitate holding for the rest of the prescribed fire. South and West slopes will be out the following day. East slopes may linger a few days because of heavier fuel loading than South and West slopes. Southwest and East slopes desired black acres will be less than North slope acres. Closer to the 40% or even less is desired and considered a successful target. The transition to North slopes is where the game changes, South slope burning takes far less resources maybe only a few burners with snow doing the holding. North slopes will require engines and people for holding and best results will come from aerial burning with a Helicopter and a Heli torch. Expected fire behavior is stand replacing 200' flame lengths in the mixed conifer. A bit less in sparser and pinyon juniper filled areas. North slopes 75% mosaic will be desired. And likely to get that or more. Some of the North slopes have some scattered pockets of aspen that hopefully will regenerate into new aspen stands. Burning the mixed con will produce new, young ecosystems of grass, forbs and brush for wildlife, cattle and birds. All forms of firing will be utilized including hand carried drip torches, UTV mounted Terra Torches (Flame Throwers) Helicopter and UAS (drone) PSD (plastic sphere dispenser) and Helicopter and Heli-torch. Reseeding will work best right after, even planting it in the cooling ash. All stages of the prescribed fire will be completed from mid-May to mid-June depending on climate and moisture. We plan on asking for funding for approximately 1/3 of the 10,500-acre fire polygon. Of that entire fire polygon, we estimate when fully completed through all phases approximately 50% (5,200 acres) actually had fire on the ground. We estimate we will burn 1,700 acres this year during this phase of funding. AERIAL SEEDING Seed mix is included in the proposal and will be flown on by the landowner as in-kind (yep, he has a helicopter and airplane set up to do this!). We are flexible on timing of the seeding. DEFENSIBLE SPACE A landowner and the county will be doing a lop and scatter and mastication treatment as part of the Rx fire for defensible space, and most of this was completed last summer. This can be seen on the east side of the fire polygon in the map as long thin lines if you zoom in and is captured under in-kind as part of the fire on the finance page. VIRTUAL FENCING The landowner's virtual fencing will give them the ability to keep livestock off the Rx fire and re-seeding area for at least 2 growing seasons to allow seeding and natural re-growth establishment. BDA Funding through this project cycle would fund stream alteration permits for future BDA work. Future BDAs will be built with contractors. We will pound wood posts into the stream bed and then weave branches between the posts to create a porous structure that slows down the water flow.

The Bureau of Land Management Richfield Field Office has an Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM) crew for monitoring, and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area. This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. Additionally, Color Country Fuels personnel will collect vegetation and ground cover data using the line-point intercept method and nested frequency. Monitoring will include pretreatment data collection and subsequent data collection within the project area for up to five years post treatment. This data will allow time to determine if the project objectives were met or if additional inputs are needed for the project. Photos will be taken, and a qualitative site condition assessment completed. After five years post treatment, Field Office Range staff may continue to monitor these sites if deemed appropriate for their program. Currently, a rain gauge is located near the project area. Rain gauge data will be read quarterly each year to monitor for climatic variations over time. There is also two DWR range trend plots that were read in 2019 and will continue to be read based on their schedule. Before and after pics will be taken on all treatment and landowner types. Landowners will sign a USFWS Agreement and will be in place for 10 years. During those 10 years USFWS will do annual site visits and work with the landowners to assess project outcomes and future adaptive management.

BLM BLM brought this project to the region two years ago and is the project lead. As project lead, they are coordinating, planning, field work, implementation oversight, and everything needed to see this project from idea to implementation. They are also providing a substantial amount of funding through a coop agreement with WRI. UDWR UDWR participated in site visits twice in 2022. Habitat managers, habitat restoration biologist, wildlife biologist, and NRCS/UDWR partners biologist all attended these site visits and brainstormed ideas and provided input. NRCS The NRCS/UDWR Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist attended site visits and provided input. One landowner has an application with NRCS for the low-tech stream restoration and future projects may include other NRCS contracts with landowners. USFWS Clint Wirick with USFWS Partners Program is working closely with the landowners and will act as project lead on private lands. He is also providing project planning, oversight, attended field visits. He will have landowners sign an agreement with USFWS. FFSL FFSL, Matt Christensen, was brought in for the prescribed fire part of the project. He is playing a major role as project lead pertaining to the Rx fire. LANDOWNERS Several landowners are part of this project and have been present for site visits and meetings. Landowners will also be providing a huge chunk of in-kind running equipment and flying on seed. SANPETE COUNTY Matt and Clint met with County fire personnel and even received funding support for the project. SPORTSMEN GROUPS RMEF, MDF, NWTF, SFW all have provided financial assistance to make phase I of this project happen and, like a smart habitat biologist we all know once said, "real partners bring money!" OTHER FY25 SANPITCH MTNS PROJECTS Matt, one of the project leads for this project, met with UDWR and the USFS to talk about additional project work in the Sanpitch mountains for FY 2025. Because of the funding cap being implemented as part of the new ranking criteria, we are NOT lumping these related and mutually supported projects together in one proposal. The other projects include WRI #6929 and WRI #6947. These projects are for additional cultural resource inventory for Rx burning and big game guzzlers.

Firstly, we plan to continue to work in this area carrying out the remainder of the Rx burn in future phases with additional upland work and possibly wetland and riparian work. Future management of this project will be to continue to monitor the encroachment of the smaller trees into the treatment areas and look to involve permittees to work on improvements as needed within the allotments (water pipelines, troughs for better distribution of livestock, fence maintenance to control livestock, etc.). The need to follow-up with pinyon-juniper whips that may have been missed, or installation of guzzlers, or planting additional browse species can be accomplished through dedicated hunter projects or working with local Sportsman Groups. As part of the private lands work, the landowner will enter into a signed agreement with the USFWS. The agreement will last for 10-years and allow for collaboration and monitoring during those 10 years where USFWS and the landowner will assess future needs, adjustments in management, and success of the project. It will also allow annual site visit for monitoring. In the USFWS, if grazing rest is deemed needed, it will be specified, agreed to, and signed. Currently, the area is managed as a general season mule deer unit (Nebo #1534). Talking with the unit biologist, he supported doing anything to increase opportunity on the southern end of the unit as we are doing. The landowners we are currently working with are heavily wildlife minded. The private properties are also part of a grazing rotation. The landowners are willing to rest burned areas and will be building fence to keep livestock out. One landowner has also told us when they know the funding and implementation status, they are willing to sell some livestock to reduce herd size temporarily. Axhandle, Horse Ridge, Maple Canyon, and Timber Canyon are all sheep allotments with season of use being June and October generally. The Fayette Cattle allotment is the largest allotment where the largest acreages of treatment will occur. It is a cattle allotment with the season of use being June 1 - Sept 30. Permittees are the cooperative type who adhere to their permit numbers and dates and have always been willing to reduce numbers when asked, and many times when not asked, just because they think the range won't handle full numbers. They remain active in maintaining the fences and pipelines on the allotment. They have acquired e-collars and are actively training the livestock with them to be used for projects like these. They have also been very proactive on their neighboring private lands implementing vegetation enhancement projects while waiting years for government program help that has never materialized.

The private and public lands are all part of grazing rotations. This project will have a benefit to the private grazing operations. Working across landownerships will have a greater ecological and economic impact for livestock producers. With the removal of pinyon and juniper, we will maintain available forage. The Rx fire will substantially increase herbaceous and browsing species for wildlife and livestock. Brush treatments are also expected to increase herbaceous vegetation. With increased forage, ungulate distribution is expected to improve. Many areas that are currently becoming less productive due to overgrowth will soon become desirable for future use by ungulates. Implementation of this project would eventually improve overall livestock performance (e.g., increased cow weights, increased calf crops, increased weaning weights, etc.) and improve the economic stability of the permittees due to an increase in the quantity and quality of grasses and other herbaceous forage which are important to livestock grazing. Hunting, OHV riding, wildlife viewing, and camping are the primary uses of these areas. Improving/maintaining quality habitat allows winter survival of big game and provides for spring/summer/fall habitat of upland game for hunters to pursue. Other opportunities allow the public to benefit from harvesting firewood, fence stays and cedar posts prior to the project being implemented. Increased recreational opportunities such as camping, and hiking will also be enjoyed in these areas. This area is a very high use area for non- consumptive (by the way we are all consumptive, I hate that phrase) recreational users (campers, hikers, photographers, birders, wildlife viewing etc...). Managing for a diversity of vegetational states protects and enhances the views scape (I hate that word too). Another sustainable use we feel is related is the fact there is a regional telecommunications tower in the project area. Although telecommunications isn't a natural resource, it takes natural resources to support (i.e. towers and infrastructure is on a mountain peak in the project area). Treatments will increase the sustainability of regional telecommunications by reducing catastrophic fire risk.