Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Areas (SCWMA/PSGWMA) are Division of Wildlife Resources managed areas located in Box Elder County, Utah. Management of these wetland/upland areas is primarily for waterfowl and pheasant production however, many of the 200+ species that use the areas have benefited as well. The purpose of this project is to create and maintain an area that meets life requisites and provides the best suitable habitats that will ensure the perpetuation and propagation of the wildlife species. These areas are also managed to provide waterfowl and upland hunting opportunity to the public. The wildlife technician positions allow for the maintenance of existing habitat and the enhancement and development of additional habitat for these WMA's. With the increased pressure from an expanding human population, development of lands, changes in agricultural practices and increased recreational demands it is imperative to maximize the benefits on the areas for wildlife. In order for us maximize those benefits, we rely on the assistance of wildlife technicians for habitat maintenance. Work will include planting and manipulating critical perennial habitat for nesting, rearing of young and creating a higher quality food resource. Some areas are in need of renovation to stimulate re-growth and increase plant vigor. Other areas need complete renovation and seeding. Trees and shrubs have been established and are being enhanced by irrigation systems and pesticide control efforts, which requires manpower and diligence. Perennial and annual food plots are planted annually on the areas to provide increased resources for wildlife and require efforts to prepare the soil, seed annuals and perennials and to annually create fire breaks to protect against unplanned fires and for prescribed burning. Weed control efforts are required to meet an obligation to the county and adjacent landowners for control of noxious weeds that occur throughout the area. Monitoring and adjustment of water levels throughout the WMA's is essential for producing a highly functional wetland along with protecting infrastructure. Additional demands and responsibilities placed on the Manager (Assistant Regional Wildlife Manager and Invasive Weed Project Leader) require more help from technician time to counter off site work requirements and facilitate WMA management activities.

The goal for the project is to protect, enhance and maximize the benefit for the wildlife resources and the public that use these WMAs.

Reduced quality of habitat for wildlife use. More expensive methods will be required for long-term renovation and improvements. This project will address threats to two key terrestrial habitats (lowland sagebrush & desert grassland) and two key aquatic habitats (open water & emergent wetland) that are listed in the WAP. The threats to these habitats that this project will address include; invasive plant species, altered fire regimes, sediment transport imbalance, invasive wildlife species, feral and domestic animals, and drought. This project will also address a number of SGCN and HIG/F species (see species list and threats for more details).

DWR Strategic Plan: Conserve, Protect and Enhance Wildlife and Ecosystems; Enhance Recreational Experience. The project as described above promotes this objective. WAP objectives and actions are described below.

Fire is an important tool that is used on the WMA's to remove dead vegetation and open wetland areas for increased germination of native plant species. Due to the continuing air quality issues in northern Utah, this tool is not used as much as we would like to use it. Firebreaks are created each season, as needed, to protect the WMA's and adjacent private lands in the event an unplanned fire occurs in the area.

Perennial plantings help prevent erosion and sediment runoff into waterways and impoundments.

Archaeology, Covered by categorical exclusions and SHPO MOU NEPA. Waterfowl Management Areas are covered under categorical exclusion.

Vegetation manipulation is an effective way to stimulate new growth and extending the long-term value of many plant species. It has been demonstrated that renovation efforts can nearly double the duration that good quality habitat can be maintained on these areas. Complete replacement of these habitats through ground preparation, weed control and planting is time consuming and expensive, and establishment to the desired growth form may take two or more years. Without some manipulation efforts taking place, the value of these new plantings last for about eight to ten years. The plan is for annual restoration or enhancement by seeding of perennial habitat and planting of annual food plots. Perennial plantings of mixed species of grasses (Russian wildlrye, pubescent wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, Newhy wheatgrass, Great Basin wildrye), shrubs (forage kochia) and forbs (alfalfa, strawberry clover and yellow blossom sweet clover), will be planted throughout the area. Annual food plots consist of wheat, triticale, safflower, barley, corn, sorghum, sunflower, and/or millet. These areas are strategically located through the perennial habitats. Renovation techniques using fire, limited grazing, mechanical disturbance, chemical treatments, water regulation and re-seeding efforts will be used to improve existing habitats. Habitat manipulation will include the use of an agricultural tractor, light discing and/or spring tine tillage equipment for digging to remove annual grass. Burning will be used where conditions allow removing residual dead vegetation. Existing conditions at the time will determine the exact locations and acreage. A grazing plan has been completed and approved. Grazing treatments will be used to remove plant material, stimulate growth and remove non-desired competitive plant species. Paddock determinations will be determined based on fall assessments for the following winter/spring grazing period. Paddock formation is ongoing with the need to finish or maintain permanent gates and wings to be used in conjunction with removable electric fencing materials and natural barriers. Grazing has been used as a management tool on the areas for the past 20 years. Mowing up to approximately 100 acres may occur. Water developments will be developed and maintained for livestock and wildlife dispersion in order to reduce damage to riparian areas. Herbicide treatments will be applied in areas where noxious and invasive weeds are found to be competing with desirable plant species. Approximately 3000 acres throughout PSG/SCWMAs will be covered to detect undesirable species. These chemical treatments will be applied with backpack sprayers, agriculture equipment, track machines, UTV and/or ATV. The retention ponds and ditch systems that have been developed to collect return irrigation water will be maintained. This water is of higher quality and suitable for perennial cover, food crop and tree/shrub irrigation. Ditching systems also provide additional areas for tree and shrub planting. These areas provide travel lanes for wildlife movement and a degree of protection from avian predators. Predator control is an annual event prior to the nesting season. Trappers and DWR personnel remove Red Fox, Striped Skunk, Raven (by permit) and Raccoon to enhance the reproductive effort of numerous avian species. The Technician time requested is for anticipated work that will occur on several WMA's in the Northern Region. Salt Creek, Public Shooting Grounds and Locomotive Springs represent 34% of DWR managed wetlands in the State of Utah. The West Bear River Bay Access Area is located on east Promontory and is a public access to the Bear River Bay. At this time, it is unknown if the cooperative projects with BLM and DWR that have been managed through this project at Blue Springs WMA, adjacent to Public Shooting Grounds and Salt Wells WMA will continue. The cooperative areas require personnel time to meet the scope of the work defined in the agreements and to assist BLM personnel as requested and needed. With well over 100 water control structures and culverts between Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds there is a continual need to replace damaged and failing structures. We will be replacing several failed culverts on SCWMA and will use funds from this project to purchase HDPE pipe as well as a concrete structures for this project. The technician time will also provide the opportunity to enhance, maintain and develop habitat that would be beneficial for the wildlife resources that use these areas and create habitat for potential wildlife that could use a more diversified habitat. The work often requires that simultaneous events be occurring on the different WMA's in order to produce the optimal outcome. The primary need comes from the end of March to the end of November. The opportunity to hire just one individual during this time period is often limited, due to educational commitments, and can require that two or more individuals be hired.

Field observations and Standard Operational Procedures

N/A

Future management will follow directives and objectives listed within the WMA management plans. The WMA's will also continue to use technicians for habitat and wildlife enhancement efforts.

This project will continue to improve upland conditions for all recreational activities. Hunter and watchable wildlife opportunities continue to be improved with this project. Both Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds are grazed with domestic livestock when it is deemed necessary/practical by the WMA manager.