Over the past decade, > 100 acres of river corridor along the lower Beaver River has been treated to remove a dense, near monoculture of Russian Olive and Tamarisk. The removal of these two invasive species results in a more diverse, healthy riparian vegetation community, generally better habitat for fish and wildlife, a reduction in fire risk, likely less water lost to evapotranspiration, and greater access for recreationalists. Initial treatments have used excavators to tear out large trees, which were then either piled to be burned or, in many cases, used in stream improvement structures to help with issues like eroding streambanks and inadequate aquatic habitat. Follow-up treatment of the Russian Olive and Tamarisk have included hand treatment of resprout from initial treatments. The most recent initial treatment on this section of stream is scheduled for early spring of 2024 and will include about 35 acres of previously untreated river corridor. This project is needed to hire a work crew to complete follow-up treatment of the 35 acres that will be newly treated in the spring of 2024, as well as the remaining ~75 acres that was treated before 2024. In previous phases of the larger project, the near monoculture of invasive Russian Olive and Tamarisk has been replaced by a more diverse, healthy variety of vegetation, including more plants beneficial to pollinators like Monarch Butterflies (e.g., seeding with Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Utah Sweetvetch, and Sunflower). If the area is allowed to revert to the previous state, pollinators would suffer. Within Utah, 66-75% of all bird species use riparian habitats during some portion of their life history. Typically, diversity and abundance of birds dramatically increases in western riparian habitat compared with other habitat types, and numerous avian species are now considered as riparian obligates (Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy 2.0, 2002). In the previously degraded state of untreated areas, a lack of suitable habitat is thought to be the limiting factor for trout, a significant barrier to a successful reestablishment of Southern Leatherside Chub, and negatively impact Sage Grouse; not to mention making recreation less appealing. The largely homogeneous stream channel was unable to satisfy diverse habitat requirements at different times of the year and over the life history of trout (e.g., pools with cover for refuge and riffle/glide sections for spawning). The lack of in-stream cover makes avoiding predation from larger fish and birds difficult for small trout and potentially Southern Leatherside Chub. The absence of brood-rearing habitat is a limiting factor in the Bald Hills SGMA for Sage Grouse (e.g., inadequate herbaceous vegetation for brood rearing forage). The extremely dense growth of Russian Olive and Tamarisk has made activities such as fishing and hunting difficult because sportsmen have trouble navigating the river corridor. It is critical that the gains (e.g., more diverse, resilient vegetation community compared to the near monoculture of invasive plant species) from previous work is not lost by allowing Russian Olive and tamarisk to reestablish.

As a small part of the larger effort to improve the lower Beaver River (e.g., WRI Projects #2762, #3283, #3624, #4013, #4521, #4905, #5213, #5650, #6648), this project would help to achieve the larger effort goals and objective. Primary Goals: 1. Increase abundance and diversity of fish and wildlife. 2. Increase recreation opportunity and satisfaction. Habitat Objectives: 1. Decrease channel width to depth ratio. 2. Decrease fine sediment input from streambank erosion. 3. Increase reach-scale habitat heterogeneity (i.e., riffle/run/pool/glide composition). 4. Increase percentage and maximum depth of pools. 5. Increase availability of cover. 6. Increase availability of winter refugia (physical and chemical). 7. Remove and prevent reestablishment of Russian Olive and Tamarisk. Biological Objectives: 1. Increase trout abundance, size structure, and biomass. 2. Increase non-game fish abundance and biomass. 3. Increase abundance and diversity of desirable and/or native herbaceous and woody riparian vegetation. Recreational Objectives: 1. Increase abundance and quality of valuable game species. 2. Increase accessibility for all forms of recreating (fishing, hunting, hiking, bird watching, etc.)

Habitats near water support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled. In the West, riparian habitat covers less than 1% of the land, yet the role of riparian habitat in the landscape is substantial. These wet habitat are disproportionately critical to the landscape around them. Furthermore, private mesic lands and surrounding public rangelands are critically important to the health of wildlife populations. Research shows that 60--80% of wildlife is dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). If true wildlife conservation is to take place on a sustainable level, public wildlife managers must engage private landowners whenever possible. Climate change has come to the forefront as a global threat to humans and wildlife alike. Although models vary on future impacts of global climate change one thing stands out is that water may become more scarce in the West. Preserving and restoring wet areas like this project aims to do has been identified as a key way to mitigate impacts like drought, increasing temperatures, and other impacts that a changing climate will have on human and wildlife. Within Utah, 66-75% of all bird species use riparian habitats during some portion of their life history. Typically, diversity and abundance of birds dramatically increases in western riparian habitat compared with other habitat types, and numerous avian species are now considered as riparian obligates (Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy 2.0, 2002). Although it was determined by the USFWS that listing under the ESA was not warranted for Greater sage grouse, an impending review in the future to determine if further action or protection is needed and to see where we collectively are at mitigating threats. Continuing to do work as identified in the Statewide Sage Grouse Management Plan to conserve sage grouse will support a continued "not warranted" status. This area is mapped sage grouse habitat and working in aquatic habitat in sage grouse areas has been identified as a national priority. Project partners have observed sage grouse droppings on the hill directly above the project site as well as vehicle killed grouse up the road. The lower Beaver River falls primarily on Walk-In-Access and BLM property and is a very popular recreation area for fishing, camping, hunting, wildlife viewing, and picnicking. Unfortunately, large flood events (especially in the early 1980s) left this section of stream with streambanks characterized by vertical, eroding, bare dirt and poor in and near-stream habitat. Additionally, invasive Russian Olive and Tamarisk dominated sections of the river corridor. In the degraded state of untreated areas, a lack of suitable habitat is thought to be the limiting factor for trout, a significant barrier to a successful reestablishment of Southern Leatherside Chub, and negatively impact Sage Grouse; not to mention making recreation less appealing. The largely homogeneous stream channel is unable to satisfy diverse habitat requirements at different times of the year and over the life history of trout (e.g., pools with cover for refuge and riffle/glide sections for spawning). The lack of in-stream cover makes avoiding predation from larger fish and birds difficult for small trout and potentially Southern Leatherside Chub. The absence of brood-rearing habitat is a limiting factor in the Bald Hills SGMA for Sage Grouse (e.g., inadequate herbaceous vegetation for brood rearing forage). The extremely dense growth of Russian Olive and Tamarisk has made activities such as fishing and hunting difficult because sportsmen have trouble navigating the river corridor. Active restoration work has already been completed on much of of the lower Beaver River to return the stream to a desirable, functioning state that helps valuable game and conservation species and provides improved recreation opportunities for the public. Past work has shown that addressing the aquatic and riparian habitat problems goes a long ways towards achieving these main goals. While the past work has been largely successful, Russian Olive and Tamarisk have been persistent in attempting to reestablish. This project is to complete critical maintenance of past work to build on and protect the gains made over the past decade. If the project does not go forward, there is a risk that past work could revert back to a degraded, undesirable state. Since 2013, the BLM and UDWR have removed invasive Russian Olive and Tamarisk from >100 acres and completed stream improvement work on about 3 miles of the lower Beaver River. This project would go a long ways towards ensuring that the gains, particularly those associated with the removal of invasive Russian Olive and Tamarisk, are not lost. If the project is delayed, the cost and difficulty of preventing Russian Olive and Tamarisk reestablishment will only increase. It is much easier and cheaper to treat early than later. There is also a risk of losing the good financial, political, and social support that currently exists with multiple partners to implement if the project is delayed. If the project does go forward, there are few notable threats/risks. Similar stream improvement work has been completed along other portions of the lower Beaver River without negative impacts and many positive impacts (e.g., increases in game and non-game fish abundance and biomass).

The project would help to address "Threats" listed in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan, which would directly benefit a variety of species including Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Greater Sage Grouse, Mallard, Chukar and Mule Deer: 1."Channelization / Bank Alteration (direct, intentional)" - the project promotes a more diverse riparian plant community that will offer greater resistance to streambank erosion than existed under the community dominated by Russian olive and tamarisk (i.e., Potential Conservation Action Code 2.3.6). 2. "Invasive Plant Species -- Non-native" - the project would treat regrowth of invasive Russian olive and tamarisk that once posed a significant fire risk and has been removed during previous phases of the project. (Potential Conservation Action Code 2.2.3). Although southern leatherside chub are not currently found in the lower Beaver River, this section of stream is within a southern leatherside chub geographic management unit (Sevier River Basin GMU) and the project would implement conservation elements called for in the Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Southern Leatherside (Lepidomeda aliciae) in the State of Utah: 1. "Habitat Enhancement" - the project would help to maintain restored habitat conditions within the historical range of southern leatherside. 2. "Restore Hydrologic Conditions" - the project would help to maintain restored natural hydrologic characteristics and water quality (e.g., riparian buffer of nonpoint source pollutants). Clean Water Act: It is the national goal that an interim goal of water quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water be achieved. The Beaver River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 303(d) Report, UDEQ (1984). Minersville Reservoir and the Beaver River above the reservoir are on the state of Utah 303(d) list of impaired waters and this TMDL is available. However, the lower Beaver River (below the dam) is not listed, nor is there any known water quality available for the lower Beaver River. The information and analysis contained in the Beaver River Enhancement Project Environmental Assessment made logical assumptions and applies them to the project area based on what is contained in the TMDL report. The project is in conformance with the Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Resource Management Plan (1986). Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 USC 1701 et seq.): FLPMA specifies that the BLM consider the land's inherent natural resources, as well as its mineral resources, when making land management decisions. 1968 Carlson-Foley Act: Directs federal agencies to enter upon lands under their jurisdiction having noxious plants (weeds) and destroy noxious plants growing on such land and provides for the authorization for reimbursement of expenses to State or local agencies for weed control work. Federal Noxious Weeds Act of 1974, as amended by Sec.15 -- Management of Undesirable Plants on Federal Lands, 1990: This bill requires each Federal Agency: (1) Designate a lead office and person trained in the management of undesirable plants; (2) Establish and fund an undesirable plant management program; (3) Complete and implement cooperative agreements with State agencies; and (4) Establish integrated management systems to control undesirable plant species Executive Order 13112 (1999): This EO directs that BLM use relevant programs and authorities to: (i) prevent the introduction of invasive species; (ii) detect and respond rapidly to and control populations of such species in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner; (iii) monitor invasive species populations accurately and reliably; (iv) provide for restoration of native species and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded; (v) conduct research on invasive species and develop technologies to prevent introduction and provide for environmentally sound control of invasive species; and (vi) promote public education on invasive species and the means to address them. Further, Federal agencies are to not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it believes are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the U.S. or elsewhere unless, pursuant to guidelines that it has prescribed, the agency has determined and made public its determination that the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the potential harm from invasive species. Southwest Desert (SWARM) Adaptive Resource Management Plan 1. The SWARM plan list wet habitat as being critical to brood rearing hens in the summer. This projects goal is to maintain improved habitat conditions in brood rearing habitat. Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0 Investment Strategy, FY 2015-2018 1. Restore and enhance degraded mesic areas to help increase populations. Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy Version 2.0 1. Create, enhance and protect small ephemeral "wet areas" within nesting and brood-rearing habitats for sage grouse. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan 1. "Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer..." through vegetation treatment projects that improve the condition of ranges that have been overtaken by invasive and/or undesirable trees. Beaver Unit Mule Deer Herd Plan 1."West of I-15 seek opportunities to improve riparian vegetation in fawning habitat to furnish water, cover, and late to mid summer succulent forage."

The vegetation makeup in the pre-treatment areas was one of a closed canopy, significant ladder fuels, and numerous fine ground fuels. The fire behavior in this situation makes it unsafe for ground resources to initial attack an unwanted wildfire. It would be a fast-moving, high-intensity crown fire that would require aerial resources to fight the fire. Following implementation and removal of the vegetation, there is a reduction in live fuel loading, removal of ladder fuels, reduced canopy density and closure. The fire behavior result is that of a slower moving ground fire that could safely be initial attacked by ground resources, and would significantly reduce the negative impacts of an unwanted wildfire. The proposed project would greatly reduce fire/fuel issues by preventing invasive vegetation from reestablishing and returning to the high risk fire/fuels conditions in treated areas. Examples of the values that could be at risk from a fire in the area include recreational sites (i.e., picnic areas), fences, Minersville town, fairgrounds, and aquatic/wildlife habitat. of the problem. Areas like rivers, floodplains, wetlands, and meadows serve as buffers, greenstrips, and/or firebreaks that can be critically important in defending landscapes against large fires and protecting adjacent habitat. Allowing them to become monotypic stands of woody invasives decreases the value of habitat as a fire buffer and increases the risk of fire starting in the riparian area. Also, wet areas can themselves become at greater risk of fire due to degradation like channel downcutting and decrease in water table elevation which leads to changes in vegetation and drier conditions. This project will protect the enhancement of these wet areas and decrease fire risk from moderate (2) to low (1). If left and woody invasives became the dominant species again, the fire risk could increase from moderate (2) to high (3). So by removing woody invasives we are maintaining a low risk fire regime and reducing the future increase in fire risk. By reducing the fire risk (and maintaining the low risk) along the project area, we are protecting extremely valuable land types (riparian and wetland) that are critically important to both wildlife and the communities that surround them. Riparian, wetlands, and stream habitat is also very important for filtering heavy sediment, ash, and other compounds from post-fire areas in adjacent upland and up stream habitat. Protecting wetland and riparian habitat protects the watershed from off-site negative impacts to both rural communities and wildlife.

The project has the potential to improve water quality. The Beaver River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 303(d) Report, UDEQ (1984). Minersville Reservoir and the Beaver River above the reservoir are on the state of Utah 303(d) list of impaired waters and this TMDL is available (though the lower Beaver River below Minersville Reservoir is not listed, nor is there any known water quality available for the lower Beaver River). Nonetheless, the project would likely help maintain reductions in phosphorous and sediment loads in the lower Beaver River that were made with earlier phases of the project, as well as maintain habitat improvements. The project would protect and promote a dense and diverse corridor of riparian vegetation, helping to reduce phosphorous and sediment inputs from streambank erosion and creating an important buffer zone for filtration of nonpoint source pollutants from overland flow. The project promotes increasing the presence and diversity of native riparian vegetation.

Archaeological clearance and NEPA have been completed. See documents in "Images/Documents" section of the WRI database. The work crew completing the project would have necessary pesticide applicator licensing.

A work crew would be hired to retreat the entire area where Russian Olive and Tamarisk has already been removed over the past several years. The crew would use hand application of herbicide (likely Garlon 3A) to any remaining Russian Olive and Tamarisk. The work would occur in late summer or fall of 2024.

The UDWR is primarily monitoring the overall project through electrofishing surveys and photopoints. There are three electrofishing stations that act as "before", "after", "control", and "impact" sites at different points in time (before refers to monitoring sites prior to completion of any stream improvement work, after refers to a monitoring sites following completion of any stream improvement work, control refers to monitoring sites in which no stream improvement work has been or will be completed, and impact refers to monitoring sites in which stream improvement work has already been completed). Electrofishing surveys are conducted annually for five years initially, then every five years thereafter. Photo points were established along the river and in several upland areas prior to any work being done and will be revisited annually for the foreseeable future. The electrofishing surveys should help to quantitatively capture the impact of the project on the fishery and the photopoints should qualitatively assess the impact on the vegetation and geomorphology. Electrofishing reports and photopoint images will be uploaded to the project database. As part of the landowner agreement with USFWS the landowner agrees to leave the habitat restored in place for a 10 year period and during that time will work with the USFWS biologist to monitor and access needs, success, and any needed adaptive management.

The principal partners in the overall project are the UDWR (project design, implementation, monitoring, maintenance, in-kind funding), the BLM (project design, implementation, funding on other work in the area), USFWS (project design, implementation, funding), NRCS (project design, implementation, funding), and private landowners (support of project, maintenance). The project dovetails with the work that has recently been done on BLM and private land in the area. Also, individuals on the Southern Leatherside Conservation Team and local irrigation companies are supportive of the project.

The level of retreatment required for Russian Olive and Tamarisk has decreased each year since the initial removal and it is likely that maintenance required will eventually be reduced to small herbicide application efforts every few years. There are discussions to continue the stream and riparian corridor work proposed in this project downstream (this project would complete all work essentially up to Minersville Reservoir). Eventually, the desire is to improve aquatic and riparian habitat and extirpate Russian Olive and Tamarisk from the entire lower Beaver River corridor.

Removal and preventing Russian Olive and Tamarisk from reestablishing is critical for the recreational value of the lower Beaver River in the project area. This project helps to ensure the gains to sport fish, game, and other recreational opportunities that have been made during earlier phases of the overall project are not lost (e.g., the density of Russian Olive along the stream made angling extremely difficult, if not impossible, throughout much of the stream corridor prior to the removal efforts). Although the river part of the project is private land, hunting is an important recreational opportunity directly adjacent to the project. Pheasant, turkey, chukar, and deer hunting are some of the opportunities for species that will directly benefit from this project. Walk-in-Access for the public is also allowed on the private land.

07/01/2024

06/12/2025

2025

In July and August of 2024 and June of 2025, Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) was contracted to have a 5-person crew treat a new area and also retreat the old treatment areas for Russian Olive and Tamarisk resprouts from Minersville Reservoir to the Beaver County Fairgrounds. This new area had recently been treated by a heavy equipment crew removing large Russian Olive and Tamarisk trees in February and March of 2024, and was in need of treating anything they missed. The crew applied Garlon 3A and Aquasweep to all resprout of Russian Olive and Tamarisk (foliar spray for smaller plants and cut-stump for larger plants).

Habitats near water support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled. In the West, riparian habitat covers less than 1% of the land, yet the role of riparian habitat in the landscape is substantial. These wet habitat are disproportionately critical to the landscape around them. Within Utah, 66-75% of all bird species use riparian habitats during some portion of their life history. Typically, diversity and abundance of birds dramatically increases in western riparian habitat compared with other habitat types, and numerous avian species are now considered as riparian obligates (Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy 2.0, 2002). The lower Beaver River falls primarily on Walk-In-Access and BLM property and is a very popular recreation area for fishing, camping, hunting, wildlife viewing, and picnicking. Unfortunately, large flood events (especially in the early 1980s) left this section of stream with streambanks characterized by vertical, eroding, bare dirt and poor in and near-stream habitat. Additionally, invasive Russian Olive and Tamarisk still dominate sections of the river corridor. In the current degraded state of untreated areas, a lack of suitable habitat is thought to be the limiting factor for trout, a significant barrier to a successful reestablishment of Southern Leatherside Chub, and negatively impact Sage Grouse; not to mention making recreation less appealing. The largely homogeneous stream channel is unable to satisfy diverse habitat requirements at different times of the year and over the life history of trout (e.g., pools with cover for refuge and riffle/glide sections for spawning). The lack of in-stream cover makes avoiding predation from larger fish and birds difficult for small trout and potentially Southern Leatherside Chub. The absence of brood-rearing habitat is a limiting factor in the Bald Hills SGMA for Sage Grouse (e.g., inadequate herbaceous vegetation for brood rearing forage). The extremely dense growth of Russian Olive and Tamarisk has made activities such as fishing and hunting difficult because sportsmen have trouble navigating the river corridor. Active restoration work has already been completed on sections of the lower Beaver River immediately below this project to return the stream to a desirable, functioning state that helps valuable game and conservation species and provides improved recreation opportunities for the public. Past work has shown that addressing the aquatic and riparian habitat problems goes a long ways towards achieving these main goals. Additionally, while the past work has been largely successful, Russian Olive and Tamarisk have been persistent in attempting to reestablish. This project completes riparian improvement work on a previously untreated section of the lower Beaver River, as well as maintenance of past work to build on and protect the gains made over the past several years. The project was essentially implemented as planned without any noteworthy challenges or issues that had to be worked through.

Additional future management activities include: completing new stream improvement and Russian Olive and Tamarisk removal work on untreated areas in need or restoration work, working with the private land owners to ensure the grazing management plans are followed, monitoring the fish and habitat response, and completing any maintenance work that might be needed (e.g., burning remaining Russian Olive and Tamarisk piles).