RIPARIAN WORK The proposed project is needed to establish understory diversity in and around mature cottonwood galleries where tamarisk has previously been removed. Building off these previous WRI restoration actions, this project endeavors to enhance understory plant diversity, increase nectar sources for pollinators, increase production of lower trophic levels to better support riparian obligate wildlife species like amphibians and migratory birds (e.g., southwestern willow flycatcher, the yellow-billed cuckoo, northern leopard frog, etc). This project provides for follow-up maintenance of woody invasive re-sprouts, knapweed abatement, and native pollinator for and grass seeding within these habitats. These treatments are important management tools to help restore native riparian vegetation as a means of improving fluvial processes and floodplain habitat while creating fire- and climate-resiliency. The establishment of tamarisk, Russian olive, and other non-native invasive plants along the Dolores River during the 20th century negatively impacted riparian and aquatic habitats. Dense stands of tamarisk displaced native plants, degraded fish and wildlife habitat, reduced forage for livestock and wildlife, limited human access to the river, interfered with the natural habitat-forming fluvial processes of the river and increased the risk of severe wildfires within native cottonwood stands. The loss of cottonwood galleries can also lead to higher stream temperatures if the shading these overstory trees provide is lost to mortality related to wildfire and/or competition with tamarisk. The impacts of tamarisk on aquatic habitats are sometimes not fully quantified, but tamarisk tends channelize the river and to eliminate side channel and backwater habitats that provide critical spawning and nursery habitat for native fish, particularly in regulated rivers, by trapping sediments, reducing in-stream habitat complexity in a manner that negatively impacts rare native fishes, and reducing the input of key nutrients that support aquatic food webs (Graf 1978, Geological Society of American Bulletin 89:1149-1501; Bailey et al. 2001, Wetlands 21:442-447; Keller et al. 2014, Environmental Management 54:465-478). Surface roughness associated with dense tamarisk stands combined with reduced stream power related to drought, dewatering, and dam operation often results in floodplain aggradation, loss of floodplain connectivity, and a sediment transport imbalance as entrained sediments are deposited at greater rates within the tamarisk-invaded floodplain. Loss of floodplain connectivity often leads to channel downcutting as the remaining stream power is concentrated within the channel rather than spreading out across the floodplain. Inventory and monitoring of riparian habitats by RiversEdge West (REW) and the University of Denver revealed a pattern of establishment and spread of very dense stands of tamarisk accompanied by the displacement of diverse native plant communities along major stretches of the Dolores River. Beginning in 2009, the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP), which includes participants from a variety of public and private organizations (including four BLM field offices in Utah and Colorado), identified and began treating over 1,900 acres of impacted riparian habitat dominated by tamarisk and other invasive plants to restore native riparian communities and improve the diversity of riverscape habitats. The DRRP continues to treat tamarisk and other noxious woody and herbaceous vegetation upstream in Colorado and has completed 1,973 acres of initial tamarisk removal, 2,806 acres of tamarisk re-sprouts, 4,017 acres of secondary weed treatments, and 632 acres of active revegetation since 2009 in Colorado and Utah. This work is in collaboration with upstream efforts. FISH SAMPLING This portion of the project is needed to fill data gaps and provide a better understand the timing, duration, and number of sensitive and threatened and endangered fish species utilizing Beaver Creek, a tributary to the Dolores River. Collaborative UDWR-BLM 3-species PIT tagging trips within the Upper Colorado River Basin have resulted in detection of tagged sensitive fish utilizing Beaver Creek during snowmelt. Beaver Creek is a strongly intermittent and sometimes perennial stream system that provides important tributary fish habitat in most years. This sampling effort is needed to better understand the use of Beaver Creek by roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker in addition to other T&E, native, and non-native fish. This work will inform the possibility of future restoration actions on Beaver Creek to address impacts from drought and dewatering.

The overarching goals of the project are to address the impacts of channel downcutting, channelization, climate change, drought, dam-related impacts to fluvial/riparian processes that favor invasive plant species and resulting in inappropriate fire frequency and intensity and poor habitat quality for the northern leopard frog, southwestern willow flycatcher (SWFL), yellow-billed cuckoo (YBCU), and special status fish species (i.e., sensitive, threatened, endangered), wild turkey, mule deer, and chukar. Fish sampling will help to fill data gaps related to special status fish species discovered within Beaver Creek. Support for the possible presence of the Great Plains Toad is derived from https://fieldguide.wildlife.utah.gov/?species=anaxyrus%20cognatus: "The distribution of this species in Utah is perplexing. Formerly recorded localities are scattered in the eastern Bonneville Basin (Pack 1922, Krupa 1990, Mulcahy et al. 2002) and southeastern Utah (Fig. 28) (Tanner 1931, Atwood et al. 1980, Krupa 1990). Mulcahy et al. (2002) considered the presence of this species in the Bonneville Basin to be the result of human introductions (see also Hovingh 1997). A Kane County record (Atwood et al. 1980) cannot be verified because a voucher specimen was not retained, and additional evidence has not surfaced despite intensive surveys in that region (G. Oliver, UDWR, pers. comm.). It is conceivable that the record in Emery County, too, represents an introduced population because evidence consists only of a single individual collected during 1927. Several specimens substantiate the former presence of the species in Grand County. Krupa (1990) mapped records in San Juan County, but the specific localities of these collections has not been determined (Mulcahy et al. 2002). Therefore, the status remains enigmatic; more than 70 years ago Tanner (1931) commented "It is not clear why more specimens of this species have not been collected in Utah." This proposal seeks to fund special status fish sampling, tamarisk re-treatments, knapweed treatments, and subsequent pollinator forb and grass seeding. A variety of threats that influence degraded riparian habitat along the Dolores River in Utah will be addressed with this proposed work. The primary objective are to: (1) Fill data gaps related to sensitive fish species use of Beaver Creek. (2) Increase the climate- and drought-resiliency, address inappropriate fire frequency/intensity, and the impact of invasive plant species within aquatic and riparian system by removing competition and evapo-transpiration from these invasive plant species. (3) Mitigate potential for increased stream temperatures by ensuring the protection of cottonwood galleries and associated shading by maintaining the removal of woody invasive ladder fuels. (4) Expand the hydrologic influence of floodwaters, mitigate for reduced bank-floodplain recharge from dam-related operation, increase floodplain connectivity, and increase the aerial extent of the riparian area through drought-tolerant native plantings and by reducing invasive plant species that influence channelization, downcutting, reduced floodplain connectivity, and competition with native riparian plants. (5) Increase the plant, insect, and animal diversity and richness (i.e., amphibians, birds, ungulates) and production within lower trophic levels (i.e., plants, insects) including nectar sources by applying a pollinator friendly forb mix and grass-mix (e.g., enhanced cover and food for migrating southwestern willow flycatchers, cuckoo, chukar, turkey). As noted in the Dolores 4.0 and 5.0 report, Southwest Willow Flycatcher was observed on this project in early 2021, which makes habitat restoration here a priority for project partners. This project would benefit monarch butterflies by adding structural diversity, roosting and perching opportunities, and soil stability for milkweed establishment, in addition to the floral resources being included. Progress will be assessed based on DRRP's long-term ecological objectives: reducing live tamarisk to less than 5 percent of the vegetation cover; reducing other invasive, non-native plants to less than 15 percent of the vegetation cover; maintaining total vegetation cover equal to or greater than 30 percent; and documenting passive recruitment of native plants towards species-specific thresholds in the riparian corridor. Social and economic objectives also play a role in this project. Hiring regional contractors, local conservation and youth corps, and the Grand County Weed Department are central to on-the-ground work, in order to put money in small rural economies and provide training and skills to youth interested in environmental stewardship.

RIPARIAN WORK This project seeks to further restore riparian and aquatic habitats along the Dolores River to a more diverse, functional, self-sustaining, and climate- and fire-resilient condition. There are only 3 cottonwood gallery complexes within the 22 miles comprising the Utah portion of the Dolores River. These two project areas are working to protect and restore two of these rare cottonwood galleries. Understory restoration and maintenance activities will occur across from the berm site at Stateline between river mile 150-151 and upstream of Robert's Bottom near the ford on river left. Initial invasive removal focusing on removing ladder fuels and competition underneath and adjacent to the native cottonwood stand across from the berm site (river right) was completed in stages between 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 under the Dolores 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 7.0 projects. Native shrubs but also knapweed are prolific at these sites mixed in with the tamarisk. Knapweed must be addressed relatively quickly to allow niche-space for a diversity native forbs, grasses, and shrubs. Cottonwoods may be caged or painted to reduce beaver impacts at these sites. BLM public lands have experienced a 40% increase in visitation within the last 10 years. Visitation to the Moab area hovers around 3 million people annually. This includes increased recreational use in and around the Dolores River characterized by rafting, camping, and OHV use. Due to reduced spring peak flows from upstream diversions and drought, cottonwoods are less likely to naturally propagate as abundantly as in the past (Coble and Kolb, 2012. Human-caused fire risk is directly related to visitation justifying the need to maintain tamarisk removal efforts and protect legacy cottonwood galleries unlikely to recover after fire. Recreational access for this increased visitation is improved when nearly impenetrable tamarisk monocultures are removed and maintained. Related, is the risk is not building on past investments to continue the ecological uplift necessary to effectively to restore native plant communities to a healthier, increasingly self-sustaining level. Invasive plant densities have been reduced to a level of low-intensity maintenance; failure to maintain and build on past work in a timely manner will detract from the value of previous restoration efforts and increase costs down the road for improving habitat and reducing fuel loads. FISH SAMPLING Collaborative efforts between UDWR and BLM to install PIT tags in roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker, collectively called the 3-species, have been ongoing since 2017. Fish tagged in the Colorado River between Cisco and Potash have been detected by UDWR in Beaver Creek. BLM Lotic AIM data for Beaver Creek shows a system with gravel and cobble substrates with banks lacking invasive plant species for significant portions of the creek. Improvements in upstream water management may lead to more consistent downstream flows. Filling data gaps related to 3-species use of Beaver Creek is timely and necessary to manage for 3-species and to better understand the value of future restoration work in support of these species. Non-native and T&E fish use, if any, will also be of value.

(1) The Moab Field Office's Programmatic Invasive Species Management Plan (PISMP) uses an integrated pest management approach to eradicate, contain, control, and prevent targeted weeds within the MFO. The desired goal is to contain or control the spread of invasive species, and eradicate species that pose the greatest threat to the biological diversity within the MFO, and prevent any new weeds from becoming established by utilizing a wide range of treatment options (i.e. mechanical, manual, herbicide, etc.). The resulting pro-active management of these plants would promote the areas ecosystem health and promote diverse native communities by maintaining and improving native forbs and grass species, increasing the regeneration of native cottonwoods and willows in riparian corridors, and ultimately preventing the loss of wildlife habitat, species diversity, and wildfire risk. (2) Moab BLM Resource Management Plan (RMP) prioritizes management of riparian vegetation and emphasizes the control of noxious weeds, prevention of the spread of invasive species, and restoration of vegetated areas. Reduction of tamarisk and restoration of native riparian vegetation addresses management objectives for improving the quality and health of riparian habitats while improving the quality of resources used in recreation and reducing fuels in a manner that decreases the likelihood and severity of wildfires. Specific management decisions in the RMP that are directly related to the primary objectives of the proposed project include RIP-9, which calls for restoring riparian vegetation "through biological, chemical, mechanical, and manual methods (e.g., tamarisk control, willow plantings)," and RIP-16, which calls for implementation of strategies to "restore degraded riparian communities" and "protect natural flow regimes." (3) The project addresses goals and objectives of the BLM Utah Riparian Policy, which states that "riparian areas are to be improved at every opportunity." (4) The Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) for the State of Utah identifies lowland riparian habitat as being highest priority for conservation and restoration. UDWR has designated segments of the Dolores River corridor as "essential habitat" due to its cottonwood gallery, high avian biodiversity, importance as turkey habitat and deer winter range, importance to breeding and overwintering waterfowl, and use by bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Page 58. Improving Condition (of Aquatic-Forested habitat) A good strategy for management may include the following elements: * Promoting policies that maintain or restore natural water and sediment flow regimes. * Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife. * Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate siting of roads in riparian zones. * Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate residential and commercial development in floodplains. * Continuing the use of appropriate methods for reducing the spread and dominance of invasive weeds, including "early detection -- rapid response" programs. (5) The Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Roundtail Chub Gila robusta, Bluehead Sucker Catostomus discobolus, and Flannelmouth Sucker Catostomus latipinnes (UDWR Publication 06-18) includes an objective of enhancing and maintaining habitat for each of the three species. Tamarisk removal and side channel restoration has been an important component of this effort in other parts of Utah. All three of the "three species" are present in the Dolores River. (6) The proposed project supports the goals of DRRP's 2010 Dolores River Riparian Action Plan and 2015 DRRP Transition Plan for Monitoring and Maintenance, which outline restoration goals, objectives, and methods for restoring and managing 175 miles of the Dolores River from McPhee Reservoir in Colorado to the confluence with the Colorado River in Utah. (7) The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan calls for an emphasis on improving riparian habitat and use of seed mixes that include sufficient forbs and browse species (Habitat Objective 2). One of the strategies for actively revegetating some of the tamarisk treatment areas includes reseeding with native locally sourced seed mix. In addition, the greater access to the river provided by the reduction of dense tamarisk stands will improve riparian habitat and browse for mule deer. (8) Pursuant to the Utah Noxious Weed Act, Section 7, to every person who owns or controls lands in Grand County, Utah, that noxious weeds standing, being, or growing on such land shall be controlled and the spread of same prevented by effective cutting, tillage, cropping, pasturing, or treating with chemicals or other methods, or combination methods, or combination thereof, approved by the County Weed Supervisor, as often as may be required to prevent the weed from blooming and maturing seeds, or spreading by root, root stalks or other means. Listed species that DRRP will manage include hoary cress, tamarisk, Russian knapweed, and Russian olive. (9) Middle Colorado River Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area Cooperative Agreement - partnering organizations working along the Dolores River work towards the CWMA's goal "to promote an integrated weed management program throughout the MCRW-CWMA that includes public relations, education and training in the non-native invasive weed arena as well as inventory, monitoring, controlling and preventing the spread of non-native invasive weeds, sharing of resources, and designing other desirable resource protection measures relative to weed management." (10) BLM Healthy Lands Initiative: The DRRP project area has been identified as a focal area of this vegetation-resources enhancement initiative to restore and improve the health and productivity of western public lands. The Healthy Lands strategy increases the effectiveness and efficiency of vegetation enhancement treatments by focusing on treatments on a significant percentage of lands -- both Federal and non-Federal -- within six geographic locations, rather than focusing on the local project level. The strategy increases opportunities to leverage cooperative solutions across ownership's and jurisdictions. (11) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Utah Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Strategic Plan updated 2022: This project does not fall within a priority area, priority habitat (riparian), and addresses threats to priority species (SWFL and YBCU). However, the "End of Slope" focus area shares many physical and ecological similarities with the project area. Keeping that similarity in mind, the work outlined in this proposal will benefit many of the same species that are highlighted in the "End of Slope focus area", including Yellow billed cuckoo, Southwest Willow Flycatcher, Razorback sucker and monarch butterflies. This project will also use many of the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement practices from the strategic plan, including channel and in-stream restoration, native plantings, invasive species control and erosion control. (12) Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan: Objective 2. Stabilize populations that are declining outside of natural population fluctuations; especially through catastrophic events (i.e. following fires, severe winters, etc.). Objective 3. Conduct habitat projects to address limiting factors. Objective 4. Increase wild turkey habitat, quality and quantity, by 40,000 acres statewide by 2020. Objective 5. Conduct habitat improvement projects in limiting habitat(s). By removing dense tamarisk stands and increasing plant diversity along the river we are increasing possible turkey habitat and improving forage areas as well.

Establishment of dense stands of dead/dying tamarisk greatly increases the likelihood of destructive wildfires, especially in the vicinity of campsites and other locations of concentrated human activity. Invasives such as Russian olive and tamarisk can serve as ladder fuels, carrying fire into the crowns of native cottonwoods, Gooding's willow, sumac, oak and hackberry. According to the Utah DNR Wildfire Risk Portal (UWRAP) the project area is at moderate risk of high intensity fire. Contiguous stands of tamarisk and Russian olive in riparian zones lead to fire return intervals that are too frequent for the successful establishment of native cottonwoods and willows -- a key component of our restoration efforts on the Dolores River and its tributaries. Additionally, Russian knapweed can increase in biomass and ground cover after a fire because of its adaptations to disturbance and knapweed growing points are below ground. A major benefit from this project will be the reduction of unnaturally high fire risk by maintaining recent tamarisk removal efforts and implementing further knapweed treatments within and adjacent to cottonwood galleries, campsites, and fire breaks in a manner that allows native vegetation to recolonize. These areas will be reseeded with pollinator friendly native forb and wildlife friendly native grass mixes. Many of the native species that will be planted and seeded are included in the Utah Firewise plant. A wildfire in this area without treatment would further spread knapweed, a noxious weed.

The primary positive impact of large-scale tamarisk removal on Dolores water quality is on salinity. These treatments have the potential to improve water quality by reducing the salinity-concentrating effects of tamarisk infestations on Dolores River riparian habitats. This effectively keeps these salts contained deeper in the soil profile and less available for transport by floodwaters. However, the geologic and anthropogenic contributions to salinity are a much bigger factor not addressed by this project. Further, improving and maintaining floodplain connectivity and function helps remove sediment and pathogens from the water column through deposition, and increases allochthonous nutrients that stimulate natural nitrogen and phosphorus cycling (Wolf et al. 2012). Our tamarisk removal techniques have been adapted, over several years of experience, to minimize soil disturbance and reduce our treatment-related sediment inputs. Installation and fostering of native species will replace tamarisk as a bank stabilization component. And, since tamarisk and Russian knapweed have high rates of evapotranspiration, the long-term conversion to native vegetation on Dolores River floodplains will yield water quantity savings in the river. Removal of tamarisk and Russian olive has been linked to saving water and over time water quality increases (Shafroth et al. 2009). Municipalities downstream of the Dolores River, namely Moab, Utah, may benefit from decreased salinity inputs and increased filtration via a healthier riparian habitat.

A Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) is completed (August 2018) and is tiered to the BLM Moab Field Office Programmatic Invasive Species Management Plan (2016) and will conform to its stipulations and restrictions. Consultation with BLM archaeologists has already occurred. The BLM Moab Pesticide Use Plan has also been approved for the Dolores. ESA Section 7 Consultation occurred with the USFWS and wildlife surveys will be conducted prior to any spring work or work will commence before or after nesting season.

Sites have been selected based on BLM and DRRP's prioritization criteria that consider ecological, social, and feasibility factors. The methods outlined below will be applied to the entire 52 acres of riparian work shown in the project map. These two project areas are working to protect and restore two of three rare cottonwood galleries present on the 22 mile reach of the Dolores River in Utah. Tamarisk resprout, knapweed, and seeding will occur across from the berm site at Stateline between river mile 150-151 and upstream of Robert's Bottom near the ford on river left. Initial invasive removal focusing on removing ladder fuels and competition underneath and adjacent to the native cottonwood stand across from the berm site (river right) was completed in stages between 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 under the Dolores 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 7.0 projects. Projects are vehicle accessible with a short hike (<200'). TAMARISK Resprouting tamarisk will be treated, when encountered, with a foliar spray, basal bark, and/or herbicide (i.e Garlon 3A) will be applied to the cambium of the cut resprout. Any mature tamarisk or Russian olive remaining from prior treatments will be removed using a cut-stump method in which the cut stump will be treated with an aquatic approved triclopyr product (i.e.. Garlon 3A). Any biomass will be piled. A conservation corps will be used for this work. Basal/Foliar Resprout Treatment: A basal/foliar combination treatment is the preferred method for treating small stemmed resprouts at this site. Do not spray triclopyr above 85 degrees, it will volatilize. Apply with knapsack sprayer or power spraying equipment using low pressure (20-40 PSI). Spray the basal parts of brush and tree trunks to a height of 12 to 15inches from the ground. Thorough wetting is necessary for good control. Spray until runoff fat the ground line is noticeable. Old or rough bark requires more spray than smooth young bark. Apply at any time, including the winter months, except when snow or water prevents spraying to the ground line. For low volume applications, apply with a back pack or knapsack sprayer using low pressure and a solid cone or flat fan nozzle. Spray the basal parts of brush and tree trunks in a manner which thoroughly wets the lower stems, including the root collar area, but not to the point of runoff. Herbicide concentration should vary with size and susceptibility of species treated. Apply at any time, including the winter months, except when snow or water prevents spraying to the ground line or when stem surfaces are saturated with water. KNAPWEED Knapweed will be sprayed using backpack sprayers through agreement with the Grand County Weed Department, contract, or a combination of both. Spring post-emergence treatment - If the majority of the Russian knapweed population has bolted then apply Milestone (Aminopyralid, broadleaf-selective) herbicide at 5-7oz per acre. Backpack sprayer mixing rates will be determined by the results from individual sprayer calibration. Only clean potable water shall be used. Applications will be timed for completion prior to flowering and seed-set. Fall treatment - If the Russian Knapweed population has become dormant (grey, dead standing leaves and inflorescence) then apply Milestone (Aminopyralid, broadleaf-selective) herbicide at 5-7oz per acre. Backpack sprayer mixing rates will be determined by the results from individual sprayer calibration. Only clean potable water shall be used. Applications will be timed for completion around or after first frost. SEEDING Seeding will be conducted in targeted sites (e.g., Swales, scours, cliff runoff, bare soil, tamarisk slash piles, and treated knapweed areas) and will be prioritized to impede re-encroachment of invasive plants as well as to improve forage for livestock and habitat for wildlife. Species have been selected based on successes of previous re-vegetation efforts along the Dolores River and on recommendations from UT-DWR during last year's WRI comment period. Seeding of the pollinator friendly mix and the wildlife grass mix will be broadcast with hand seeders by a conservation corps in the fall/winter of 2024 A total of 10 acres will be seeded. For more detailed information please reference the statement of work and map associated with this site in the Documents/Images tab. FISH SAMPLING Fish in Beaver Creek will be sampled by the UDWR Native Aquatics Biologist and technicians funded, in part, by this proposal. Techniques include backpack electrofishing and a portable PIT tag reader (wagon wheel). Sampling will occur during spring/summer snow-melt runoff conditions in 2025.

Coordinated by the BLM District Aquatic Ecologist, long-term monitoring of vegetation/riparian condition has been and will continue to be conducted using BLM's Riparian and Wetland AIM protocol at treatment sites to assess the effectiveness of the treatments and to guide future management efforts. The BLM Riparian and Wetland AIM crews collected quantitative data on BLM in 2020, 2022, and 2023 at the site upstream from Robert's Bottom, Lake Bottom, State Line Berm Site, Across from the Berm Site, and at Beaver Creek. Available reports are posted the images/docs section while some are still pending internal QA/QC. These protocols include soil pit verification, line point intercept cover, vegetation height, hydrologic characterization, hummocks, and species richness. Additional, sites may be located within other project areas, budget permitting. BLM staff will be onsite at the beginning, during critical stages of the project, and near completion to ensure desirable results. Partners will be invited to do onsite visits as well to ensure increased input and share concerns. Data gathered will be available to upload into the WRI database for future analysis and review. DRRP Rapid Monitoring was developed specifically for the needs of the DRRP and includes the collection of non-native/native cover-class data, tamarisk cover, noxious weed invasions, presence of the tamarisk leaf beetle, wildlife presence, passive recruitment of native vegetation, and photos to document progress. Annually, this data is used to inform future management actions, track the effectiveness of various treatment methods, and engage various partners. Rapid monitoring of treatment sites accessible by vehicle was conducted in the Summer of 2020 and the Summer of 2021. . The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) recruits and selects two-person roving teams to conduct vegetation and weed monitoring utilizing Collector for ArcGIS on tablets. This team also compiles monitoring and photo-point reports at the end of the monitoring season for BLM land managers. Training and oversight are co-managed between SCC and RiversEdge West. No DRRP monitoring is planned until 2025. Please find the reports and photo point presentations in the images and documents section of previous Dolores proposals Partners from UT Division of Wildlife Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife will monitor the use of Beaver Creek by native fish species to fill data gaps for special status fish, included the 3-species.

CURRENT PARTNERS In 2021, thirty local, state, federal, and private organizations signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to protecting and building on shared investments in the collaborative restoration of the Dolores River through the next five years. The Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP) promotes riparian restoration along almost 200 miles of the river corridor, monitors progress, and coordinates with numerous other conservation activities in the watershed Grand County Weed Department: this local agency conducts re-treatments of tamarisk and herbaceous weeds, monitoring work, as well as provides technical assistance (e.g., sharing findings from biological control monitoring) to inform restoration work. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: this state agency provides technical assistance to DRRP (e.g., surveying for side-channel revitalization project) and monitors the avian community along the Utah-portion of the Dolores River to increase understanding of how restoration affects bird species. Canyon Country Youth Corps: a program of the Four Corners School of Outdoor Education, CCYC hires and trains young adults to implement restoration work, including installation and repair of fencing, tamarisk control, and active revegetation of native plant species along the Dolores River in Utah. While the Moab BLM is submitting this WRI proposal, it is worth noting that three other BLM field offices (Tres Rios, Uncompahgre, and Grand Junction in CO), two-state BLM offices (UT & CO), two district BLM offices (UT-Canyon Country & CO-Northwest), and the national office are all engaged partners, providing in-kind and/or financial support towards achieving the DRRP's shared ecological, social, economic, and management goals. RECENT PARTNERS RiversEdge West (formerly Tamarisk Coalition): as chair of the DRRP Implementation Subcommittee and DRRP Science and Monitoring Subcommittee, this non-profit organization works with partners to plan, execute, and monitor restoration work across public and private boundaries throughout the partnership's project area. University of Utah Rio Mesa Center: the University works with student groups to foster education, research, stewardship, and restoration along the Center's portion of the Dolores River in the Utah Bottoms. US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program: this federal program coordinates with a significant private landowner at Lake Bottom, supports the Rio Mesa Center, and provides technical support that informs DRRP restoration strategies. Conservation Legacy's Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC): working with CCYC and Western Colorado Conservation Corps, SCC hires and trains young adults to implement restoration work, including tamarisk control, active revegetation of native plant species, and monitoring of restoration projects. SCC's Watershed Programs Coordinator also helps with planning and field support for crews. Western Colorado Conservation Corps: working with the other two Corps programs, this non-profit organization hires and trains young adults to implement restoration work, including tamarisk control and treatment of Russian knapweed and hoary cress. National Wild Turkey Federation: has provided funding and in-kind support to foster stewardship and active re-vegetation along the Dolores River.

The project is part of a multi-year effort that has moved into the understory restoration and tamarisk resprout monitoring mode. Thus, period follow-up monitoring, active re-vegetation, and treatments to control remaining infestations of priority non-native, invasive plant species such as tamarisk, Russian olive, Russian knapweed, kochia, and hoary cress are still likely on a smaller scale. The long-term goal is to restore riparian and floodplain habitats along the lower Dolores River in a manner that creates diverse riparian communities comprised primarily of native plant species as a means of improving the condition and resiliency of riparian and aquatic habitats. This will require an adaptive management approach. Long-term, adaptive management strategies have been outlined in the DRRP Transition Plan for Long-Term Monitoring & Maintenance. A 2021, MOU signed by thirty partners affirms their commitment towards implementing the Transition Plan to build on seven years of restoration work to achieve a shared set of ecological, social, economic, and management goals through 2026. The DRRP has continuously served as a nucleus for information, on-the-ground work, and by garnering additional funding. The private landowner in Lake Bottom has been working with the USFWS Partners Program for the last few years and currently has an agreement to manage and maintain the project area in a manner that benefits wildlife habitats. This agreement is for 10 years and under that agreement, USFWS will monitor the project annually and work with the landowner to ensure project success. Currently, the Lake Bottom property is not used for livestock grazing. Under the USFWS agreement, the landowner has agreed that if in the future livestock will be used on the property that they will work with USFWS and other partners on a grazing plan.

The removal of Russian olive, tamarisk, Russian knapweed, and other invasive vegetation will allow the multiple uses of the riparian zones along the Colorado River and tributaries to be more sustainable and resilient for future generations. This project will support progress that has been made in the last seven years along the river corridor that has benefited riparian ecosystems, desert fish, birds, game, recreational opportunities, water quality, agriculture, and other areas by: 1) Reducing potential seed and root materials transport from noxious weeds along the river from more remote riparian areas. This work to limit non-native spread also protects native vegetation in upland areas and protects forage for grazing. 2) Reducing catastrophic wildfire risk in the project area to protect recreation infrastructure, public safety and wildlife habitat, including the city of Moab and the town of Castle Valley. 3) Providing open water for waterfowl, creating and maintaining habitat and hunting opportunities in southeastern Utah. 4) Managing for abundance of quality native grasses and forbs in the project area, increasing forage for wildlife with an emphasis on improving forage availability, especially in the critical mule deer winter range in Castle Valley. The removal of tamarisk and Russian knapweed is expected to greatly benefit domestic livestock in three ways: First, it will facilitate the re-establishment of perennial grasses, native forbs, and shrubs that have much higher forage value than tamarisk. Past knapweed treatments upstream from the project area have led to the rapid re-establishment of perennial grasses, even in the absence of seeding. However, targeted broadcast seeding will be used to accelerate the recolonization of native grasses in selected areas where native grasses are sparse in habitat adjacent to the treatment site. Second, control of tamarisk can make managing livestock easier. Previously dense stands of tamarisk that have either been removed or thinned (depending on site-conditions) increases access for ranchers to monitor and manage cattle on public allotments. Therefore, grazing and animal distribution will increase since more riverbank is accessible for watering livestock and wildlife. Finally, since greater access to the river is available following tamarisk removal, it leads to less stress on previous riparian areas hammered with livestock watering. Third, Russian knapweed is known to be toxic to horses, potentially causing facial paralysis, malnutrition, dehydration, and necrosis (USDA Agr Info Bulletin Number 415). Controlling this noxious weed will reduce the potential for these and other livestock health issues. The private landowner in Lake Bottom has been resting the property but has had discussions with partners that if goals are met they would potentially like to discuss a holistic grazing strategy.