We are currently working on this property due to some mitigation funds. This project is to help supplement the work that is occurring in the area and create upland game habitat The Upper San Rafael WMA provides unique wildlife habitats in a desert landscape. Lowland Riparian areas in Utah only cover a quarter percent of Utah's land area, but contribute to the life-cycle of numerous wildlife, providing more biodiversity than all other habitats in Utah combined. In the Fuller Bottom area, these riparian habitats are threatened by roads, improper grazing, channelization and bank alteration, invasive plant species, and upstream water usage. To address these threats, the DWR is working on upgraded fencing and partnering with adjacent lands to reduce trespass grazing by livestock as well as reduce user-created roads in the riparian zone. With the protection of the riparian areas from these uses, low and mid-level canopies can be improved through removals of non-native plants and planting of preferred vegetation. Removing non-native plants can restore the stream-channel and reconnect the river to the riparian zone and floodplain encouraging establishment of native species like cottonwood and sumac.

-Reduce non-native species such as tamarisk. -Restore native plant communities, particularly mid-level canopy species. -Restore floodplain and reconnect oxbows on the stream channel through bank destabilization and stream aggradation. -Encourage establishment of cottonwood trees. -Promote grass and shrubs for establishment of upland game species and to improve habitats for release locations.

Loss of floodplain connectivity, inappropriate grazing, drought, upstream water uses, invasive plants and numerous other factors are contributing to the loss of properly functioning streams and riparian areas including river complexity required for providing spawning habitats of native desert fish, and cottonwood establishment and the associated understory important for many wildlife species on the property. Fuller Bottom provides important habitat for wild turkeys that exist on the property and move up and down the riparian area as well as a location for the public to hunt turkeys in the spring that are on public property. Efforts to increase cottonwood production and maintain the old cottonwood trees will benefit these turkeys by providing roost trees. Focusing on the mid story canopy will provide other food sources and cover for these species as well. Quail have been reported on the property previously however there is not a large population of birds at this time. We are hopeful that this project will provide the following benefits for quail. Changes in property management in relation to the grazing will allow for more annual grasses to provide cover. We are also going to be removing invasive species and stacking them to create cover for quail to escape predation. Lastly the seeding and planting of container stock vegetation coupled with the installation of strategically placed BDA's will increase the riparian vegetation providing both cover and food. Fuller Bottom provides important spawning habitat for the three species and removal of tamarisk along the bank will help maintain river complexity needed for providing various spawning habitats. The three species currently occupy only ~50 percent of their historic range, largely due to habitat perturbations, fragmentation, and interactions with non-native fish. One advantage native fish species have in the upper San Rafael is that non-native fish species and numbers are very low, this is due to the fact that the barrier in the lower river has prevented non-native fish present in the Green River from colonizing the upper river. We know that populations of the three species appear to be controlled through source-sink dynamics, with the populations in the upper San Rafael River providing a source to the downstream sink populations. Therefore protection of the populations in the upper river is critical to the long term viability of populations in the lower river. Failing to implement conservation projects for three species in the upper San Rafael could result in the decrease or loss of three species populations. The upper San Rafael River is a stronghold for roundtail chub, a species that has been petitioned for listing in the lower Colorado Basin, future petitions in the upper basin (encompassing the San Rafael) are likely. Missing opportunities to improve habitat for roundtail chub increase the threat of federally listing this species.

The Upper San Rafael Habitat Management Plan (HMP) identifies limitations to aquatic and terrestrial habitats. One of the limitations identified is inadequate fencing to control trespass livestock grazing. The checkerboard nature of the property makes it difficult to fence off every area, but Fuller Bottom has areas that can be excluded from grazing for habitat protection. This has been a continual problem and fencing and gates need to be upgraded to reduce trespass. The HMP also identifies increased OHV use in the area as an issue. ATV and OHV traffic is not allowed on the WMA except on the BLM road. OHV, ATV, and bicycle traffic are expressly restricted from the WMA. Fencing and signage is identified to address this issues including signs to identify boundaries, explain camping rules , and identify recreation access areas. Lastly, the HMP identifies the importance of noxious weed control and the requirements for certified weed-free hay for livestock. Removal of tamarisk is identified as a high priority on the WMA while prioritizing restoration of native plants. Streambank work and erosion control structures are identified as being advantageous along the river and that grazing control would benefit native fish and their habitats. The Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) identifies forested aquatic areas and riverine systems as key habitats that are threatened by grazing, roads, inappropriate fire, stream channelization, and invasive plants which will all be addressed through maintaining infrastructure on the WMA and improving stream and riparian habitats. The WAP also identifies Western yellow-billed cuckoo as a species of greatest conservation need which are also threatened by grazing, motorized recreation, inappropriate fire and stream channelization. The three species (bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, and roundtail chub) are also identified and species of greatest conservation need.

In terms of wildlife habitats, a fire along the stream corridor at this lower-elevation would be detrimental by reducing old-growth contiguous stands of forested riparian vegetation. Removing fuels from tamarisk, reducing stream channelization, and restoring the floodplain will help to create more wet area that can both slow fire and reduce the risk of fire spreading rapidly in vegetated areas of the desert between narrow canyon walls.

The San Rafael River is listed on the states 303 D list, for Impaired Waters, water quality issues include high salinity, TDS, and chlorides. Increasing connectivity to the floodplain and decreasing salt concentration within the soil can be achieved by implementing this project.

The DWR in-house archaeologist can provide any needed clearances prior to project implementation. All stream work will go through Utah division of water rights and all permitting including but not limited to stream alteration permits will be obtained prior to implementation.

Invasive Species Removal - Invasive species (tamarisk and Russian olive) will be removed with a skid steer post and tree puller. This material will then be stacked in piles spaced out and left to create roosting habitat and escape cover for quail and other bird species. Tree and shrub establishment - Containerized stock will be planted both through long stem planting as well as with a power auger to establish riparian species that provides cover and food for wildlife species including quail and turkey. Reconnecting the flood plain - Previous agriculture activity on the property left some berms that were put in place to protect the cultivated fields. A two prong approach includes removing some of these berms to increase the likelihood of the floodplain becoming inundated with water. This will be coupled with a limited number of BDA/PAL structures strategically placed to increase the stream bed elevation below these berms to increase the likelihood of inundation of the floodplain.

Annual monitoring occurs on the property for general maintenance needs and habitat conditions by DWR staff. Plant stakes will be deployed to determine the rate of success by species and container size.

DWR communicates with Emery County through the lands council on activities on the property. We are working with SITLA concerning grazing and utilizing an adjacent permittee for annual fence maintenance in exchange for trailing and grazing permits.

Management of the WMA will follow the existing habitat management plan. This property is maintained solely for the benefit of wildlife. Any recreational activities on the property should be directly related to wildlife viewing or hunting/fishing activities.

The Upper San Rafael WMA provides a recreational launching point for river recreationists in the the San Rafael river as part of the deed when the property was donated to the agency. These access points are dependent on reliable access to the river (not severely eroded banks) and directional signage and fencing. The WMA also provides upland game hunting opportunities, primarily for Rio turkeys and pheasant put and take. Deer and pronghorn are also on the property. Quail have been found on the property however numbers are very limited, this project will increase the quality of habitat for quail providing a sustainable upland game opportunity and numerous viewing opportunities for migratory birds and wildlife that use the area.