This is a special project that consists of several great partnerships in and around Sevier Valley. This project will allow public access to 130 acres of upland and waterfowl habitat for hunting, viewing, and educational experiences in the Sevier Valley. Richfield City, UDWR and SFW, partnered together to re-establish an area that is critical for upland game and waterfowl. This project will consist of planting cover crops for game birds, creating additional flight pens, spraying noxious weed species within the WMA, along with raising baby pheasants to adulthood. Project will also consist of irrigation practices to improve existing vegetation and habitat that is present. Winter habitat is limited and the need to create a food source is critical to over winter pheasants and waterfowl species. We are in need of open space for additional hunting opportunities for residents of Sevier County. We hold youth hunts on the WMA's for young hunters to get them involved with shooting and upland game hunting, SFW is a great supporter of this and has continued to help secure the future of hunting through working with the youth in Sevier and Wayne Counties.

The objectives of this particular project consist of restoring critical year round habitat for upland game and waterfowl. This will consist of reseeding areas of the property that will provide added food source and cover, wintering shrubs such as Golden Current, Buffaloberry along with winter wheat grain crops, grasses and forbs will be planted, in addition annual kochia will be utilized for additional cover on site. Additional objectives will include the repair, upkeep and renovations of existing sheds to be modified to raise pheasants. These sheds will provide shelter from spring rains and summer heat along with protection from predators (raccoons, skunks, red fox and feral cats) in the area. Project site has running water from an existing pump, in addition water from storage tanks along with food sources along and the construction of flight pens as will allow for success as the birds grow and develop. Maintaining a parking lot will need to be made to allow access for the public during hunting season. Water irrigation is critical for this project, the cement ditches will need to be cleaned out annually to allow water distribution to the crops and reseeded areas of the property. Additional fence maintenance will be needed to keep livestock from entering the property.

This project is located within the Sevier Valley (AKA - Rooster Valley), this 130 acres of prime farm land is boarding the Sevier River and the Seegmiller Road east of Richfield, UT. Over the past ten years the partnership with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife have paid great dividends to the Sevier Valley Communities. Through this project UDWR and SFW has worked in conjunction with Richfield City to lease this property for the use of open space and public access for hunting upland game and waterfowl. The property is used year round by the public, not for just hunting but for other recreational activities as well. This project has seen so many young hunters the past ten years become intergraded into the sport of hunting upland game, spending money on bird dogs, youth day shoots and helping release pheasants on the Richfield WMA. This project has provided families to hunt together, be involved with raising the pheasant from day old chicks to adults, work on the WMA to obtain Dedicated Hunter Hours helping the UDWR and SFW. UDWR and SFW along with Richfield City have built something for everyone to enjoy, the need for open space and public access, opportunities for a father or mother to take their kids and enjoy the outdoors. This property has been used for all sorts of recreation activities, raising pheasants, upland game hunting, fishing, waterfowl hunting, bird watching, predator trapping, dog training, and most recently a photo shoot opportunity for local photography. This area is a staple in the Sevier Valley and the amount of public access opportunities allows for everyone to enjoy this WMA property.

1)To increase upland game and waterfowl habitat in the Sevier Valley that will allow sustainable pheasant population in the area. Continue to provide open space for the community and surrounding areas. 2) Increase public access for hunting purposes of upland game and waterfowl, increase hunter retention and recruitment. Youth hunting and mentoring programs for young hunters. 3) Increase additional areas to raise pheasants through the "Day old Chick" programs. Increase awareness for WIA programs for adjacent landowners. 4)Control Invasive weed species that are damaging to wildlife habitats in the area by working with Sevier County Weed Dept. 1.) As stated in the Richfield and Annabella WMA Plans, the purpose of the WMA is to provide good habitat for upland wildlife and waterfowl. As stated within the WMA plan; the main habitat objective is to conduct mechanical and natural treatments to provide improved upland and waterfowl habitat. This treatment will aid our efforts to achieve that objective. 2)The objective of Utah's upland game management program is to provide recreational hunting opportunity for sportsmen within the limits of the annual harvestable surplus for each species. The most recent upland game report shows decline in harvest of both ring-neck pheasant and California quail. This project will improve habitat for both. 3.) The Sevier County General Plan states; Hunting and fishing are integral parts of the culture and lifestyle in Sevier County. At certain times of the year virtually all of the economy of Sevier County is focused on hunting, fishing and related seasonal activities. This project will increase habitat for upland game, thus increasing hunting opportunities and economic growth in Sevier County 4.) The Utah Strategic Plan for Managing Noxious and Invasive Weeds states; after invasion by an aggressive weed species and subsequent successful control/management activities, the objective is to return the site to a desirable species composition, if possible. This project will restore these sites to a desirable species composition. Utah does not have a management plan for pheasants. However, in general, this project supports objectives found in the UDWR Strategic Plan. The Utah Upland Game Annual Reports show a decline in pheasant hunting and hunters, especially since 1979. The National Wild Pheasant Conservation Plan identifies hunter participation as an important component in pheasant conservation and long term support of hunting in general. Habitat Requirements for Wild Turkeys: General Suitable habitat includes three key ingredients: trees, forbs and grass. Regardless of the type of environment, this combination must exist for turkeys to thrive. Trees provide food, daytime loafing and escape cover, and- --most importantly -- nighttime roost sites. Grasses and forbs provide food for adults and are especially important to poults as an environment in which they can efficiently forage for insects. **I have uploaded the Sevier County Resource Management Plan in the Documents Tab which gives goals and objectives towards natural resources as they pertain to Sevier County.

With this project fire and fuel loading is not an issue as it pertains to the location of the property, this property is located east of Richfield UT, and is comprised of irrigated crops and dry land vegetation. Fire may not be an issue due to the location, but there is a chance due to the nature of local farming practices in the spring that the risk of fire could happen. This would be one case as private landowner's conduct seasonal burning of crop lands to reduce old vegetation, clean ditches, and fence lines. Communities at risk will be Richfield City to the west and Glenwood to the east, property has open space to the south, in addition to homes, buildings and livestock sheds and corrals to the north and northwest. Fire and fuels can be beneficial to this WMA if utilized properly, reducing old vegetation, creating new young grasses, forbs and shrubs for upland game birds and waterfowl which would create mosaic patterns across the landscape. If we are in need of removal for older age class vegetation we will continue to work with FFSL/Sevier County Fire Warden making sure the proper paperwork and information is completed before we conduct the burn . We will also coordinate with Richfield City to make sure all information is relayed properly as we lease their property within this agreement.

Water Quality and Quantity for this project can be explained in the fact that we do have approximately 32 shares of water that we use for irrigation purposes. The irrigation water will be utilized for crops that have been planted for the upland game and waterfowl species. The water quality will be enhance on this project due to the amount of irrigation water utilized for growing crops, in addition allowing for the water to re-enter the water table and recharge the aquifer. Quantity of water will be added as the reduction of soil erosion, and run off is limited due to planted vegetation on the WMA. We are actively seeking additional water rights through Eric Anderson (UDWR Water Right Coordinator). Eric has help us out immensely in obtaining water rights for us and helping with the Temporary Water Right filings each year.

All areas of this project have been previously disturbed due to existing farming practices, the need for a Culture Resource Inventory in not warranted at this time.

Methods will include general farming practices that will consist of early spraying of noxious weeds, spraying all vegetation where reseeding efforts will take place. Ground will be disked up and prepared so planting can occur; shrubs will be planted in the areas to provide the best habitat for the upland game and waterfowl. Fencing will be done to secure property boundaries, general building and construction practices will be provided to build and develop flight pens to raise pheasants and quail. Water will be used through cement irrigation ditches allowing water the delivery system to the seeded areas.

Monitoring of this project will consist of photo points, before and after photos of the property and structures, also showing food plots for upland game and waterfowl birds. Raising of upland game birds such as Ring Neck Pheasants, and Chuckers to be released on Richfield WMA, Annabella WMA and Redmond WMA's. We also send pheasants to Wayne and Millard Counties to be released. Survey for post season and winter survival surveys on pheasants are conducted on the WMA properties along with other locations in the Valley. During release of the pheasants we band the pen raised pheasants and chuckers to determine survival on a yearly basis when seen in the field. We will be involving local high schools, BSA, FFA, and the local Trap Shooting Club "Wild Goose Clays" for helping UDWR and SFW catch, band and release the pheasants this past year. Paul Niemeyer and the local chapter of SFW - Richfield have been great supporters making this project successful throughout the years.

Partners associated with this project include Richfield City for leasing the UDWR the property, UDWR for allowing it to become another great WMA located in Sevier Valley where the public can come and enjoy upland game hunting. SFW for their partnership last year in making this project happen and funding the project of building flight pens, purchase of pheasants, feed, and materials associated with raising the birds to maturity. Local chapter members from the Sevier and Wayne County SFW Chapters, the many Dedicated Hunter's who have work on this project from the beginning and have taken ownership in seeing this project through. We have also leased water for the crops from local landowner who have been great to work with and have enjoyed seeing the response of the property due to irrigation. We have had three (3) Eagle Scout project associated with this project in the form of building additional transport boxes and a kiosk that was built to display information about the project in a whole and the many donations that have been made through the local business to make this project and WMA a success. Most recently we have been provided awesome help from the local Trap Shooting Club "Wild Goose Clays". Founded by Paul Niemeyer, the young boys and girls along with the many parents have be a great help to UDWR/SFW.

Future Management of this WMA will require to keep up on the property, making sure all fences are maintained, building walk through stiles to enter the WMA. Continue to upkeep all gates making sure they are functioning and closed during all times keeping trespass cattle out of the WMA. Work diligently on needed repairs as we see fit, replacing and installing metal sliding gates in the irrigation ditches preventing water from leaking out, continue to spray for noxious weed species and working with the Sevier County Weed Dept. Other Management Plans would be to work with local adjacent landowners on being a good neighbor, making sure proper signing is in place, and working with the community on making this WMA a place where everyone is welcome. Continue to protect the habitats that are critical for upland game and waterfowl, planting species that will sustain cover, and food plots for year around survival of upland game such as pheasants, wild turkeys, geese, sandhill cranes, and waterfowl.

Domestic Livestock may be used in the future to graze the WMA property to reduce old vegetation allowing for improved production of seeded plant species along with natural vegetation to be improved. If grazing is warranted on the WMA, UDWR will work with the Southern Regional Office along with the State Division Office to put together a grazing Management Plan for the area that can offer local livestock producers the chance to graze the property in a timely manner, accomplishing the goals and objectives that will benefit upland game and waterfowl species. Other uses of the resources will pertain to the non hunting community, bird watches, and those enjoying to walk around the WMA's looking at the abundance of Wildlife Species located in these areas. Additional opportunities are available for local school classes to enjoys the outdoors's, watching wildlife, studying upland and riverine habitats entice learning from these areas that students can learn from in a field setting. Recently this past year we have received several requests to enter the WMA from a local photographer, to take family pictures along with high school senior pictures on the WMA. This WMA is a great local resource that has paid dividends over the past 11 years for the UDWR and the Sevier Valley Communities.