This project is fully funded through partnering funds. No additional WRI funds are being requested during this phase, although we may be asking for support through state contracting. Additionally, we would like the Southeast Region of WRI and all its partners to be aware of this project as a continuation of previously funded and completed projects. Project partners have already completed several wetland/wet meadow projects in Emma Park beginning in 2022 (WRI 6043, 6508), plus a multi-day workshop where partners learned techniques and built structures. Projects have been successfully implemented with several landowners, UDWR, NRCS, Price River Conservation District, and private contractors. Partners have been working in close collaboration in this area for several years and this project will further enhance the watershed scale improvements across all landownerships. Today, less than 1% of Utah's total land is wetlands. Seventy-five percent of these remaining wetlands are part of the Greater Great Salt Lake Ecosystem. In Southern Utah not only are wetlands rare, they are ultra-rare, making up an extremely small portion of the landscape. Having said this wetlands are disproportionally important on the landscape. Habitats near water -- streamsides, wet meadows and wetlands -- 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. As stated, wetland habitat is the rarest type of habitat in Utah, yet the role of wetland habitat on the landscape is substantial. In Utah it is said as much as 80% of mesic habitat occurs on private lands. These private mesic lands are critically important to the health of wildlife populations across both public and private lands. If true wildlife conservation is to take place on a sustainable level, public wildlife managers must engage private landowners. It is important that we continue to work in these areas that are critically important to the landscape around them, and because these wet areas are mostly private it is extremely important to work with private landowners restoring these areas whenever possible. Wet habitat is the zipper that ties the ecology of the surrounding landscapes together. Not working in these wet areas puts adjacent habitat and wildlife at risk. 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 has been identified as a key way to mitigate impacts like drought, increasing temperatures, and other impacts that a changing climate will have on humans and wildlife. This area is also extremely important to big game, especially mule deer, but also elk. See below in the location justification for more information.

1) Reduce erosion, restore seasonal wetlands, and restore soil hydrology in wet meadow habitats. - Increase length of season soils are wetted in meadows by 20% - Increase total area of wetted soils by 15% - Increase total herbaceous vegetation production by 25% within restored wetted soils.

See the need for project about wetland, wet meadows, and soil hydrology for the importance of this habitat type. Wetted ecological types should always rise tot the top as the most important project to fund and complete now, not later. Although smaller in acreage, the impacts benefit much larger landscapes and benefit both wildlife and human communities. Furthermore, because most quality mesic habitat in the sagebrush steppe is privately owned we need to quickly jump on any opportunity to work with private landowners when the opportunity arises. The project area is part of the Carbon County Sage Grouse Management Area. The sagebrush valley bottom and meadow complexes in Emma Park are critically important for sage grouse with wet meadows being identified as a limiting factor for population growth in this management area. The area has also been identified as important habitat for rapidly declining sage sparrow, sage thrasher, and Brewer's sparrow. Within Utah, 66-75% of all bird species use mesic habitats during some portion of their life history. Typically, diversity and abundance of birds dramatically increases in western mesic habitat compared with other habitat types(Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy 2.0, 2002). Other research shows that 60--80% of wildlife are dependent on mesic habitats (e.g., wetlands and riparian areas; Thomas et al. 1979, Patten 1998, Belsky et al. 1999, Peck and Lovvorn 2001). This project area is identified as "priority for restoration of crucial mule deer habitat" under the Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan (Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan, 2019-2024). "Crucial" is defined as "habitat necessary to sustain the areas mule deer herd". This project will specifically meet the objective of "working with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering and migration areas". Mule deer population numbers are at a many year low. The public as well as elected officials are placing a high priority in restoring mule deer numbers. Working in crucial habitat as this has been identified by wildlife professionals, has a higher likelihood of giving us an greater return on our investment for mule deer. USGS BIOME-SAGEBRUSH CORE HABITAT MODELING These data were compiled as a part of a landscape conservation design effort for the sagebrush biome, and are the result of applying a spatially explicit model that assessed geographic patterns in sagebrush ecological integrity and used these results to identify Core Sagebrush Areas (CSAs), Growth Opportunity Areas (GOAs), and Other Rangeland Areas (ORAs). This model is being used biome-wide to target core intact sagebrush habitat to focus sagebrush protection and restoration with the Department of the Interior. Using the prioritization tool, this project falls within CSAs and GOAs, meaning they are the best of the best sagebrush habitats needing protection and restoration.

State of Utah Resource Management Plan -This plan specifically identifies the importance of protecting critical mule deer habitat, maintaining desired vegetation for wildlife and livestock, and actively managing invasive plants and noxious. The plan also specifically identifies working with partners in WRI to restore critical habitat for species of greatest conservation need. Applies to all projects in this proposal. UTAH GREATER SAGE GROUSE CONSERVATION PLAN ties directly to the wet meadow creation / protection portion of the project by -Increase(ing) habitat by 50,000 acres per year, and improve an average of 25,000 acres of habitat each year. CARBON COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN: This plan establishes a vision, influences growth, justifies ordinances, protects private property rights, and anticipates capital improvements. The RMP identified local knowledge and developed management objectives and policies related to natural resources. The RMP is based on the needs and preferences of the county, its residents, and property owners. It is the county's foundational document for management of public lands and the basis for communicating and coordinating with land management agencies on land and resource management issues. This updated county plan will provide clear objectives, goals, and policies that can be applied across agency boundaries, and will be more effective in protecting the customs, culture, and traditional uses of county residents while providing for the conservation and use of the county's resources. This project initially developed out of a desire by Carbon County to address fire concerns in culinary watersheds following the Seeley Fire. This project is designed to reduce the threat of catastrophic fire through fuels reduction, but also creating space for fire managers to access critical fire fighting locations if needed. This project contributes to the following areas of the county plan: Land Use: 1) The county supports land use practices which promote proper ground cover to prevent erosion. The county will promote practices which will decrease the growth of noxious weeds and other undesirable plants. 2) Encourage coordination between federal agencies and local governments, public land managers, and private landowners. Support responsible development and the long-term health of the land. UTAH WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN (2015-2025): The WAP identifies sensitive species and their habitats and pinpoints their threats, limiting factors, and crucial data gaps. This plan provides strong, clear guidance for improving habitats and strengthening wildlife populations. It is a strategic tool that can reduce and prevent listings under the endangered species act. Utilizing mechanical hand treatments in conifer and aspen stands will contribute to stand health and also improve forage and habitat for wildlife. Creating fuel breaks will also protect important sagebrush habitats from fire. This project will also address threats to Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCNs) by improving habitats and reducing threats. Greater Sage-Grouse reside in the sagebrush habitats on the upper elevations of the Lower Fish Creek WMA. This project addresses the following WAP listed threats to the species; problematic native species (removing encroaching conifer), and fire and fire suppression (creating fuels breaks to reduce risk of fire into sagebrush habitats). Encroaching conifers reduce overall quality and utilization of sagebrush habitats by sage-grouse. Utah Deer Herd Management Plan for Unit #11 Nine Mile October 2020 habitat objectives include: Protect, maintain, and/or improve deer habitat through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives. It also lists working with federal, private, and state partners to improve crucial deer habitats through the Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI) process. Both of these objectives will be completed with this project. USFWS Partners Program Utah Strategic Plan (2022-2027). This project specifically address the need for restoring mesic habitat within an identified focus area for a USFWS Partners Program focal species. Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy 2.0, 2002. This project is working in an identified critical habitat (wet meadow) for priority sagebrush birds.

Riparian areas need to be enhanced to create suitable fire breaks for any future fires in the area. Completion of this project would act as a fire break within the Carbon sage grouse management area. There is strong research showing that wet areas have been undervalued for fire risk protection. Today, practitioners are restoring the West's creeks, valley bottoms, and wet meadows by using "low-tech, process-based" mesic restoration practices to slow down water, allowing it to spread across the landscape where plants and wildlife can use it. In addition to improving habitat for wildlife and boosting productivity of riparian vegetation communities, these mesic habitats create important fire breaks and refuge for wildlife fleeing wildfire, as detailed in this paper by Emily Fairfax from 2020.

By protecting a restoring wet meadows we are promoting their ability to increase groundwater levels and subsurface storage. These meadows increase the frequency and duration of floodplain saturation which helps to filter sediments and nutrients and improves water quality. They also lessen the erosive impact of peak spring runoff and increase the water flow in mid-summer.

All compliance and permitting will be completed by partners on a project by project basis.

We have found and evaluated many areas throughout the Carbon sage grouse management area with our work in past phases of this project. We will continue to work on the highest priority areas using small rock structures to prevent continued head-cutting and erosion. These simple rock structures are being used across the West to stop and repair head cuts and have been found to be effective, and will be created using hand tools and a small excavator.

Photo points and drone imagery will be created and used to monitor the project in future years and assess if maintenance is necessary.

USFWS, UDWR, Private landowners, and private contractors are all working together and have identified several areas for preserving and enhancing wet meadows in the Carbon sage grouse management area.

The private landowners have entered into a contract with USFWS. 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 assess needs, success, and any needed adaptive management. Currently all private landowners we have worked with use the property as part of a larger grazing operation.

The wet meadows that we are protecting/restoring are a very important part of the private landowners grazing in the area. By doing this work we are providing increased biomass for livestock as well as wildlife.