Army Garrison Camp W.G. Williams (AGCW) seeks funding for the Camp Williams Watershed Restoration and Resiliency Program (Project) for planning and permitting activities impacting portions of three contiguous HUC 10 watersheds of Tickville Gulch (1602020107), Bingham Creek-Jordan River (1602020401), and Dry Creek-Jordan River (1602020110) and, within them, the seven contiguous sub-watersheds that comprise Camp Williams are Tickville Gulch, Rose Canyon, Oak Springs, Tickville, Wood Hollow, Beef Hollow, and Dry Creek. See Map 1 -- Project Area HUC 10 Watersheds and Map 2 -- Project Area Sub-Watersheds for the project location and watersheds. The connection between the management of forests and rangeland, wildfire, and water quantity and quality are clear, as environmental degradation has been documented in response to changes in the watershed and watershed management. The watersheds of Camp Williams have become degraded over time due to wildfire, wildfire suppression, overgrazing, resulting in impacts such as an increase in noxious and invasive vegetation, erosion, and sedimentation, impacts to roads and other infrastructure, and periods of inaccessibility to critical military installation infrastructure. A reduction in vegetation and soil stability, followed by heavy precipitation events, have led to severe erosion, washing out roadways, and negative impacts to local water and air quality. All seven sub-watersheds are major training areas for the Utah Army National Guard (UTARNG) and impacts to the watersheds have impacted the training mission of the UTARNG, while direct and indirect effects have impacted neighboring municipalities and roadways. Several of the watersheds that comprise Camp Williams drain into the Jordan River and Utah Lake, which are classified as Category 5 Impaired Waters under Section 303(d) of the CWA and are included on the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) Division of Water Quality's (UDWQ's) 303(d) list of impaired waters (Utah Administrative Code (UAC) R317-2). Utah Lake (Assessment Unit ID UT-L-16020201; not including Provo Bay) is listed as impaired due to harmful algal blooms, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish tissue, total phosphorus, and total dissolved solids. Two segments of the Jordan River proximate to AGCW are impaired as well. Jordan River-8 (Assessment Unit ID UT16020204-007), the stretch of river abutting AGCW, does not meet the Utah Water Quality Act category 1C culinary designated beneficial use due to elevated levels of arsenic, and does not meet the category 4 agricultural use due to elevated levels of total dissolved solids. Jordan River-7 (Assessment Unit ID UT16020204-007), the stretch of river downstream from AGCW, is listed as impaired for not meeting the category 3A cold-water aquatic life use due to elevated water temperatures and lack of a benthic macroinvertebrate community (UDWQ, 2016). As noted above, several watersheds on AGCW flow to the Jordan River and Utah Lake, so UTARNG monitors surface water quality on the installation (Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP), 2022). See Attachment 1 -- AGCW_INRMP_2022-2027 for the for the INRMP. The watersheds of Camp Williams provide important habitat for a variety of vegetation and wildlife species (see the Species section). Habitat communities include juniper, Gambel oak, sagebrush, bunchgrass, and riparian (see Map 3 -- Vegetative Habitats Map). The upper watershed areas of Camp Williams are largely undeveloped, and therefore represent important habitat areas for vegetation and wildlife. In addition to the ecological values, all the landscapes at AGCW are important in supporting training activities. The ideal "missionscape" (the condition of the landscape to support the various training missions and varies depending upon the type of training) for AGCW consists of a mosaic of juniper woodlands, Gambel oak shrubland, sagebrush shrubland (including lowland sagebrush and mountain sagebrush habitats), bunchgrass grasslands, and riparian areas with access roads and trails throughout the installation. Realistic training is dependent upon an intact natural setting. Degraded training lands with eroded soil, degraded vegetation, impaired waterbodies, and invasive/noxious species would prevent sustainable, long-term training. Degradation of natural resources results in inadequate training, impaired readiness, and monetary loss. Maintenance of healthy ecosystems provides training land that is continuously available for use by Soldiers. The UTARNG needs the land and its natural resources to function together in a healthy ecosystem to support long-term training needs. Management activities are designed to support the desired type of natural landscapes. Military training is conducted in conjunction with the existing landscape and, when necessary, the landscape is modified to better support the training mission needs. This could include such actions as thinning juniper woodlands or Gambel oak to improve dismounted training and reduce the wildfire risk. The management of AGCW must be conducted in a way that provides for sustainable and healthy ecosystems, complies with applicable environmental laws and regulations, and provides for no net loss in the capability of installation lands to support the military mission. Training success at AGCW is only possible through a supportive, proactive natural resource management program. The Project, in conjunction with other natural resource management programs, aims to maintain a sustainable, healthy ecosystem and watersheds that minimize the impacts of normal training use on AGCW's natural resources and complements the doctrinally required military training conducted on the installation.

The objective of the Project is to develop a strategy with implementable solutions to improve watershed health and resilience within and downstream of Camp Williams. This Project supports co-benefits that include improved water quality, improved public health and safety, increased sustainable uses of natural resources, reduced risk of severe wildfire and post-fire erosion, and improved ability of AGCW to meet its military training mission. The objective will be met through the proposed Project activities, which include Task 1) agency and stakeholder coordination; Task 2) a hydraulic, hydrologic, and sedimentation study; Task 3) analysis of the existing Prescribed Fire Plan; Task 4) development of a Watershed Restoration Plan; Task 5) environmental review and permitting; and Task 6) environmental awareness and public outreach. The following are the expected outcomes of this Project and future implementation: * Outcome 1: Collaboration and stakeholder input for development of Watershed Restoration Plan through regular communications and stakeholder meetings (approximately three). * Outcome 2: Watershed Restoration Plan with recommendations for implementation to 1) restore and enhance the watershed and riparian habitats with prescribed fire and other vegetation management practices; 2) limit negative impacts on key habitats, threatened and endangered species, and human communities; 3) rehabilitate post-fire; and 4) stabilize soil, control erosion, and capture runoff. * Outcome 3: Conceptual designs for improvements to channels and overcrossing structures impacted by flooding and erosion, as determined through Task 2 and Task 4. * Outcome 4: Educate public about the need for prescribed fire, vegetation management, and watershed restoration. Post-Implementation Expected Outcomes (not part of funding request): * Outcome 5: Increased number of days AGCW can carry out training missions on training grounds due to implementation of actions identified in Prescribed Fire Plan leading to reduced fire risk. * Outcome 6: Decreased number of trans-boundary wildfire incidents due to implementation of actions identified in analysis of Prescribed Fire Plan. * Outcome 7: Improved downstream/lower watershed water quality through implementation of actions to be identified in Watershed Restoration Plan, such as increased native vegetation for improved soil health and stormwater retention, reduction of stormwater runoff (due to increased infiltration of precipitation) and streambank erosion, and reduction of grazing intensity and reduction or elimination of grazing near surface waters. * Outcome 8: Reduced repair and maintenance costs of AGCW critical infrastructure, such as roads and facilities, due to reduced flooding and erosion through implementation of actions identified in Watershed Restoration Plan.

The overall site of Camp Williams comprises 24,085 acres of both federally and state-owned land in Salt Lake and Utah Counties that is utilized by the UTARNG. AGCW has a characteristic continental climate of temperate deserts and semi-deserts with low precipitation and strong temperature differences between summer and winter. In the past 35 years, climate patterns indicate higher temperatures and lower precipitation at AGCW (Section 3.1, INRMP). Thus, the risk of wildfire is likely to increase, which is the most significant restriction on military training associated with natural resources, particularly during the wildfire season from May through October, and degrades the landscape. The observed climate patterns are most likely to impact water resources and vegetative communities at AGCW, which, in turn, is most likely to impact the military mission at AGCW. The military uses existing vegetative communities for training purposes, such as concealment training. Gradual shifts in climate could convert existing stands useful for training (e.g., juniper woodlands) to less useful vegetative communities more quickly than new 'useful' stands can grow. Additionally, and more concerningly, an increase in invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, which grow more uniformly and contiguously, would increase the risk of wildfire on the installation as they facilitate the spread of fire more quickly and effectively than native species (Camp Williams Grazing Monitoring Summary Report, 2023) (see Attachment 2 -- 2023_AGCW_Grazing Summary for the Grazing Summary). Ultimately, this limits the ability for native species to grow and retain soil and moisture, leading to erosion and poor watershed health. As observed at AGCW during and following historical wildfires, these events have the potential to endanger human lives and property, including off the installation; burn large swaths of existing habitat, including those used for military training; and cause controversy and concern among the communities surrounding the installation, threatening the military's reputation and goodwill amongst its neighbors. Further, increased threats of wildfire are likely to lead to increased wildfire prevention measures, such as live-fire training restrictions, which can also inhibit training and the military mission. To mitigate wildland fire hazards, restrictions on the use of pyrotechnics, smoke, obscurants, simulations, and live fire are implemented during the fire season. The restrictions are based on relevant fire danger ratings obtained from Range Control and the NWS. Restrictions to weapons fire are based on the type of activity and the local fire danger rating. These restrictions account for roughly 30 lost training days during the fire season. One of the key objectives for vegetation management at AGCW is to manage the juniper woodlands, Gambel oak shrublands, sagebrush shrublands, and grasslands to minimize fuel loads and protect these lands from wildfire. In April and May and again in June 2023, heavy runoff due to snow melt, extreme storm events led to severe erosion along stream beds and washing out roadways within the Tickville, Oak Springs, Wood Hollow, Beef Hollow and Tickville Gulch watersheds in Camp Williams, prohibiting access over a period of two months. See Map 4 -- 2023 Flooding and Erosion Locations and Figures 1 through 6, images from 2023 showing erosion along streambeds, including several within burn areas and from the "Bone Yard", the area where the artillery impact area drainage enters the Tickville drainage. This has become a more common occurrence as the frequency and severity of extreme climate events have increased. UTARNG has approximately 20 years of remote sensing data on the AGCW training range, monitoring vegetation and fire regimes. There have been 22 wildfires over 100 acres in size in the immediate vicinity or on the grounds between 1976, when monitoring began, and 2020 (see Map 5 - Historic Fires Greater than 100 Acres). Most of the installation has burned in the past 35 years, including nearly all the area east of Tickville Road. Fires have also grown larger; however, since the Pinyon Fire in 2016, there have not been any major fires at Camp Williams because the International Fire Association (IFA) was contracted to provide wildfire response and suppression to the UTARNG. Though many of these fires have been contained within the boundaries of AGCW, some larger fires have spread into neighboring communities and vice versa. Neighborhoods in neighboring cities have rapidly expanded adjacent to the boundaries of AGCW in recent years, particularly along the northern and south central and southeastern boundaries, exacerbating the risk of wildfire. Camp Williams watersheds have passed the tipping point for recovery from extreme climate events. As proposed in this planning project, further watershed data collection and updates to hydrologic, hydraulic, and sedimentation models are necessary to better understand climatic and fire impacts on the watersheds and military operations, while delineating actionable steps through the proposed Watershed Restoration Plan are needed for effective future site management that are adaptive to climate change.

The project will specifically build upon and address objectives and strategies within at least three existing AGCW management plans. These include the following: 1. Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan (IWFMP) (December 2020) (see Attachment 3 -- UTARNG_IWFMP_FinalDraft for the IWFMP) a. GOALS - Provide for firefighter and public safety and facilitate military training necessary for the UTARNG and other military units to maintain a high level of combat readiness. Identify and implement the methods and protocols necessary to control wildfire frequency, intensity, and size on Camp Williams. Comply with Army National Guard regulations and guidance, federal and state laws, and memorandums of understanding and meet UTARNG's land stewardship responsibilities (p.27). i. OBJECTIVE 1: Zero wildland fire-related fatalities and zero public injuries or property losses. ii. OBJECTIVE 2: No military ignited wildfires will exit Camp Williams boundaries. iii. OBJECTIVE 3: No loss of training utilization that lasts more than five business days. iv. OBJECTIVE 4: Include fire prevention and discussion of fire risk implications for all plans and activities submitted for NEPA approval, including Records of Environmental Consideration. v. OBJECTIVE 5: Maintain a record of zero fires ignited by weapons systems not authorized under the current fire danger rating. vi. OBJECTIVE 6: Educate every downrange user of the requirements of the IWFMP. vii. OBJECTIVE 7: Conduct an After Action Review immediately upon the conclusion of every wildfire and prescribed fire. Conduct an end of season review with all stakeholders at the end of every fire season. viii. OBJECTIVE 8: Zero delays to fire suppression action on any wildfire. b. The Project will meet the listed goals and objectives of the IWFMP by identifying the methods and protocols necessary to implement prescribed burns to control wildfire frequency, intensity, and size on Camp Williams and promote public safety, while complying with all relevant regulations and guidance, laws, memorandums of understanding, and land stewardship responsibilities. The Project will analyze and propose actions to reduce risk of fire to the public, property, wildlife, watersheds, and military utilization, while providing public outreach. 2. Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) (January 2022) There are numerous overlaps between the Project, IWFMP, and the INRMP, particularly in relation to fuels management. Grazing is a significant fire mitigation measure, and the INRMP is the document through which grazing is managed. Similarly, control of invasive grasses is of concern to wildland fire management and the INRMP includes measures to monitor and mitigate invasive species encroachment. Additionally, the IWFMP calls for the use of prescribed fire, which may provide additional invasion potential in need of mitigation via the INRMP. Prescribed fire may also provide opportunities to restore some native ecosystems. Other areas of overlap include the use of herbicides, mechanical thinning of brush and Gambel oak, reduction of ladder fuels via grazing animals such as goats, environmental awareness efforts, and National Environmental Policy Act considerations, and maintaining fire GIS data. Wildfires may also have impacts needing consideration through the INRMP, such as habitat gain/loss and erosion. The IWFMP integrates with the INRMP and ICRMP through identifying these resources as potentially at risk from fire (Section 3.1.1.2 and 3.1) and providing fire mitigation measures designed, in part, to protect these resources throughout. Loss of native plant communities to wildfire is a primary management issue in the INRMP and mitigating that threat is one purpose of the IWFMP as defined in the IWFMP objectives (Section 2.1.2, and 4.1.1). The Project meets nine out of ten goals listed in the INRMP: a. GOAL 1 -- Program Management: Manage natural resources in a manner that is compatible with and supports the military mission while complying with applicable federal and state laws and DA regulations and policies. i. OBJECTIVE PM1: Encourage robust land planning at AGCW that seeks to conserve natural resources, enhance training land and natural resources-dependent training opportunities, and retain flexibility for accommodating potential future changes in mission, while maintaining no net loss of training ability. ii. OBJECTIVE PM2: Consistent with the requirements of AR 200-1, evaluate the impacts of military activities on the natural environment, including its functions, values, and opportunities. iii. OBJECTIVE PM3: Maintain productive communication and coordination channels with relevant federal, state, and local agencies and partner organizations that can advise on prudent natural resources management. iv. OBJECTIVE PM4: Implement environmental education and awareness initiatives to protect existing natural resources from human-caused adverse impacts in accordance with federal policy (immediate). v. OBJECTIVE PM5: Engage the local community through public outreach. vi. OBJECTIVE PM6: Continue to maintain a consolidated GIS database for AGCW and ensure the UTARNG has the necessary equipment and personnel training to use GIS data for natural resources management and installation planning purposes. vii. The Project meets Goal 1 and its objectives through the proposed planning efforts to identify and reduce any limitations of the ability to carry out mission-critical military activities while reducing the impact of activities on natural resources. The Project will include public outreach and updating a consolidated GIS database and models with current vegetation, hydrology, sediment, and planned prescribed burn areas. b. GOAL 2 -- Vegetation: Manage vegetation to support the military mission, optimize protection of existing habitats, maintain native species, and enhance wildlife habitat. i. OBJECTIVE VE1: Maintain current data on the condition of vegetation communities and climatic trends to support adaptive management and facilitate diverse training opportunities and habitats. ii. OBJECTIVE VE2: Manage juniper woodland habitats to promote natural densities, which will reduce wildfire hazard, improve training opportunities, improve habitat, and reduce erosion. iii. OBJECTIVE VE3: Manage Gambel oak habitats to promote maturation of stands, which will reduce wildfire hazard, improve training opportunities, and improve habitat. iv. OBJECTIVE VE7: Maintain bunchgrass grasslands at AGCW with natural biodiversity and minimal training impacts. v. OBJECTIVE VE8: Improve four riparian habitats and their functions by retaining surface water flows and promoting native vegetation growth. vi. The Project meets Goal 2 and its objectives through the integration of the INRMP, IWFMP, the Prescribed Burn Plan, and the proposed Watershed Restoration Plan by promoting native vegetation growth and biodiversity to improve watershed health, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce risk of wildfire. The Project will involve collecting data on vegetation communities and climatic trends. c. GOAL 3 -- Fish and Wildlife: Maintain fish and wildlife populations while minimizing potential impacts to the military mission. i. OBJECTIVE FW1: Manage fish and wildlife using a systematic approach that includes inventory, monitoring, management, and assessment to document changes in conditions over time. Maintain population monitoring data sufficient to make management decisions for species, with emphasis on species of concern and declining species that are, or are likely to become, candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act. ii. The Project meets Goal 3 and its objectives by analyzing and outlining steps to reduce the impact of wildfire and prescribed burns on fish and wildlife, as well as maintaining comprehensive data and routine monitoring. d. GOAL 4 -- Threatened and Endangered Species and Habitats: Manage sensitive species using an ecosystem approach, while maintaining the military mission at AGCW. i. OBJECTIVE TE1: Maintain current data regarding the status of any federal or state-listed species that may exist at AGCW and where suitable habitat could occur at the installation. ii. OBJECTIVE TE2: Engage relevant stakeholders regarding management of these species to ensure use of the best available information; compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations; and maximum compatibility with the military mission at AGCW. iii. The Project meets Goal 4 and its objectives by analyzing the impact of wildfire and prescribed burns, as well as water quality, on any threatened and endangered species and habitats and engaging relevant stakeholders on proposed management and collected information. e. GOAL 5 -- Soil Conservation: Manage soil to minimize sediment loss and erosion. i. OBJECTIVE SC2: Maintain trails, roads, and parking areas to minimize the potential for erosion and sedimentation and to minimize establishment of invasive species. ii. OBJECTIVE SC3: Minimize bare soil at AGCW except where necessary for specific wildfire or habitat management purposes. iii. The Project meets Goal 5 and its objectives by analyzing and identifying actions to minimize erosion, sedimentation, and establishment of invasive species. f. GOAL 6 -- Water Resources: Maintain water resources, including wetlands, so they remain resilient, functional, and with no net loss of acreage. i. OBJECTIVE WR1: Maintain current data on water resources at AGCW. ii. OBJECTIVE WR2: Preserve existing water resources by minimizing potential impacts and complying with all relevant laws and regulations. iii. OBJECTIVE WR3: Maintain or enhance riparian zones around water resources. iv. OBJECTIVE WR4: Improve riparian proper functioning condition (PFC) of the Jordan River corridor. v. The Project meets Goal 6 and its objectives by studying and updating hydrologic and hydraulic models/data, while proposing actions to improve or reduce impacts to riparian zones and watersheds within Camp Williams and the Jordan River corridor. g. GOAL 7 -- Agricultural Outleasing (AO): Manage agricultural outleases at AGCW to support the military mission, facilitate multiple uses of the installation, and enhance natural resources management. i. OBJECTIVE AO1: Manage livestock grazing as an adaptive wildland fire hazard reduction strategy. ii. OBJECTIVE AO2: Maintain compatibility of grazing outleases with the natural resource goals in the INRMP by containing grazing impacts within designated areas. iii. OBJECTIVE AO3: Maintain current geospatial and existing conditions data of all grazing outleases at AGCW. iv. The Project meets Goal 7 and its objectives by assessing the impacts of grazing on watershed and vegetation conditions and proposing processes and designated areas for wildland fire hazard reduction. h. GOAL 8 -- Fire Management: Manage wildland fires and fuels at AGCW in a manner that minimizes safety risks, improves training ability, and enhances natural resources. i. OBJECTIVE FM1: Maintain current and comprehensive data on the fire history at AGCW to facilitate proactive and adaptive fire management. ii. OBJECTIVE FM2: Manage AGCW to prevent fuel buildups, restore a more natural fire regime to the extent practicable, and minimize risk of catastrophic wildfires. iii. The Project will analyze the Prescribed Fire Plan and develop implementation steps, and maintain data on fire history, that meet Goal 8 and its objectives. i. GOAL 9 -- Integrated Pest Management: Minimize impacts of invasive, noxious, and pest species, including plant and animal species, on the military mission and natural ecosystems utilizing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. i. OBJECTIVE IPM1: Maintain current data on the types and extent of invasive, noxious, and pest species at AGCW to facilitate proper prioritization and support adaptive management. ii. OBJECTIVE IPM2: Contain and reduce coverage of invasive and noxious weeds at AGCW. iii. OBJECTIVE IPM4: Promote interdepartmental cooperation regarding treatment of invasive and noxious weeds at AGCW. iv. OBJECTIVE IPM5: Promote regional cooperation regarding treatment of invasive and noxious weeds. v. The Project meets Goal 9 and its objectives by collecting data and developing recommendations and an implementation plan for prescribed fire and vegetation management to minimize impacts of invasive, noxious plant species.

The Project includes analysis of the existing Prescribed Fire Plan and developing recommendations for future prescribed fire implementation and monitoring through a Prescribed Fire Program at Camp Williams (Task 3: Analysis of Existing Prescribed Fire Plan). A prescribed fire is a planned ignition, intentionally ignited under pre-determined conditions, in a pre-determined location, in compliance with applicable laws, policies, and regulations, designed to meet specific objectives. Prescribed fire is a cost-effective tool widely used to manage fuel, fire risk, and ecosystems. It also allows treatment of fuels where other means would be too damaging (e.g., heavy equipment or herbicide), where unexploded ordnance (UXO) does not allow for personnel to enter the area, or where terrain or substrate precludes the use of heavy machinery. Proper application allows large areas to be efficaciously treated. Prescribed fire will be a significant component of the AGCW fuels management program that will grow to large-scale application and eventually cover the entirety of Camp Williams ("Project Area"), as capability, confidence, and stakeholder support are developed over a period of several years. The benefit of a prescribed fire plan is that it will use data and protocols for controlled burning to reduce risk of fuel loading and remove invasive, highly flammable plant species to prevent larger, uncontrolled wildfires from occurring. This tool also benefits mission-critical infrastructure on Camp Williams, watershed health and water quality, and plant and animal species, by limiting fire damage and erosion. Task 3 (Analysis of Existing Prescribed Fire Plan) includes identifying areas for invasive vegetation treatment, seeding, and planting of native perennial species that will be beneficial for sustaining native vegetative communities and habitat, while also retaining soil and water and reducing spread of fire. Features being protected include: 1. Infrastructure to support training, as well as to provide other services, exists in concentrated locations throughout Camp Williams, particularly along Watts Road. This includes: a. Infrastructure directly related to training such as standard and electronic targets, cover and concealment, range buildings, and the built infrastructure, such as power lines and communication nodes, necessary to support them. b. Roads may be damaged by post fire erosion, particularly at drainage crossings. c. Water infrastructure on the installation, important for drinking water, firefighting operations, and wastewater management. d. Wastewater facility, pump houses, wells, canals, fixed water tanks, and valves are dispersed throughout the installation. e. Two weather stations are on the installation used to implement the fire danger rating system, a primary means of fire mitigation, though there are redundancies built into that system. f. The Ammunition Storage Area is a value of primary concern. Its construction is such that vulnerability to fire is very limited. 2. Watersheds in Camp Williams and feeding into the Jordan River and Utah Lake through reduction of runoff and erosion obstructing flow. 3. Critical species and wildlife habitat including those threatened by wildfire and erosion, as outlined in the Species and Habitats sections. 4. Communities at risk include developments in the neighboring cities of Eagle Mountain, Herriman, Lehi, and Saratoga Springs. Fuels throughout Camp Williams are problematic. In total, 69.39% of the installation vegetated by grass or grass/shrub vegetation. This is significant due to the rapid spread rates these types of fuels can produce. Flashy grass fuels that can produce fires with very high rates of spread are ubiquitous throughout all but the most northerly facing slopes and some drainages. These are often combined with Gambel oak, which can produce dangerous, fast moving, and intense fires, as well as a variety of other shrub species which add intensity to any fire moving through them. There are very few locales where fire behavior can be expected to be low or moderate. Spread rates, and in locations with substantial oak or juniper components flame lengths as well, can be expected to be substantial, and in many cases outpace containment capabilities. One of the primary concerns at Camp Williams is the potential for installation-ignited fires to move off the installation. The Camp Williams Risk Assessment indicated that fires were most likely to cross the installation boundary along the southwestern portion of the installation.

Camp Williams contains surface water, wetland, spring, and groundwater resources. As with much of the Great Basin, Camp Williams has very limited water resources and riparian habitats due to the semi-arid nature. There are few aquatic species on Camp Williams, but all species depend on water (mammals, raptors, butterflies, bats, reptiles, etc.), including those listed in the Species section. However, maintaining the integrity of the installation's watersheds and water quality are crucial to the mission, and can also benefit neighboring communities and land management efforts downstream. Tickville contains the largest channel at Camp Williams. It is fed by several springs in the northern part of the watershed and eventually flows to Utah Lake. This riparian corridor is in poor condition primarily due to historic cattle grazing. Much of the channel, especially in the southern half of the installation, has incised below the surrounding terrain. The wetlands toward the northern half are trampled, without a clear water channel, and water quality is poor. Cattle grazing as a management practice was ceased at AGCW in 2001 but reintroduced in upland areas as a wildland fire fuel management tool in 2011. However, some trespassing cows from the fuel break grazing paddocks are found in this and other riparian areas at various times throughout the year. The Oak Springs springhead area is excluded from cattle use by a roughly 20-foot diameter enclosure. A diversion channel directed some of the water from the spring enclosure into troughs, which when they overflowed went back into the channel. Downstream from this enclosure, the channel is in extremely poor shape due to decades of cattle grazing. The channel is either unvegetated or trampled, with high water temperatures, high turbidity, and no defined channel. Consequently, the channel is highly susceptible to erosion. Conditions appear to be slowly improving since official grazing has ended, but cattle continue to trespass and use the area in the spring and fall when the problems outlined above can be exacerbated. Oak Springs Hollow drains to the south of AGCW through predominantly agricultural area; water that remains after flowing through this area may drain to Utah Lake. The proposed Hydrologic, Hydraulic, and Sedimentation Study (Task 2) will map watersheds (upper and lower) within Camp Williams, assess streams and overcrossing structures to inform the update of hydraulic models, analyze and plan for improving the erosion control, including prioritizing immediate project needs such as bank stabilization and culvert design upgrades and replacement, and identify additional physical infrastructure impacted by post-fire flooding and erosion. The Watershed Restoration Plan (Task 4), integrated with the Prescribed Fire Plan, the Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan (IWFMP), and the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP), will outline recommendations for riparian habitat monitoring, post-wildfire restoration of riparian habitat, wetlands, and stream channels, and coordinated watershed management and restoration. Task 4 will also include feasibility assessments and conceptual designs for channel flow improvements, including nature-based solutions, to maximize riparian buffer zones, bank stabilization, water retention and storage, addition of floodplain terraces where channels have been constricted, minimize erosion damage to infrastructure, and minimize threat of flooding to communities and migration of soil from the operational range. These designs will provide adequate capacities underneath the structures to prevent overtopping and flooding bases upon extreme climate events with considerations from the FEMA 100-year and 500-year storm events.

Compliance is not applicable for this planning and conceptual design activity. However, AGCW will include permitting and review agencies in its stakeholder outreach activities (Task 1) and comply with all regulations and laws. The Project will include initiating environmental review and permitting deemed necessary (Task 5) to undertake the planning efforts or proposed implementation activities, as identified through the analysis of the existing Prescribed Fire Plan (Task 3) and development of the Watershed Restoration Plan (Task 4). Environmental review and permitting will be limited to prescribed burn and watershed restoration activities, and not to the design of any structures (Task 4), which will only undergo conceptual design at this time. The UTARNG is responsible for coordinating with the appropriate agencies (USACE, UDWQ, and UDNR Division of Water Rights, etc.) and obtaining the appropriate permits. Permitting requirements will vary depending on the type, location, and extent of disturbance and are further described in the Methods section under Task 5.

The proposed Project will include the following tasks carried out by a contractor/consultant, with support and review by UTARNG. The estimated number of months for completion of each task are shown next to each task. The total project duration may be up to 24 months; however, each task specifies the proportion that will be completed in FY 2025. While the full scope of each project task is described below, some of them will only be partially completed in FY2025. The funding request is for the portion of the scope to be completed in FY2025. * Task 1: Agency and Stakeholder Coordination (24 months; 50% to be completed in FY2025) -- Coordination and developing consensus of proposed practices with entities such as the Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Army National Guard, surrounding cities, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and tribes and indigenous communities. Coordination and engagement with stakeholders are critical to advancing the objectives of the Project by addressing concerns and incorporating feedback and local knowledge of environmental and social conditions related to the proposed efforts. * Task 2: Hydrologic, Hydraulic, and Sedimentation Study (12 months; 65% of which will be included in the budget for FY2025) -- Modeling, mapping, and analysis of watersheds (upper and lower) within Camp Williams: o Conduct updated Stream and Wetland Mapping Planning Level Survey (PLS) o Assess the streams and overcrossing structures to inform the update of hydraulic models. The models will, in turn, provide critical hydraulic data to determine the geometries and flow capacities of possible replacement structures for the proposed channel conceptual design component of the Watershed Restoration Plan. o Analysis and planning for improving the erosion control in the Tickville, Oak Springs, Beef Hollow, Wood Hollow, Dry Creek, Rose Canyon and Tickville Gulch Watersheds. This sub-task will be completed in FY2026. o Prioritization and scoping of immediate project needs such as bank stabilization and erosion control, and culvert design upgrades and replacement. This sub-task will be completed in FY2026. o Identify additional physical infrastructure impacted by post-fire flooding and erosion. * Task 3: Analysis of Existing Prescribed Fire Plan (6 months; to be completed in FY 2025) -- Analysis of existing Prescribed Fire Plan and continue compilation of comprehensive historic fire and fuel data. o Develop recommendations for implementation of future prescribed fire throughout Camp Williams, as well as monitoring requirements. o Identify areas for invasive vegetation treatment, grazing, seeding, and planting of native perennial species. * Task 4: Watershed Restoration Plan (12 months; 25% of which will be completed in FY2025) -- Describe existing watershed features and conditions on Camp Williams. Provide analysis of impact of grazing, wildfire, and prescribed fire on water quality and quantity. Define steps for restoration of riparian habitat, wetlands, and stream channels and coordinate watershed management, with a focus on post-wildfire and prescribed burn events. Integrate recommendations and analysis from the Prescribed Fire Plan (Task 3), which is a component of the Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan (IWFMP), and the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). The Plan will: o Provide recommendations for enhancement of riparian and meadow habitats including plantings and routine monitoring of riparian areas to identify disturbances and enhance wildlife habitat, in order to achieve the Executive Order for no net loss or to achieve enhancement of existing degraded wetlands, and climate resiliency outlined in the Department of the Army, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment. February 2022, United States Army Climate Strategy, Washington, DC; using recommendations from the US Army Climate Strategy Implementation Plan FY 2023-2027. o Assess feasibility and prepare conceptual designs for channel flow improvements, including nature-based solutions, to maximize riparian buffer zones, bank stabilization, water retention and storage, addition of floodplain terraces where channels have been constricted, minimize erosion damage to infrastructure, and minimize threat of flooding to communities and migration of soil from the operational range. These designs will provide adequate capacities underneath the structures to prevent overtopping and flooding bases upon extreme climate events with considerations from the FEMA 100-year and 500-year storm events. * Task 5: Environmental Review and Permitting (3 months; to be completed in FY2026 and therefore the cost is not included in the budget) -- Identify and initiate environmental review and permitting processes for any approved prescribed fire plan and watershed restoration implementation activities and conceptual designs proposed in Tasks 3 and 4. The UTARNG is responsible for coordinating with the appropriate agencies (USACE, UDWQ, and Utah Division of Water Rights, etc.) and obtaining the appropriate permits. Permitting requirements vary depending on the type, location, and extent of disturbance. Potential agency reviews and permits that will be explored include: o Stream alteration permits, USACE o NEPA o Utah Division of Air Quality for burn permit and coordination with State Smoke Coordinator for prescribed fires. o Other permits as needed. * Task 6: Environmental Awareness and Public Outreach (24 months; 50% of the cost is included in the FY2025 budget) -- Public education programs that help to educate the public on the importance of protecting natural resources and the use of prescribed fire for conservation and watershed health. This task may include: o Public notification of prescribed burning o Public notification for NEPA analysis (Environmental Assessments) o Meetings with the public and local organizations o Development and distribution of engagement materials such as interpretive displays, oral histories, wildlife checklists, conservation teaching materials o Publish articles in local newspapers, and public service announcements on television and radio. * Task 7: Grant/Project Management (24 months; 50% of the cost is included in the FY2025 budget) -- Grant and contract/scope management and administration.

Monitoring for the entire ecosystem at Camp Williams is an ongoing activity for the Utah Army National Guard (UTARNG) Environmental Resources Management (ERM) staff. AGCW will continue to monitor fire activity throughout the period of performance and beyond, as well as grazing. Watershed data will be collected as part of the Hydrologic, Hydraulic, and Sedimentation Study (Task 2). AGCW will develop a monitoring plan and recommendations for other data collection needs as part of the Watershed Restoration Plan (Task 4). This includes the impacts of wildfire, prescribed fire, and climate change on vegetation communities and water quality, as well as routine monitoring of riparian areas to identify disturbances and enhance wildlife habitat.

Currently the only partner is UTARNG. AGCW will conduct stakeholder outreach and develop partnerships as needed during Task 1 of the Project with relevant permitting, regulatory, and interested agencies, organizations, NGOs, and municipalities. Stakeholders may include, but are not limited to: * Utah Army National Guard (UTARNG) * Utah Department of Natural Resources (UDNR), Divisions of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) * Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Divisions of Air Quality (DAQ) and Water Quality (DWQ) * Neighboring Cities, including: Bluffdale, Saratoga Springs, Herriman, Lehi, and Eagle Mountain * U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) * Federally recognized tribes and indigenous communities * Unified Fire Authority (UFA) * West Traverse Sentinel Landscape

Recommendations for implementation actions and future management and monitoring will be developed through the proposed Project in Tasks 3 and 4. AGCW will also rely on the INRMP, IWFMP, and other management plans, as well as the U.S. Army Climate Strategy Implementation Plan. Relevant data, including geospatial, for water quality, erosion, fire, fuels, grazing, vegetation, and habitat will continuously to be collected and used to inform and revise the AGCW management plans, the Prescribed Fire Plan, and Watershed Restoration Plan, as needed. UTARNG reviews plans annually. ERM management strategies for water resources include (INRMP, Section 6.6.3): * Maintain Wetlands and Surface Water PLS1 * Ensure accordance with regulations, plans, and guidelines * Identify and locate jurisdictional WOUS and potential WOUS impacts, and coordinate with and obtain permits from appropriate agencies (i.e., USACE, UDWQ, and UDNR Division of Water Rights) when needed * Ensure protection of riparian buffers and no net loss of wetlands * Plan, implement, and monitor water resources avoidance and conservation projects * Whenever possible, incorporate wetland restoration (e.g., wetland enhancement or creation) into habitat enhancement plans and into construction plans. * Manage stormwater flow and runoff from UTARNG-controlled lands to avoid or minimize impacts, including non-point source pollution, to onsite and offsite land uses/natural resources. * Manage invasive species to promote desirable native species. Management strategies for Wildland Fire include (IWFMP and INRMP, Section 6.8.3): * Develop the IWFMP * Review burn plans * Ensure accordance with regulations, plans, and guidelines * Coordinate fire suppression with UFA * Contribute to annual fire management work plan as part of Wildland Fire Working Group * Fire breaks * Grazing * Prescribed fire The UTARNG will implement the following management guidelines to facilitate the military mission and natural resources management objectives for reducing soil erosion and sedimentation at AGCW (INRMP, Section 6.5.3): * Implement BMPs during training activities or land management activities to prevent and control erosion and protect sensitive resources and habitats. Minimize soil erosion and sedimentation by using the least erodible soils for intensive land-disturbing activities, scheduling intensive operations during seasons with reduced erosion risk, and rehabilitating disturbed land (AR 200-1). * Ensure incorporation of BMPs in the preliminary engineering, design, and construction of facilities involving ground disturbance. * Continue to maintain and manage access roads on training ranges in order to control dust and soil erosion. Activities may include spread of gravel on dirt roads, installation of water bars to drain roadways, installation and maintenance of culverts, and watering of gravel roads for soil erosion control as necessary. * Revegetate bare soils and utilize native species genotypes during restoration and landscaping projects. Plants prohibited by the USDA or considered invasive or noxious in Utah will not be planted. * If an area does not revegetate readily, conduct a soil test and incorporate the minimum soil amendment necessary. * Maintain off-road vehicle maneuver within designated areas.

The Project, through Task 3: Analysis of Existing Prescribed Fire Plan and Task 4: Watershed Restoration Plan, will analyze and plan for improvement of the quality and quantity of sustainable uses within Camp Williams, such as carbon sequestration, biomass, and grazing. 1. Carbon sequestration -- Conservation of native vegetation, soil, and riparian corridors, when not subjected to frequent, severe fires has the potential to sequester significant carbon dioxide. 2. Biomass -- Returning biomass back to the ecosystem to sustain plants and animal communities. 3. Grazing -- Cattle grazing has been and will be conducted for fine fuels reduction under close supervision with appropriate timing and intensity. Goat and sheep grazing will be conducted for woody fuels reduction.