The area was burned on 6/7/2024 it caused loss in vegetation that could lead to erosion and increase turbidity in the Virgin River. This is a good place to increase site health for wildlife including but not limited to mule deer and south willow flycatcher habitat.

The objectives of this project is to rehabilitate the burned area to improve the landscape with fire resilient vegetation and provide habitat and forage for multiple animal species. This will be accomplished by seeding a diverse mix of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. The long-term goal of the project is to improve resistance and resilience to future wildfires and to the spread of invasive species including cheatgrass. along with to maintain wildlife habitat.

The fire occurred on 6/7/2024 the area lost much of the natural vegetation. With the areas proximity to the Virgin river sedimentation is a concern. Cheatgrass and other annual grasses have a high probability of returning and re-establishing before other plant species due to the nature of annual grasses. As this happens, other plant species struggle to re-establish, which results in the landscape being dominated by annual grasses. If the area is not rehabilitated through ES&R efforts it is expected that a pattern of more fires similar to this one will continue to occur within the area. The proposed treatment is expected to increase the likelihood of desirable plant species (perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs) to re-establish. A more diverse and fire resistant vegetative community would provide desirable wildlife habitat.

There are numerous management plans that address removal of invasive species, increase of wildlife habitat, reduction of fuels, and increasing collaboration and education with landowners. Below highlight some of those plans. --1-- Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Utah Forest Action Plan 2020: This project addresses 3 of the 4 goals of Utah's FAP: 1. Restore healthy and resilient trees and forests across Utah. 2. Reduce wildfire risk to communities, water resources, and other natural resource values. 3. Increase collaborative landscape-scale forest restoration activities across the State. --2-- Virgin River Resource Management and Recovery Program (VRP): Actions to benefit 3 native fish species under the ESA and the southwestern willow flycatcher. Participants include USFWS, Zion NP, DNR, Washington County Water Conservancy District, and TNC. Actions include riparian restoration, removal of non-native plants, flow improvements, and education. --3--Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025: Invasive species, a level 3 threat, are ranked very high for Virgin spinedace, Desert sucker, and Flannelmouth sucker. It is ranked high for Southwestern willow flycatcher. The project is within the riverine aquatic key habitat. This project helps reduce 3 of the threats to this key habitat: inappropriate fire frequency and intensity, droughts, and invasive plant species. --4--Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program, Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan 2017-2021: this project is within a PFW focus area, priority habitat type (riparian) and priority species (the proposed project addresses invasive species as a habitat threat). --5--Natural Resource Conservation Service, Working Lands for Wildlife Program: this project addresses habitat restoration, invasive species removal and connectivity of suitable habitat for a focus species, the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, through addressing the following goals: protect, maintain and restore riparian habitat; increase and improve occupied, suitable and potential SWFL breeding habitat; improve weed and invasive species management; increase connectivity of existing and potential SWFL habitat. --6--DEQ Virgin River Watershed Water Quality Management Plan: is supported by this project by the continued control of exotic plants including tamarisk and Russian olive and restoration of cottonwood trees. --7-- Utah Noxious Weed Act supports this proposal through the continued removal and control of tamarisk, a Class C Weed. Also by meeting Strategic goals and Objectives, Goal I, protect the State's natural, agricultural, and ranching resources including water quality and quantity.

The Rockville fire is located in the BLM St. George field office jurisdiction. The number and fire and burn areas have increased over the past 10 years. Multiple fires have burned in this same location and others have burned near to it. The increase and spread of annual invasive grass has been the cause for the increase in the number of fire. These species are the main fuels for fires specifically where they ignite. The ES&R project for this fire is expected to reduce the cheatgrass that has invaded this area and become a dominate plant species. If untreated, future fires will continue to be more difficult to control and have devastating effects by burning at a higher intensity, which could lead to fires getting larger and burning in previously unburned acres. Treatments identified within this proposal, including seeding with more fire resistant vegetation and creation of fuel breaks/green strips are expected to reduce the overall threat of future wildfires, which could impact unburned areas in the watershed. control and have devastating effects by burning at a higher intensity, which could lead to fires getting larger and burning in previously unburned acres. Treatments identified within this proposal, including seeding with more fire resistant vegetation and creation of fuel breaks/green strips are expected to reduce the overall threat of future wildfires, which could impact unburned areas in the watershed.

By reseeding and restoring this site with the proper vegetation the soils will be stabilized and decrease erosion. This will lead to less turbidity and decreased amounts of sedimentation in the river.

All undertakings will follow Guidance from SHPO on all applicable practices. arch will be completed prior to ground disturbing practices.

This project would be accomplished through seeding of BLM and private lands with a mixture of native grasses, and forbs appropriate for the site. Aerial seeding of grasses and forbs would be conducted during the late fall/early winter months of 2024, when precipitation could be expected to ensure seed propagation and survival.

The NRCS/DWR would provide follow up monitoring.

The NRCS/DWR and BLM St. George Field Office will be working with the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative to complete this project on acres that were burned in the fire with the private land owners. All acres will be seeded aerially Non-use agreements, if needed, will be identified with the livestock permittees to ensure adequate rest following project implementation.

In accordance with the Standards for Rangeland Health, rangelands that have been burned, reseeded, or otherwise treated to alter the vegetation composition would be closed to livestock grazing for a minimum of two complete growing seasons. This is a management policy in place to protect the stabilization effort from livestock.

This area will be primarily benefiting wildlife and pollinators. The seed mix is heavy in forbs and flowers which are essential for wildlife.

12/02/2024

06/05/2025

2025

In December 2024, Hammond Helicopters conducted aerial seeding of 51ac over the project site, initiating a multi-phase riparian restoration effort. Seed was provided by GBRC Great Basin Research Center paid for by NRCS Farm Bill monies. This was followed in spring 2025 by the removal of invasive woody species, specifically tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), carried out by A Handyman Services. In addition to mechanical removal, all cut stumps were treated with Garlon 3A® herbicide to prevent resprouting and ensure long-term suppression of these aggressive invaders. The final phase of the project involved planting over 300 native trees and shrubs purchased from High Mountain Nursery LLC. Including golden currant (Ribes aureum), river birch (Betula occidentalis), and Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii). These species were selected for their ecological compatibility with riparian systems, their value to wildlife, and their ability to stabilize streambanks. Planting was completed by seasonal staff from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), with enthusiastic support from Dedicated hunters. A hand auger borrowed from USFWS (Clint Wirick) greatly facilitated the planting process and was deeply appreciated by the crew. Together, these treatments represent a comprehensive and community-supported approach to restoring riparian health, improving biodiversity, and enhancing long-term resilience in a fire- and invasion-impacted landscape.

The project site was impacted by the Rockville Fire a man made incident that started from burning cotton wood seed fluff on private property, in the summer of 2024, which burned through a cotton wood gallery with tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) present in the understory. Fire severity across the landscape ranged from moderate to extreme, with some zones exhibiting significant soil damage and reduced biological activity. In response, fire rehabilitation funding was secured through both NRCS and dedicated fire Forestry Fire and State Lands (FFSL) rehab programs to initiate ecological recovery. Notably FFSL Stan Gurley was first to contact the private land owners and BLM affected by the Fire. Effectively starting restoration activities on the property. Post-fire assessments guided a multi-phase restoration strategy, including aerial seeding, invasive species removal, and native planting. However, by summer 2025, a patch of knapweed (Centaurea spp.) emerged, likely taking advantage of disturbed soils and reduced competition. This highlighted a key lesson from the project: the importance of allocating resources for post-treatment spot spraying to control opportunistic invasives. Another takeaway was the timing of native tree and shrub planting. While over 300 individuals were successfully planted, earlier-season installation may have improved root establishment and drought resilience, especially given the dry conditions that followed.

The restoration site is not subject to livestock grazing, which has allowed for uninterrupted recovery of native vegetation following the Rockville Fire and subsequent seeding efforts. The absence of grazing pressure has created ideal conditions for early successional growth, and wildlife activity has noticeably increased as species respond to the flush of new forage and cover. To address emerging weed issues, the private landowner was connected with the Washington County Weed Supervisor, ensuring access to technical support and resources for ongoing invasive species management. This partnership strengthens the long-term viability of the project by enabling timely response to outbreaks like the knapweed patch observed in summer 2025. While full ecological recovery remains a long-term challenge, the site is now on a positive trajectory. Strategic interventions--herbicide application, invasive removal, native planting, and community involvement--have laid a strong foundation. Continued support from local partners and dedicated individuals is helping the landowner maintain momentum and adaptively manage the landscape toward full reclamation.