The Deer Springs Fire burned approximately 11,766 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered land within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). This fire did not extend outside of GSENM boundaries; no lands under private, state, or other federal ownership were burned. The fire was located approximately 21 miles north-northeast of Kanab, Utah, along the south side of the Skutumpah Road. GSENM resources impacted include the Panguitch sage grouse management area (SGMA) opportunity habitat (535 acres), the Johnson Canyon Watershed, two 303d impaired watersheds, and soils susceptible to erosion. The fire also burned within 0.4 miles of the Panguitch sage grouse priority habitat management area (PHMA). The Deer Springs fire burned or approached key seasonal and year-round habitats for multiple species. Approximately 535 acres of the Panguitch SGMA burned in the fire; the fire came within 0.4 miles of the Panguitch GRSG PHMA. GRSG have not been recorded within the SGMA, but the PHMA regularly reports high GRSG presence during lek counts in the spring. Data obtained from the Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP) indicates that several BLM sensitive species may have been present, including golden eagle, and pinyon jay. The project area contains 719 acres of crucial and 11,047 acres of substantial mule deer winter range. The burn area is an important mule deer migration route, connecting summer range on the Paunsaugunt Plateau with winter ranges on Nephi pasture, Buckskin Mountain, and Johnson Canyon. An estimated 5,200 mule deer make this migration annually. A majority of the burn is also year-round elk habitat, although elk are present in very low numbers.

For the purpose of biotic integrity and habitat restoration, seeded native grasses, forbs, and shrubs would be at least 25 percent frequency along transects, then monitored for five years. Establish native vegetation cover of at least 25 percent within five years for site and soil stability. Decrease invasive annual grass and noxious weed presence to below pre-burn levels over three years. Increase ponderosa pine seedlings on 20 count per acre relative frequency within five years.

The need for the proposed project is driven by the BLM's responsibility under the Post-Wildfire Recovery Program "to reduce the risk of resource damage and restore landscapes impacted by wildfire and to promote long-term restoration and recovery objectives" (620 DM 7.1 A; BLM 2017). Under the ES&R program, this EA has been prepared in conjunction with the ES Plan which must be filed by within 21 days of fire containment for timely receipt of requested funding and prompt implementation of treatments. In order to implement actions, environmental effects must be analyzed.

2024 GSENM Deer Springs Fire Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area Rehabilitation DOI-BLM-UT-P010-2024-0010-EA Land Use Plans GSENM Resource Management Plan (RMP): Date Approved February 2020 Kanab-Escalante Planning Area (KEPA) RMP Date Approved February 2020 RMP Name* GSENM 2000 Monument Management Plan (MMP) Date Approved November 1999 The Proposed Action is in conformance with the both the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (2020 GSENM RMPs) and the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for the Kanab-Escalante Planning Area (2020 KEPA RMP) because it is specifically provided for in the following RMP decisions: Listed below is management guidance from the 2020 GSENM RMP and 2020 KEPA RMP that relate to ES&R actions proposed within this EA. In instances where goals, objectives, and management direction within the GSENM and KEPA RMPs conflict, the GSENM RMPs more protective and restrictive direction was applied. In 2021, Proclamation 10286 reinstated the GSENM original boundaries set in Proclamation 6920 in 1996. As a result, KEPA lands were reincorporated into the GSENM. Resource goals outline specific conditions to achieve or actions to undertake to effectively manage the resource. Management actions (labeled with a 3-letter code and number) are those that would be considered or included when action is taken upon aforementioned resource. All resource goals, objectives, and management actions can be found in Chapter 2 of the 2020 GSENM RMP and 2020 KEPA RMP. Connection and compliance between resources and the ES&R program is discussed in brief. Fire and Fuels Management (FIRE) Undertake emergency stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration efforts to protect and sustain resources, public health and safety, and community infrastructure. Would work together with BLM partners and other affected groups and individuals to reduce risks to communities and restore ecosystems. Fire-2: Consider all available tools when applying emergency stabilization and rehabilitation as appropriate. Vegetation (VEG) Ensure a mosaic of desired vegetation communities is present across the landscape with diversity of species, canopy, density, and age class in accordance with ecological site potential. Protect, enhance, and/or restore ecological processes and functions. Restore native species to meet desired plant community objectives. Create and maintain a mosaic of non-invasive perennial and annual vegetation communities across the landscape with diversity of species, canopy, density, and different stages of growth. Manage undesirable and desirable vegetation with the goal of improving overall watershed conditions. VEG-9: After surface disturbance, manage livestock grazing practices until seedings are established in order to promote the survival of plants. Generally, areas will be rested from livestock grazing for two growing seasons and until site objectives are met. Vegetation treatment monitoring data will be evaluated to determine when objectives for the seedings are met, and grazing can be resumed. VEG-10: Consistent with Federal policy, prioritize the use of native species. Allow the use of nonnative species where necessary to optimize land health, forage, and productivity in nonstructural range improvements. VEG-11: In areas available for livestock grazing, restore existing nonstructural range improvements (seedings) using a mix of native and nonnative species. Cultural and Heritage Resources (CUL) Seek to reduce imminent threats and resolve potential conflicts from natural or human-caused deterioration, or potential conflict with other resource uses. Seek to restore and stabilize important and at-risk cultural resources. CUL-2: Establish continuing collaborative programs with local communities, organizations, local and State agencies, Native American communities, outfitters and guides, volunteers, and other interested parties to identify, inventory, document, monitor, and develop and implement plans for the restoration, stabilization, protection, and/or interpretation of appropriate sites and resources. Special Status Species (SSP) Develop and implement conservation measures to minimize long-term habitat fragmentation and maintain habitat connectivity through avoidance and site-specific reclamation in order to provide the habitat quality and quantity to meet ecological requirements and support a natural diversity of species. SSP-1: Manage Greater sage-grouse (GRSG) populations and habitat in accordance with the most current GRSG management direction. The Proposed Action is also in conformance with the 2015 Utah Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment (ARMPA) (BLM 2015). The ARMPA provides managers with the most recent guidance on GRSG habitat management. Approximately 535 acres of the Panguitch GRSG management area (SGMA) was affected by the Deer Springs Fire. The Panguitch priority habitat management area (PHMA) is within 0.4 miles of the project area. The following guidance from the 2015 ARMPA is specific to ES&R actions occurring within designated SGMA and PHMA. Manage the wildland fire, fuels, and fire rehabilitation program to avoid GRSG habitat loss, enhance contiguous sagebrush habitat, restore damaged habitats, and address post wildfire threats to GRSG Habitat. Prioritize use of native seed in GRSG occupied and unoccupied management areas. Ensure long-term persistence of seeded and pre-burn native plants post-ES&R actions. Consider changes to livestock grazing, travel management, and other uses to ensure vegetative success. Exclude livestock from seeded area for a minimum of two growing seasons to ensure seeding success of herbaceous and woody species. Soil Resources (SOL) Manage uses to prevent damage to and degradation of soil resources and to ensure that soil health is maintained or improved. Maintain or enhance soil stability, productivity, and infiltration to prevent accelerated erosion and to provide for optimal plant growth and the site's potential. Require measures to stabilize soils and minimize surface water runoff for slopes greater than 10%, both during project activities and following project completion. Prohibit surface-disturbing activities on slopes greater than 30% with exceptions considered. Water Resources (WR) Maintain, enhance, and/or restore natural hydrologic functions of watersheds, including the capability to capture, store, and beneficially release water. Livestock Grazing (GRA) Maintain, restore, or enhance sustainable rangeland ecosystems to meet BLM Utah's Standards for Rangeland Health (BLM 1997) and to produce a wide range of public values such as wildlife habitat, livestock forage, recreation opportunities, clean water, sustainable economic benefits to local communities, and functional watersheds. GRA-10: Adaptively manage season of use, duration, and distribution of livestock grazing to meet or move toward meeting BLM Utah Rangeland Health Standards, before considering changes to stocking rate (AUM2s). Actions to improve land health include, but are not limited to: Maintain existing developments (structural and nonstructural improvements). Install new developments (e.g., water developments and fences). Implement nonstructural range improvements (e.g., restore shrub lands, control juniper, and control or eradicate invasive species). Improve livestock distribution through range improvements, salting, supplements, or other techniques. Social and Economic Considerations (SOC) Reduce hazards to public health and safety. Ensure that human health and safety concerns on public lands remain a major priority.

There is a large concern for cheatgrass to establish in dominance, which would lead to a burn/ reburn cycle long term. Re-establishment of resilient vegetation is key to preventing further loss or damage from wildfire.

Replacement of vegetation is expected to improve infiltration and recharge groundwater by keeping soils in place and slowing overland flow. There are several springs and ponds located within the fire perimeter. A catchment apron is also in place to funnel water to a drinker for wildlife. Vegetation treatments are expected to stabilize soils and reduce sedimentation entering water sources. There may be an increase in water within surface waters under current conditions with removal of trees that were previously tapped into those sources. The HUC12 Upper Johnson Wash drinking water well is within the Deer Springs fire perimeter. Vegetation treatments are expected to improve infiltration into the groundwater.

2024 GSENM Deer Springs Fire Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area Rehabilitation DOI-BLM-UT-P010-2024-0010-EA Cultural Clearance to be completed with project.

Aerial Seed Application One Way Ely Chaining Mastication of burned trees Sterile wheat application and straw bale bombing on Red Breaks area Erosion Control Structures - potential wood or rock check dams, berms created by dozers Hand thinning - potential hand thinning of cultural sites Culvert placement Noxious and Invasive Weed Inventory and Treatment - Inventory and potential treatment of noxious and invasive weeds (Scotch thistle and cheatgrass are the primary) Fence Removal and installation - Contractor would remove old barbwire fence and install wildlife approved fencing for both the ES fence and Rehab Fence. Ponderosa Pine Planting -Potential planting of ponderosas that would be grown at a nursery and hand planted Bitterbrush seeding - Potential seeding of bitterbrush with a rodent bait applicator

For vegetation related data collection, BLM Assessment Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) protocol would be followed for data collection. Existing AIM plots would be used for measurements and monitored every year for the first five years post-fire before returning to normal data collection intervals. Additional plots would be established using the AIM framework as needed to capture data for all treatment types and variables. Data collected would also include photo points at each plot. Eight existing AIM plots are within the burn scar and could be used for data collection. Seven additional AIM plots are within two miles of the burn scar; data collected at these points could be used for comparison data. Appendix B, Map 15 shows AIM plot locations. Additional monitoring plots could be added at specialist discretion. Cover data would be collected at each plot location and nested frequency data would also be collected by recording presence or absence of each species at each quadrant location. Relative frequency values would also be collected for plant type (annual, perennial, seeded, volunteer). Establishment of ponderosa pine seedlings would be checked annually. Supplemental plantings may occur to reach desired stocking levels. GSENM weeds specialists would annually inspect the fire scar for any occurrences of noxious and invasive weeds and implement early detection- rapid response actions. Erosion structures such as rock and straw check dams would be periodically checked for durability. GSENM staff would periodically check for movement of straw off site, 100% die-off of sterile wheatgrass, and soil holding capacity. The culvert on Timber Mountain Road would be checked periodically to ensure it is functioning properly. Rangeland management specialists (RMS) would monitor for trespass livestock onto seeded areas. Head counts may be used as well as checking of livestock exclusion structures to ensure they are not compromised. Per H-1742-1, livestock can return to allotments following a minimum of two-growing seasons of rest and when project objectives, as described below, are met. If seeding occurs in the fall of 2024, a minimum two-growing seasons of rest would be the spring of 2025 and 2026 respectively, followed by monitoring of seeding success by the Rangeland Management Specialist. If seeding has been deemed successful and project objectives have been met, livestock would return to the burned area in 2027. Additional allotment rest years would be added if project objectives are not met. Survival surveys would occur within ponderosa pine plantings. Survival surveys would occur in permanent 1/50th acre plots every, one, three-, and five-years post-planting. Plots would be monumented with a stake. Data collected includes number of live seedlings, total height, number of branch whorls produced, animal activity on seedlings, and general seedling health. In a small portion of the burned area, where there was a prescribed fire in 1987, the BLM is proposing to do two different treatments to observe seeding success with and without mechanical incorporation. On the east side of Timber Mountain Road, managers are proposing to only aerial seed, without any mechanical treatment. On the west side of the road, aerial seeding would occur followed by chaining (see Map 1) below for study location and delineation). The goal of that study is to determine if chaining increases seeding success, and recovery of native vegetation, in the previously burned area. GSENM staff, and possibly other researchers, would collect data (Herrick et al., 2021) and photo points to evaluate differences in abundance of seeded species and the overall recovery of native vegetation. Monitoring Objectives The project will be considered successful if the following objectives are met: For the purpose of biotic integrity and habitat restoration, seeded native grasses, forbs, and shrubs would be at least 25 percent frequency then monitored for 5 years. Establish native vegetation cover of at least 25 percent within 5 years for site and soil stability. Decrease invasive annual grass and noxious weed presence to below pre-burn levels over 3 years. Increase ponderosa pine seedlings on 20 count per acre relative frequency within 5 years.

DWR, Permittees

Seeded areas will be closed to livestock grazing for Monitoring will occur over five years. If objectives are not reached further actions may be required and are discussed in detail below. Management Actions to Occur in Event of Failure Retreatment of acres may occur if initial treatments have failed. Failed treatments would be evaluated to determine reason(s) for failure and addressed prior to retreatment. Retreatment actions would fall under the Proposed Action. Additional aerial seeding could require additional mechanical treatment (chaining). Additional use of herbicide may occur to control noxious and invasive weed populations. Supplemental planting of ponderosa pine tubelings may occur where feasible planting sites are available. Additional erosion control structures may be added where soil movement is observed. Repairs to protection fence, installation of additional protection fence, or other allotment management techniques such as moving of livestock waters would be used to deter livestock from entering seeded areas. Management Actions to Maintain Treatments and Inform Other Actions Monitoring will occur for five years after containment. At that point, monitoring schedules would return to those followed by GSENM staff. Integrated weed management under current GSENM direction is expected to occur within the project area. Quick action against noxious and invasive weeds would improve native perennial success long-term (three+ years post treatment). Seedings would continue to be monitored for survival and species diversity. Data collected would help determine which plant species thrived or died under mechanical treatment types to inform future seedings and ES&R projects. Ponderosa pine seedings are recommended to be monitored until at least year five due to susceptibility to browse and drought. Stocking surveys (counts of live trees including natural regeneration) could begin after year five if desired.

The Deer Springs Fire burned within the Mill Creek, Ford Well, Timber Mountain, Johnson Lakes, Second Point, Boot, Locke Ridge and Vermillion allotments. The proposed ES&R actions would provide long term benefits to both Livestock Grazing and Rangeland Health by promoting the establishment of a diverse seed mix that can outcompete non-desirable species, including cheatgrass post-fire. Successful treatment actions are expected to provide for sustained forage availability for the allotments and maintenance/attainment of the Rangeland Health Standards. Livestock will be excluded from burned areas for a minimum of 2 years to promote seeding establishment. Approximately 6 miles of permanent protection fence will be needed to exclude livestock from these burned areas, as well as the re-construction of approximately 9 miles of allotment boundary fence that was burned.