The wet meadow portion of 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. Beaver Creek Stream Restoration Beaver Creek is a significant perineal tributary of the Price River, a major river in Southeast Utah, and tributary of the Green River. Within the Price River drainage there are few perineal, undammed, tributaries capable of supporting wild trout, big game, grazing, and other wildlife. Beaver Creek represents one of these important tributaries within the overall drainage. However, beaver creek has seen significant overuse, drought and encroachment causing habitat degradation, muted flows, and limited wildlife diversity. In significant stretches Beaver Creek has become entrenched and channelized, riparian vegetation is limited or non-existent and sagebrush and monoculture uplands have encroached upon the riparian area significantly. Muted flows due to drought, dried soils, and poor stream function have further limited trout within the drainage, once a stronghold of native Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. Still, areas of stream function persist. Beavers have colonized some reaches of Beaver Creek. And trout survive in its headwaters. This project represents an excellent opportunity to expand these islands of wildlife habitat using low-tech process-based restoration practices. These practices give us the opportunity to restore the function of Beaver Creek drainage wide. These practices will allow us to expand habitat for trout, insects, beavers, big game, and other terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. And these practices will further increase flows, water quality, riparian vegetation, and grazing capacity. It is an opportunity to save and restore stream function to an isolated haven of natural function within the upper Price River drainage, found in few other places. Spring Development Spring development in the tributaries of the Price River is an important aspect of this project. In recent years drought and overuse has caused a loss of flowing springs and the ecosystems they provide for within the drainage. Losing springs to drought, or underground flowing, reduces vegetation diversity, habitat for important wildlife, and stock watering possibilities for grazers. This project proposes spring developments of critical springs within the project area to protect them from overuse and to protect the ecosystems and wildlife that they support. Spring developments are beneficial for both wildlife and grazers. MONARCH AND WESTERN BUMBLEBEE The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing protection for the monarch butterfly as a threatened species, announced December 2024. Western Bumble bee are a petitioned species. Some of the most forb diverse habitats are those around water. By improving wetlands and wet meadow complexes we are benefitting a very large diversity of pollinators, including monarchs and W. bumblebee. Furthermore, conservationists are coming to realize the importance of late season forb vegetation for migrating pollinators. Wetted habitats have those late season nectar sources. Emma Park SAGE GROUSE and OTHER SAGEBRUSH BIRDS The Emma Park project area is part a Sage-grouse management area. The sagebrush valley bottom and meadow complexes 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.

Emma Park Wet Meadow Reduce erosion, restore seasonal wetlands, and restore soil hydrology in wet meadow habitats. - Increase length of season soils are wetted in meadows by 30% - Increase total area of wetted soils by 35% - Increase total herbaceous vegetation production by 35% within restored wetted soils. Beaver Creek Stream Restoration Stream Restoration on Beaver Creek will restore an estimated 2 miles of creek habitat for fish and terrestrial wildlife. There are three significant objectives related to project implementation and post implementation monitoring that will further define successful stream restoration. Future projects and planning in the Beaver Creek drainage will be informed by this project's ability to meet these objectives as well. Additional ancillary objectives will also be a priority of project implementation and inform future projects and landowner outreach as well. These objectives are outlined below. First, reconnecting the floodplain of Beaver Creek and providing increased riparian vegetation in areas devoid of vegetation and experiencing stream channel entrenchment or channelization. This project anticipates increasing riparian vegetation in project reaches where low-tech process-based structures are constructed. Reconnecting the stream to the floodplain will provide for additional soil moisture and subirrigation of the riparian area and an increase in riparian vegetation and vegetation diversity. An estimated 50% increase in riparian vegetation along 2 miles of stream restoration, and colonization of woody riparian vegetation along 2 miles of stream restoration will be realized within three years of project implementation. A total increase of 6 acres of additional wetland or riparian habitat is expected. Successful realization and monitoring of this goal will further inform possible grazing management or future stream restoration projects. Second, an expansion of Beaver activity in the Beaver Creek drainage through beaver assisted restoration and Beaver Dam Analog implementation. In reaches of Beaver Creek functioning properly there are active populations of Beavers. Restoration activities will provide opportunities for these populations to expand either through direct expansion of man-made beaver dam analogs or an increase in riparian vegetation, and consequently food and habitat for prospective beaver transplants. Beaver expansion or attempts at expansion within each project reach will be monitored with a goal of at least one new beaver dam complex on Beaver Creek within project reaches by 2030. Third, an increase in aquatic habitat and water quality for trout and other aquatic wildlife. Implementation of low-tech process-based restoration activities should increase aquatic habitat for trout, providing for cooler water, deep pools for trout, and an increase in riparian vegetation that shades streams and acts as additional holding habitat for trout and other wildlife. BDA's will also increase groundwater recharge, providing for higher stream flows in times of drought and low flows. Ancillary objectives for Beaver Creek stream restoration include the following. An increase in grazing quality and capacity for the Beaver Creek drainage. Additional landowner support and outreach for both future stream restoration projects, but also upland and timber / fuels projects to provide for fire thinning, big game habitat restoration, and additional grazing capacity. Downstream water quality benefits for Price River water users, and the communities that rely on the greater drainage for municipal, agricultural and industrial uses. Spring Development The major objective for spring development in the Beaver Creek drainage is the protection of springs from drought and overuse. Springs developed through this project will maintain flow and provide water for both ecological and agricultural uses.

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 to 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. 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). 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. 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. Beaver Creek Drainage Beaver Creek flows into the Price River approximately three miles below the Colton Bridge crossing of Highway 6. The Beaver Creek drainage is roughly 13 miles long, flowing northeast through a steep canyon surrounded by alpine forest and sagebrush steppe. This drainage is one of the few undammed major perennial tributaries of the Price River capable of supporting diverse aquatic wildlife and terrestrial big game, grazing ungulates, and a significant population of beavers. It also represents one of the few major Price River drainages that has not been affected by sever wildfires in the past fifteen years. The majority of the lower canyon's tributaries burned in the Bear Canyon fire in 2021. Significant portions of Miller Creek and Gordon Creek (which contribute to the Price River downstream of Helper, Utah) burned in the Seeley Fire in 2012. Beaver Creek, for this reason, is a unique portion of the Price River drainage, a haven of wildlife habitat, unaltered by sever wildfires and the post fire habitat degradation that often follows. For this reason, protection and enhancement of this habitat should be of critical concern. The easiest restoration and most valuable restoration that can be had is the protection and enhancement of habitats that have significant ecosystem and water quality value, not merely the stabilization of already poorly functioning watersheds. Beaver Creek shows the opportunity for habitat growth, but also the concern for continued habitat loss throughout its drainage. In places, large beaver dam complexes, maintained by populations of beaver provide for excellent watershed function. But in long stretches of Beaver Creek the stream sees significant channelization, erosion, sediment laden water, and little to no riparian vegetation or floodplain connectivity. The presence of Beaver within the drainage already offers a wonderful opportunity to maintain, protect, and grow riparian and watershed health in a meaningful and cost-effective way by expanding on already functioning reaches of the stream. Waiting for continued degradation to warrant a larger expenditure and greater habitat improvement would be a mistake and a poor investment strategy. If no action is taken habitat degradation including a loss of riparian habitat and channel entrenchment could spread to areas currently functioning properly. Poor riparian habitat and stream function may also further decrease the capacity of Beaver Creek for grazing and agricultural use. It may reduce the drainage's resiliency to drought and intense wildfire; wildfires could further decrease stream function through flooding and heavy erosion. And within the Price River drainage's greater ecosystem loss of habitat would continue to further limit the larger habitat diversity for big game. Momentum for restoration in Beaver Creek may spread to greater upland and forest management opportunities as well. This landowner interest, momentum, and opportunity are also key aspects to consider for project timing. Four major landowners in the Beaver Creek drainage have interest in an increase in watershed health, wildlife habitat, and natural resources capacity. These landowners care greatly for the Beaver Creek drainage and are interested in seeing it protected and enhanced. There are many landowners in the drainage with homes, ranching interests, hunting cabins, and recreational interests that further understand the importance of a healthy watershed to both increase the capacity of these interests, but also to protect for future impacts from fire or drought.

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. Utah Forest Action Plan: This project directly supports the Utah Forest Action Plan by contributing to key goals such as reducing wildfire risk and restoring healthy forests. By creating effective fire breaks through riparian restoration, the project mitigates the spread of wildfire and protects surrounding habitats, aligning with the plan's emphasis on reducing wildfire risk. Furthermore, by enhancing riparian vegetation and promoting biodiversity, the project improves the health and resilience of the forest ecosystem, contributing to the goal of restoring healthy and resilient forests. The project's collaborative approach, involving various partners, also aligns with the plan's emphasis on increasing landscape-scale forest restoration activities. 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. Beaver Creek Restoration - The Carbon County Resource Management Plan directly outlines several policies and practices in conjunction with the practices proposed by this project. Carbon County "supports land use practices which promote proper ground cover to prevent erosion. And encourages public land management agencies to restore damaged areas." The Carbon County RMP also supports the "encouragement of rangeland improvement projects, including livestock water developments." Spring developments and stream restoration will accomplish these goals and meet Carbon County policies. Carbon County "supports projects to increase water quality and or quantity in the county." And the county specifically details "the value of water quality for human health and safety as well as ecological health." - The Utah Beaver Management Plan details habitat restoration Objective Two as promoting beaver-assisted restoration activities in areas where beaver activity can be expanded upon. Beavers in Beaver Creek provide the majority of the functioning watershed and riparian habitat. In short segments Beavers have created a healthy riparian forest, and provide for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. This project would directly work through Objective Two, incentivizing beaver-assisted restoration in areas of Beaver creek currently devoid of populations. - The Price River Watershed Coordinated Resource Management Plan outlines Total Maximum Daily Loading issues within the mainstem of the Price River including Total Dissolved Solid loadings and decreased dissolved oxygen loadings. One possible project to address TMDL exceedances within the watershed is outlined as follows, "improve riparian condition through grazing management and the establishment of wetland species." This project will promote riparian vegetation and wetland establishment through the implementation of best management practices, including Beaver Dam Analogs and vegetation monitoring for grazing over use and water quality. - The Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan denotes that "when [mule deer] forage contains only limited amounts of water, access to drinking water becomes important. The special distribution of mule deer populations is often positively associated with the availability of water in arid regions of Western North America. Restoration best management practices (BMP's) proposed in this project would increase the drought resiliency and water quality of water sources for mule deer, an important factor in population resiliency as noted by the statewide management plan. - The Utah Elk Management Plan details "water as an important component of elk habitat, and lack of sufficient water distribution limits the number and distribution of elk in Utah." This project proposes restoration activities that can increase the quality and quantity of water, as well as the drought resiliency of the Beaver Creek

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. 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 by Fairfax (2020). Beaver Creek Beaver Creek is one of the few major Price River canyon tributaries that was not affected by the Bear Canyon Fire which burned a significant portion of the lower canyon in 2021. This fire has resulted in severe debris flows and floods through the lower Price River canyon during times of intense monsoonal rains. Projects promoting riparian health in Beaver Creek will work to protect the drainage and the Price River from further fires and the ensuing habitat degradation that results from post fire instability. A healthy riparian area promotes fire resiliency, particularly in areas most susceptible to flooding and erosion. Beaver Creek also hosts several homes and infrastructure for both cabins and ranching properties. Fire resiliency will provide further safety and protection for these structures and the wider public in the event of additional wildfires. A Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment of the centroid of the project area noted the wildfire hazard potential for the Beaver Creek drainage as high. This assessment report has been attached to the project proposal.

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. Beaver Creek Restoration The Price River below Beaver Creek is currently listed on the EPA's 303d list of impaired bodies of water for low dissolved oxygen content. One factor that may be causing such dissolved oxygen levels and water quality impairments in the presence of sediment and the altering geomorphologic stream function that this sediment causes. Beaver Creek is one source of this fine sediment, and restoration efforts will further help reduce the erosion and transport of this sediment into the Price River. The best management practices employed in Beaver Creek will work to increase floodplain connectivity, slow water down, reduce erosion, and capture this sediment. Restoration efforts with Beaver Dam Analogs have been shown to improve the aquatic habitat and carrying capacity of water by creating pools, stream complexity, and additional riparian shade that cools water down. Cooler water temperatures favor important aquatic fish and insects and increases the durability of a stream against drought. Restoration efforts may also raise base flows in Beaver Creek itself. Beaver dam analogs have been shown to increase groundwater recharge and consequently, base flows in times of low flow and drought. Today Beaver Creek is considered a losing stream, with flows diminished closer to the Price River. Restoration efforts may increase these flows, particularly later in the year providing for drought resiliency and aquatic and terrestrial habitat improvement in areas currently devoid of significant late season flows. An increase in water in the later season will also increase the working capability of these lands, providing for stock water in areas lower in the stream where grazing is common.

All compliance and permitting will be completed by partners on a project by project basis. Beaver Creek Restoration efforts on Beaver Creek are expected to require both state and federal stream alteration permits. These permits will be sought through the PGP 10 permitting process and the Nation Wide 27 permitting process as required for compliance with both the state of Utah and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Partners contributing to this proposal including the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Trout Unlimited, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the NRCS have significant experience applying for and working under both state and federal stream alteration permits. The project scope will be surveyed and planned in detail with landowners and relevant partners to streamline permitting work and provide detailed plans as required by regulators. Cultural resource compliance for Nation Wide Permitting through the US Army Corps of Engineers may be required as well. State archeologists will be utilized to perform on-site cultural surveys and literary reviews as required. In the past, implementation of low-tech process-based restoration practices, such as beaver dam analogs have been required to apply for a temporary water right. If need be, the project manager will apply for this temporary water right. Several partners included in this project have a history of working with the Utah Division of Water Rights on similar projects and have performed temporary water right applications with regards to stream restoration before.

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. Beaver Creek Primary stream restoration in the Beaver Creek drainage will include the construction of an estimated 100 Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA) in areas of Beaver Creek that have seen channelization, a loss of floodplain connectivity, and a reduction of riparian vegetation. BDA's offer significant benefits for restoration of streams of this size, further detailed below. - BDA's offer erosion control and sediment capture. These structures slow water down, decreasing the energy of high flows that cause excessive trenching and stream bank erosion. They also capture sediment and rebuild entrenched stream channels. - BDA's reconnect the stream with their extended floodplain. This means a stream will have access to their floodplain for energy dissipation and subirrigation for riparian vegetation growth. - Ponding caused by BDA's increase the groundwater recharge of flowing water, increasing late season flows. The ground surrounding BDA's and beaver ponds act like sponges, releasing their soaked-up water in the fall and during periods of drought. - Ponding also decreases water temperature. Deep water pools are cooler, and provide low temperature havens for fish such as trout. Planning, construction, and monitoring will be performed in four major tasks implemented by project management, construction contractors, partners, and volunteers. The primary project manager for this project will be Trout Unlimited; their Southeast Utah Project Manager is based in Price, Utah and has been an important partner for landowner outreach and project planning in Beaver Creek. The major tasks for project implementation are outlined below: - Pre-Project Monitoring, Surveying, and Planning. This task will include the surveying of stream reaches requiring restoration, planning for BDA construction, and pre project monitoring of flows, temperatures, vegetation, and wildlife (see the project monitoring portion of this proposal for more details). - Permitting stream alteration based upon pre-construction surveying and planning. - Project Contracting and Construction / Implementation. In this task contracting for construction of the BDA's will be performed through a competitive bidding process. Construction of BDA's will be primarily performed by contractors, though some volunteer help may be used to augment construction if possible. Untreated wooden posts for BDA construction will be sourced outside of the project area and driven into the stream bed using hydraulic post pounders or handheld post pounders. Materials used to fill the BDA's will be sourced on site. Additionally, live willow staking will be performed by volunteers; stakes will be taken from local, native sources and planted in reaches of Beaver Creek where deemed necessary. - Post-Project monitoring (see the project monitoring portion of this proposal for more details). Spring Developments Spring developments in the Beaver Creek drainage will be implemented to protect the springs and the ecosystems they support while still providing watering opportunities for grazing livestock and big game. Springs will be fenced, and off channel water opportunities in stock tanks will be provided for big game and grazing ungulates. The springs themselves will be seeded with a native plant seed. Some spring channel restoration using rock and recanalization may be required to arrest erosion. Wet Meadow Restoration Contractors will be hired to build erosion control rock structures known as Zeedyk structures. These structures are low impact, low-tech structures using local rock and wood. Structures will be no higher than a few inches and a few feet across. Structures will be mostly hand built using hand-tools. Some small equipment may be needed to move rock and place rock. Rock will come from a local quarry. UDWR and USFWS will provide contractor oversight. UDWR and USFWS will work with the contractor to prioritize areas within this project area to work in and types of structures to be built.

Photo points and drone imagery will be created and used to monitor the project in future years and assess if maintenance is necessary. Restoration efforts in Beaver Creek are intended to increase floodplain connectivity and riparian vegetation, increase terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat, and increase overall stream function. Pre and post project monitoring plans are designed to reflect these general goals. Monitoring will be primarily based on pre and post project photo points including drone imagery and on the ground imagery. These images will be taken before project construction and after project construction, for a minimum of two years. Photo points will provide for delineation of specific project effectiveness, exhibiting changes in riparian vegetation and floodplain function. Temperature monitoring of Beaver Creek will also be performed. Stream temperature logging above, though, and below project reaches will provide clarity on the viability of the stream's aquatic habitat for trout and other aquatic species. The effectiveness of Beaver Dam Analogs for sediment capture will be measured for a minimum of two years following. Depth of sediment in constructed Beaver Dam Analogs will be measured annually to determine sediment capture and aggregation. Flow monitoring above and below project reaches will be performed to determine any change in flows achieved through project implementation. Flows in areas lower on Beaver Creek where project implementation is not planned in this project will be taken before and after construction to determine any changes in water quantity provided to lower reaches of the watershed. Monitoring for additional beaver activity within project reaches will be completed annually for at least five years after project completion. Photos and surveying of beaver complex expansion will be performed if necessary to further define project effectiveness.

USFWS, UDWR, FFSL, NRCS, TU, UDAF, 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. A diverse group of partners have been supportive of the Price River Tributaries Restoration Project, providing insight and expertise regarding restoration planning, budgeting, and outreach. The following organizations and partners have been critical in the progression of this project. - The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has provided expertise regarding invasive plant mitigation, grazing management, landowner outreach, and project planning. Multiple sight visits with partners and landowners have been coordinated by UDAF. - The Utah Division of Wildlife (DWR) has been an important partner in planning future projects, providing information and lessons learned from similar past projects. The Utah DWR has managed previous wet meadow restoration projects in the drainage and fostered important landowner relationships. The Utah DWR has also provided expertise regarding the wildlife and ecosystem of the project areas. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has helped, in partnership, with the Utah DWR manage past projects in the drainage. They have provided valuable insight regarding technical planning and landowner outreach. - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been performing projects for the betterment of conservation and working lands in the region for decades. The NRCS has fostered important landowner relationships in the drainage and driven funding forward for the Price River Tributaries Restoration Project. - Trout Unlimited has been an important restoration partner in the Price River Drainage for nearly a decade. Trout Unlimited has provided and will provide technical project planning and project management. Trout Unlimited has worked to expand landowner outreach and funding opportunities throughout the drainage. - Private Landowners are an important partner responsible for the continued restoration and management of the Price River drainage and the natural resources therein. These landowners show significant support for conservation efforts that better both working lands and wildlife. Landowners will also sign restoration agreements with USFWS, promising to keep habitat restored for a minimum of 10 years and regularly communicate and evaluate projects with the Service.

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. Future management considerations have been made for the following projects and watershed health initiatives in the Beaver Creek drainage: - Forest thinning and fuels thinning for wildfire risk reduction. Landowner outreach and initial project planning for possible fuels thinning within the Beaver Creek drainage has commenced. - Native tree plantings in the forest have been performed in the past and are being monitored for success to determine the viability of future additional plantings. - Beaver relocation projects have been discussed with landowners in the headwaters of Beaver Creek. Current habitat limitations have dissuaded beaver relocation attempts. However, this project intends to increase riparian connectivity and habitat for future beaver population expansions. - Additional stream restoration on other landowners and within current project reaches as needed to further stream restoration and act on monitoring outcomes is likely.

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. Other sustainable uses will include access on the CWMA for public hunting opportunities for big game such as mule deer and elk. The Price River Tributaries Restoration Project can have a significant and durable impact on the natural resources and their uses within the project area. Stream restoration activities will increase riparian vegetation and vegetation diversity which will provide for more durable grazing opportunities. Stream restoration will also increase water quality and water quantity. Within the high desert ecosystem of Southeast Utah water is one of the most important natural resources for wildlife, human use, industrial use, and agricultural use. Increased durability of the watershed is an important factor in the long-term sustainability of the ecosystems and communities that rely on the Price River. Spring developments will increase the sustainability of stock water and big game water resources in the upland regions of Beaver Creek.