Funding is needed to improve upland and waterfowl habitat at Farmington Bay WMA. This is fairly broad project and we may choose to improve upland and waterfowl habitat in several different way. Specifically, funding is needed to do the following: 1. Improve over-winter survival of upland game birds by planting food plots in various locations within the WMA. 2. Establish native wetland plant species. 3. Control noxious weeds and encourage productive, beneficial vegetation. 4. Develop dense nesting cover on the dikes. 5. Maintain and construct water control structures to manage water levels to maximize wildlife production and forage in wetland environments. 6. Maintain and repair dike for access to manage water. Wildlife technicians will assist the only two full time employees at Farmington Bay WMA by completing necessary habitat improvement projects such as noxious weed control and phragmites control projects. Habitat technicians will also be responsible for dike mowing and general maintenance on the WMA. They will also assist in various seeding, habitat improvement projects and banding projects. We are also requesting funding for a USU Intern. It will be a 12 week position and USU will be covering half of the salary. Where we are in much need of more help during this time this addition position will significantly help with the workload.

We will plant food plots for waterfowl and pheasants at FBWMA in various location. This will improve over-winter survival of upland birds and create quality green forage in the spring for waterfowl. Noxious weeds will be controlled with herbicides and water control techniques to maximize the quality of wildlife habitat. We will continue to maintain and enhance existing shelter belts in key areas which benefit pheasant and quail populations. Dense nesting cover will be produced in uplands and on dikes with native seed mixes. Water control structures will be constructed or purchased to replace failing structures. Technicians / Intern will assist with treating around 3,000 acres of Phragmites during our fall project. During the spring and early summer, technicians will assist in treating around 100 acres of other noxious weeds such as: hoary cress, perennial pepperweed, Dyers woad, poison hemlock, purple Loostrife, salt cedar and various thistle species. Technicians will also assist with upland nesting enhancements, as well as ground preparations for fall food plots. Water management is essential on the wetlands to enhance our vegetation structure. Different areas will be monitored that will either be flooded or drought stressed. This task includes monitoring over 200 water control structures that require cleaning and maintenance. The technicians will also help us with our UDWR mandated W.I.M.S. system that tracks facilities maintenance.

Many habitat improvements have been made at Farmington Bay WMA and noxious weed species have been heavily controlled. Without two wildlife technicians, habitat that has been improved over time due to noxious weed control could deteriorate. When dealing with farming equipment there is always a physical risk if employees are not cautious when operating equipment. Technicians will be trained in the use and safety of all equipment.

Habitat technicians will assist FBWMA management in accomplishing objects in the Farmington Bay WMA habitat management plan. Relationship to WAP Invasive plant species 1) Locations/habitats that currently do not have non-native plant problems remain free from the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants. 2) Invasive plant dominance/presence is reduced or eliminated in locations or habitats where such an outcome is realistic (ecologically and economically). Actions suggested by the WAP to achieve these objectives are 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. 2.2.2 Survey and inventory established and new populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.3 Eradicate established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.9 Avoid establishment of new invasive/problematic species through education, planning, management, and/or regulation. Technicians will be responsible for weed control and containment mostly through chemical applications. They will also disk, plant and harrow perennial plantings and control weeds in these areas as needed. In doing so, they will also monitor the area for new invasions that need to be addressed. Inappropriate Fire Frequency "Fire is excluded from habitats in which potential burns now would be frequent, large, and destructive to soils and native vegetation; the habitats are being actively managed (treated) to reduce components or factors that promote risk of catastrophic fire, such as cheatgrass, excessive conifer encroachment, or unnaturally large stands of mature Gambel oak." Actions the WAP suggest for achieving this objective are 2.1.9 Establish or enhance fuel breaks in locations that are susceptible to large or intense fires. 2.2.5 Conduct mechanical control of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.6 Conduct biological control of invasive/problematic species. 2.2.7 Conduct chemical control of invasive/problematic species. 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 2.3.9 Conduct fuels reduction through targeted grazing. Technicians will mow fire breaks were needed, treat and reduce invasive weeds that are susceptible to high risk fires (cheatgrass), and plant native perennials that reduces the risk of catastrophic fires. Objective #1 for Droughts Terrestrial SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought condition over that past several years has reduced the resilience of highly functional upland habitats. In order to maintain, and rehabilitate these upland habitats, renovation and reseeding is necessary in order to minimize the impacts of drought. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. 3.3.1 Develop list of priority reintroduction species and locations Objective #2 for Droughts Aquatic SGCNs and key habitats persist on the landscape, despite increasing drought conditions. Drought conditions over the past several years has made it imperative that the WMA's have properly functioning water control structures to maximize water deliveries in order to maintain key wetland habitats. Actions that this project will address include; 2.3.6 Restore aquatic habitat complexity 2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings. Technicians will be addressing water levels and planting native uplands and foodplots. Objective 2 for Invasive Wildlife Species -- "Non-native Invasive non-native wildlife species are removed or controlled, or their adverse impacts are reduced, in priority habitats or locations." This objective and action also pertains to threats from feral and domestic animals. Feral cats are a problem for ground nesting birds and actions to remove and control them are needed. 2.2.4 Contain established populations of invasive/problematic species. Technicians are involved with predator management (Raccoons, Red Fox, Skunk, and feral domesticated animals). They are also involved with planting of shrub rows and perennial plants that will help provide cover for wildlife species and protection against predation.

Any project which removes Phragmites reduces the risk of fuel loading.

Maintaining working water distribution (i.e., headgates) helps managers promote healthy wetlands with desired wetland vegetation. Wetlands are known for their ability to improve water quality.

Not Applicable

This is a fairly broad project and could consist of many methods for completion of various projects. For example, areas may be mowed, disked, and then planted to create new food-plots or shelter-belts for waterfowl or upland game birds. New and existing food-plots, will be sprayed to control noxious weeds. Also, noxious weeds will be sprayed at the appropriate time each year so that the maximum kill per species is achieved. Upland nesting cover plantings will occur if there is still time and money. Repair of eroding dikes may be a necessary addition to this project. Noxious weed control will be conducted with the use of the following: backpack sprayers, track machines, ATV's, airboats, trucks, and the various sprayers that go along with these machines. Technicians will be educated about plant I.D., sprayer use and maintenance, and machine use maintenance and safety. In conducting the noxious weed control projects the activities will be carried out with several different methods such as: for the less abundant noxious wee species they will be given a map that has general areas that the species are found and the technicians will seek out the weeds and spray accordingly. For the more abundant weed species, we will set up grids so that all of the areas are treated. For the disking, planting ,and enhancement areas, the technicians will be instructed on what to do. Technicians will assist with fall waterfowl bag checks, trash management, and water management.

Habitat assessments for Phragmites project success are done with a series of photo-point and line transect monitoring (rapid habitat assessments through vegetation transects). Weed monitoring will be done by recording the amount and then acreage of herbicide sprayed. The location and date of herbicide treatments are also recorded. Wildlife technicians/Intern will assist managers with waterfowl population monitoring by completing on the ground census. Habitat technicians assist managers the waterfowl harvest monitoring through hunter bag checks.

Not applicable

FBWMA managers will continue to implement a habitat project so that we can accomplish objectives in the Farmington Bay Habitat management plan and various other plans followed by management.

Not Applicable