Wildlife fencing to facilitate mule deer migration through the corridor. Preserve open space and functionality of the corridor from development and recreation. Between now and 2030, 20+ miles of fence will be needed to preserve the corridor.

-Preserve open space and the functionality of the wildlife migration corridor. -Limit impacts of development and recreation in and adjacent to this migration corridor. -Place fencing in key areas to better assist with the funneling of wildlife into this corridor allowing them to move through the city with the least amount of human-wildlife conflict. -Fence the entire migration corridor in key areas. -Continue to look for opportunities to improve habitat within the migration corridor and in open spaces adjacent to the corridor to provide necessary resources for wildlife to continue to use the corridor and reduce their need to move into developed areas for resources.

Eagle Mountain City is one of the fastest-growing cities in Utah. It currently has an estimated population of 65,000 and is projected to be over 120,000 by 2050. Currently, there are over 30 square miles of agriculture open space, and undeveloped lands within the City boundary BUT with approved development plans, much of this will be developed within the next 20 years. Eagle Mountain is working hard with partners to conserve a portion of the open space for wildlife and ensure the mule deer migration route through the city is maintained into the future. We must work to plan and implement conservation measures now thus ensuring these areas into the future. One of the priorities within the next 5 years is to fence the mule deer migration route and provide overpasses, underpasses, and at-grade crossings to ensure human-wildlife conflict is reduced. The city has passed code and hired a full-time wildlife biologist to work closely with partners to implement these and other conservation projects. Approximately 1,500 mule deer use this corridor to travel between summer and winter ranges. If no corridor is preserved in this area the existing route used by migrating deer and the space used by other species will be cut off by homes, businesses, and roads. The loss of space and connectivity to habitats will result in the loss of native and genetic biodiversity, increased human-wildlife conflicts, and increased direct wildlife mortality on roads. Once this area is developed it would be extremely cost prohibitive to restore the historical migration paths of wildlife in the area. Strong partnerships have been created between Eagle Mountain City, DWR, UDOT, BLM, SITLA, Camp Williams, private landowners, and sportsmen groups to preserve this corridor. These groups have and are willing to continue to provide monetary and in-kind services toward completing this project. Over $600,000 in actual and in-kind dollars have already been invested in this project. This WRI project is only a portion of the big picture of this project. DWR and Eagle Mountain City are also pursuing federal grants such as the "America the Beautiful" challenge through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). One goal of this grant is: "Connecting and reconnecting wildlife corridors, large landscapes, watersheds, and seascapes". If awarded, this would be used to plan crossing structures within the city that are not on UDOT-managed roads. With multiple current and potential new funding sources, if we don't continue with this project now, it will be nearly impossible down the road.

Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan- "To address deer/vehicle collisions, DWR and our partners have worked to identify deer migration routes and locations where deer are commonly hit on roadways. This information has allowed us to know where to place underpasses and fences to increase deer survival. These studies have also provided data on the types of underpasses and structures these animals will use (Cramer 2014). Although costly, these efforts are helping to prevent future collisions, increase public safety, and minimize deer mortalities." Additionally, they will "Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges." "Work with county, state, and federal agencies to limit the negative effects of roads by reclaiming unused roads, properly planning new roads, and installing fencing and highway passage structures where roads disrupt normal mule deer migration patterns." Utah's Wildlife Migration Initiative -- specifically states that we are to "...identify and preserve wildlife migration corridors" DOI Secretarial Order 3362 - "... improve the quality of big-game winter range and migration corridor habitat on Federal lands under the management jurisdiction of this Department in a way that recognizes state authority to conserve and manage big-game species and respects private property rights. Utah Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) - The project area includes multiple key terrestrial habitats identified in the WAP including Lowland Sagebrush, Mountain Sagebrush, and Mountain Shrub. Sentential Landscape Bill (2018) - there is further recognition from the state on the importance of open lands and the preservation of these open lands. See also Camp Williams INRMP, Private lands/conservation easements https://ut.ng.mil/Resources/Environmental-Resources-Management/Natural-Resources/. The Eagle Mountain City Plan- The city of Eagle Mountain and its leadership have expressed great interest in preserving the natural setting of the area wherever possible. This project has been explicitly endorsed by the Mayor and City Planner of Eagle Mountain City. Eagle Mountain also passed city code 17.49 to specifically protect this migration corridor. See https://www.codepublishing.com/UT/EagleMountain/html/EagleMountain17/EagleMountain1749.html

We developed a seed mix to improve forage for mule deer within the corridor but to also serve as a green strip to act as a firebreak and lower fire risk to nearby structures. Shrub, forb, and perennial grasses are more drought tolerant and will stay greener longer into the season. Cheatgrass increases the frequency of fire and threatens homes and infrastructure in this area. Cheatgrass dries out earlier in the summer and is a continuous fuel load where fire can easily carry through quickly. This corridor can act as both a natural and enhanced fuel break. Eagle Mountain City is already planting a wildlife, 'green' friendly rangeland seed mix in these areas. This seed mix is designed to compete with non-native invasives such as Russian thistle and cheatgrass and provide flowering species to benefit pollinators. Invasives such as Russian thistle and cheatgrass threaten homes and infrastructure in this area. (EM City Seed mix, see attached) Additionally, Eagle Mountain works each year with the Unified Fire Authority to reduce fuel loads in key areas in this corridor.

By reducing the threat of fire from cheatgrass we will be protecting the crucial water supply to the City of Eagle Mountain. Shrub/seed planting prevents mudslides and erosion from damaging homes and infrastructure.

Cultural clearances will be conducted in-house with UDWR archaeologists before implementation. Any actions taken on federal and state lands will be assessed by appropriate agencies and completed before actions occur.

Installation of $200,000ish of 8' wildlife fence. Greenstrip/forb mix will be drill-seeded within the fenced corridor. EMC has excess seed from the previous year's project, so no new seed will be requested. The previous seedmix is attached.

Eagle Mountain City will conduct regular inspections of permanent fences as part of an ongoing maintenance program that ensures the proper function of the fence for the lifespan of the practice. To include the following: 1-conduct inspections of fences after storms and other disturbance events, 2-repair or replacement of loose or broken material, gates, and other forms of ingress and egress, 3-removal of trees or shrubs that are encroaching into the fence, 4-repair of eroded areas as necessary, 5-repair or replacement of markers or other safety and control features as required, 6-maintain fladry or signage as necessary. The migration routes in and around Eagle Mountain were identified by data gathered using GPS collars. The success of this project would be able to continue to be monitored using the same collars and collars placed on additional individual deer and other species, such as pronghorn. The success of this project will also be monitored through analysis of roadkill data observed on the Utah Roadkill Reporter app.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been working closely with leadership and city planners of the City of Eagle Mountain to plan a route to preserve. Also, collaborations with the BLM, Utah National Guard (Camp Williams and West Traverse Sentinel Landscape), UDOT, Sportsman Groups, and other partners of the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative. Eagle Mountain and UDWR representatives have met with landowners within the proposed corridor and signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to accomplish the goal of preserving a migration corridor through the city. Much of this work will be done and coordinated by the UDWR with support from the other partners that will provide sportsmen groups public volunteers and technical advice throughout the process. UDWR will monitor the success of the fencing and habitat projects.

The preservation of this area is a multi-year project. Once the entire project is complete the corridor will be preserved for the benefit and use of wildlife. Maintenance of highway fencing will be UDOT's responsibility. Other management responsibility in the area will go to the city of Eagle Mountain with support from the UDWR.

The main purpose of this project is to protect the functionality of the wildlife migration corridor through Eagle Mountain by restricting development within the proposed corridor, keeping recreational impacts to a minimum, and ensuring wildlife have a relatively safe passage through the city. The project will support wildlife populations indefinitely if the corridor is sustained. This project will also protect lands from development that can also be used for livestock grazing.