INTRODUCTION: The sagebrush biome is one of the most intact and least modified ecosystems in the world and the largest contiguous open space in the Lower 48. It supports hundreds of species, helps power rural economies, and is a defining feature of the American West, but....... Sagebrush loss in the West since just 2001 would cover half of Utah - this doesn't even include the previous 150 years since European settlement. The story isn't new, we talk about it all the time, but new evidence of the scale and pace of sagebrush loss is putting into question how much longer we have for this ecosystem to function and provide habitat. A multi-agency study published in 2022 -- the fullest health assessment to date for the largest biome in the contiguous United States--found that 1.3 million acres of sagebrush vanish each year. At this rate, the remaining healthy habitat will be gone around midcentury. Yea that's right, all but gone in our lifetimes and kids lifetimes. (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2022/1081/ofr20221081.pdf) The west side of the Pahvant Range is very accessible from the I-15 corridor and is a highly utilized range for recreationists. The area we propose working in as part of this proposal is a mix public land, private land, school trust lands, and wildlife management areas. This project started with private landowners reaching out to request an assessment of their properties and how they might work cross-boundary with adjacent public lands to improve mule deer summer range and winter range. Project work has previously been completed on state and public lands that stopped at the private boundary. This project would be a continuation on both public and now private. Treatment areas are characterized as sagebrush steppe communities in the lower part of the project area moving into mixed sagebrush/bitterbrush/cliffrose in the mid elevations, and moving higher into mixed mountain brush and mixed oak communities in the higher parts of the treatment area. We have an opportunity here to build trust with multiple landowners part of a landowners association. The landowners approached USFWS to ask why previous habitat treatments were conducted and stopped at the private land boundary. Pinyon and juniper work will be implemented in big game winter range, transitional range, and summer range. In winter range the goal is to select areas with intact sagebrush communities. In winter/transitional range the goals is to select plateau tops with intact sagebrush, bitterbrush, mahogany and cliffrose. In summer range the goal is to select sites that are naturally occurring meadow grass and brush meadows and work around the perimeter to push back pinyon and juniper. Within the Fillmore WMA's the overview of this project is to remove older existing fences and construct new "Wildlife Friendly" up to date fences. We are also re-treating previously masticated and chained area's through lop and scatter methods on the Pioneer and Halfway Hill WMA's located in Millard County. Within the Youngsfield WMA UDWR would like to replace an old fence with a newly constructed "Wildlife Friendly" fence located between two pastures, the need for fencing is critical as we support livestock grazing on our WMA's for the months of May and June each year. Within the Pioneer WMA we would like to remove smaller pinyon-juniper whips that have regrown in both the chaining and mastication treatments that where done in 2013. The contract specifications will be be defined as 100% removal of the young encroaching trees. The Halfway Hill WMA experienced a wildfire in 2022 burning over 800 acres on the WMA, the loss was critical to mule deer, elk and turkeys in the area. Through fire rehab efforts the seeding and chaining has taken place on the WMA. Additional funding was cut short and we are now looking to replace all the fencing on the Halfway Hill WMA . The overwhelming need for this project to take place is to replace over 13,700' (2.5 miles) of 4-strand barbwire fence that is a portion of the south/east boundary fence around the WMA. Included with the Halfway Hill fencing project we would like to, reduce smaller pinyon and juniper trees within the WMA, targeting trees that are < 6" in diameter this will leave a large amount of cover of larger mature pinyon and juniper trees for wintering mule deer, elk and wild turkeys. BIRDS: A quick search of Utah's Bird Habitat Conservation Areas (BHCA), shows that although these treatments don't fall into one, it is directly adjacent to the Sevier Bridge/Chicken Creek Reservoirs (BCHA). As will be stated in further detail below, The Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy Version 2.0 lists both the Sage sparrow and Brewer's sparrow as priority species needing conservation actions implemented. This project will implement practices for those species as identified in this plan. MAPPED AND IDENTIFIED CRUCIAL MULE DEER HABITAT 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". SPRING AND WET MEADOW PROTECTION On the private land is a spring in the higher elevations. This spring creates a large meadow/wetland embedded in the aspen/conifer forest. Trespass grazing occurs and this meadow gets a lot of overuse. This compounded by some legacy management has left this spring/meadow/wetland in poor condition. The landowner wishes to build a fence around the spring to allow some healing and protection of a important water source for the mountain. POLLINATORS Sagebrush and forested landscapes are under-researched and under appreciated as important pollinator habitat. A goal of the project is to restore and enhance a large mesic meadow in aspen/conifer forest on private land. Aspen stands are some of the most biologically diverse habitats on the planet. Recently Gonzalez et al. 2024 (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/file:///C:/Users/CWirick/Downloads/043.033.0415%20(1).pdf), found in late summer, pocketed aspen stands had higher blooming plant richness, as well as a distinctive floral community, suggesting that conserving aspen benefits not only many plants and vertebrates, but also ecologically significant invertebrates, such as native bees. This study found a high abundance of bombus species (bumblebees). Western bumblebees can be found in and around aspen forb communities and nearby meadows. See Relationship to Management Plans" for more info about nest sites and grazing objectives our project address for W. Bumble bee. Additionally, with pollinators in mind, we've also developed a forb-heavy seed mix.

1) Reduce pinyon and juniper in relevant treatment polygons (both PJ treatment types) by at least 85% in treatment polygons. This will be accomplished through a mechanical bullhog mastication treatment project. - Leaving larger trees for travel and thermal corridors. - Isolating older growth trees within the leave islands. - Reseeding of grass, forbs and shrubs will take place prior to implementation. 2) HABITAT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES - Maintain or enhance forage production through direct range improvements on winter and summer mule deer range throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives. - Maintain critical fawning habitat in good condition. Fawn recruitment is a major concern on this unit and may be the single greatest factor limiting the population. - Work with federal and state partners in fire rehabilitation and prevention on crucial deer habitat through the WRI process - Improve winter, transitional, and summer mule deer habitat to help meet unit population objectives. - Work with public land management agencies to develop specific vegetative objectives to maintain the quality of important deer use areas. - Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects. 3) Maintain old chaining's by treating encroaching Pinyon and Juniper trees. Efforts would involved a contracted hand crew to complete the necessary work removing 100% of all trees < 6" DBH within the identified areas. 4) Install and removal of barbwire fencing and gates on listed WMAs, this will allow for better livestock grazing management on the WMA's. 5) Increase herbaceous plant communities in mastication/seeding polygons. The need for a important diversity in the understory of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs is critical during these treatment to out compete invasive grass and weed species. (Cheatgrass, non native thistle, bulbus bluegrass, annual rye grass etc.)

Right now we have the opportunity to build a relationship of trust and collaboration with private landowners. The project started developing when private landowners contacted USFWS asking why adjacent habitat projects had occurred and then stopped at their land and why they hadn't been contacted in the past. We have the opportunity at the moment to build foster a relationship with landowners who wish to collaborate with land and wildlife managers. Will we lose this opportunity next year, or the year after? Maybe not, but maybe so, but we have the opportunity to rectify working with them when the opportunity was missed in the past. MAPPED AND IDENTIFIED CRUCIAL MULE DEER HABITAT As previously stated, but also relevant in the "why here why now" section, 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. WIDLIFE TRACKER A query of the database was conducted for the project area and adjacent landscape. The query shows 2 black bears and 11 mule deer using this area with GPS. Looking at the points it indicates both the deer and black bears use this landscape to move between summer and winter habitat throughout the year, with many of these points directly intersecting with treatment polygons. Unfortunately, wildlife tracker continually had a problem uploading treatment polygons. See screenshot in media portion of this proposal. In addition to current wildlife tracker data, former UDWR habitat biologist extraordinaire and current famous GoHunt hunter, Trail Kreitzer did an analysis about a decade ago showing many of these deer having a high affinity for treated areas and adjacent habitat on the Fillmore front, with some of these points in the treatments we plan to extend. See attachments for maps and a slide presentation. TNC LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION FORCAST MODELING A search of WRI supported Landscape Forecasting was conducted and no data exist for this area. 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. This project falls in within "other rangeland areas" as shown in the prioritization tool. UTAH WILDFIRE RISK ASSESMENT PORTAL A quick assessment using this fire risk explorer (screen shot in photo section) shows the project is in an area where risk is anywhere from moderate to very high. The portal suggests taking action by implementing practices to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire. Our project will accomplish this. SPRING SOURCE AND WET MEADOW PROTECTION Habitats near water -- streamsides, wet meadows and wetlands -- support the greatest variety of animal and plant life, and attract wildlife during their daily and seasonal movements. In a water-scarce landscape like Utah, these lush habitats are also where people have naturally settled. As stated, wetland habitat is the rarest type of habitat in Utah, yet the role of wetland habitat on the landscape is substantial. 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). In Utah it is said as much as 80% of mesic habitat occurs on private lands. These private mesic lands critically important to the health of wildlife populations across public and private lands. If true wildlife conservation is to take place on a sustainable level, public wildlife managers must engage private landowners. It is important that we continue to work in these areas that are critically important to the landscape around them, and because these wet areas are mostly private it is extremely important to work with private landowners restoring these areas whenever possible. Wet habitat is the zipper that ties the ecology of the surrounding landscapes together. Not working in these wet areas puts adjacent habitat and wildlife at risk. Climate change has come to the forefront as a global threat to humans and wildlife alike. Although models vary on future impacts of global climate change one thing stands out is that water may become more scarce in the West. Preserving and restoring wet areas has been identified as a key way to mitigate impacts like drought, increasing temperatures, and other impacts that a changing climate will have on humans and wildlife. RELATED PLANNING DOCUMENTS One aspect related to maintenance and mule deer mentioned above, is the fact that in the Deer Herd Management Plan specifically calls out the need for working with private landowners to improve habitat, especially in winter ranges. Project partners have looked through the Millard County Resources Management Plan and identified many objectives, resource concerns, and management actions this project would positively address. A list of those items would be too long to list here but fall under a diversity of needs such as agriculture, water resources, wildlife, livestock grazing, watershed protection, wildfire threat. The Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy Version 2.0, Utah Partners in Flight Program lists both the Sage sparrow and Brewer's sparrow as priority species needing conservation actions implemented. Our project will specifically implement the strategy of "Manage large blocks of land for contiguous Shrubsteppe habitat and avoid activities that cause fragmentation" for these species identified in the plan. In addition to the above listed objectives the below goals/objectives are identified in the Elk Statewide Plan: B. Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock. Strategies: C. Habitat Improvement - a. Utilize Habitat Council, Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, Wildlife Conservation Permit funds, and other funding mechanisms to restore or improve crucial elk habitats. b. Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. c. Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. i. Identify habitat projects on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat and summer forage. ii. Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages through the use of controlled burning, logging or other methods. Controlled burning in areas with invasive weed and/or safety concerns should be supported only when adequate planning and mitigation measures have been identified. iii. Promote Fire Use (let-burn) policies in appropriate areas that will benefit elk, and conduct reseeding efforts post wildlife. In addition to the above listed objectives the below goals/objectives are identified in the Turkey Statewide Plan: General Suitable habitat includes three key ingredients: trees, forbs and grass. Regardless of the type of environment, this combination must exist for turkeys to thrive. Trees provide food, daytime loafing and escape cover, and- --most importantly -- nighttime roost sites. Grasses and forbs provide food for adults and are especially important to poults as an environment in which they can efficiently forage for insects. Brood Rearing: During the first eight weeks after hatching, there are three essential components of brood rearing habitat. First - Poults need an environment that produces an abundance of insects. Second - Poults need habitat in which they can frequently and efficiently forage throughout the day. Third - Poults need an area that provides enough cover to hide, but allows the adult hen unobstructed vision for protection from predators. Therefore, the fundamental component of brood rearing habitat is herbaceous vegetation interspersed with trees. Herbaceous vegetation is key because it provides an ideal foraging environment for Poults. Fall and Winter: Wild turkeys seek two imperative habitat ingredients in the fall and winter --food and roosting cover. Vegetation that turkeys utilize during the fall and winter is highly varied. Turkeys increase their use of forested cover during the fall and winter and decrease their use of open areas. Mast (pine nuts, acorns, berries) is the primary food source during fall and winter. Habitat value increases with higher proportions of mast-producing species in the forest and their degree of maturity. In mountainous environments, spring seeps are an important source of fall and winter food. Seeps provide invertebrates, mast and green vegetation. Because such water does not freeze, it provides a microclimate that allows foraging throughout the winter. Golden and Bald Eagles will benefit form this type of restoration treatment as well typically these eagles are found in open country, especially in mountainous regions. They feeds mainly on small mammals, especially rabbits, marmots, and ground squirrels, but it also eats insects, snakes, birds, juvenile ungulates, and carrion. This chaining project will allow for increased open space for hunting small mammals and other pray due to the reduction in pinyon and juniper woodlands. The increased of understory of grasses forbs and shrubs should increase small mammals and other prey species for the Bald and Golden Eagles to prey upon.

1) Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy Version 2.0. Utah Partners in Flight Program, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, UDWR Publication Number 02-27. i--xiv + 302 pp. *This plan list priority species of Brewer's sparrow and sage sparrow and specifically points ou a conservation strategy both to "Manage large blocks of land for contiguous Shrubsteppe habitat and avoid activities that cause fragmentation." 2) Utah Mule Deer Statewide Plan (12/5/2019-12/5/2024) "Work 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" "Work with local, state and federal land management agencies and ranchers to properly manage livestock to enhance crucial mule deer ranges." "Minimize impacts and recommend mitigation for losses of crucial habitat due to human impacts." "Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah." "Support existing and explore additional incentive programs for landowners that will increase tolerance, enhance habitat, and promote deer populations on private lands such as the CWMU, landowner permit, Walk-In Access programs, etc." This project falls in the Crucial Mule Deer Habitat Priorities. 3) Deer Herd Unit Management Plan, Deer Herd Pahvant "A major proportion of both summer and winter habitat for deer on this unit is on private land. Therefore, it is paramount to work with private landowners to maintain both summer and winter habitat. "Reduce expansion of Pinion-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinion-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects like lop & scatter, bullhog, and chaining." "Work toward long-term habitat protection and preservation through agreements with land management agencies and local governments, the use of conservation easements, etc. on private lands and working toward blocking up UDWR properties through land exchanges with willing partners." 4) Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan *"Continue to provide incentive programs for landowners that will encourage elk populations on private land such as the CWMU, Landowner Association, and Walk-In Access programs." * "Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat.' * "Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. i) Identify habitat projects on summer ranges (aspen communities) to improve calving habitat. ii) Encourage land managers to manage portions of forests in early succession stages through the use controlled burning and logging. Controlled burning should only be used in areas with minimal invasive weed and/or safety concerns." 5) The proposed projects will address some of the habitat management strategies outlined in the deer and elk management plans for herd unit 21B (Fillmore Pahvant Unit ) including: *Continue to improve and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer according to DWRs Habitat Initiative. *Maintain habitat quantity and quality at a level adequate to support the stated population objectives while at the same time not resulting in an overall downward trend in range condition and watershed quality. *Work cooperatively with land management agencies and private landowners to plan and implement improvement projects for the purpose of enhancing wildlife habitat and range resources in general. *The project also helps fulfill the state mule deer management plan section IV Habitat Goal: Conserve and improve mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. *The proposed projects will address the following goals and objectives of the Division of Wildlife Resources most recent strategic management plan: *Resource Goal: expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. *Objective 1: protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. *Objective 3: conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered. *Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for Division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah. *Objective 2: improve communication with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners, and government agencies to obtain support for Division programs. *UDWR SR critical big game winter range are important browse communities that need to be enhanced and improved. The Division will employ a variety of methods to achieve this including prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, reseeding and seedling transplants, also mechanical treatments. Priority areas will include sagebrush-steppe and mountain browse communities. Falls within the rangeland focus area for WRI wildlife species for mule deer and elk. 6) This plan is consistent with the Fishlake National Forest Plan for wildlife habitat enhancement and fuels management to improve habitat, reduce fuel loading, and protect against catastrophic wildfire. *Other project have been completed by the Forest Service and UDWR in past years within the Ebbs Canyon. Along with the Meadow Creek, Half Way Hill and Baker Canyon Fire Rehab Projects completed on Forest Service, BLM and Private Properties. 7) Project within the are also benefit the management plans objectives of the lower Sevier River Watershed, as this will reduced sediment run off and create a healthy rangeland communities. 8) Management Plans are also in conjunction with NRCS overall goals of healthy rangelands and communities, improving watersheds and reducing erosion and sediment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment 9) FFSL CWPP Process is a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative plan created by the fire department, state and local forestry, land managers, community leaders, and the public.The planning process maps values at risk, and requires actions to reduce risk, such as prescribed burning, fuel reduction, or other measures that adapt a community to better confront their wildfire threat. Area is also part of the Millard RWPP FFSL Plan which was implemented in 2014, there are Wildfire Codes and Ordinances associated with this plan. Project would also be relevant to NCS Goals and supported through the FS National Cohesive Strategies. CAT FIRE Objectives and Strategies: In 2013, the State of Utah developed the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (CAT FIRE) in response to the severe 2012 fire season. Reducing the catastrophic wildfire requires attention to three interdependent goals identified in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy -- Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Wildfire Response. These goals have been embraced throughout the development of the state's CAT FIRE strategy. Mitigation of hazardous fuels can change fire behavior making it easier to suppress. The effects of the mitigation, however, are not limited to life and property safety but will also affect forest health, water quality, vegetative species abundance, etc. As we continue to implement projects across the landscapes in Utah, the only way to truly be successful is to integrate existing programs, utilize local and federal partners and continue to educate the general public to create the desired shift towards more resilient communities and ecosystems. 10) USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Strategic Plan *Project addresses habitat threats for priority species within a PFW priority area (Plateau Focus Area) for restoration work. 11) Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan. 2023. *Enhance wild turkey habitat -- quality and quantity -- by 100,000 acres statewide by 2029. *Work cross-boundary with public and private landowners to enhance turkey habitat. 12) Characterization of Western Bumble Bee (Bombus Occidentalis) nesting habitat and Management Recommendations to Conserve Bumble Bee Nest Sites. Xerces Society. 2023. *From the plan, "Out of the six western bumble bee nests discovered in 2022 and 2023, two were situated within a relatively young lodgepole pine forest with smaller components of mountain hemlock and sub-alpine fir, recently thinned to reduce overstocking and fire risk; one was positioned at the border of the forest type described above and an open meadow; two were found in open areas with tall grasses and shrubs; and one was in a meadow between a forested area and a lake." *Grazing: * Fall and winter grazing will likely impact bumble bees less than summer grazing given the potential of livestock to compact soil and trample nests. If feasible, adjust grazing time to fall or winter when most flowering plants are dormant and bumble bees are least active. * For any long duration grazing allotments (>45 days) use low intensity grazing to the extent possible (low AUMs for the site). * Monitor utilization rates annually. o < 40% in xeric landscapes. o Reduce or eliminate utilization in riparian areas and mesic meadows and try not to allow stock animals to linger in these habitats longer than necessary. o Reduce utilization rates during drought years to allow for adequate rest and recovery of the landscape.

As Pinyon and Juniper trees continue to encroach in these areas, live fuel loading and canopy cover increase as well. This increase in live fuel loading and a closed canopy will increase the likelihood of an unwanted wildfire and its negative effects. Reducing the number of smaller diameter trees on the landscape will in turn reduce the live fuel loading and decrease the amount of canopy cover. This modification in vegetation allows initial attack firefighting crews more options to safely and effectively suppress unwanted wildfires and limit the negative effects. In addition to modifying fire behavior, treating the vegetation in these areas will result in multiple benefits, which include but are not limited to, improving and protecting current habitat for wildlife dependent upon these various ecosystems, improving native species diversity, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and breaking up the continuous fuel bed of pinion/juniper that currently exists. This treatment will promote a fire resilient environment that reduces the risk for large scale, intense unwanted wildland fires, with less risk to public and firefighter safety. Fire risk would be reduced to multiple watersheds. Existing wildfire risk index in the project areas ranges from moderate-high to very low, looking at fire modeling results, an unwanted wildfire in these areas at the 97th percentile weather would quickly spread into high risk areas and threaten multiple watersheds, private lands and numerous other values not only wildlife habitat, but structures, culinary water systems, and utility corridors to name a few. The majority of the areas in this project are within fire regime III -- 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (less than 75% of the dominant overstory vegetation replaced); The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) is estimated to be both moderate (FRCC 2) and high (FRCC 3) departure from the central tendency of the natural (historical) regime. The central tendency is a composite estimate of vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated natural disturbances. The majority of this project would be in FRCC 3. This project will improve the fire regime condition class to FRCC 1 and FRCC 2. This project will manipulate the vegetation in a manner that will modify fire behavior such that fire suppression personnel can safely initial attack unwanted wildfires in the area. These treatments will provide anchor points, safety zones, and buffer zones for values at risk such as powerlines, communities, range improvements. Instead of a crown fire that is wind driven with flame lengths of 30+ feet in Pinyon and Juniper requiring aerial resources to initial attach, this treatment will reduce the flame lengths to those that are easily managed with engines and hand crews Sevier County Resource Plan States Objectives: #5. Upon project completion, fuels projects should be managed and monitored to ensure long-term success, including persistence of seeded species and/or other treatment components, such as implementing maintenance actions and control invasive vegetation post-treatment. #13. Hazardous fuels reduction treatments should be used to restore ecosystems, protect human, natural, and cultural resources, and reduce the threat of wildfire to communities. Millard County also states: Vegetation/Forage Management Several County industries depend on open range grazing opportunities. Therefore, the County supports responsible rangeland management. The County encourages private and Federal/State agency partnerships organized to improve range conditions. Methods supported by the County include prescribed burns, reseeding and reclamation. The County is particularly interested in wildfire management and post-burn rehabilitation efforts. The County also supports vegetation manipulation programs designed to re-establish traditional uses and use levels. The County will continue, and expand as financially feasible, current noxious weed management programs. In order to adequately protect the land and accompanying resources, management decisions must be made in a timely manner and programs implemented quickly. Millard County will actively participate in these processes. Within the Fillmore WMA's specifically the Youngsfield, Nixon, Circus Hollow, Black Cedar Hill, Cemetery, Halfway Hill, and the Kanosh-Dual Springs units. Future projects will focus on maintaining these treatments as well as addressing more Pinyon and Juniper encroachment on all units within the WMA. UTAH WILDFIRE RISK ASSESMENT PORTAL A quick assessment using this fire risk explorer (screen shot in photo section) shows the project is in an area where risk is anywhere from moderate to very high. The portal suggests taking action by implementing practices to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire. Our project will accomplish this.

Riparian, wetlands, and stream habitat is extremely important for filtering heavy sediment, ash, and other compounds from post-fire areas in adjacent upland and up stream habitat. Protecting wetland, mesic meadows, springs, and riparian habitat protects the watershed from off-site negative impacts to both rural communities and wildlife. The spring and meadow protection portion of this project will help directly with water quantity and storage. It is universal knowledge through many years of research that healthy, properly functioning mesic habitat has the capacity to store more water in the soil and below ground aquifer. This storage capacity becomes even more apparent during the driest parts of the season or during drought when these areas put more water back into the aquatic system because of the "sponge effect" they have the ability to store larger capacities of water. WATER QUALITY: This project as it's proposed will improve ground cover and thereby reduce sediment transfer into the lower watershed system. The project proposed will reduce sediment transfer. Restoring uplands will reduce the impacts of future wildfires and reduce the risk of future impairment. WATER QUANTITY: Treatments will considerably lessen the risk of catastrophic large scale high severity fires that could result in long-term watershed degradation. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. By removing PJ it is anticipated that water quantity will be enhanced (seeps, springs, bogs--improved) in the short and long term. PJ removal activities have the potential to have a net positive effect on increasing water yield/availability as fewer conifer trees use water. The species planted will help stabilize the soil and reduce erosion. Kormas et al (2017) in Rangeland Ecology found that drainage's dominated with juniper experience "snow water equivalent peaks higher, snow melts out earlier, and more water is lost to evapotranspiration in catchments when compared to sagebrush steppe vegetation". In a study from 2008, Deboodt, et. al (2008) mentions that juniper trees can use up to 30 gallons of water a day, when adequate moisture is present. It also states that Vegetative modeling has shown that 9 to 35 trees per acre can utilize all the precipitation delivered to a site in a 13-in annual precipitation zone. In their study researchers monitored two watersheds 12 years prior to treatment (cutting). After the treatment analysis indicated that juniper reduction significantly increased late season spring flow by 225%, increased days of recorded groundwater by an average of 41 days , and increased the relative availability of late season soil moisture to soil depths of .76 meters. It was also noted that managing vegetation for water yield may be obtainable at a much lower precipitation threshold than what was previously understood. Baker, et. al (1984) found a 157% increase in stream flows over a 147 ha pinyon and juniper treatment. Roundy, et. al. (2014) has shown that mechanical treatments to remove pinyon and juniper increase time that soil water is available. Even four years after treatment, treated areas showed from 8.6 days to-18 days additional water availability at high elevation sites. Roth, et. All (2017) stated snow pack is deeper and last longer in the open site at the low and mid sites (4-26 and 11-33 days, respectively). Additional research by Young, et. al. (2013) also showed a relationship between tree removal and soil climates and wet days on these sites, which while providing more available moisture for desired vegetation could also provide moisture for weeds. Numerous studies have shown that increased infiltration rates and less overland flow improve both water quality and quantity. Reducing pinyon and juniper trees, according the available research should increase snow pack, and time that snow pack is on the ground, increase spring flows, and increase soil moisture. It is expected that similar results will happen in this area after the treatment takes place. By maintaining watershed function, long-term water quality will be maintained or enhanced. Both the potential increase in herbaceous vegetation and the masticated or chained tree material should help stabilize the soils by reducing erosion and protect the water quality throughout the watershed. By removing PJ this should allow for more precipitation to contact the soil and increase biomass on the ground. In areas where hand thinning will be used there should be adequate vegetation to avoid soil erosion but this should increase the amount of water into the system instead of evaporating before it reaches the ground. Wet meadows and upland plants benefit by utilizing the increase soil moisture, providing for better resiliency during drought years. This provides for an increase in water quantity for herbaceous plants on sites where PJ is removed. Treatments on this project will be occurring in sagebrush and mountain mixed brush ecological communities. Restoring uplands within all of these ecological communities will reduce impacts from future wildfires along with reducing risks of future impairment to the watersheds. Where water resources on public and private lands have diminished because grasses have succeeded to pinyon-juniper and other woody vegetation, a vigorous program of mechanical treatments should be applied to promptly remove this woody vegetation and biomass, stimulate the return of the grasses to historic levels, and thereby provide a watershed that maximizes water yield and water quality for livestock, wildlife, and human uses.

As we implement these treatments, the identified areas that will need to have survey work completed will be the Private Lands aspect of the project, for the bullhog mastication. All the lop and scatter treatment will be exempt from culture resource surveys. In regards to the installation of the fences we should be covered on this aspect as well, we will remove the old fences and replace them with newly constructed fences in the same location. A cadastral survey has been completed on the BLM portion of the fence project finding the section corners and quarter corners of the fencing project. Certain inventories have been completed in the past for the Private, UDWR and the BLM portions. Project Manager will follow up to ensure treatments can move forward without any complications. UDWR Project Manager will consult with UDWR Archaeologist Arie Leeflang to make sure all consultation is completed if needed. If and when the Culture Resources surveys are to be conducted this will be done through the direction of UDWR and State Contracting guidelines.

MASTICATION The use of a tracked/wheeled machinery with a masticating head to implantation wildlife habitat improvements by mechanically removing/shredding standing live and dead pinyon and juniper trees and saplings with a Mechanical Mulching/Shredder (Bullhog) Machine. SEEDING Aerial seed with fixed-wing or helicopter prior to mastication. Primary seed mixes will be applied at bulk rates. Seed mixed will include a mixture of grasses, forbs and shrubs. Aircraft used must be capable of seeding at these specified rates. Contractor will be required to fly at a maximum 80' seeding swath width. Overlapping of flight seeding pattern will reduce "stripping" in the overall seeding project. FENCING The construction of new barbwire fence, consisting of four strand barbwire fence with cedar post bracing. This project task order includes the Contractor to furnish all labor, fencing materials, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies and incidentals. LOP AND SCATTER Chainsaw crew cutting all small trees in-filling old bullhog/chaining's. All pinyon, rocky mountain juniper, Utah juniper (Cedar), shall be cut. 100% Removal of all live and dead trees is expected. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump(s) where no live limbs shall be left on the stump of cut trees. All main branches or stems shall be cut from the trunk of the tree to meet scattering requirements.

Monitoring on this project will consist of photo points and vegetation transects along with data collected on shrub and browse species. Wildlife Surveys will also be done in the terms of post season and spring classifications as it pertains to deer management plans on the Pahvant Mountain Unit, counts and survey data will be collected by the area Wildlife Biologist. This project is a follow up maintenance project from previous WRI funded treatments, removing the small pinyon-juniper trees now is critical and cost effective in preserving our initial investment. Continual monitoring in the coming years will be to re-read browse and plant transects through line intercept monitoring, which can be uploaded within the WRI Data Base for additional reference and use in the future. Project Manager will work with Area Biologist to collect browse data and winter pellet counts as determined by the Wildlife Biologist. As monitoring pertains to this project, inspections will be done by the UDWR Project Manager and the Grazing Permittees. Permittee, and UDWR will also monitor the livestock distribution as it pertains to the grazing allotment moving cattle when needed to allow for grass, forbs and shrubs to not be over utilized. Inspection of the fences will also be monitored by the Grazing Permittees, UDWR Project Manager and the UDWR Habitat Maintenance crew from our SRO Cedar City Office, this is usually done each year with seasonal technicians who inspect each WMA within the SRO. In addition, USFWS and UDWR will work together along with the private landowner to monitor the bullhog and seeding treatment on the private land portion. USFWS will have a cooperative agreement in place prior to implementation that will help identify goals and objectives for the private lands potion of this project. Photo points and or vegetation surveys will be defined and monitored pre and post treatment. As part of the 10-year agreement with USFWS, program biologist will do site visits and talk to landowner annually to look at success, future needs, and need for implementation of other conservation work. In addition we have looked at Wildlife Tracker Data and have attached a map in the Documents sections showing the amount of Mule Deer Use within the Project location site. We continue to work with Mike Wardle District UDWR Biologist on tracking the movement of mule deer within these Terrestrial Habitat Treatments.

UDWR: Conservations were had with the unit biologist for UDWR to discuss the proposed work and see if suggested treatments were in line with their goals and objectives for the unit. The UDWR Habitat Restoration Biologist is a project manager and working with all partners for planning and implementation. USFWS: USFWS Partners Program have met in the field with landowners and is coordinating project planning with them. USFWS will also be providing funding for private lands work. PRIVATE LANDOWNERS: Multiple landowners have been engaged and treatments are proposed on private land. Site visits have been conducted with landowners to ensure their goals and objectives are being met. In addition partnerships for this project will consist of UDWR, Fillmore Field Office BLM, Pioneer Grazing Association, Stevens Livestock and Buchannan Livestock. Included as well are Sportsman Groups such as RMEF, SFW, NWTF, MDF, SCI, UBA, along with the UDWR Habitat Council, Millard County Commissioners and Millard County Road Dept. We have been successful in working with them to implement good projects within this area in the past few years, additional support has been leveraged through great partnerships looking for projects that will provide benefits to the local community, that protect the livestock grazing and wildlife populations within Millard County. Great efforts and strides have been made by Sportsman Organizations to improve the overall goals and objectives to increase and sustain wildlife through these types of projects. RMEF was the sole Partnership in the Fillmore WMA/Private Land Habitat Improvement Project Phase I, the funding allowed us to complete over 7,400' of fence on the Halfway Hill WMA. Thanks Ron/RMEF for helping us out.

Within several of our WMA's livestock grazing of the properties occurs, we typically grazing the spring of the year during the months of May to June. Within the WMA's over the past several years we have made great improvements on them to allow proper grazing and continued year around wildlife use. Many projects have been implemented and completed, we continue to maintain and repair older aspects of the WMA's, future management will come from partnerships with UDWR and the Livestock Grazing Associations that graze our lands. Each year we meet with the permittees and sign the grazing agreement, at that time it gives us an opportunity to discuss the range conditions within the WMA's. We make adjustments if needed and identify areas we can improve the WMA as a whole. When opportunities arise for funding to complete habitat or water projects it is the partnerships that work well together, often time the permittees are the first to help repair or maintain what has been done. Good partnerships and working together makes our WMA's a showcase for all involved. Future Management on the Private Lands will monitor the bull hog mastication and seeding project. The need to exclude livestock grazing for at least two growing seasons will be beneficial for the seeding to become established. The private land is NOT part of a grazing operation and most the grazing is trespass grazing, therefore grazing rest will not be a problem. If warranted a cooperative agreement between the UDWR and Private Landowner maybe implemented to utilize a WMA for livestock grazing during the rest period. The private landowners will enter into a 10-year 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 access needs, success, and any needed adaptive management. Both private landowner pieces are primarily managed for wildlife. Some grazing does occur, mostly from adjacent allotments.

The west side of the Pahvant range is easily accessible from interstate 15, bringing a lot of recreationists from all over the state and from many places across the country. Other sustainable resources will include but not limited to hunting both big game and small game, hiking , wood cutting both cedar post and cedar fence stays. Horseback riding and mountain biking is becoming more popular on our WMA's, as well as the need to enjoy the outdoors camping and spending time with family. Millard County has a ATV/UTV Jamboree each year and the overwhelming access points run though our WMA's and they receive a lot of use. One aspect of this project has already been completed, the Halfway Hill Fire Rehab efforts included a single chaining of a 1,090 acre fire scar. This chaining and reseeding project will increase the understory of the treatment area dramatically, allowing for increased feed for wintering mule deer, elk and wild turkeys as well as future forage value for grazing livestock on UDWR Properties. This project, especially in the mastication polygons, has the potential to greatly increase available forage to livestock and wildlife. Potential can be seen in past WMA treatment areas that stopped at the private fence line. Past treatments have at least 5x's the herbaceous forage as well as more shrubs for browsing. The lop and scatter treatments will sustain forage that is available now with the goals of stopping future losses as trees become increasingly dense.