Northeast Region WMA Prescribed Fire Plan
Project ID: 7612
Status: Current
Fiscal Year: 2026
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Pat Rainbolt
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northeastern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northeastern
Description:
Planning and preparation for prescribed fires on Northeast Region Waterfowl Management Areas
Location:
Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area in Jensen, Utah. Brown's Park Waterfowl Management Area in Daggett County, Utah.
Project Need
Need For Project:
Aquatic vegetation at Stewart Lake and Brown's Park Waterfowl Management Areas has accumulated to a point where management of water in these WMAs has become difficult. This has severely limited DWR's ability to flood and drain the property annually, reducing the benefit to waterfowl.
Objectives:
The objectives are to use prescribed fire on the property to reduce aquatic fuels and to begin a program of using fire on the property annually to maintain fuel loads.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Loss of open water available to waterfowl. Fuel loading presents a fire risk to neighbors of the property. Stewart Lake is a location for entrainment of larval Razorback Sucker from the Green River where they can develop and the juveniles are then recruited back into the Green River. This process has become more difficult with vegetation limiting flooding and draw down of the reservoir. Stewart Lake WMA is a release site for Ring-necked pheasants and also year long crucial range for Mule deer. Brown's park WMA supports waterfowl production and recreation and is also a release site for Ring-necked pheasants. The property is also winter crucial range for Mule deer.
Relation To Management Plan:
Brown's Park WMA Habitat Management Plan: o Maintain and manage all WMA habitats and vegetation. o Manipulate wetlands to recycle dormant seed banks to increase habitat quality for wildlife. On the WMA wetlands, keep at least 10-20 percent of the habitat and its associated biotic communities in early succession stages and habitat types. 5. Properly manage selenium concentrations with water management and prescribed burn treatments. The Stewart Lake WMA Management Plan is not yet completed.
Fire / Fuels:
Reduction of fuels on an annual basis.
Water Quality/Quantity:
Significant increased water quantity and quantity into the reservoirs and ponds at each WMA.
Compliance:
The plan will be in compliance with all prescribed fire rules/guidelines/and procedures.
Methods:
Plan preparation will rely heavily on expertise from FFSL. Border areas will be mowed by UDWR and black lined to establish perimeter and safe zones. Interior will be burned when perimeter is completed.
Monitoring:
Post fire monitoring will be completed by UDWR NER Habitat, Aquatics, and Wildlife personnel.
Partners:
FFSL, Local Fire Deptments, BLM, local neighbors.
Future Management:
Prescribed fire will be used every year or every other year when conditions allow.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Grazing is not permitted on the WMA, but is an available tool when conditions allow.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$30,000.00 $0.00 $30,000.00 $5,000.00 $35,000.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Personal Services (permanent employee) Burn Plan development $10,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Personal Services (permanent employee) Ignition and holding $15,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Personal Services (permanent employee) Mowing and black line preparations $5,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Personal Services (permanent employee) FFSL contributions $0.00 $0.00 $5,000.00 2026
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$30,000.00 $0.00 $30,000.00 $5,000.00 $35,000.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
FFSL Fire Rehab $0.00 $0.00 $5,000.00 2026
Habitat Council Account QHCR $30,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Wild Turkey R1
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Medium
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Temperature Extremes Medium
Razorback Sucker N1
Threat Impact
Fire Suppression Tactics Low
Razorback Sucker N1
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity High
Razorback Sucker N1
Threat Impact
Water Allocation Policies High
Ring-necked Pheasant R3
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Ring-necked Pheasant R3
Threat Impact
Temperature Extremes Medium
Wading Birds
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Waterfowl
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Habitats
Habitat
Emergent
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Low
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Very High
Open Water
Threat Impact
Droughts High
Project Comments
Comment 01/15/2025 Type: 2 Commenter: Alison Whittaker
Will you change your map feature from an affected area to a prescribed fire? Thanks.
Comment 02/18/2025 Type: 2 Commenter: Alison Whittaker
Be sure to include in-kind for the partners involved.
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
ID Feature Category Action Treatement/Type
14857 Terrestrial Treatment Area Prescribed fire Prescribed fire
14858 Terrestrial Treatment Area Prescribed fire Prescribed fire
Project Map
Project Map