Utah WSF Bighorn Outreach Coordinator
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Project ID: 7635
Status: Current
Fiscal Year: 2025
Submitted By:
N/A
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Project Manager: Rusty Robinson
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Salt Lake Office
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Statewide
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Description:
This project will fund an employee to seek out domestic sheep and goat producers in proximity to occupied and unoccupied bighorn sheep habitat. The Employee will work with producers to reduce the risk of disease transmission while providing mutual benefit to producers and their livestock.
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Location:
Statewide
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Project Need
Need For Project:
In order to prevent disease risk to bighorn sheep and provide mutual benefits to domestic sheep and goat producers, this position was created as an interagency project.
Objectives:
a. Establishment of the location of and contacting domestic sheep and goat producers
in proximity of existing bighorn sheep habitat;
b. Inventory and test for disease the herds of willing domestic sheep and goat
producers;
c. Foster positive relationships within the agricultural community and offer
management options and veterinary guidance to reduce the risk to bighorn sheep;
d. Compile a database of producers and contact information;
e. Assess and prioritize areas to address that pose disease risk as it relates to the
commingling of bighorn sheep with domestic sheep and goats;
f. Create and distribute educational and outreach materials and tools to benefit
producers and bighorn sheep;
g. Create a 3-year strategic plan;
h. Explore funding sources for fencing and methods for exchanging for disease free
domestics; and
i. Any additional mutually agreed upon metrics as may be identified by the Parties
during the pendency of this Agreement.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
N/A
Relation To Management Plan:
From statewide bighorn sheep management plan; "UDWR recognizes the economic importance of the domestic sheep industry, and it is not the intent of this Plan or UDWR to force domestic sheep operators off public lands or out of business. Rather, the intent is to look for opportunities that will protect bighorn sheep populations while working with the domestic sheep industry. Because of the unique mosaic of bighorn sheep habitat in Utah and its pervasive proximity to domestic sheep and goats on private and public lands, and the susceptibility of bighorn sheep to diseases harbored by domestic sheep and goats, it is impossible to completely remove all risk of pathogen transmission. UDWR fully understands and accepts the risks of disease in bighorn sheep populations, and will employ a variety of strategies to manage around this risk to ensure sustainable populations of bighorns can exist in balance with domestic sheep grazing.
Fire / Fuels:
N/A
Water Quality/Quantity:
N/A
Compliance:
N/A
Methods:
The Employee may use strategies including but not limited to:
a. Aiding producers to install adequate fencing or otherwise helping to prevent the
escape or commingling with bighorn sheep;
b. Advising producers on husbandry and veterinary practices;
c. Testing domestic sheep and goats for disease;
d. Helping producers manage infected animals;
e. Participate in aerial surveys; and
f. Assist in separating domestic and wild populations in cases of intermingling.
Monitoring:
N/A
Partners:
UDWR, UWSF
Future Management:
N/A
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
N/A
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $0.00 | $250,000.00 | $250,000.00 | $0.00 | $250,000.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Personnel services, current expense, and educational materials for bighorn sheep outreach coordinator. | $0.00 | $45,000.00 | $0.00 | 2025 |
| Other | Personnel services, current expense, and educational materials for bighorn sheep outreach coordinator. | $0.00 | $85,000.00 | $0.00 | 2026 |
| Other | Personnel services, current expense, and educational materials for bighorn sheep outreach coordinator. | $0.00 | $80,000.00 | $0.00 | 2027 |
| Other | Personnel services, current expense, and educational materials for bighorn sheep outreach coordinator. | $0.00 | $40,000.00 | $0.00 | 2028 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $0.00 | $250,000.00 | $250,000.00 | $0.00 | $250,000.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) | External Conservation Permit Funds - Direct Pay | $0.00 | $40,000.00 | $0.00 | 2028 | |
| Utah Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) | External Conservation Permit Funds - Direct Pay | $0.00 | $45,000.00 | $0.00 | 2025 | |
| Utah Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) | External Conservation Permit Funds - Direct Pay | $0.00 | $85,000.00 | $0.00 | 2026 | |
| Utah Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) | External Conservation Permit Funds - Direct Pay | $0.00 | $80,000.00 | $0.00 | 2027 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn Sheep | N4 | R2 | ||||
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Habitats
| Habitat |
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Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
N/A