Pre-Fire Conditions Vegetation on the landscape prior to the Little Pole fire was dominated by upland shrub (99.37%), upland woodland (0.34%). Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush covered approximately 96.28% of the lands within the fire area. Also identified: Great Basin Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Shrubland (1.21%), Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe (1.06 %), Great Basin Pinyon-Juniper Woodland (0.63 %) with Great Basin and Intermountain Ruderal Shrubland and Other totaling the remaining 0.48%.

The fire occurred within crucial year-long range for deer and pronghorn and is within Priority Habitat Management Area (PHMA) for Greater Sage-grouse. There are known leks very near and east of the fire. Other sensitive species potentially affected include kit fox, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, pinyon jay, monarch butterfly, and western bumble bee. The integrity of the Raft River drainage could be at risk, due to loss of riparian vegetation or impacts from the fire effects including surrounding native trees, shrubs and perennial vegetation, all of which could contribute to an accelerated eroding landscape. Soil loss or movement downstream is of primary concern. Wind erosion is moderate and water erosion is potentially high if there are future instances of rapid runoff.

Drill seeding as well as an aerial seeding treatment is needed to stabilize soils, promote infiltration, and mitigate the potential for flash flooding threats. Without seeding treatments, the potential for increased density and overall presence of cheatgrass, which was located in near proximity, could increase in this burned area if left untreated and the invasion of several noxious weed species would also be a concern. Noxious weed spraying and Monitoring are included.

These ESR treatments are consistent with the Box Elder Resource Management Plan (1986), the Salt Lake Field Office Fire Management Plan Amendment (1998)-Alternative 2: Integrated Fire/Resources, the 2022 Salt Lake Field Office Invasive Species Management Plan (DOI-BLM-UT-W010-2018-0010-EA), and the 2010 West Desert District Normal Year Fire Rehabilitation Plan (WDD NFRP) (DOI-BLM-UT-W000-2010-0001-EA).

The natural caused fire started July 31, 2025 and was declared contained August 5, 2025. Most of the acreage burned between the afternoon of July 31th and early hours of August 1st. The fire started on BLM lands barely east of USFS, just north and south of private lands. High winds drove the fire north and east, carrying the fire near the Raft River drainage. The fire ran north from the point of origin (T14N R16W Section 23), propelled by strong south-easterly winds causing running, spotting, torching and creeping.

Fire impacts watershed health by removing accumulated material and vegetation that provides protection to the mineral soil and holds sediment on hillslopes. Fire also alters infiltration by exposing soil to raindrop impact and enhancing hydrophobic soil conditions. Exposed hillslopes have increased raindrop impact, increased runoff with more power due to long uninterrupted flow paths and less surface roughness (due to removal of vegetation, litter, duff and coarse woody debris). Natural recovery of the vegetation will take several years; a flashflood/debris flow during the post-fire recovery phase would potentially result in significant negative impacts to the landscape and access roads surrounding the greater Raft River drainage area.

The WDD NFRP supports: ▪The use of various methods to plant seed into the soil, including the aerial seeding treatments included in this ESR plan. When established, these seedings prevent cheatgrass invasion, provide a protection from soil erosion, protect the burn area from large-scale invasion of non-native noxious and invasive weeds, and provide forage and nectar resources for wildlife. ▪The WDD NFRP and SLFO Invasive Species Management Plan also supports the use of herbicides to combat noxious and invasive plant species.

* The burned areas would be seeded with seed mixes designed for the soils, precipitation, and other ecological characteristics of proposed seeding sites. It is estimated that approximately 350 acres would be drill seeded and approximately 108 acres would be aerially seeded to establish perennial cover to hold the soil and help slow the invasion of noxious and other pervasive weeds, especially cheatgrass. * Conduct a cadastral survey to identify, avoid disturbing and establish Public Land Survey System corners/lines. * Conduct a Class III Cultural Resources Inventory to identify archaeological sites within the burn area for avoidance from proposed ground-disturbing activities. * Repair or replace an estimated 1.5 miles of burned pasture and allotment boundary fences to keep livestock off the treatment area until seeded vegetation is able to get established. * Enter into a nonuse agreement to protect the seeded area of the fire, as cattle grazing permittees on the Yost Pastures Allotments will be required to keep their livestock off the reseeded area for a minimum of two full growing seasons to allow new seedlings to become established. * Treatment effectiveness monitoring for three growing seasons following the fire to determine success of emergency stabilization treatments. * Inventory for and treat any noxious weeds that may invade

The Little Pole Fire ESR treatments would be monitored using Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methodology for the first three years following the fire. The first year (2026) is covered under S13-Monitoring, and continued monitoring in the second and third years (2027 and 2028) are addressed under R13-Monitoring. The specific methodology of the monitoring can be found under the monitoring section for each individual treatment. Monitoring methods were designed to measure the effectiveness of treatments and results for each treatment that was implemented. Monitoring will attempt to measure the intended on-the-ground results for which the ESR team designed treatments.

UDNR - DWR Habitat Restoration Biologist(s)

Given the sizeable costs involved in ESR projects, it is important to monitor and evaluate the response from that investment. It is also helpful to show success or failure of different treatment methodologies in different plant communities and soils to improve our knowledge for future treatment activities. Monitoring is a big part of adaptive management as lessons are learned from experience over time. Through monitoring, we can improve our techniques and treatment prescriptions in the future. As a specific example, monitoring the results from the seed mix within the proposed seeding area will yield valuable information to land managers on the success/failure of different seeded species in establishing and competing with cheatgrass.

The overall probability for success of the proposed treatments is sufficiently high to result in an acceptable level of risk. Indications are that the proposed Little Pole Fire treatments have a favorable chance of success, given that the project wins early support and can be carried out in the proper timeframe this fall. The SLFO has experience using similar seeding applications and research has shown these treatments have the best efficacy to prevent/ameliorate overland flow for the first year following the fire.