Historical and current degradation of riparian lands are a common habitat issue in the NER. One tool that has shown promising results in other regions, but not yet utilized in the NER is beaver relocation in support of aquatic and terrestrial restoration projects. Making this tool available in Uintah, Daggett, and Duchesne counties will improve the effectiveness of restoration projects that are focused on riparian restoration. As the region becomes more arid, the increased surface and groundwater storage provided by valley bottoms becomes increasingly valuable. Active beaver complexes create ponds and wetlands that offer critical habitat for many species in need of conservation. Their ponds and canals boost channel complexity and reduce drought-related risks for native fish--such as Bluehead Sucker, Flannelmouth Sucker, Roundtail Chub, and Colorado River Cutthroat Trout--as well as non‑native sport fish like Rainbow and Brown Trout, supporting all life stages. Beaver complexes also benefit large mammals, particularly moose, by providing areas for cooling, foraging, and predator avoidance. Monarch butterflies gain from the enhanced riparian vegetation and expanded wetland habitat, which increase the availability of key pollinator plants.. Beaver relocation and re-establishment is also extremely cost-effective compared with ongoing maintenance of restoration projects. To minimize the transmission of disease and Aquatic Invasive Species associated with beaver relocations, a quarantine facility needs to be built in the NER. Past relocation efforts have been halted by the required process of transporting and quarantining beavers caught in the region. Although transportation to a quarantine facility from the NER has been experimented with, the long-term viability of the current available process is not promising. To make trapping and relocation possible within the region, a quarantine facility is needed. The northeastern region has regular depredation requests for the removal of nuisance beavers. Because of the high work load required by trapping beavers, we are requesting the funding for a seasonal technician whose primary job focus will be on beaver trapping. Past trapping efforts, although initially successful were halted because of the demand on depredation technicians to fulfill other requests, especially during the late summer. The requirement to check live traps every 24 hours would be more accessible with a dedicated seasonal whose schedule would accommodate the trapping requirements of this project. Additionally, beaver coexistence techniques have been shown to reduce conflicts between beavers and existing infrastructure but is a tool seldomly used in the region. We plan increasing uptake of coexistence strategies by installing flow devices in areas with known ongoing beaver conflicts and support of landowners. To support the initial year of implementation of a beaver relocation program, we propose holding a live-trapping beaver clinic, similar to the clinics that have been held in Logan by the Beaver Ecology and Relocation Collaborative. This clinic will be an opportunity for those involved in beaver trapping to learn the proper techniques required to live-trap beavers. It is anticipated that this clinic will be open to all partners involved in the planning process of this project as well as interested trappers of the community that may contribute their abilities to the success of this project.

1) Build a 2-kennell facility for beaver quarantine. 2) Hire a seasonal depredation technician that will focus solely on beaver trapping during the summer. 3) Quarantine beavers trapped in the NER and transport them to relocation sites in support of stream restoration projects. 4) Work with the Beaver Ecology and Relocation Collaborative to relocate beavers to other regions of the state as needed for restoration goals. 5) Provide a financial incentive to local beaver trappers to trap live beavers in support of restoration goals. 6) Promote "Living with Beaver" strategies and provide information to interested landowners on different techniques they can implement as an alternative to lethal trapping. 7) Work with landowners to implement up to 3 "Living with Beaver" strategies throughout the region (e.g. landowner's property near Tabiona).

In the NER, it is very common for nuisance beavers to be dealt with using lethal methods. Although there are cases where lethal trapping may be the most prudent, this project will provide an opportunity that has not seen widespread use in the NER. Using proven techniques from other regions that have established beaver relocation programs, it is reasonable to conclude that there are plenty of resources to turn to in the development of this program. A few long term projects in the Book Cliffs could benefit from the reintroduction of beavers on the landscape. This project will help to support the long-term success of those projects. There are many Beaver Dam Analog (BDA) projects that are currently maintained in the NER by contractors experienced in such work. The long term aim of BDA projects, where appropriate, is to provide a space for beavers to move in, and allow them to perform the engineering and maintenance of the habitat surrounding the river restoration project areas. Not only is relocating beavers to restoration sites effective in restoring habitat, it is also cost effective in the long term since maintenance of habitat restoration projects is no longer the sole burden of DWR personnel. A number of areas where coexistence strategies will be appropriate at this time were selected to receive flow devices to manage beaver conflicts while maintaining the habitat benefits that beavers provide. Flow devices will be installed at two of the following potential sites; Willow Creek, Moon Ranch (in the Hannah/Tabiona area), Sheep Creek, and Big Brush near Simplot. Site selection will be made closer to time of implementation as some factors are uncertain (weather, beaver activity, land owner support, etc.) until one or two months before installation. Nuisance beavers have been common on Sheep Creek between the highway 44 crossing, downstream to the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This area is utilized by kokanee salmon, and the consistent issues with beaver provides a good sized pool to trap from.

Utah Beaver Management Plan Outreach/ Education - Education on non-lethal control methods - Accommodating beaver working with private neighbors when a private/public reintroduction is desired. - Restoration techniques using beaver. - Expectation management when using beaver as a conservation and restoration tool. Damage Management/ Beaver Conflict Management - Deal with problems in some areas - lethal vs. nonlethal removal decision model - Problem beaver management using trappers - Educate the public about non-lethal techniques - Refer trappers to resolve problems - Cooperate with private landowners and water rights holders with both removal and introductions - Dealing with problem beavers in the following areas: City nuisance beavers, landowners, UDOT, Other. - Potential funding and information for non-lethal beaver management structures where appropriate. Watershed Restoration - Pro beaver transplant - Support restoration of beaver and adequate protection where establishing - Encourage live-trapping of entire families - Consider using beaver as a stream restoration tool - Beaver are a good tool that could be used to restore degraded riparian communities that could benefit many other wildlife species. - Potential funding and information for non-lethal beaver management structures where appropriate. - Potential benefits of aspen/cottonwood restoration in improving beaver habitat Disease/Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Objective 1: Minimize the possibility of spreading aquatic deseases(e.g., whirling disease) and aquatic invasive species (AIS) (e.g., Quagga and zebra mussels, New Zealand mud snails and clams) from known contaminated sources to clean watersheds as a result of moving beaver between drainages through 2020. Strategies: 1. Use 'The Protocol for Live Trapping, Holding and Transplanting Beaver' to screen source populations of beaver for transfer to other waters. Beavers should not be translocated from known waters containing whirling disease or ANS to waters believed to be clean without first following the Decontamination Protocol. Strategies Accomplished as of 2017 Review 1. A "Protocol for Live Trapping, Holding and Transplanting Beaver" was developed and followed during live trapping and translocation activities throughout the state. The protocol was updated to make it more pragmatic to implement in 2017. Objective 2: Minimize the possibility of spreading aquatic diseases and AIS from known contaminated sources to clean watersheds as a result of lethal trapping used during control actions or recreational seasons. Strategies: 1. Follow best practices for decontaminating all gear used in translocating beaver. 2. Provide decontamination information via web or brochure to recreational trappers during the purchase of their furbearer license to encourage voluntary compliance with decontamination protocol. Strategies Accomplished as of 2017 Review 1. Developed a gear decontamination protocol. This included verbiage requiring adherence to decontamination protocol in all COR issued to nuisance wildlife companies. Utah's Wildlife Action Plan (2025-2035): Chapter 2 (Key Habitats, Terrestrial): Aspen conifer habitat improvement actions include beaver reintroduction & LTPBR where appropriate. Beaver introduce needed disturbance to aspen stands and promote new growth, which in turn supports persistence of aspen on the landscape. Chapter 2 (Key Habitats, Aquatic): Riparian, rivers & stream habitats- low-tech process based restoration practices, including beaver reintroduction and BDAs are recommended to address numerous threats associated with these habitats. Chapter 3: Climate change: This chapter highlights the importance of making the WAP actionable through coordinated climate resilience projects in WRI. Riparian habitat restoration, for instance can build climate resilience. Chapter 4, Threats: Beaver reintroduction and coexistence / LTPBR are recommended to address numerous threats listed in the WAP including climate change (temperature, precipitation variability), water use and allocations (increasing baseflow persistence by reconnecting floodplains, holding water on the landscape), channel down-cutting (efficient sediment capture and repair of incised streams), increasing stream temperature (beaver complexes have high levels of habitat diversity and create thermal refuge), and in appropriate fire frequency and intensity (beaver complexes create figure refuge for wildlife, can slow or halt the spread of high-intensity wildfires.

The increased water in riparian areas, along with the associated increase of vegetation can provide a resilient firebreak. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of beaver complexes to slow or halt the spread of large fires, create refuge for wildlife and livestock during fires, and speed up the process of post-fire recovery (e.g. Fairfax & Whittle 2020; Fairfax et al. 2024).

Beaver dams have been shown to hold more water in the system, allowing for longer storage of water into the year. Beaver dams have also been shown to increase water quality by increasing sedimentation at the dam sites, reducing the amount of suspended particles present in the system, while also raising the water level.

To minimize the risk of disease and AIS transmission through the relocation of beavers, the quarantine facility will be used to quarantine beavers for a minimum of 72 hours. Care of the beavers will be approved by the UDWR state veterinarian. Permissions will be obtained from partners prior to relocation of beavers. Stream Alteration Permits and any other permits needed for the selected streams will be acquired prior to flow device installations.

- Build a quarantine facility and storage building on the Vernal Game Farm WMA. - Hold a clinic instructing local trappers and staff on proper live trapping. - Purchase equipment needed for live trapping and Living with Beaver strategies - Hire a depredation technician - Implement a bounty program for nuisance beaver caught in Duchesne, Daggett, and Uintah counties. - Perform relocations as needed to support restoration projects. - Install beaver deceiver, pond leveler, and culvert fence to prevent beavers from flooding landowners road near Tabiona. Additionally, we will install a secondary culvert to assist with drainage of water under high flow conditions or during beaver ponding.

Monitoring of released beavers appears to still be improving on methods. PIT tags are currently anticipated to be used in the release of beavers to track approximate locations, however other methods are anticipated to be used in conjunction with the PIT tags such as ear tags that would allow visual inspection of the animals if they are caught. Flow device sites will be monitored prior to and after installation by partners. Some maintenance may be required shortly after installation. As needed, we will repair and maintain the flow devices.

BLM, USFS - When appropriate, will work with the DWR to identify locations for trapping beaver on managed lands. USU/BERC - BERC will provide a workshop in the NER for live beaver trapping and assist with relocation efforts to other regions. USU will coordinate opportunities for students to help out where they can. TU - Has committed to the implementation of a LWB culvert improvement project near Tabiona. Sageland Collaborative has committed to the planning, design, and implementation of beaver coexistence flow devices at two sites. Utah Trappers Association(UTA) - Will help to inform local trappers of the opportunity to live trap beavers for a bounty.

In other regions this program has increased the social acceptance of beavers on the landscape leading to less calls for lethal removal and increasing need for support mitigating beaver conflict. It is expected that future phases of funding will be requested for this program.

Instead of killing the nuisance beavers, relocating them as an asset is an inherently sustainable use of natural resources. When possible coexistence with beavers improves habitat for fish sought after by anglers, big game, and livestock. This reduces the need of resources addressing nuisance calls.