In August 2025, the Willard Peak Fire burned 100s of acres of private and USFS lands in North Ogden, Utah. The fire was ignited into fine cheatgrass fuels, which allowed it to quickly sweep upslope in windy conditions. The BAER Team soil analysis of the site suggests several areas of private land are moderately or highly likely to experience debris flows during peak rainfall events. Furthermore, the Willard Peak Fire boundary contains popular hiking pathways, such as the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which are important to the community and local recreationists. Crucial wildlife habitat also exists within the fire perimeter. Reseeding the area is critical to soil stabilization, habitat continuity, and protecting existing recreation opportunities in the area.

The overall goal of this project is to restore the private lands burned in the Willard Peak Fire. Specific objectives include: 1. Reduce future fire risk 2. Reduce the infestation of noxious weeds into the burn scar 3. Reduce erosion risk and speed up recovery time 4. Restore forage for wildlife

The fire's perimeter and the surrounding area has cheatgrass, Scotch thistle, and yellow starthistle that will invade the area without treatment. Additionally, it's vital the area be seeded in fall, prior to spring snowmelt, to prevent major soil erosion during our wettest months.

Statewide Deer Management Plan - Restore lost crucial summer habitat - Improve quality of vegetation within crucial range Utah Forest Action Plan - Restore healthy and resilient forests in the burned perimeter - Reduce future wildfire risks to communities, water resources, and other natural resource values State of Utah Strategic Management Plan for Chukar Partridge - Maintain optimum Chukar Partridge populations in all suitable habitat in Utah by restoring crucial winter habitat Utah Mountain Goat Statewide Management Plan - Work with land managers to minimize and mitigate loss of mountain goat habitat - Work with land managers to protect and enhance mountain goat habitats Although no management plan currently exits for the Monarch Butterfly, we have chosen to include a diverse range of forbs in this reseeding, which we hope will assist Monarch habitat.

This project will reduce future wildfire risk by establishing native vegetation, which should stay wetter longer and be less prone to fire than pre-existing non-natives, such as cheatgrass. By reducing the risk of fire, this project helps to protect nearby homes, communities, crucial wildlife habitats, and recreation trails along the Wasatch Front.

This project will improve water quality at several time-scales. In the short term, soils and other debris burned during the Willard Peak Fire will be held in place by flown on seed, reducing the risk of major soil erosion and debris flows. In the long term, the restoration of native vegetation on the site will help slow down runoff and increase soil infiltration rates, thereby improving water quality.

This project will not include ground-disturbing activities and will not require archaeology clearances. Additionally, the USFS has confirmed that NEPA will not be required to perform aerial seeding on their managed lands. All best management seeding practices will be followed during implementation.

A contractor will be secured to fly on seed over the private lands burned by the Willard Peak Fire. The seed will come from GBRC and transported to the staging area by UDWR.

Photos will be taken prior to seeding and after seeding in the late spring/early summer of 2026 to document seed germination and establishment. Additionally, early spring and summer site visits will occur to document the need for follow-up herbicide treatments.

Partners include private landowners affected by the fire, North View Fire District, North Ogden City, Weber County, Northern Utah Trails Foundation, UFFSL, UDWR, and the USFS. Several partners were particularly interested in a native-only seed mix, and we are attempting to fulfill that request.

Monitoring will be done to determine if follow-up herbicide treatments are needed for the success of the site. Additionally, all grazing on seeded lands will be rested for one year, or until plants have sufficiently established, whichever comes first.

This project will improve the quality of forage for livestock and wildlife. It will also help restore the portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) consumed by the fire and preserve outdoor recreation opportunities in the area