Assisting with the implementation of the Amended Habitat Conservation Plan will allow us to minimize and mitigate the threats facing tortoises within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (Reserve). Threats include habitat degradation, loss of habitat, extreme drought, wildfire, predation, disease and human related mortality. These threats to tortoise populations are imminent and urgent with tortoise populations declining roughly 50% since long-term monitoring began in 1998. In 2003, tortoise populations declined due to a combination of drought and disease. Catastrophic fires (e.g., 2005, 2020), which burned up to 25% of tortoise habitat within the Reserve, have degraded habitat. In addition, recent population monitoring revealed a significant die-off of adult tortoises in spring 2025. Active management between the cooperative partners of the Reserve (i.e., local city governments, Washington County, Utah Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc.) is critical to minimize and mitigate threats to tortoises. Due to the number of potential threats within the Reserve and its proximity to rapidly growing communities, long-term monitoring and active management is critical to determine current management effectiveness, identify future concerns and threats, and ensure the continued existence of tortoises within the Reserve. The HCP was renewed and it is anticipated that UDNR will increase funding to meet long term commitments for tortoise recovery, with the ultimate goal of UDNR taking over funding and management responsibility for the desert tortoise.

The overall goal of this project is to coordinate desert tortoise recovery activities within southwestern Utah. The objectives of this project include: 1) Perform administrative duties associated with implementation of the Renewed and Amended Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (October 2020; HCP), 2) Coordinate desert tortoise recovery activities for the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit and the Northeastern Mojave Recovery Unit (Beaver Dam Slope Critical Habitat Unit), 3) Assist Washington County with regulatory activities and incidental take surveys associated with the HCP, 4) Implement the Translocation Management Plan and the project, Post-Release Monitoring of Translocated Tortoises, to assess movements and habitat use post release, 5) Conduct desert tortoise regional density and population demographic monitoring in accordance with Recovery Plan objectives for the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit, 6) Maintain radio telemetered tortoises to quantify seasonal above ground activity required for estimating and understanding desert tortoise population trends and, 7) Assist agency partners with habitat restoration to protect unburned habitat and restore burned habitat within the Reserve and the Beaver Dam Wash NCA. Tasks for each objective are described in the Methods section below.

The desert tortoise and its associated habitat, the Mojave Desert, are increasingly at risk of crossing ecological thresholds due to anthropogenic pressures that erode natural resilience and heighten vulnerability to large stochastic disturbances such as drought and wildfire. Continued monitoring of desert tortoise demographics and population trends, coupled with adaptive management actions (e.g., habitat restoration, translocation, fence maintenance, and education), is essential to help prevent these thresholds from being reached. Continued population monitoring is particularly critical considering the recent adult tortoise die-off documented in spring 2025, and to evaluate population status following large-scale restoration efforts within the NCA and Reserve as well as anticipated construction of the Northern Corridor. Monitoring population responses to management actions will enable managers to better identify ecological thresholds affecting the desert tortoise and its habitat, thereby enhancing the adaptive management process.

The goals and objectives of this project are consistent with goals and objectives from 20 management plans. This project closely follows those recommendations listed in the Revised Recovery Plan for the Mojave Population of the Desert Tortoise (USFWS 2011) and the Recovery Plan for the Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population; USFWS 1994). Additionally, the Red Cliff's NCA RMP and the St. George Field Office RMP call for proactive vegetation management efforts to protect a variety of resources, including wildlife, recreation, and cultural. 1) and 2) Revised Recovery Plan for the Mojave Population of the Desert Tortoise (USFWS 2011) and the Recovery Plan for the Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population; USFWS 1994); Develop, support, and build partnerships to facilitate recovery (1), Protect existing populations and habitat (2), Conserve intact desert tortoise habitat (2.1), Restore desert tortoise habitat (2.6), Augment depleted populations through a strategic program (3), Implement translocations in target areas to augment populations (3.4), Monitor progress towards recovery (4), Monitor desert tortoise population growth (4.1), Monitor the extent of tortoise distribution in each recovery unit (4.2), Quantify the presence and intensity of threats to the desert tortoise across the landscape (4.4), Conduct research on the restoration of desert tortoise habitat (5.2), Implement an adaptive management program (6); 3) Recovery Action Plan for the Mojave Desert Tortoise in the Upper Virgin River (USFWS 2014); Restore habitat in burned or otherwise disturbed areas, identify polygons of high potential or importance and create islands of seeded or planted habitat to enhance recovery (Priority 1, 4.02), Conduct habitat restoration by controlling cheat grass and other non-native and invasive plant species (Priority 1, 4.05), Restore habitat with large-scale seeding or plantings within the Reserve (Priority 2, 4.03); 4) Recovery Action Plan for the Mojave Desert Tortoise in the Northeast Mojave (USFWS 2014); Reduce coverage of exotic annual grasses and thus fire risk, and increase the coverage of native species and plant diversity (Priority 1, 1.02), In recently-burned habitat on the Beaver Dam Slope, re-seed multiple polygons, no smaller than 40 acres each (Priority 3, 1.12); 5) and 6) Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (WC 1995) and Amended and Restated Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (WC 2020); Preserve and enhance desert tortoise populations and their habitat within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (WC 1995, 1.5), Provide protection for other listed and candidate species and their habitats (WC 1995, 1.5), Fund surveys and other actions to help gather information and identify and implement actions to help other listed and candidate species (WC 1995, 1.5), Translocate displaced desert tortoises to the Reserve or other designated translocation site thereby expanding the protected desert tortoise population (WC 2020, 6.1.2), Monitoring tortoise population trends and threats to support adaptive management actions (WC 2020, 6.1.2); 7) Utah Wildlife Action Plan (UDWR 2015); Assess distribution and abundance of species with greatest conservation need (pg. 7), Implement research or surveys to identify and understand the key factors in effective restoration and conservation (pg. 7), Build partnerships among agencies and stakeholders to abate threats for priority species (pgs. 217-224), Implement monitoring to measure the effectiveness of conservation actions and to adapt conservation to changing conditions (pgs. 213-215); 8) Gila Monster Conservation Strategy (UDWR 2007); Identify, maintain, protect, and enhance important habitat to protect and conserve Gila monsters in southwestern Utah (Goal 2), Identify and implement management actions that would protect and enhance Gila monster habitat (2.2), Maintain biological integrity of protected habitat areas (i.e., Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, 3.1.1); 9) Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (UDWR 2005); General Conservation Action to control and monitor invasive species with specific conservation action to protect and maintain habitat (6-2, 6-7), Restore degraded habitat by managing previously or potentially suitable habitat to achieve or approach properly functioning condition with specific conservation action to maintain habitat integrity (6-2, 6-7), General Conservation Action to control and monitor invasive species with specific conservation action to protect and maintain habitat (6-2, 6-7); 10) and 11) Dixie Resource Area Resource Management Plan (BLM 1998) and Resource Management Plan for the Red Cliffs and Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Areas (BLM 2016); Maintain wildlife habitats in properly functioning conditions to support natural wildlife diversity, reproductive capability, and appropriate human use and enjoyment (2.24), Manage suitable public land habitats for the recovery or reestablishment of native populations through collaborative planning with local, state, and federal agencies, user groups, and interested organizations (2.24), Work with state, local, and other federal partners to minimize or eliminate the need for additional listing of species under the Endangered Species Act in Washington County (2.24); 12) Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan (UDWR 2014); Expand and improve mule deer populations throughout the state within the carrying capacity of available habitats and in consideration of other land uses (VI, pg 17), Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges (VI, pg. 18); 13) Landscape Conservation Forecasting for Washington County's National Conservation Areas (TNC 2011); Improve or maintain condition of all ecological systems, improve the condition of ecological systems that are currently in an undesirable (highly departed) condition (Pg. 4-5), For the six ecological systems that are vital tortoise habitat, reduce departure from desired future condition (tortoise habitat departure) from high to low (Pg 4), Protect reference vegetation classes, unburned and only once-burned shrub land classes (Pg. 4), Decrease fuel loading and continuity to help reduce risk of loss from wildlife to natural and cultural resources in the NCA's (Pg. 4); 14) Southwest Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan, Cedar City Office (BLM 2004); Prevent invasive species and restore watershed function and biological communities through short term stabilization and long term rehabilitation (II,A., pg. 11), Restore healthy, diverse, and resilient ecological systems to minimize uncharacteristically severe fires on a priority watershed basis through long-term restoration (II,A., pg. 11); 15) Virgin River (Watershed) Management Plan (WCWCD, 2006); To maintain and enhance water quality and associated natural resources of the Virgin River Watershed by reducing soil erosion, wildfires and flooding (Chapter 1, III-14); 16) Desert Tortoise Management Plan, Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah (UDWR 2004); Protect existing desert tortoise habitat within SCSP to prevent habitat loss and fragmentation (Objective 1.2), Rehabilitate and enhance disturbed habitat to maintain ecosystem integrity and health of tortoise populations (Objective 1.3), Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date information on tortoise and other sensitive wildlife populations, and their habitats (Objective 4.1); 17) and 18) Translocation Management Plan: Strategy for Moving Displaced Desert Tortoises in the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit (UDWR 2023) and Population Augmentation Strategy for the Mojave Desert Tortoise Recovery Program (USFWS 2021); Translocate tortoises into high quality habitat for all life stages (i.e., no major unfenced roads, highways, or human development that would pose a risk to successful establishment of translocated tortoises), Strategically move displaced tortoises to relatively low-density areas to provide the best conservation need and enhance populations within the UVRRU and BDS (Objective 1.0), Identify translocation areas that contain criteria necessary to sustain populations (Objective 2.0), Supplement core populations and augment connectivity between conservation areas (Objective 3.0); 19) BLM Mojave Desert Tortoise Strategic Plan (April 6, 2023); Address primary threats including direct mortality associated with roads and barrier fencing (Action 2); 20) Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Habitat Management Plan and 5-Year Plan Fire and Fuels Management in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (July 2024); Treat roadsides (paved), maintain firebreaks along ROWs (Priority 1), Control nonnative species (Priority 2), Create islands of vegetation (Priority 3), Monitor treated areas (Priority 4), Research/Monitor Methodology (Priority 6).

This project includes advising habitat restoration projects that will reduce the presence of fine textured fuels and, in turn, reduce the potential for future wildfires. Restoration and preventative actions will both restore burned habitat and protect unburned habitat. Critical wildlife habitat and adjacent urban communities are at risk of burning if non-native grasses continue to dominate the landscape.

This project will improve the Virgin River watershed through restoration efforts that will protect habitat, reduce erosion, and minimize run-off.

Compliance under Federal and State law is required and has been completed through the Habitat Conservation Plan process.

Objective 1: Perform administrative duties associated with implementation of the Renewed and Amended Washington County (WC) Habitat Conservation Plan (Signed January 2021; HCP). 1.1. Coordinate activities with HCAC, WC, BLM, USFWS, and Snow Canyon State Park. 1.2. Participate on the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan Technical Committee (TC) as requested. 1.3. Assist with the completion of TC tasks, assigned by the Habitat Conservation Advisory Committee (HCAC) or HCP Administrator. 1.4. Assist with the implementation of the HCP Public Use Plan and Human Impact Monitoring, as requested. 1.5. Assist with monitoring utility development protocol compliance for projects within incidental take and HCP reserve areas. 1.6. Participate in law enforcement quarterly meetings with UDWR conservation officers, WC, and BLM. 1.7. Assist with UDWR's desert tortoise adoption program, informing the public about the adoption program and helping to process captive tortoises as needed. 1.8. Assist with acquisition of non-federal Reserve lands through Endangered Species Act, Section 6 grant proposals, administration, and other available means. 1.9. Submit annual reports to HCAC including summary of UDWR desert tortoise recovery actions and HCP implementation. 1.10. Coordinate UDWR's Washington County Field Office. Objective 2: Coordinate desert tortoise recovery activities for the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit and the Northeastern Mojave Recovery Unit (Beaver Dam Slope Critical Habitat Unit). 2.1. Participate on the Recovery Implementation Teams for the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit and the Northeastern Mojave Recovery Unit (BDS Critical Habitat Unit). 2.2. Identify restoration and management actions to achieve desert tortoise recovery and identify and coordinate viable funding sources to implement recovery. 2.3. Coordinate implementation of recovery plan objectives within Beaver Dam Slope Critical Habitat Unit with BLM, Arizona, and Nevada. 2.4. Manage regional program activities to assist in the recovery of the desert tortoise. 2.5. Provide technical assistance, along with other HCP Partners, to support the design, construction, maintenance, and/or monitoring of tortoise passages in Washington County, with an emphasis on creating connectivity across Cottonwood Road in Management Zone 3. 2.6. Participate in the Data Sharing working group with agency partners (USGS, BLM, CSP, UN-Reno) to build a range wide spatially explicit population model for the desert tortoise. 2.7. Provide the Salt Lake Office the required information for the federal shell collection and handling permit. 2.8. Assist in the implementation of the Desert Tortoise Management Plan, Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah. 2.9. Provide the Salt Lake Office the required information to compile Section 6 funding requests. 2.10. Integrate current disease research into tortoise disease management protocols for the Recovery Units. 2.11. Obtain appropriate training and remain current on conservation biology techniques. Objective 3. Assist Washington County (WC) with regulatory activities and incidental take activities associated with the HCP. 3.1. Cooperate with WC in conducting tortoise presence/absence and clearance surveys within designated HCP incidental take areas. 3.2. Assist with and monitor WC's facilities for holding displaced desert tortoises removed from designated take areas. 3.3. Coordinate and assist with the transfer, handling/holding, health, and disposition of displaced tortoises. 3.4. Review results of presence/absence and tortoise removal surveys and provide feedback to WC. 3.5. Complete field reports on incidental take activities, including summarizing the results of presence/absence and clearance surveys. 3.6. Train UDWR field technicians on desert tortoise general biology, handling protocols, visual health assessments, and survey techniques (e.g., clearance, presence and absence). 3.7. Maintain desert tortoise mortality database, complete annual field report, and identify issues and concerns to TC and agency partners. 3.8. Document and process suspected desert tortoise illegal take and complete annual report on suspected illegal take within the Upper Virgin Recovery Unit. 3.9. Supervise biannual fencing surveys and set up contracts to upgrade and maintain high priority fencing areas, depending on available funding. Objective 4. Implement the Translocation Management Plan and the project, Post-Release Monitoring of Translocated Tortoises, to assess movements and habitat use post release. 4.1. In coordination with agency partners, implement the Translocation Management Plan. 4.2. Coordinate and assist with the transfer, processing, health assessments, and disposition of displaced tortoises in urbanized areas (e.g., pit tag, ELISA test, etc.). 4.3. Coordinate translocation effort of displaced animals during the spring and fall. 4.4. Respond to Urban Wildlife calls and relocate displaced tortoises into federal land or protected areas depending on their capture location. 4.5. Translocate displaced desert tortoises to designated translocation areas (e.g., Zone 4, Grapevine) within the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit. 4.6. Depending on available funds, implement monitoring in Zone 4 and/or other translocation sites within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. 4.7. Maintain a database on translocated desert tortoises in Zone 4 and other translocation sites within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. 4.8. Analyze data to assess density, abundance, and survival of translocated tortoises as well as assess demographic data including age class distribution, sex ratio, and growth. 4.9. Evaluate the Translocation Management Plan at the end of the season and implement adaptive management as appropriate. 4.10. Complete field reports summarizing relocation and translocation efforts within the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit. 4.11. Continue coordination with the Technical Committee and HCP Administrator on the project, Post-Release Monitoring of Translocated Tortoises. Pursue HCP monitoring funds to implement project. 4.12. Implement the project, Post-Release Monitoring of Translocated Tortoises, depending on available Washington County funding. Using satellite GPS units, monitor up to 10 translocated tortoises at release sites to better understand movement and habitat use post release in Calendar Year 2025. Objective 5. Conduct desert tortoise regional density and population demographic monitoring in accordance with Recovery Plan objectives for the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit. 5.1. In coordination with BLM NCA Manager and biologist, and depending on available funding, implement BLM cooperative agreement to conduct long term monitoring of federal lands within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in spring 2027. 5.2. Implement the desert tortoise regional density monitoring plan surveying Management Zones 2, 3, 4 and 5 within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, depending on available funding. 5.3. Hire, supervise and coordinate field crew, depending on available funding. 5.4. Analyze data and prepare biannual report on the status of the Reserve tortoise population. 5.5. Evaluate and assess desert tortoise population status and trends. 5.6. Evaluate and assess size class distribution, sex ratios, growth rates on marked animals, and health. 5.7. Geodigitize presence data of other non-listed rare and sensitive species observed on transects and in the field and submit to Heritage database. 5.8. Evaluate population status and assess effectiveness of management actions (e.g., fencing, restoration, translocation, etc.). 5.9. Provide an assessment of plant community status across the landscape (e.g., species present, % cover). 5.10. Maintain a database on marked desert tortoises within Zones 2, 3 and 5 of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. 5.11. Analyze data and prepare annual and final reports for BLM and HCAC partners. Objective 6. Maintain radio telemetered tortoises to quantify seasonal above ground activity required for estimating and understanding desert tortoise population trends. 7.1. Maintain radio telemetered desert tortoises within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. 7.2. Assess above ground tortoise activity during monitoring season to estimate g(0) for population monitoring and provide data to partners when requested. 7.3. Continue to work with Utah State University to finalize the survival analysis of desert tortoises in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. 7.4. Maintain database of telemetered tortoises. 7.5. Analyze data and prepare annual report on activities. Objective 7. Assist agency partners with habitat restoration to protect unburned habitat and restore burned habitat within the Reserve. 8.1. Assist and support agency partners in habitat restoration projects on desert tortoise critical habitat within the Red Cliffs and Beaver Dam Wash NCA. 8.2. In coordination with UDWR habitat biologists, develop long-term management strategies to restore Mojave Desert vegetation communities, post burn, and protect unburned habitat. 8.3. Compile restoration project results in developing recommendations for cost effective and long-term management strategies for restoration. 8.4. Continue to work with agency partners to identify and refine cost effective restoration strategies within the Red Cliffs and Beaver Dam Wash NCA. 8.5. Participate in workshops and conference calls to integrate current research with restoration activities and projects. 8.6. Assist in the long-term management of the old Turkey Farm property as well as other UDNR lands within the Reserve, identifying management strategies to restore burned habitat and reduce invasive weeds. 8.7. Assist UDWR's Great Basin Research Center in preparing appropriate seed mixes for restoration sites in the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit. 8.8. Working with local community organizations (e.g., Dixie State University, Conserve Southwest Utah), to develop and implement community restoration outreach projects.

All HCP activities are conducted in close coordination with Washington County, Bureau of Land Management, and HCAC. Annual reports are submitted to the Washington County HCP administration, subsequently distributed to the HCAC, and reviewed by the Washington County Commission. UDWR prepares annual reports on tortoise translocation and relocation, tortoise clearance surveys if completed, population monitoring, and other HCP related activities for Washington County, the HCAC and TC. Finally, based on the funding source, final technical reports are uploaded to the appropriate provider site (e.g., WRI website, GrantSolutions). Based on monitoring results and review of annual and technical reports, adaptive management is implemented to promote the recovery of the desert tortoise.

Much of the success and HCP accomplishments are due to continued partnerships with local and federal agencies. The project will be implemented by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in cooperation with Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan collaborators including federal (Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), state (Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation), local government agencies (Washington County, City of Ivins, Santa Clara, Hurricane, St. George, Springdale) and non-government organizations (The Nature Conservancy, Virgin River Land Preservation Association). Working closely with Bureau of Land Management, we hope to secure BLM funding to continue desert tortoise long term monitoring efforts on federal lands within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and Red Cliffs NCA.

The information obtained through this project will be used to develop ongoing management strategies to assist in the implementation of the Amended and Revised HCP and ultimately recover the desert tortoise. This information will help the HCP staff, HCAC, Technical Committee, and agency personnel better assess potential threats to the desert tortoise population, and understand tortoise survival and mortality within the Reserve. Implementation of the proposed project will result in long-term benefits to tortoise populations by reducing and minimizing threats. This project is an integral component of the collaborative HCP process, which is a largescale Endangered species 25 year mitigation effort to allow continued economic development and growth in Washington County while establishing the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve to ensure the long-term persistence of the desert tortoise.

The Reserve and NCA includes a myriad of recreational trails which are popular with rock climbers, hikers, mountain bikers, equestrian users, birdwatchers, wildlife watchers, and hunters. In 2024, over a million people visited the Reserve and NCA, with visitation expected to increase annually. Protecting and restoring habitat will not only benefit wildlife but the recreational experience for thousands of visitors.