Project Details

These past few years as an agency, we have been observing a trend toward increase annual grasses on the Beaver South Creek WMA. A failed attempt to treat the WMA with chain harrow and seed occurred two years ago. During this attempt, we found that there is a significant amount of lithic scatter in this area and any kind of treatment requiring ground disturbance is not an option. With this in mind, we included this WMA into a test plot to see if it was a good candidate for the use of a new emerging chemical to treat annual grasses called Rejuvra.  There has been growing support in recent years for the use of this new product as a longer lasting cheatgrass control with the possibility of it being long enough to truly deplete the seed bank.  The caveat was that the product would also inhibit new seeding's and therefore needed to be used in an area with an existing vegetative structure strong enough to release on its own without seeding.  Under this logic the South Creek WMA was determined to be a good candidate for using rejuvra, and a trial of the product was tested in strips on the WMA. Following these test strip applications, monitoring was conducted and it was determined that there was in fact a significant release of desirable plants within the test strips and that this site was a good candidate for a larger scale treatment.  
The Beaver South Creek Wildlife Management Area was purchased to provide high quality winter range for big game animals.  On this particular WMA since the invasion of cheatgrass  the perennial grasses and forbs along with the shrub vegetation's ability to provide that value has been inhibited. For these reasons we feel it necessary to put together this project that will treat the Beaver South Creek WMA with Rejuvra, combining the effects of rejuvra in a tank mix with Plateau in areas where tree canopy cover impedes the connectivity to bare soil. By treating the WMA with this combination of herbicides we believe that we will be allowing the desirable plant species that exist on the site to release and once again have this WMA realize it's full potential to provide valuable habitat for the wildlife that call this area their home.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

The primary objective of the project is to remove cheatgrass competition from the vegetation community on the Beaver South Creek Wildlife Management Area and thereby improve the vigor and health of the perennial plant community as was observed when we treated test strips on the WMA. This will be achieved by eliminating the cheatgrass allowing for an increase in cover and frequency of the desirable plant species that we want to propagate on the WMA.  This associated anticipated improvement of the vigor and health of the vegetative community by extension will increase the value of the land for wintering big game, thus better accomplishing the purpose of the land ownership. Removing this fine fuel will also reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic wildfire that would destroy the sagebrush that is so critical on this winter range.
A secondary objective is to evaluate further the effectiveness of Rejuvra, and Rejuvra and Plateau combined in a tank mix on treating larger scale sections. By doing this we hope to accomplish our management objectives on this WMA, and inform future management decisions for the potential use of these chemicals to manage annual grasses on other WMA properties and hopefully eventually establish a baseline to justify their use on BLM properties in the future.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

The 2019 range trend report for the easement unit, and other units along the Beaver frontage area documented that these systems are currently transitioning to cheatgrass dominance. This is the case for the Beaver South Creek WMA and action now is imperative to assure that we still have the remaining intact vegetative community to respond to the treatment necessary for success when treating areas with Rejuvra and Plateau.  The challenge on unique to the South Creek WMA is that we have already explored the possibility of mechanical treatment and unfortunately the cultural resources within the unit were too extensive to allow for that type of treatment.  Knowing these two factors make this feel like a now or never approach is our only option to save this WMA from what will eventually become total domination by cheatgrass if no action is to happen. This really is a crisis that with the use of these chemicals we can avoid and prolong the intact desirable community that exists and preserve this WMA for its intended purposes of providing a valuable winter range to a struggling mule deer population. This Deer herd is currently expressing some suppression, and performing well below its carrying capacity. During our recent capture efforts, we have also observed mule deer showing poor body condition scores.  This increases the importance of providing the best quality winter range we can. At this point, controlling cheatgrass while an intact native community (sagebrush and a few native grasses) exist would be much more cost effective than doing fire rehabilitation. Only under fire rehabilitation conditions, would the ability to treat this area with any type of tool that would cause major ground disturbance exist, hence protecting the community that exists is currently our only option. If a fire were to happen all of the sagebrush community that exists and is critical to the animals of this area for use as an effective winter range would be lost. The ability to reestablish this sagebrush community in areas adjacent to this have proven very difficult and we do not want to have to put forth that effort. Although deer are the priority species for this treatment, protecting this sagebrush community stands to benefit elk and sage grouse that use this area as well. 
This planned project lies within the Panguitch SGMA. While certainly on the outward edge of where we expect sage grouse to be, these areas are indicative of range conditions across the entire South Beaver Bench. Treating this area and experiencing success in this environment, can inform future management decisions on areas where SG actively using. By understand how and where to use the herbicide rejuvra we will better know how to reduce the threat of invasive vegetative species in these areas, as well as decrease the potential for  inappropriate fire cycles as removing the cheatgrass will remove the fine fuels that promote the increase of these fire cycles.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

The Beaver Wildlife Management Area Plans identify the importance of both maintaining previous treatments and expanding upon them.  This project will accomplish both as it maintains the 2016 Lop and Scatter treatment and expands upon the 2021 rejuvra test strip treatments by treating the remainder of the property.
This project will directly benefit two of the WAP habitats listed Mountain Sagebrush and Mountain Shrub habitats and will also benefit the species that use these habitats. 
This project will contribute to the goal within the Beaver Elk Management Plan that states that it will improve a minimum of 15,000 acres of elk range during the span of the plan. The project will facilitate improvements to the Beaver elk herd winter range through protection of sagebrush communities and release of the desirable perennial species that are present on the WMA.
The management goal of The Beaver Deer Unit #22 Management Plan is to manage for a population of healthy animals capable of providing a broad range of recreational opportunities, including hunting and viewing. The WMA's are listed as critical winter range for mule deer. This project will improve habitat conditions for wintering mule deer.  
This project also falls in line with the statewide Management Plan for Mule Deer (2014). Specifically dealing with part of their habitat needs this plan calls for the development of grass/forb/brush rich plant communities to help with Mule Deer life cycle needs. 
This project is also in line with the Utah Statewide Management Plan for Elk (2015). In this plan, it specifically mentions the needs for creating healthy watersheds. By implementing this project, we will have allowed for increased perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs to be established for the benefit of elk.
This project is allowing our WMA's to come up to the standards set forth in the Fundamentals of Rangeland Health (43 CFR 4180) and Utah's Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health which address watersheds, ecological condition, water quality and habitat for special status species. This is directly tied to this project in that it lies in the drainage basin of the Beaver River, which is a 303D State Listed Water body for TMDL and Phosphorous loading into this system, and this project will help eliminate erosion leading to this rivers TMDL listing.
This project also ties in well with the National Fire Plan (2000). In this plan, they state that one of their main objectives is reducing hazardous fuels (dry brush and trees that have accumulated and increase the likelihood of unusually large fires) in the country's forests and rangelands. By treating this area with herbicide our main goal is to reduce the hazardous fine fuel loading that has been known to contribute to expansion of catastrophic fires in many places. 
By tying in with the other project work that has been done in the area this project also ties in well with the Health Forest Restoration Act of 2003 which states protecting forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands from unnaturally intensive and destructive fires is one of its objectives. This project connects a long line of projects that would prove to be effective fuel breaks in the event of a major wildfire event. It also expands our knowledge of a tool that could significantly help on this front for many years to come.  
This project will prove helpful in the Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Quality TMDL Section(Beaver River Watershed TMDL Management Plan) By reducing the amount of bare ground within this drainage we will in effect reduce the amount of sediment loading in this watershed.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

UDWR will contract for an aerial application of Rejuvra and Plateau utilizing a water carrier. Rejuvra herbicide will be applied at 7 oz/acre in 7 gallons of water per acre. Plateau herbicide applied at 6 oz/acre in 7 gallons of water/acre. By mixing these two chemicals together we will be able to have immediate effects on the growth that has occurred at the time of application with the Plateau chemical and the Rejuvra will serve to act as a long term growth inhibitor for the annual grasses on this treatment area. The contractor is responsible for supplying all mixing equipment and water, as well as providing the chemicals required to meet the mixing needs for this project. Timing considerations, and flexibility will be given to the contractor who is awarded to work to complete this project. In the statement of work to be bid on we will request that efforts be made to apply the chemical on the front of an oncoming storm system so as to maximize the effectiveness of the herbicides being applied. We will require that the contractor have the mapping equipment necessary to show that complete coverage of the area is achieved through the application process. Timing of the application is anticipated to take place somewhere in late summer to early fall weather pattern dependent. Due to the flat nature of the area where the chemical is to be applied it is anticipated that the use of either fixed wing or helicopter could be utilized and it will be up to the winning contractor to use the vehicle of their choice for the application of the herbicide.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

As mentioned previously in this proposal this project is a first attempt to use Rejuvra on a larger scale than test plots in this area.  There will be efforts to carefully monitor the results and use the information gained to inform future decisions of use of this herbicide on other lands.  In addition the BLM which has similar issues on adjacent properties will be closely following the results and have a desire to conduct similar treatments if the results are positive, and they gain approval to use the herbicide on their lands.
This Wildlife Management Units does not have permitted grazing; it is available as a grassbank, which UDWR has used in the past to assist with livestock rotations when proactive treatments are being conducted on other properties.  In an effort to ensure success of the project, this unit will not be available as grassbank for at least two growing seasons.  Afterward if favorable conditions exist in the WMA then it would return to availability and may be utilized occasionally on an as needed basis as it has been utilized in the past.
The WMA will other than the temporary changes mentioned above will continue to be managed for the benefit of wildlife as prescribed in the Beaver South Creek WMA habitat management plan.
Efforts will be made during the time spent on the WMA to monitor success that there are not weed management issues and these will be addressed on a case by case basis when and if issues arise.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

It is anticipated that the project will improve the vigor and production of the perennial vegetation which is important on these properties as they provide valuable winter range for mule deer and elk.  In addition, turkeys have also been observed using this WMA on a regular basis.  These properties also provide public access for sportsmen during the annual deer, elk, turkey, and upland game hunts.  
This WMA receives a good amount of recreational use by ATV enthusiasts as they tie into multiple trail systems utilized in the South Beaver and South Creek area.  UDWR has placed special emphasis on an access management plans for this property. This plan is designed to allow for this use in a carefully planned way that allows for access by ATV enthusiasts but also protects the value for which the properties were purchased, wintering big game species.
All of these units also have Pinyon and Juniper cover to varying extents and post cutting, firewood cutting, as well as Christmas tree harvest permits are available to be utilized on the properties.

Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.