Highway 18 Corridor Phase 1
Region: Southern
ID: 7346

Project Status: Proposed

Project Details

Landscape Conservation Forecasting (LCF) completed by The Nature Conservancy in 2014 found that most of the systems within the Pine Valley Ranger District exhibiting poor ecological conditions (high departure values) were attributed to (1)tree encroachment, (2)annual grasses, (3) exotic shrubs, (4) loss of aspen clone, (5)degraded shrubland understory, and (6)incised/desertified riparian areas (Tuhy et al, 2014). In addition to the 2014 LCF forecasting done, the Pine Valley Ranger District is currently working with TNC to remap and detect metrics of change since that original LCF work was done (See WRI #7435).

The purpose and need of this project is to affect an immediate change in fire behavior to reduce flame length and to maintain conditions that support favorable fire behavior through hazardous fuels reduction; Maintain non-structural range improvements to continue diverse vegetation structure in these areas and to improve wildlife/range habitats on public lands.

Fuel conditions within the project area, which are in the area of Utah State Highway 18, would likely result in uncharacteristically large and
severe fires. Within the meadows and previously chained areas, mature sagebrush (Aretemesia spp.), patches of mature mountain brush (Cercocarpus spp.) and encroachment of Pinyon/Juniper create uncharacteristically large areas of continuous fuels that are not limited by species diversity and mixed age classes.

Fuels reduction would also aid in public ingress and egress in the event of a wild fire.  It is also advantageous in order to increase potential effectiveness of initial attack firefighting resources from the Dixie National Forest and cooperators.  And to increase the probability of the successful protection of life and property during a wildland fire event.

The population objective for Mule deer on the Pine Valley unit is 19,500 with the most recent population estimate showing the herd currently at ~16,000. Deer on the Pine Valley unit have exhibited body condition scores, fawn weights, and body fat scores below statewide averages. Research consistently shows that Mule deer survival is highly correlated with birth weights and fat composition. It is anticipated that this work in crucial/substantial deer summer and transitional rangecan help increase adult body conditions and fawn weights and in turn increase survival rates.

Springsnails are dependent on spring habitats, and have faced a number of threats that have led to declines in populations throughout the western United States. Springsnails are extremely sensitive to water quality, and populations have been extirpated in springs where banks have been trampled and water quality is impacted by animal waste. One unnamed spring found west of the community of Pinto contains a unique genetic lineage of Bear Lake Springsnail that is found only in the Pinto area, and may be an undescribed species. During springsnail surveys here, trampled banks and cropped vegetation were noted. Part of this project is designed to protect this spring from threats of grazing with an exclosure that would keep out livestock and protect the spring habitat.

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.

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.

Current conditions of both vegetation and fuels within the project area and the areas proposed for treatment show the landscape varies in terms of whether it is near or across ecological thresholds. The areas proposed for lop and scatter treatments are sagebrush grasslands with early to mid Phase I PJ succession. If these areas are not treated within the next 10 years they will require larger equipment to complete resulting in significantly increased costs.  In the areas proposed for contract mastication and seeding there is a mixture of Phase II-Phase III PJ succession into mountain shrublands. Full Conversion to Phase III will increase treatment costs. Forest Service vegetation trend data show these sites currently have between 0-5% cover comprised of cheat grass. If this area were to have a wildfire it could result in a complete type conversion to nonnative invasive annual grass species.

In January 2022, the Forest Service responded to the wildfire crisis in the West by launching our Wildfire Crisis Strategy. Building on the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy and our agreements with States and other partners under our Shared Stewardship investment strategy, the Wildfire Crisis Strategy calls for a new paradigm: stepping up the pace and scale of our fuels and forest health treatments to match the actual scale of wildfire risk.

Based on a fireshed analysis, models were developed to identify the firesheds most in need of fuels and forest health treatments to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Scientific research guides the treatments needed to reduce the risk, including mechanically thinning trees and conducting prescribed fires.  An estimated 50 million acres of State, Tribal, Federal, private, and other lands across the West are in need of treatment.

21 landscapes across the west were identified reducing risk to communities, infrastructure, and critical watersheds.  Pine Valley WCSL was one of the areas selected as a priority fireshed.

The Pine Valley WCSL is adjacent to St. George, UT, one of the countries fastest growing metropolitan areas. This landscape encompasses about 250,000 acres of National Forest System lands (63 percent of the total project area) and 150,000 acres (37 percent) of lands in private ownership or under stewardship by the State of Utah or the Bureau of Land Management. The landscape's low elevation and topography make it particularly susceptible to climate change and shifting fire patterns, creating an urgent need to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

The fuel loading in the vicinity of each of the project areas are above average and the vegetation communities are outside the natural range of variability as defined by both LCF and LANDFIRE data. These locations are all within the WCSL and exhibit high vulnerability for fire potential.

Red Pond, Hyatt Springs and Eight Mile are adjacent or within close proximity to Highway 18; south of the town of Enterprise, Utah and north of the town of Central Utah.

Recent wildfires around the project area have already caused economic and ecological damage. Should a wildfire start prior to completion of treatments, private property and infrastructure damage could occur (see Fire and Fuels Section). Fire suppression costs on the Saddle and West Valley Fires south of the project area totaled more than $20,000,000, not including post-fire rehabilitation. Completing fuels treatments in advance of a wildfire can help to reduce or eliminate suppression costs and reduce unwanted fire effects to resources and communities.

The risks of an uncharacteristically severe wildfire in and adjacent to the project area include, but are not limited to:

1)	Increased erosion and sedimentation
2)	Stream channel incision and loss of fish habitat
3)	Increased risk of flooding and debris flows
4)	Loss of soil productivity
5)	Loss of later seral stage wildlife habitat
6)	Threat of noxious weed invasion and a change in plant community type.
7)	Loss (at least temporarily) of wildlife and livestock forage
8) 	Loss of life and/or property in the nearby communities or private inholdings.

The Pine Valley Mule deer herd unit is a socially important herd as it typically has the largest herd numbers in the southern region and as a result the highest number of buck tags available. There is also a tangible social belief that the unit has better genetics and produces bigger bucks than other units (though this is not a scientifically backed claim).  Due to this social importance this unit is considered a high priority unit for deer and there is public interest and demand for continuing habitat work on the unit.

Additionally, as the project title implies this is planned as a phase 1 project along the Highway 18 corridor. As noted in the attached wildlife tracker reports there are some very important migration corridors for mule deer through and adjacent to the project area. Highway 18 has been identified as a "hot spot" for wildlife vehicle collisions and recently had a study done by UDOT and UDWR to seek solutions to reduce those collisions. Among those solutions are continuing habitat treaments in and adjacent to the corridor. The aim is to provide attractive forage to draw deer away from the road as much as possible. Future projects will work right along the corridor to remove vegetation directly adjacent to the highway and improve visisbility for both the deer and drivers.

Another wildlife component of this project not yet discussed is wild turkeys. The population has been down significantly in recent drought years. This project will help us recover the population by increasing and improving the poult rearing habitat. The seeded forbs and grasses will attract insect species that are heavily relied upon in their early growth stages. The nearby agricultural and recreational communities of Pinto and Pine Valley have had nuisance issues with turkeys. Hopefully by providing this improved habitat the nuisance issues will be decreased.

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.

Utah's Wildlife Action Plan (WAP): 
The WAP identifies the following key habitats to be addressed by the Pinto Watershed and Defensible Fire Space Restoration Project Phase I: Riverine, Aquatic Scrub/Shrub, Mountain sagebrush and Mountain Shrub. 
The WAP lists Problematic Plant Species -- Native Upland as a Very High level threat to Mountain sagebrush communities with the following as potential conservation actions.
Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the Uncharacteristic and surpluses of older age class, including: Dixie/chain harrow, brush mowing or other treatments that reduce the older age class and stimulate the younger/mid age classes; herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such smooth brome; single tree mulching/cutting of invading conifer.
The treatments proposed in this vegetation type are designed to stimulate the younger/mid age classes through cutting or masticating invading conifer.
The WAP lists Invasive Plant Species Non Native as a Medium level threat to Mountain Shrub communities and suggests the following: 
Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife.
Continuing the use of appropriate methods for reducing the spread and dominance of invasive weeds and annual grasses, including "early detection -- rapid response" programs.
2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.
2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.
Pinyon juniper removal as described in the proposed project in and around these stands along with seeding around these stands should reduce the risk of wildfire, as well as limit the spread of cheat grass into these areas.
2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.

Newcastle Reservoir TMDL
The TMDL identifies that non-point sources are the primary cause for elevated total phosphorus levels including: cattle in riparian areas and stream channels and forest land management. 
The TMDL calls for stabilizing slopes, installing vegetative buffer strips along stream channels, reestablishing vegetation in critical riparian areas and restricting cattle access to stream channels. It specifically calls out for projects to improve livestock distribution (Section 7.3.2.2.4), as well as pinyon and juniper removal to reduce runoff and erosion and promote better upland forage quality (Section 7.3.2.2.3).

Dixie National Forest Land Resource Management Plan (as amended):

Goal 15 -- Maintain or enhance the terrestrial habitat for all wildlife species presently on the Forest (page IV-5). All the vegetation treatments proposed should increase browse and or forage for Forest MIS species, such as mule deer, elk and wild turkey.

Goal 17 -- Managed Classified Species habitat to maintain or enhance their status through direct habitat improvement and agency cooperation (Page IV-6). This project has the potential to benefit a core, remnant population of BCT. BCT are an Intermountain Region Sensitive species and is managed under Conservation Agreement and Strategy that both DWR and the Forest Service are signatories or involved partners.

Directly ties to the National Cohesive Wildland Fires Management Strategy, Confronting the Wildfire Crisis 10 year Strategy, Shared Stewardship Investment Strategy, And Dixie National Forest Land Management Resource Plan

Deer Herd Unit # 30 (Pine Valley) 2015:

The Unit Plan has objectives to "Maintain or enhance forage production through direct range improvements on winter and summer deer range throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives," and "Maintain critical fawning habitat in good condition. Fawn recruitment is a major concern on this unit and maybe the single greatest factor limiting the population."  In order to accomplish these objectives it sets the following strategies "Coordinate with federal and state partners in designing projects that will improve fire resiliency and protect areas of crucial habitat," "Manage riparian areas in critical fawning habitat to furnish water, cover and succulent forage from mid- to late summer,"  "Protect deer winter ranges from wildfire by reseeding burned areas, creating fuel breaks and vegetated, green strips and reseed areas dominated by Cheat grass with desirable perennial vegetation," 
The Plan specifically calls for "Landscape level watershed improvements on the Pine Valley Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest with a focus on transitional ranges," as well as Pinyon juniper removal efforts and reseeding in sagebrush and mountain brush communities. Additionally, see "Other Sustainable Uses" for a discussion on depredation issues.

UTAH MULE DEER STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN
The project meets Habitat Objective 2 to improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer habitat (p. 19). Specifically the strategies to Initiate broad scale vegetative treatment projects to improve mule deer habitat with emphasis on ranges being diminished by encroachment of conifers into sagebrush.

State of Utah-Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy:

Protecting the health and welfare of Utahns and our lands. Recommendations- 5. Adopt key recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy- Encourage federal land management agencies to expedite fuels treatments.

Pine Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2014:

Objectives: 1) Enhance levels of fire resistance and protection to the community. 2) Reduce the potential for and the consequences of wildfire.
Goal B: Community will work with county, state and federal fire officials to decrease fuels on adjacent public lands to reduce wildfire intensity and impact in and around the community.  The Plan lists a major part of achieving this goal is to complete the fuel break around Pine Valley, parts of which are included in this proposal.

Washington County Resource Management Plan:

The following objectives and action recommended in the Washington County RMP would be fulfilled by the various aspects of this project.
Fire Management Objectives: 1) Fuels and fires are managed so that the county has no catastrophic wildfires. 2) Controlled fire is a tool for managing fuels. 3) Fire management is used as a tool to protect water quality and forage yield. To achieve these objectives the County recommended the following pre-suppression activities:  1) The creation of defensible space around homes, outbuildings, campgrounds. 2) Fuel load reduction projects through thinning, harvesting, and other mechanical means. 3) Utilizing prescribed fire under the appropriate conditions to remove hazardous fuels. 4) Implement efforts to maintain or create healthy landscapes and ecosystems focused on native vegetation.

Forest Management Objectives: 1) Forests are healthy and sustainable through management that responds to pest concerns and plans for responsible harvest. 2) Forests are managed to avoid catastrophic fires. To achieve these objectives the County recommended the following Management Actions: 1) The county will support and facilitate efforts by US Forest Service, state partners, and private landowners to maintain healthy forests through active and adaptive management. 2) The county will support efforts to manage fuels to reduce catastrophic wildfires in forests by identifying high priority areas for fuels management and actively participating in fuels decisions.

Livestock and Grazing Objectives: 1) Grazing is adaptively managed to fully utilize forage resources. Adjusting stocking rates to achieve proper stocking should be based on monitoring of actual stocking, utilization, and trends in range vegetation and soil. This is called the "stock and monitor" approach and is synonymous with adaptive management. 2) Grazing rights are managed under best grazing practices including the time/timing/intensity model.

Riparian Area Objectives: 1) Riparian areas are healthy and ecologically functional, where functional is not defined us untouched, but rather as structurally stable and supporting riparian flora and fauna. To achieve these objectives the County recommended the following Management Action: 1) The county will work with federal, state, and municipal partners to manage existing riparian areas.

Water Quality and Hydrology Objectives: 1) The county has an adequate supply of clean water to supply the domestic, recreational, and ecological needs of the residents and visitors.
Wilderness Objectives: 1) Existing wilderness is ecologically healthy and supports appropriate recreation.

Wildlife Objectives: 1) Thriving wildlife populations provide wildlife viewing and hunting experiences for residents and visitors to the county. 2) Hunting continues to be part of the economy and traditions of the area.

Goal 48 of the Dixie National Forest Plan, p. IV-13 provides direction to establish and maintain fuel mosaics that result in an acceptable hazard and spread potential of wildfire, allow an appropriate wildfire suppression and coordination to other resource programs and objectives.

Forest Plan Management Areas: 6A Cattle Grazing 2B Rural and Roaded Recreation Opportunities.

Washington County, UT Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). 
https://www.washco.utah.gov/departments/emergency-management/community-fire-planning/

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.

The purpose and need for the project is to accomplish fuels reduction in the Pine Valley WCSL and around Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas near the communities of Enterprise, Central, Pinto and Mountain Meadows.  This is achieved by performing fuels reduction on targeted areas and targeted vegetation types using mastication machinery and lop and scatter/lop and pile burn by hand crews.

This process supports healthy forest growth by creating a fire resilient ecosystem that will also benefit species that utilize this area for forage and habitat, while also protecting old growth trees by reducing the risk of future wildfire threat.

By doing fuels reduction treatments in high priority fire sheds we also give our firefighters a better opportunity to keep fires small before they became potentially large catastrophic wildfires in the vicinity of critical infrastructure such a natural gas pipeline and power line corridor as well as Highway 18 and the communities of Central and Enterprise.

Specifically, the Hyatt portion of the lop and scatter work is bisected by an energy corridor including major power lines and a natural gas pipeline. The 8 mile portion of the lop and scatter work sits on the northern border of the community of Central, is directly adjacent to both Highway 18 (connencting enterprise and St. George), and the Pine Valley Road (connecting the community of Pine Valley with Highway 18). The mastication unit in the North Cove pasture is also directly adjacent to the community of Pinto as well as sharing a border with several private inholding farm/ranch/homes.

Vegetation Condition Class (VCC) represents a simple categorization of the associated Vegetation Departure (VDep) from historical conditions. It indicates the general level to which current vegetation is different, or departed, from the estimated modeled vegetation based on past reference conditions.

VCC I.A: Very Low, VDep
VCC I.B: Low, VDep
VCC II.A: Moderate to Low
VCC II.B: Moderate to High
VCC III.A: High, VDep
VCC III.B: Very High, VDep

Based on the information on the attached VCC map a large part of the proposed treatment areas is VCC II.A or higher departure from historical norms.

Fuels treatments in these areas will help bring these areas into VCC I.B or lower which is moving the fuels to more historical conditions while reducing wildfire risk.

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.

The benefits of healthy riparian vegetation and connected floodplains and wetlands to water quality, as well as water storage and release are well documented. Riparian vegetation buffers can trap sediment during overbank flow events and prevent sediment from overland runoff from reaching stream channels (Belt, O'Laughlin, & Merrill, 1992). Fine sediment input to streams can lead to an associated increase in nutrient loading, decreased dissolved oxygen and an increase in waterborne diseases. Stream bank stability is instrumental in preventing excessive erosion. Willow-sedge communities are among the best for maintaining stream bank stability (Winward, 2000). As noted above in the management plan section Newcastle Reservoir is under a TMDL plan for phosporus and recommends PJ thinning/mastication to reduce runoff and promote upland forage quality. The North Cove portion of this project is directly adjacent to Pinto Creek, a tributary to Newcastle Reservoir and should directly assist in reducing the TMDL issues there.

As highlighted in other portion of the proposal wildfire can have immediate and relatively long-lasting negative impacts to water quality.  Ash and debris flows can elevate levels of total dissolved solids, lower dissolved oxygen and increase nutrient levels (Neary et al. 2005).  These impacts can extend for long distances (30-50 miles downstream; Lyon and O'Connor 2008).

As discussed elsewhere in this proposal improving uplands to have more grass, forbs, and shrubs in the understory can also improve water quality by leading to less generation of sediment during overland flow events and thereby delivering less sediment to a riparian area and stream. This project proposes to remove pinyon and juniper from sagebrush grass lands, mountain scrublands and riparian areas, which should result in immediate decreased sediment generation via mulch and slash from treatment covering bare ground (Cline et al. 2010). In the long-term mastication and lop and scatter treatments have been shown to increase the density and diversity of grasses and forbs reducing runoff and erosion (Ashcroft et al. 2017). Research indicates that pinyon-juniper removal in mountain sagebrush can increase soil water availability (Roundy et al. 2014). The amount of soil water availability increases with the stage of PJ succession (i.e. Phase I removal results in the smallest increases, and Phase III removal results in the largest increases). This project proposes to remove Phase I, II and III PJ from sagebrush grass lands, mountain scrublands and riparian areas on over 3,000 acres. The PJ removal activities should have a net positive effect on increasing water yield/availability especially near the riparian areas of the project. In addition to Pinto Creek mentioned above, the 8 mile lop and scatter portion of the project is directly adjacent to the Santa Clara river along the Pine valley Road and the Hyatt lop and scatter portion sits above an intermittent stream called spring creek.  Additionally, there are several unnamed springs in the project areas. It is anticipated that these water resources will receive the above mentioned net positive effects which may include both increases in flow and duration of seasons.

Installation of the guzzler in Holt Canyon will increase water distribution and availability as well as improving livestock distribution.

Lastly, the planned exclosure fence on the unnamed spring west of Pinto will directly result in improved water quality due to the decrease in trampling.

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.

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.

USFS personnel will continue with the Vegetation Condition Class (VCC) monitoring described in the fire/fuels section. Also mentioned above is the proposed LCF work to detect metrics of change and this work should be captured in that effort.

Photo points will be established and photos will be taken before and directly after project implementation as well as 3-5 years post treatment. Similarly, line transect methodology will be utilized both pre-treatment and 3-5 years post treatment. These line transects include both vegetative data (cover and composition) and pellet counts providing data about wildlife use levels as well as vegetative composition. Reports can be added to database after the pre-treatment as well as the 3-5 years post treatment monitoring is completed.

UDWR's Southern Region Habitat Section has recently acquired a drone, and has a certified drone pilot on staff that will utilize this resource to trial a drone repeat photography monitoring program for 3-5 years on this project. This process paired with an AI interpretation of the photographs will be utilized to monitor effectiveness of the treatment. We anticipate that this type of monitoring will help biologists to understand the changes in plant composition correlated with the treatments that have been implemented, and track the changes in plant presence/absence prior to treatment and for successive years following the treatments. Associated reports can also be uploaded as they are generated.

UDWR Native aquatic biologist has also committed to doing both pre and post (1 yr after install) monitoring of the unnamed spring west of Pinto as we install the exclosure fence.

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.

Initial project discussions with USFS and UDWR kicked off in early Septmber and has included several meetings and an internal planning tour to look at and discuss project design and plan.

In October a more public facing tour was held with invitees including County Commissioners, Representatives from Celeste Maloy's office, livestock permittees, representatives from sportsmans groups including SFW, MDF, and NWTF and employees from Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL). Actual attendees included FFSL, the livestock permittees and reps from Celeste Maloys office but other invitees have had project info shared with them and are supportive of the project.

FFSL staff contacted the private landowners with adjacent inholdings to the North Cove treatment polygons and helped them plan for including several small polygons within their properties.

USFS have also been meeting with and garnering support from Intermountain West Joint Venture as well as the Enterprise/Central Fire departments.

Livestock permittees met with USFS and State personnel met on numerous occasions to discuss and plan this project. Permittees played a role in identifying treatment methods in several locations, assisted in planning the water catchment as well as other aspect's of the decision process.

USFS has also been able to place some financial support on the project through some funds remaining in an existing Good Neighbor Agreement with UDWR.

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.

This project helps with larger scale NEPA projects such as the Pine Valley Wildfire Risk Reduction Projects (PVWRRP) by implementing fuels reduction projects within the WCSL.  The PVWRRP consists of a  209,730 acre project area focusing on fuels treatments within the Pine Valley Ranger District of with WCSL.  The projects of Red Pond, Hyatt Springs, Eight Mile and Cove Mountain/Pasture all fall within the WCSL and are in this proposal.

Livestock use of upland treatment areas will be adaptively managed using a combination of long-term vegetation monitoring coupled with annual use and utilization compliance monitoring to determine if any adjustment to Annual Operating Instructions are necessary to achieve the goals of the project. Herding, salt placement, timing of grazing, fencing, and rest are tools that will be used to achieve upland treatment objectives should they be necessary.

The North Cove Mastication portion will be rested from grazing for 2 growing seasons  and will be outlined and signed off during the AOI meetings with permittees.

USFS and UDWR personnel will monitor project areas and any necessary PJ re-treatment will be addressed with either volunteer efforts such as the dedicated hunter program or a supplemental maintenance proposal and contract. Future phases of the Highway 18 corridor projects will likely include herbicide treatments where cheatgrass becomes an issue and harrow and seeding portions of the 8-mile polygons to diversify age class of decadent sage stands.

Other future project ideas include pasture fencing in the Cove pasture and riparian fencing along Spring Creek in the Hyatt project area as well installation of zeedyk or other low-tech structures to address channel incising.

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.

The proposed mastication and seeding will help to increase forage for wildlife and other animals in the area.

Lop and scatter treatments surrounding the project area have been very popular for personal firewood gathering.  Given the proximity of this area to multiple communities and the accessibility of the treatments, it is expected that much of the lopped and scattered wood will be collected for personal firewood use.

This project covers two cattle grazing allotments on the Pine Valley Ranger District, West Pinto and Magotsu Allotments.
The Magotsu Allotment has 4 permittees with a total of 251 pair of authorized cattle. Currently this allotment is ran as a 3-pasture deferred rotation system. The 8 mile treatment portion of this project falls fully within the 8 mile pasture. Due to limited feed/water availability and other concerns only a portion of permitted cattle would utilize the 8 Mile Pasture. Portions of the 8 mile project area have a smaller percentage of perennial grasses due to PJ encroachment, very dense stands of browse such as cliffrose, turbinella oak, rabbitbrush, service berry as well as past grazing pressure. The high density also negatively impacts livestock movement. Early successional species following treatment will be more desirable and diverse species of grass, forbs and browse species. This change will be a benefit to both wildlife and livestock. Outside the project area the 8 Mile pasture is predominantly PJ and rugged so naturally livestock concentrate within or directly adjacent to the project area. The "flat" is one of these areas. The flat is predominately older age sagebrush. There is some perennial grasses and forbs present. Harrowing and seeding of this area in a mosaic pattern will help increase density and diversity of perennial grasses and forbs as well as diversify the age class of sagebrush and other woody species. The increase in forage and more reliable water systems that is expected post treatment will create a more resilient pasture, which will allow us to utilize this pasture as intended in the Allotment Management Plan, meet Forest Service utilization standards, and provide longer periods of rest to the remaining pastures on the Magotsu Allotment. 
The West Pinto Allotment has four permittees with a total of 277 pair of authorized cattle. The allotment is run as a 4-pasture deferred rotation grazing system. The season of use of the West Pinto allotment is from May 21s to October 10th. This project area will cover all four pastures on the West Pinto Allotment.
Reduction in PJ encroachment on the West Pinto Allotment is expected to increase available forage and increase overall range health. Seeding will only take place on the Cove Mountain pasture. This allows the other 3 pastures to be grazed post treatment allowing for full 2 years rest on Cove. Construction of the water catchment and the riparian pasture on Holt Canyon Pasture will allow livestock permittees to use this pasture longer and still meet our utilization standards.

Improved water developments are integral to the even distribution of cattle across the range. While providing more management options by helping to move cattle to portions of the allotment by controlling access to water, encouraging grazing in areas where water would not be available otherwise. 
These water systems will help to provide more dependable water and reduce heavy use on areas of the seeding once cattle are reintroduced to the pasture, as well as continued improved range conditions in the future. 
(Note on Fencing need: Approximately 8 miles of fence is to be reconstructed. 3 miles of fence that is adjacent to the project area run along Highway 18. Once PJ is reduced and with the increase is forage it is expected that there will be a high amount of pressure from cattle pressuring this fence possibly leading to livestock/ vehicle accidents. Remainder of fence will assist in keeping cattle from accessing the project area ensuring appropriate rest to the seeding.)
(Note on Water system reconstruction: Water system reconstruction. 8mile pasture pipeline has 3 ponds and approximately 3 miles of pipeline needing replaced. Troughs will be put in place of the troughs to help with water conservation and storage.)

Other than livestock production and agriculture, the main sustainable use in the project area, and the public and private lands surrounding it, is recreation. Hunting and shed hunting are common activities throughout the area. The benefits to mule deer on crucial and substantial summer and transition range should improve the quality of hunting throughout the project area. The Pinto and Harrison Peak areas are very popular for hunting mule deer.  Vegetation treatments will improve foraging habitat for wildlife in these areas. Similarly, Newcastle Reservoir provides quality fishing for rainbow trout and has produced trophy fishing for wipers at times. The Total P loading and subsequent low dissolved oxygen issues can, and has in the past, negatively affected this fishery. Reducing sediment and Total P loading in Pinto Creek that drains into Newcastle Reservoir through implementation of all proposed activities in Phase II of this project impacting should help maintain and improve the fishery in Newcastle Reservoir. A 2017 report by the Outdoor Industry Association showed that nationally, outdoor recreation generates $887 billion in consumer spending annually, supports 7.6 million jobs and generates $59.2 billion in state and local tax revenue. The USFWS's 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation estimated that more than $1,000,000 was spent on hunting and fishing in Utah alone in 2011.

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.