The South Canyon project area is dominated by stands of pinyon and juniper trees with a high percentage of young trees encroaching areas of sagebrush steppe causing a downward trend in herbaceous cover. Some areas within the site have little to no remnant sagebrush, forb, or grass component. Soils within the Panguitch Creek/Pass Creek watersheds are presently being actively eroded due to the lack of understory vegetation thus causing high sediment loading in the Sevier River. The project area serves as important seasonal and year around habitat for several species of wildlife including but not limited to sage grouse, mule deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope. Pinyon and juniper, which currently occupy and are encroaching upon the site will be removed. These areas will be seeded with a mix of grasses, forbs, and shrubs important for improving sage grouse habitat and winter deer range. High tree density also increases the risk of castrophic wildfire, thus threatening the community and outlying residential properties of Panguitch, Utah. A catastrophic wildfire could also increase the risk of invasive species and erosion. These watersheds ranked as high priority for restoration within the Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan (2004) due to the lack of healthy composition of riparian vegetation; accelerated erosion (both riparian and within pinyon-juniper woodlands and sagebrush); noxious weeds, wildlife management in agricultural areas, communities at risk, hazardous fuels, development and effects to ground water, and sagebrush-grassland degradation.

Reintroduce perennial grass, forbs, and shrubs and increase frequency to at least 40%. Reintroduce perennial grass, forbs, and shrubs on historical sage grouse habitats. Decrease hazardous fuels by removing 95% of standing pinyon and juniper. Reduce pinyon and juniper density. Reduce sedimentation through erosion into the Sevier River.

If seeding doesn't take, there may be a window of opportunity for invasive species to become established in the site.

Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan (2004). This area was identified as 1 of 3 priority areas overall, within the entire Upper Sevier planning area. This project is in conformance with the Kanab Field Office Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan (RMP), signed October 31, 2008. VEG-30, 32, 33, 35. SOL-3. The proposed treatment is consistent with Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Decision #FW-01, with states: 1) that BLM will manage suitable public land habitats for the recovery or re-establishment of native populations through collaborative planning with local, state, and federal agencies, user groups, and interested publics; and 2) that BLM will also seed to limit additional adverse impacts to crucial habitats on public lands from urbanization and encroachment to preserve the integrity of wildlife corridors and migration routes and acces to key forage areas. The proposed project is consistent with the Southern Utah Support Area Fire Management Plan dated September 9, 2004, which states: 15,000 acres be mechanically treated to convert pinyon and juniper invasion (condition class 3) into sagebrush/perennial grass (condition class 1 or 2) vegetation types.

2 PMArchaeology, Archaelogical clearances have been completed, Dec 23 2010 / 6 NEPA, NEPA will be signed in February, Dec 23 2010

This project would be accomplished through mechanically chipping/shredding/mulching pinyon and juniper trees. Islands and corridors of pinyon and juniper would remain untreated throughout the unit, creating a mosaic pattern of treated and untreated vegetation. Treated areas would be broadcast seeded before mechanical implementation with a mix of native and non-native shrubs, grasses and forbs appropriate for the site.

Vegetation Monitoring Plans: Existing: Currently a rain gauge and Nested Frequency plot are located in the project area. Future: Rain guage data will be read quarterly each year. Frequency studies will be read yearly for 3 years. Data will be summarized each year and placed in project files. Frequency will then be read once every 3-5 years by the Kanab Field Office. Success will be determined by the site having 25% or greater frequency of seeded species by fall of 2014. Wildlife Monitoring Plans: Existing: Currently, sage grouse and mule deer pellet counts occur each year. Future: Sage grouse and mule deer pellet counts will continue on a yearly basis

Areas seeded within the South Canyon Allotment would be rested from grazing for a minimum of two complete growing seasons in order to allow the seedlings to become established and set seed.

10/11/2011

01/11/2012

2012

October 11, 2011: Aerially seeded 1,901 acres of grass, forbs and shrubs by Morris Ag Air. October 20, 2011: Mulching began by Swaggart Enterprises. A total of 8 machines were used. Swaggart sub contracted approximatel 2/3 of the project to other contractors (West Forest - 3 machines, Open Range -3 machines, and Swaggart Enterprises - 2 machines). January 11, 2012: Contract completed.

Project started on October 11, 2011 by aerially seeding grass, forbs, and shrubs with fixed winged plane. Contractor took 4 days to complete project and did a great job. Mulching contract started on October 20, 2011. Swaggart Enterprises was awarded the contract. Swaggart Enterprises began work and immediately realized they would need additional help. West Forest from California and Open Range Land LLC from Colorado each worked as sub contractors for Swaggart. Each contractor did an exceptional job in compliance with contract. Contract was completed approximately 1 1/2 month early. Mulching contract was let through the IDIQ hazardous fuels contract.

Project area will be monitored for the next 3 years. The project area will be rested for a minimum of 2 growing seasons in order to allow the seedlings to become established and set seed. This rest period may be extended if monitoring shows the seeding has not sufficiently established. On this project in particular the area will be rested for 3-5 years because it is only a portion of a multiiple year project where other areas will be treated also within the grazing allotment.