The purpose for the project is to create a fire resilient landscape around communities within the Shurtz Canyon Area of Iron County, UT using mechanical, manual, pile burning, and seeding to protect values that include, but are not limited to: Public and fire fighter safety, Wildland Urban interface, existing and expanding, Escalante Desert watershed health, Recreation infrastructure, in addition to critical wildlife habitat.

Objectives are as follows: -Objectives are to reduce losses, complement resource management objectives, and sustain productivity in biological systems. Return of ecosystems to earlier seral stages in proposed treatment areas mimics historic disturbance regimes. Early seral stages for the systems present are typically comprised of forbs, grasses, and young shrubs that are more resilient to wildfire than late seral stages comprised of dense pinyon juniper woodlands. Reduction in tree density would create openings for diverse understory to establish and increase diversity within proposed treatment polygons. -Maintain or improve current resource conditions on all identified for maintenance of current management allotments (...) and continue current management on all allotments identified for custodial management while preventing further resource deterioration. -Protect the cultural and historic values in the planning area from accidental or intentional destruction and give special protection to high value cultural and historic sites. -Plan, modify, and implement resource management activities in a manner which will minimize impacts to visual resources. Apply special emphasis in environmental assessment and project design to projects in the scene area (foreground visual zone) to meet VRM objectives. -Manage wildlife habitat to favor a diversity of game and nongame species. Provide forage for current big game numbers and prior stable or long-term numbers in the future should populations increase, and habitat improvements occur. Improve habitat in poor condition on crucial deer winter range to reduce depredation on private lands. Protect against the loss of crucial big game habitat from encroachment by incompatible uses...Avoid deterioration of riparian/fisheries habitat currently in fair or good condition -Improve watershed conditions on areas identified with significant condition problems and on other sensitive watershed areas (riparian areas). Avoid the deterioration of or improve watershed condition on all other Federal lands

The entirety of the project is located in Iron county in the Shurtz Canyon area. Managers have le recognized the need for fuels reduction projects to take place in this area. The need is due to the increase in WUI infrastructure, increased recreation, and a degradation of habitat for wildlife. In October 2016 the Hicks Creek fire burned approximately 1,455 acres. Fire behavior was unprecedented for that time of year. Many scattered homes, including the Cedar Highlands subdivision were put on notice that they may need to evacuate due to proximity of the fire to private property. Additionally in July of 2024 the Graff Point fire started and burned just south of the project area. The Graff Point fire burned into the Hicks Creek fire, thus helping fire personal suppress the fire easier due to diminished fire behavior when it hit the Hicks Creek fire scar. These two fires, the increase in recreation activity, the addition of homes in Cedar Highlands as well as new and planned subdivisions have increased the need for a project of this kind to take place in the Shurtz canyon area. Many weeks were spent out on the project site looking at soils, existing vegetation type and cover, studying ESD's along with LANDFIRE data to determine the best possible design and treatment type for each polygon. Many mountain brush sites, along with many sagebrush sites have not seen disturbance in them for many years, this has allowed for the encroachment and infilling of pinyon and juniper into these zones. Many areas once dominated by brush have been outcompeted and are now less diverse and void of any ground cover at all. It is anticipated that if we reintroduce disturbance into this area, that we will see a rebound of vegetation types once found in abundance in these areas.

Shurtz Canyon Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project (HFRP) The Proposed project conforms to the following objectives of the Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Resource Management Plan (RMP), approved in 1986, as amended in 2005 by the Utah Land Use Plan Amendment for Fire and Fuels Management (UT-USO-04-01) that were based on the general goals of the NFP. -Fire Management Objective: To reduce losses, compliment resource management objectives, and sustain productivity in biological systems. (page 138) Return of ecosystems to earlier seral stages in proposed treatment areas mimics historic disturbance regimes. Early seral stages for the systems present are typically comprised of forbs, grasses, and young shrubs that are more resilient to wildfire than late seral stages comprised of dense pinyon juniper woodlands. Reduction in tree density would create openings for diverse understory to establish and increase diversity within proposed treatment polygons. -Rangeland Management Objective: Maintain or improve current resource conditions on all identified for maintenance of current management allotments (...) and continue current management on all allotments identified for custodial management while preventing further resource deterioration. (page 94). There are three allotments that would be impacted by the proposed action. Proposed treatments aim to improve Rangeland Health Standard 3 which includes diversity of vegetation species, age class, and frequency. -Cultural Resources Management Objective: Protect the cultural and historic values in the planning area from accidental or intentional destruction and give special protection to high value cultural and historic sites. (page 141) Deer Herd Unit management Plan, Deer Herd Unit #29, Zion. (2020) Habitat Management Objectives are to: 1) Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the unit by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. 2)Reduce highway deer mortality along Interstate I-15 south of Cedar City and along Highway 14 east of Cedar City. 3) A major proportion of both summer and winter habitat for deer on this unit is on private land. Therefore, it is paramount to work with private landowners to maintain both summer and winter habitat. Currently, there are two CWMU's. One is comprised of 15,000 acres (Mt. Carmel) in the Muddy Creek drainage on the east portion of this unit. Another is comprised of 5500 acres (East Zion) in the Clear Creek drainage. Other landowners have expressed interest in a CWMU and they may be organized in the future. 4) Seek cooperative projects to improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat in order to support herd objectives. 5) Provide improved habitat security and escapement opportunities for deer. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan, (2025-2030). Habitat goals and objectives include the following; 1) Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges.2) Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts.3) : Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2024. Color Country and Paria River Fire Management Plan (September, 2022) The Color Country and Paria River Fire Management Plan identifies the Antelope Range- Parowan Front, Fire Management Unit (FMU) as a priority for conversion of encroached pinyon and juniper dominated communities to a sagebrush community with a diverse component of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. This would be consistent with the vegetative monitoring data that has been collected within the Project Area to identify the Ecological Site Description. Additionally, all fires that start within this FMU are to be fully suppressed due to the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and Crucial winter range for mule deer.

The Shurtz Canyon HFRP is home to Cedar Highlands, a 165-lot subdivision with 75 lots currently occupied. There are approximately 120 full-time and 94 part-time residents. The community has an active Homeowner Association (HOA) that sets guidelines for fuels treatments and fireproof construction practices. The HOA received a Utah Fire Grant in 2019 and hosted three Firewise community events, cleared access to fire hydrants, and clearing vegetation in community areas. Right-Hand Canyon Road, a dirt, 2-lane county road, provides access for residents year-round. During emergency events, residents must use alternate routes to evacuate, and Right-Hand Canyon Road is used for ingress by first responders (State of Utah 2019). Adjacent to the subdivision is the Cedar City Cattlemen's/ Sheepherder's livestock trail that is used to move sheep off Square Top Mountain to Cedar City seasonally. A powerline is located within the livestock trail corridor. The Trails at Shurtz Canyon is a new community currently under construction (July 2024) and is located at the intersection of Old Highway 91 and Tipple Road in Iron County, UT. The 245-lot community includes single family homes with shared clubhouse and recreation facilities following three construction phases. Model homes are currently being constructed on-site. The Shurtz Canyon HFRP area was selected for treatment because these communities are amongst the highest wildfire risk areas within the Color Country District as defined by the State of Utah's Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal. Utah Forestry, Fire, and State Lands also identifies high risk communities with susceptibility scores at https://ffsl.utah.gov/fire/wildfire-community-preparedness/communities-at-risk/. In addition to the community's at risk, in 2016 and again in 2024, Shurtz canyon experienced 2 major wildfire events. The Hicks Creek fire started in October of 2016 and burned approximately 1,455 acres. It started on private lands and burned onto BLM administered lands. A local Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) was called into manage the fire. Multiple crews, engines, heavy equipment and aircraft were also dispatched to help suppress the fire. In July of 2024 The Graff Point fire started after a series of storms came through the area. The fire was first reported during the evening hours of July 12 and burned actively throughout the night. A Critical incident Management Team (CIMT) was called in to manage fire suppression activities. Ground personal, heavy equipment and multiple types of aircraft were also dispatched to help suppress the fire. Portions of the Graff Point fire burned into the 2016 Hicks Creek fire, this helped to slow fire progression, and allowed fire personal opportunities to go direct on the fire edge. The fact that the Hick Creek fire was instrumental in slowing and stopping the Graff Point fire is evidence for the need of this project. Historical photos as well as LANDFIRE data show that many areas within the Shurtz Canyon HFRP that were once mountain brush sites, or Sagebrush sites have been encroached upon and taken over by pinyon and juniper trees. This encroachment has taken place due to the lack of disturbance in the area. The few locations within the project area that have had disturbance in them have proven that once the pinyon and juniper are removed, the natural vegetation that once dominated the area will return.

The project is located within the Escalante Desert Watershed. It is expected that this project will improve sub-watershed conditions that contribute to the greater Escalante Desert Watershed. Additionally, it is expected that any disturbance that occurs within this project area will provide valuable watershed amenities.

The NEPA/Final Decision documents are in the completion stage for the project area. The treatment would be rested from livestock grazing for a minimum of two years following project implementation to ensure adequate rest and seedling establishment. A cultural inventory for the project will be contracted prior to project implementation. Sites will be avoided where required and incorporated into the mosaic design of the project where possible.

BLM will provide overall project oversight. Project Area will be aerially seeded to meet wildlife habitat objectives in accordance with the Ecological Site Description and LANDFIRE data. Seed will be requested through GBRC. Archeology clearances will be completed with project oversight provided by the BLM Fuels Archaeologist. Multiple project polygons have been identified within the Project Area. It is expected that the project will be treated with mastication,(1,155 acres), and by lop and scatter or cut and pile techniques. There are over 2,498 acres designated as hand thin and pile, these acres will be cut in stages over the life of the NEPA document. It is anticipated that up to 200 acres of hand thin and pile that will take place this year.

There are numerous photopoints established for the project for before and after pictures. BLM has recently initiated a new Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM) to improve the effectiveness of monitoring on BLM lands. This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. This year, the Cedar City Field office will have an entire team devoted to AIM monitoring, and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area. This monitoring is done from a broad-to-fine scale. The dataset at the site scale (which includes this project) describes habitat indicators, such as sagebrush cover, sagebrush height, grass and forb cover, riparian stability, and/or proximity of detrimental land uses and structures. These data will ensure appropriate project implementation, as well as guide future actions in sage grouse habitat. The area will also continue to be monitored to determine where and how sage grouse are using the area.

Utah State University Extension, NRCS, SITLA, The Nature Conservancy, DWR, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Iron County, SWARM, UPDOG, UPDRIT, Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (Southern Utah University), Livestock Permittees.

The treated areas would be rested from livestock grazing for a minimum of 2 growing seasons to allow for seedling establishment. The area would also be monitored for re-encroachment of pinyon-juniper and maintenance would be conducted on an as needed basis. If Invasive weeds were to occur those weeds would be monitored and treated on an as needed basis.

The majority of the project area is in Phase 2 and Phase 3 condition. The project is expected to improve health, composition, and diversity of shrubs, grasses, and forbs in accordance with Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines and the Ecological Site Description, which will be beneficial to create forage for wildlife and livestock alike. Furthermore, the project will be proactive in improving vegetative communities and removing ladder fuels within areas that are dominated by pinyon and juniper, which will minimize the potential for a catastrophic wildfire throughout the area, which would be detrimental to productive desired vegetation. It is expected that the vegetative treatments will result in increased forage production that are consistent or greater to what has been identified in the Ecological Site Description. It is expected that the treatment will also benefit hunting opportunities within the area in the long-term. Few treatments that have occurred within the vicinity of the project have been highly successful and wildlife sign (primarily mule deer) is found throughout the treated areas. Wildlife viewing is popular with the public and the treatments have provided greater opportunities to view wildlife. This treatment will enhance the beauty and the opportunity to view and enjoy Utah's wildlife and wild places.