During the last 20 years several water developments have occurred on Mt. Dutton herd unit in response to vegetation projects. Recent vegetation management projects have improved wildlife forage capacity and improved overall habitat effectiveness by removing encroaching conifers from the ecosystem. Water is still one of the limiting factors on this unit. Several water sources (guzzlers) have been planned to be placed where they can be utilized with existing tree cover while providing access to the treatment area. As demand for water use has increased all over the Great Basin, water sources for wildlife have decreased. There is a need to increase water availability across rangelands for both livestock and wildlife needs. The purpose of the proposed guzzlers is to provide a dedicated source of water for wildlife, improving suitability, and reducing competition between resources for water. Providing a secure water source for wildlife reduces stress on populations and provides for the necessary habitat security for consistent use of the habitat. Distributing wildlife across the landscape helps reduce the risk of disease transmission in localized populations.

The water developments will consist of guzzlers designed for rainwater collection and storage in holding tanks up to 2,500 gallons. Water will be dispersed through a drinker designed for wildlife use. The objectives are to disperse water in drier habitat areas where it can facilitate better use of the existing habitat.

As local wildlife populations expand so does the human interaction within surrounding habitats. The East side of the Sevier Plateau has very limited water sources. Many perennial stream go dry during late summer and fall. Spring sources are limited. USFS is initiating a watershed and wildlife habitat improvement project on the west side of this range that will dramatically improve watershed health and wildlife habitat effectiveness by initiating RX burning and mechanical treatments. The proposed water improvements will augment this 95,000 acre project. The proposed watershed and habitat improvement will need reliable water sources for wildlife. As humans interact and disturb existing populations wildlife become pushed into less desirable locations or into locations that lack all the necessary resources such as water. In other cases where habitat is improved, and forage capacities are returned to better conditions more wildlife can be supported if the critical resources such as water are also available. Guzzlers frequently fill this niche and help offset some of the pressures from disturbance or help facilitate better use of new forage. Placing guzzlers in these drier sites helps facilitate the use by wildlife in these areas where habitat effectiveness is normally limited. In most cases the water will support many sensitive species as well as big-game populations. Many of the existing guzzler's sites are currently providing water to at-risk species such as sage grouse. In all areas, monitoring shows that drinkers provide water for a variety of non-game animals, birds, bats, and large animals.

The proposed project is consistent with and supported by the following management plans: 1)Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-Grouse in Utah - Feb 14, 2013. pp. 4 Objective 2.0.3 Habitat: Enhance an average of 25,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat in Sage-grouse Management Areas annually. (Water Development will enhance the bird's habitat) 2) Dixie National Forest - Land and Resource Management plan - pp. IV-84, Standard: A. Maintain habitat capability at a level at least 80 % of potential capability for all emphasized species. And. pp. IV-112, 6A management direction, (1) Maintain and manage forested inclusions to provide a high level of forage production, wildlife habitat, and diversity. 5) Conservation Plan for Greater Sage Grouse in Garfield County, Adopted January 27, 2014. pp. 6: 2.0.2 Objective 2 - Habitat: Enhance 500 acres of sage-grouse priority habitat on federal lands annually through conservation efforts evaluated by the NRCS Sage Grouse Habitat Evaluation criteria, with emphasis on areas of priority habitat. 2.0.3 Objective 3 - Habitat: Enhance an average of 1,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat on federal lands in Sage-grouse Management Areas annually. 2.0.4 Objective 4 - Habitat: Increase the total amount of sage-grouse habitat acreage within Sage-grouse Management Areas by an average of 500 acres per year, through management actions targeting Opportunity Areas. 6) Garfield County current desired future conditions and Draft resource management plan. pp. 5 Wildlife Goal: Prior to December 31, 2025, land managers will seek to have habitats supporting important fish and wildlife species. 7) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Plan. pp.79, (2.3.1) Plan and implement vegetation treatments in strategic locations (including translocation sites) that benefit Utah Prairie Dogs and their habitat. 8) Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan pp. 16, Strategies: C. Watershed Restoration Initiative, a) Increase forage production by annually treating a minimum of 40,000 acres of elk habitat. and b) Coordinate with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional WRI working groups to identify and prioritize elk habitats in need of enhancement or restoration. 9)Greater Plateau Elk Complex, Elk management plan, (24 Mt. Dutton): pp.4 Range Improvements: Maintain and/or enhance forage production on elk summer and winter range throughout the units. Coordinate with the USFS, SITLA, BLM and private landowners to complete projects designed to improve forage production for both elk and livestock and to improve elk distribution across the unit. Identify higher elevation habitat projects that would encourage elk to winter higher and potentially away from traditional deer wintering areas. (Water development will spread out elk distribution and utilization). 10) Utah Mule Deer Statewide management plan, Dec 01, 2014. pp.18 - Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. Strategies: c. Work with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering and migration areas. D. Minimize impacts and recommend mitigation for losses of crucial habitat due to human impacts. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019. e. Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah. g. Encourage land managers to manage portions of pinion-juniper woodlands and aspen/conifer forests in early successional stages using various methods including timber harvest and managed fire. 11)DEER HERD UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN, Deer Herd Unit # 24, (Mt. Dutton), February 2015: Maintain or enhance forage production through direct range improvements on winter and summer deer range throughout the unit to achieve population management objectives. In addition, these water development sites are consistent with the Dixie National Forest Land and Resource Management plan.

Guzzlers will help wildlife better utilize existing habitat types. In some areas fuels are increased because wildlife and livestock do not have access to the forage due to the lack of water availability in the area. The placement of guzzlers into these types of areas will help reduce fuels as wildlife better utilize the existing forage. The proposed Mt. Dutton west wildlife habitat improvement project has the potential to impact up to 95,000 acres of habitat. Reducing fuels in this project area will improve forage capacity for wildlife and reduce fire risk around these guzzler sites.

Adding guzzlers to existing habitat helps improve water quality by distributing wildlife across the landscape. Large game animals such as elk and mule deer may concentrate on a single water resource when water is scarce. Additional water sources such as guzzlers and ponds help distribute wildlife across the landscape which allows them to better utilize the existing forage but also alleviates impacts from concentration areas.

NEPA has been conducted, and a Decision Memo was issued in the Fall of 2017 approving the placement of these guzzlers on National Forest System lands. All sites have had Archaeological and cultural clearances. Utah law allows for construction of guzzlers under 2500-gallon capacity with a simple rainwater harvesting permit, without a water right. Guzzlers were approved up to 2,500-gallon capacity to be consistent with Utah state law. https://www.waterrights.utah.gov/forms/rainwater.asp

Dixie National Forest biologist prefer to utilize galvanized umbrella style tank guzzlers due to their low maintenance needs and ease of installation. If these cannot be sourced then Boss style tanks would be used with modified (above ground) steel apron to supplement for lower precipitation. It is proposed to purchase (2) tank style guzzlers and transport them from the manufacturer to Panguitch Utah where they will be distributed from there to various sites.

Guzzlers are monitored annually by USFS biologist for maintenance needs. Utilization is monitored with remote trail cameras. Some of the galvanized umbrella tank style guzzlers on the Dixie National Forest have been functional now for over 30+ years. We expect a similar life from the tanks that are proposed.

Partners include Dedicated Hunters, Friends of the Paunsaugunt (Mule deer working group), Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Local Sportsmen's for Fish and Wildlife groups, Mule Deer Foundation, and National Wild Turkey Federation, and Boy Scouts of America. In the past, proposed projects have generated interest from local youth as an eagle scout projects.

Future management includes constant monitoring to ensure drinkers stay functional and are maintained annually. Biologists monitor existing sites now and conduct maintenance when necessary. In addition, there are 4 other approved sites on the Dixie National Forest, Powell Ranger District that we will be seeking additional funding for in the future

Livestock benefit from the placement of these guzzlers as most sites will have an overflow into a pond or reservoir that facilitates livestock use. Excess rainwater harvested then allows for livestock to better utilize the surrounding forage.