INTRODUCTION: This project is a landscape-scale watershed restoration effort, encompassing the entire Twelve-mile Watershed, designed to enhance ecosystem health across multiple dimensions. This project seeks to reduce threats that catastrophic wildfire poses to nearby communities and infrastructure. There have been historical mudslides and water quality issues in this watershed that this project hopes to address. A central objective of this project is to improve summer and winter habitats for mule deer and other wildlife and fish species, supporting population recovery and increasing hunting and fishing opportunities. Lastly, this project seeks to increase the available forage for livestock and ensure that this ecosystem supports multiple sustainable uses of the landscape. This project has brought together many partners and agencies over the past five years. This proposal will be phase five of a long-term restoration strategy for this watershed and will build upon past investments made by the WRI program. From previous and ongoing monitoring efforts, this project can serve as a showcase for what the WRI program can do to improve watershed health. RETURN ON PREVIOUS WRI INVESTMENT: The Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI) program has already invested heavily in earlier phases of this project, completing cultural and wildlife surveys required for NEPA permitting then funding the first four phases of the project. This is phase 5 of this project. In this proposal, funding is requested for hand cutting and piling, prescribed-fire preparation and implementation and installation of beaver dam analogs (BDAs). On-the-ground treatments have already begun, and continued funding is critical to build on past investments by WRI and its partners. WILDLIFE and FISH SPECIES BENEFITS: Mule deer populations for this area are below the population objectives for the UDWR. Declines in mule deer populations are linked to poor habitat conditions, including conifers outcompeting aspen woodlands and pinyon-juniper encroachment into sagebrush communities. This project area contains critical summer mule deer and elk ranges identified by UDWR biologists and supported by collar data from the wildlife tracker (See Maps in Photos) that are in need of conifer removal and aspen regeneration. During summer, mule deer and elk rely on high-carbohydrate forage to build fat reserves for winter survival. Forage quality directly influences overwinter survival, pregnancy success, and fawn recruitment (Bishop et al. 2005; Tollefson et al. 2010; Monteith et al. 2013a). As meadows and aspen stands transition into dense conifer forests with limited understory, food availability declines. Similarly, winter ranges degraded by pinyon-juniper encroachment lose understory vegetation, reducing forage quality. Aging vegetation further shifts toward woody material with lower nutrient content, decreasing crude protein levels and digestibility for deer and elk (Wasley 2004). To address these challenges, project partners aim to thin out conifer and juniper stands and restore early seral vegetative communities, increasing the abundance of aspen saplings, forbs, grasses, and young shrubs essential for ungulates. UDWR collar data show that some habitats remain underused due to poor habitat quality in this watershed (See Wildlife Tracker Data), underscoring the need for restoration. Benefits will extend beyond big game to also include upland game species like wild turkeys, dusky and ruffed grouse, and cottontail rabbits, that will thrive in restored aspen and meadow habitats. Raptors such as golden eagles, northern goshawks, and flammulated owls will benefit from healthier prey populations, including voles, squirrels, rabbits, and hares. Stream and riparian restoration is another key component of this project. Post-assisted log structures (PALS) and BDAs will be installed in watershed streams to improve water quality, increase habitat diversity, and support fish and amphibians. Bonneville cutthroat trout, southern leatherside chub, rainbow trout, and brook trout will benefit from new pools and riffles. Amphibians such as northern leopard frogs and chorus frogs will gain improved breeding habitat. SGCN species such as the little-brown myotis and Townsends Big Eared Bat will benefit from expanded open-water areas for drinking and insect foraging. WATER QUALITY and QUANTITY: This watershed has soils that are susceptible to erosion and have resulted in large landslides historically. Water quality is poor with high levels of sediment. Efforts in this project will be made to address these concerns. In previous phases of this project, we have partnered with the Sanpete Water Conservation District and the NRCS to help with NEPA efforts for erosion control measures to address landslide concerns and to develop greater water storage capacity with a larger reservoir. This NEPA process is still ongoing and that work will be done in future phases of this project. This phase will build on previous BDA/PALS installations in the Beaver Creek and Twelve Mile Creeks. Together, these efforts will deliver broad watershed health benefits: reduced wildfire risk, improved water quality and quantity, alignment with management goals, and sustainable resource use. Further details on water quality and quantity outcomes will be outlined in subsequent sections. WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION: Catastrophic wildfire poses one of the greatest threats to the Twelve Mile Canyon watershed. Nearby cabin communities and the town of Mayfield are especially vulnerable, with foothill homes identified as very high risk on the fire threat index. The danger is compounded by decades of fuel buildup, leaving the landscape primed for intense, fast-moving fires. Another huge concern is the damage that sediment flows can have to water infrastructure post wildfire. The town of Mayfield and Axtell both rely on these watershed for water supplies and wildfire poses a risk to this infrastructure. This project will seek to minimize that risk. This project directly addresses those risks. LIVESTOCK AND OTHER SUSTAINABLE USES: Responsible livestock grazing on public lands is a sustainable practice that can provide additional income for Utah families, particularly in rural areas. However, this livelihood is threatened by the degradation of watersheds and landscapes due to pinyon-juniper and conifer encroachment, which leads to a loss of forage. This project aims to address these challenges by removing encroaching species and increasing available forage for livestock. CONCLUSION: This project is a watershed level project that addresses all of the aims of the WRI program and should be prioritized for continued funding.

OVERALL PROJECT GOAL: To restore the health of the Twelve Mile Watershed to a pristine state where fish and wildlife populations are healthy, catastrophic fire risk is low, water quantity is maximized, water quality is clean, and forage for livestock grazing has been increased. Objectives and Strategies: 1. Improve and increase habitat and food availability for mule deer, elk, moose, cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares, other small mammals, beavers, golden eagles, flammulated owls, and other wildlife species. 2. Improve and increase habitat and food for fish and amphibian species, like Bonneville cutthroat trout, northern leopard frogs, and southern leatherside chub. 3. Improve and increase habitat and food for SGCN species such as little brown myotis and Townsends big eared bat. 4. Restore and improve the health of aspen habitat types. Address the threats to this habitat type such as conifer encroachment, improper forestry practices, and innapropriate fire frequencies. 5. Restore and improve the health of mountain sagebrush and shrubland habitat types. We will do this by thinning out the pinyon-juniper and oakbrush through prescirbed fire. 6.Revitalize riparian zones and aquatic systems through beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and post-assisted log structures (PALS) to restore streams and ponds, increasing food and water resources for big game, fish, and amphibians while improving water quality, fire resilience, and recreational opportunities such as fishing. 7.Strengthen Community Partnerships Collaborate with NRCS, USFS, and the towns of Mayfield and Axtell to build infrastructure that addresses erosion, mudslides, and water quality concerns, ensuring long-term watershed stability. 8. Demonstrate cross-agency success by showcasing how collaboration across government agencies, landowners, and the WRI program delivers measurable improvements to the health and value of the Twelve-mile Watershed. 9. Prevent Irreversible Ecological Decline: Intervene proactively to keep the watershed from crossing ecological thresholds--points beyond which recovery is not possible without management action (Friedel 1991). 10. Align with Management Plans Advance strategies and objectives outlined in multiple management plans relevant to the Twelve-mile Watershed, ensuring consistency with broader conservation goals. 11. Reduce Catastrophic Wildfire Risk Significantly lower the threat of wildfire by reducing hazardous fuel loads and continuity, protecting the communities of Mayfield, Axtell, and Sterling, local infrastructure, and watershed values. 12. Safeguard and Enhance Water Resources Address threats to water quality through multiple approaches while increasing water quantity to sustain wildlife, communities, and recreation. 13 Leverage Prior Investments Build on completed wildlife surveys, cultural clearances, and NEPA approvals from earlier phases, ensuring compliance and maximizing the return on prior investments through on-the-ground improvements. 14. Implement Rigorous Monitoring Track treatment effectiveness using wildlife collars, photo points, and drone technology. Identify successes and shortcomings, adapt future treatments, and transparently showcase project outcomes. 15. Ensure Long-Term Management Continuity Where objectives are unmet, establish adaptive management strategies to sustain and expand gains achieved through this project. 16. Enhance Sustainable Uses Improve the quality and quantity of livestock grazing, hunting, fishing, and recreation opportunities, ensuring the watershed continues to provide ecological, cultural, and economic benefits.

This project is located in the Twelve Mile Canyon area on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). Both agencies have a responsibility to manage these lands sustainably, and current conditions demand immediate action. Habitat health has declined to the point where wildlife populations, watershed stability, and community safety are at risk. A primary goal of this project is to restore struggling deer and elk herds. In recent years, UDWR has reduced predator pressure to allow populations to rebound. However, without sufficient habitat quality and quantity, these herds cannot sustain healthy growth. Now is the critical moment to act--before populations expand beyond the carrying capacity of degraded habitat, leading to starvation and further decline. Significant investments from WRI and partner funding have already been made in this project area to fund the cultural and wildlife surveys and to complete the NEPA. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have funded cultural and wildlife surveys, completing all NEPA requirements. Additionally, this will be phase five and a culmination of multiple treatments resulting in the implementation of a landscape burn within critical dual-purpose summer/winter habitat the shares the same slope depending on timing of vegetative availability and habitat utilization. With approvals secured, this project is shovel-ready and backed by years of planning, implementation and step by step goal achievements to finally be ready for the landscape burn and reset of late successional vegetation to early seral vegetation vital to the twelve-mile big game herd dietary requirements degraded by years of old growth. To stop here would waste prior investments; continued funding ensures those efforts translate into on-the-ground improvements. Planned treatments target high-elevation conifer stands classified as VSS 4 with canopy cover exceeding 60%. These mature stands block sunlight, suppress understory productivity, and reduce forage availability. Treatments will cut and pile dead and down and live conifers under 10" DBH, burn existing piles within soil considerate (slope/soil) acreage in Clear Creek, Beaver Creek and around infrastructure such as the Whitlock Cabin area. Thus, preparing the landscape for a prescribed burn scheduled for fall of FY27 on Order Mountain. The Order Mountain contains time sensitive slash previously funded by both WRI and USFS created the previous FY26 to aid in burn efforts critical to achieve fire related goals. This area provides critical summer and downslope winter habitat for big game survival during critical winter months. Stream health is also in decline. The removal of beavers has accelerated erosion and degraded riparian systems. Each year, restoration costs rise while fish populations fall. Installing beaver dam analogs (BDAs) will stabilize streams, improve water storage, and restore essential habitat for fish and amphibians. This project represents a rare opportunity: it is shovel-ready, scientifically justified, and urgently needed. By funding this phase, stakeholders will receive benefits from previously funded phases, protect wildlife populations, restore watershed health (water quality/quantity), reduce wildfire risk, and secure long-term ecological and community benefits.

This project will help meet objectives and strategies from the following plans: 1. NEW 2025 Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan 1. Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 600,000 acres of crucial range by 2030 - We will help achieve this objective by improving 3,140 acres with just this project. 2. The San Pitch River Watershed, DWQ Water Quality Management Plan Objective a: Improve stability of the stream channel and tributaries to enhance the riparian corridor and buffer zones to proper functioning condition. Objective b: Obtain funding to implement BMPs for greatest improvement in the San Pitch River Watershed. Objective c: Improve and conserve wildlife habitat in the watershed. 3. The Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan: * Habitat Objective a. Maintain elk habitat throughout the state by identifying and protecting existing crucial elk habitat and mitigating for losses due to human impacts. * Habitat Objective b: Improve the quality and quantity of forage and cover on 250,000 acres of elk habitat with emphasis on calving habitat and upper elevation elk winter range by the end of this plan. 4. Utah Wildlife Action Plan: This project addresses the threats identified in the WAP of problematic native plants pg 375, fire and fire suppression pg 326, and climatic changes such as drought on pg 386. 5. The Division of Wildlife Resources Strategic Management Plan: Resource Goal: a) Expand wildlife populations by protecting and improving wildlife habitat. b) Protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state. 6. South Sanpete County WMAs Habitat Management Plan: a) Improve browse communities. b) Maintain previous restoration projects. 7. The Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), as amended, for the Forest recognizes the need to: a) Maintain or improve habitat capability through direct treatment of vegetation, soil and/or water b) Maintain fuel conditions which permit fire suppression forces to meet protection objectives for management units c) Use preplanned prescribed fire resulting from planned or unplanned ignitions to accomplish resource management objectives, such as reducing fuel load buildup, range or wildlife habitat improvement, etc. 8. Mule Deer Management plan for herd unit 16 Central Mountains: HABITAT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES - Deer Plan * a) Protect, maintain, and/or improve deer habitat through direct range improvements to support and maintain herd population management objectives. b) Continue to improve, protect, and restore sagebrush steppe habitats critical to deer. c) Cooperate with federal land management agencies and private landowners in carrying out habitat improvements such as pinion-juniper removal, reseedings, controlled burns, grazing management, water developments etc. on public and private lands. Habitat improvement projects will occur on both winter ranges as well as summer range. 9. Elk Management Plan for Central Mountains Manti Unit: a) Manage for a population of healthy animals capable of providing a broad range of recreational opportunities, including hunting and viewing. b) Maintain an elk population consistent with the available range resources and which is in balance with other range users such as domestic livestock, other big game and the need for watershed protection. c) Maintain and enhance existing elk habitat through vegetative manipulation, sound domestic grazing practices, and other management techniques that will meet habitat objectives

Catastrophic wildfire poses one of the greatest threats to the Twelve Mile Canyon watershed. Nearby cabin communities and the towns of Mayfield and Axtell are especially vulnerable, with foothill homes and critical water infrastructure within fire risk. This area is identified as very high risk on the fire threat index. The danger is compounded by decades of fuel buildup, leaving the landscape primed for intense, fast-moving fires. This project directly addresses those risks by reducing fuel loads on over 3,140 acres. By conducting prescribed burns when conditions are at the best and under controlled circumstances we can reduce the fuel loads on the landscape, so that when a natural wildfire occurs it will burn at a much lower intensity. We will also reduce hazardous fuel loads through conifer thinning in the aspen stands. This will also lower fire intensity, and create defensible space. These treatments will make it easier for firefighters to protect homes and infrastructure, safeguarding lives and property. Beyond the immediate threat of fire, there is grave concern about post-fire flooding and mudslides in the higher elevations. With soils already eroding, a large wildfire could trigger catastrophic slides and flooding, devastating communities and infrastructure downstream. By gradually reducing fuel loads across priority areas, this project will limit fire spread and reduce the likelihood of such destructive secondary impacts. The unnatural fuel conditions in Twelve Mile Canyon are the result of more than a century of fire suppression, which has left behind old, diseased, and dead conifer stands prone to burning with dangerous intensity. This project begins the long-term process of thinning forests, restoring healthier stand conditions, and reducing fire danger for both firefighters and communities. To ensure consistency across landownership boundaries, the USFS and FFSL/DWR have established an agreement to conduct prescribed burns on both federal and state lands. This coordinated approach strengthens cross-management objectives and ensures treatments are implemented effectively across the watershed. Looking ahead, this work will pave the way for future fire risk reduction strategies, including prescribed burns. In addition to the fuels treatments, riparian restoration through BDAs and stream improvements will expand wet areas and green vegetation, creating natural fire breaks that slow or stop wildfire spread. Together, these efforts will protect communities, restore ecological resilience, and secure the long-term health of the Twelve Mile Canyon watershed.

Erosion and water quality are major concerns in this watershed. Recent years have seen several large landslides, and the terrain remains unstable. To address this, we're implementing BDAs (beaver dam analogs) to help retain water and trap sediment that would otherwise accumulate in the reservoir. In the uplands, WRI-funded work is improving soil stability by increasing grass and understory vegetation, whose root systems help anchor the soil. Additionally, planned prescribed burns will reduce the risk of catastrophic fires and debris flows that can damage the critical water infrastructure and water quality for the town of Axtel. The conifer thinning and prescirbed burn in the oak brush and juniper zone will also increase water availability and quantity on the landscape. Each juniper tree can consume up to 32 liters of water per day. This reduction in water loss will allow more moisture to support other vegetation and recharge springs and aquifers, thus improving water quantity. We've been working for several years in close partnership with the Sanpete Water Conservation District and NRCS on a multi-phase project in 12-Mile Canyon. This includes the construction of a new reservoir at the mouth of the canyon, as well as forest health and watershed restoration efforts further upstream. The NEPA process for this project is still underway and nearing completion. Once completed, the reservoir will significantly increase the watershed's water storage capacity before it drains into the valley. It will cover approximately 12 to 15 acres and hold up to 465 acre-feet of water. Strategically located at the base of our upstream restoration efforts, the reservoir will serve as the final catchment for water and sediment before entering Mayfield's culinary and irrigation systems. Reducing tree cover will also decrease bare ground and fuel buildup allowing seed bank grasses and forbs to establish and stabilize the soil, which in turn will reduce erosion and improve overall water quality.

All required NEPA has been completed and signed regarding treatment in the acres identified for treatments and BDA structures. A current burn plan for the landscape RX is completed and awaiting signature. Previous phases of this project completed thousands a of acres of cultural surveys and wildlife goshawk surveys so that the NEPA could be completed quickly and work could begin on the ground.

This phase includes a variety of treatment types aimed at improving summer range conditions, enhancing wildlife habitat, firefighter safety and reducing erosion and sedimentation in the watershed. To improve high-elevation summer range, we will cut and pile conifer species under 10" DBH across 413 acres that are not scheduled for landscape burn treatments. This will reduce the presence of less desirable species and decrease dead and down fuels in areas where landscape burning is not recommended due to sensitive soil conditions. Piles previously created with WRI funding in FY25 and FY26 across 720 acres will be burned in this phase. Additionally, we plan to implement a landscape burn across approximately 2,375 acres on the east-west slopes of Order Mountain using both hand and aerial ignitions (heli-torch). These ignitions will target activity fuels (lop and scatter) in areas of decedent aspen stands and less preferred big game habitat. The goal is to increase ground fuels to support mixed-severity burns and promote mosaic burn patterns that benefit big game species post-treatment. Selected burn units have been identified for their high potential to respond positively to fire, with expected regeneration of aspen and fire-adapted forbs. Fire control lines will be constructed using USFS equipment along the boundary between USFS administered lands and lower-elevation State of Utah property to reduce the possibility of cross contamination of unwanted fire within WUI areas north of the project area during operations. In addition, we will construct approximately 100 BDAs or PALS (Post-Assisted Log Structures) within the Beaver Creek/Twelve Mile Creek drainage. This area is well-documented for streambank erosion and sediment delivery into downstream communities including Mayfield, Gunnison, and Centerfield. These structures will help stabilize streambanks and reduce sediment transport.

The UDWR has established detailed range condition monitoring sites in the high-elevation conifer treatment areas with the range trend crew. Pre and post treatment data and photos can already be viewed online from previous phases of this project. You can find that data at https://dwrapps.utah.gov/rangetrend/rtstart. UDWR will also request that this crew set up a monitoring site in the prescribed fire area before treatments begin. Additional monitoring will be conducted by USFS biologists, foresters, geologists, and UDWR habitat biologists. We will primarily use photo points from representative sites within the treatment areas to compare conditions before and after treatment. Additionally, we will analyze collar data to assess any changes in the movements and behavior of collared mule deer. Big game biologists will continue to monitor populations in the 12-Mile area, reporting any increases in relation to our project. Goshawk surveys have been completed, with no nests detected in the treatment areas, and the USFS will monitor for the creation of new nests. USFS staff will also assess whether we are increasing soil moisture and how our actions affect soil stability. Photo points and vegetation measurements will be taken at the BDAs to document progress over time in stream aggradation and the reduction of downcutting.

This watershed restoration project is supported by a broad coalition of partners, each contributing critical expertise, funding, and coordination. Work is being done on a landscape scale across all jurisdictional boundaries. Previous phases treated a majority of the lands on the UDWR side and so that is why it look like we are only treating at the border of USFS and DWR lands. But the prescribed burn will cross over onto DWR lands and USFS lands. 1. The USFS, DWR and FFSL are partnering to conduct the prescribed burn on order mountain. The State of Utah's Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) Richfield office has agreed to aid in administering the landscape burn on Order Mountain, scheduled for fall FY27. Operations on the State of Utah administered lands are anticipated to follow in FY28. We anticipate utilizing interagency partners such as neighboring forests, BLM and local fire officials to conduct burn operations. This commitment adds valuable operational capacity and interagency coordination. 2. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has secured a PL-566 watershed planning grant, receiving $500,000 to support NEPA compliance and 30% design work. The long-term goal is to secure an additional $3 million for full design and $25 million for construction of the reservoir, landslide prevention pipeline, and associated infrastructure. Jacob Hall, a biologist jointly representing NRCS and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), is facilitating collaboration between the two agencies. Jones & DeMille Engineering has been contracted by NRCS to lead the NEPA process and design work, and we are working closely with their team to ensure alignment across all project components. 3. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is the primary landowner for all Beaver Dam Analog (BDA) installations, prescribed fire, and high-elevation conifer removal efforts. Over the past several years, DWR habitat biologists have held multiple planning meetings with USFS staff to coordinate surveys, permitting, NEPA compliance, and treatment strategies. Key USFS personnel involved include Dru Crane, other resource specialists, and District Ranger Reggie Swenson. 4. Sportsman groups such as SFW, MDF, and RMEF have demonstrated strong support for this project, providing substantial funding for the first three phases of implementation. We anticipate their continued involvement and financial contributions for future on-the-ground treatments. 5. The Sanpete COunty Water Conservation Disctrict and the community of Mayfield has also been actively engaged, collaborating with NRCS and Jones & DeMille Engineering on their portion of the project. Outreach has been conducted with all landowners within the watershed, and we are working across ownership boundaries to implement a landscape-scale restoration strategy.

The 12-Mile WMA is included in the DWR's South Sanpete WMAs Habitat Management Plan and will continue to focus on wildlife management, particularly for mule deer and elk winter/spring habitats. Grazing on the property will be managed in a way that adds value and benefit to our restoration efforts and watershed health priorities. Recreation on the property will also be managed by the DWR to minimize impacts to the habitat and wildlife. This commitment is supported by funding and manpower from the UDWR, ensuring active management for the project's success and future investments as needed to meet the WMA's goals. Additionally, lands within this project that are managed by the USFS will have ongoing manpower and funding to ensure that project objectives are met. Additional treatments will be implemented as needed until our desired objectives are met. Livestock permittees have been coordinated with and have agreed to keep livestock out of treatment areas. As noted earlier, extensive monitoring will guide us in determining any necessary future actions.

In Utah, we aim for sustainable use of our natural lands and watersheds, and one of the goals of the WRI is to support this objective. Responsible livestock grazing on public lands is a sustainable practice that can be used as an effective tool to improve watershed health and reduce wildfire risk as well as provide additional income for Utah families, particularly in rural areas. However, this livelihood is threatened by the degradation of watersheds and landscapes due to pinyon-juniper and conifer encroachment, which leads to a loss of forage. This project aims to address these challenges by removing encroaching species and increasing available forage for livestock. Restoring beaver processes through the construction of Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) will help distribute water across the landscape, enhancing both the quantity and quality of water and forage for livestock. Hunting and fishing are also vital sustainable uses of our natural resources. The implementation of this propject will enhance hunting and fishing opportunities. By improving summer ranges, big game species will transition to their winter habitats in better condition, which is crucial for their survival. Enhanced winter ranges will help maintain body fat levels, reducing the risk of fetal loss and increasing the chances of twin births. Healthier fawns and calves will contribute to population growth, providing ample food for predators and opportunities for hunters. This will also improve the quality of mule deer and elk, resulting in larger antlers and more meat. Ponds created by BDAs and potential future beaver releases will provide habitats for fish stocking, enhancing opportunities for anglers. This project will also facilitate timber harvests by targeting less desirable areas and trees, improving access to those suitable for harvesting.