Cook WMA Enhancements Phase 2
Project ID: 7939
Status: Current
Fiscal Year: 2027
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Pat Rainbolt
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northeastern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northeastern
Description:
Foundational projects to protect and enhance wildlife habitat of the newly acquired Cook WMA.
Location:
Near Phil Pico Mountain about 12 miles west of Manila, Utah.
Project Need
Need For Project:
The Cook WMA was acquired by UDWR in 2025 and is a stronghold for Mule deer, wintering elk, and Bighorn Sheep. The property was privately owned prior to UDWR acquisition and used primarily for domestic livestock grazing and hunting. After UDWR acquisition, the property needs the appropriate fencing/maintenance, signage, and water developments (guzzlers) to help protect the property and begin management for wildlife. Vegetation projects would help promote Aspen stands and diversify plant communities.
Objectives:
Objectives are to replace a nonfunctioning water line and trough, upgrade a section of fencing that is subject to vehicle trespass, and perform forestry practices to enhance aspen stands on the WMA.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
The property was acquired in 2025 and UDWR needs to perform the foundational projects to get this property on track to be managed as a public WMA.
Relation To Management Plan:
UDWR Habitat staff will begin the process of developing an HMP for the property in 2026.
Fire / Fuels:
Timber harvesting will help create fuel breaks in the dense, conifer dominated stands on the property.
Water Quality/Quantity:
Replacing the water line and trough will help provide additional water sources for wildlife and livestock, helping distribute forage use across the WMA.
Compliance:
New ground disturbance for the timber harvest area will require arch clearance. It is anticipated this will be such small scale, it could be accomplished with UDWR staff. The fence, pipeline, and trough are replacing existing structures on previously disturbed areas.
Methods:
The water pipeline will be connected into the current functioning system, cased with drill pipe, and directed to an existing trough by NER Habitat staff. The tire trough will be placed and connected to the water system by NER Habitat staff. Drill pipe fencing and timber harvesting will be contracted out through the state purchasing process. Timber harvest will be performed in two phases. Phase 1 will consist of the UDWR heavy equipment crew felling and removing 450-500 trees with root wads attached. These trees will be used as material for WRI # 7744 as toe wood for bank stabilization of the Green River in Brown's Park. Phase 2 will go to bid for contracting of approximately 200 acres of clearcutting with a minimal level of disturbance to help promote aspen regeneration and forest stand diversification. All harvested materials will be removed by the contractor in exchange for using a process to create a minimal amount of ground disturbance appropriate for aspen regeneration.
Monitoring:
UDWR staff will establish photo points in the timber harvest area to monitor aspen response. Water system and fencing will be monitored by UDWR staff and a future operator for maintenance needs.
Partners:
WRI project #7744 as mentioned in the "Methods" section
Future Management:
Future project phases on the WMA will be guided by the HMP when it is completed in 2026.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Fence maintenance will help control neighboring domestic livestock, protecting the WMA's resources for wildlife use. Future permitted grazing on the WMA will be better controlled and distributed with the fencing and water upgrades.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$108,500.00 $0.00 $108,500.00 $8,500.00 $117,000.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Materials and Supplies Tire trough with sidewall removed $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 2027
Materials and Supplies Cement for tire trough bottom $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 2027
Contractual Services Construction of approximately 3,000 feet of drill pipe fencing at $25 per foot $75,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Materials and Supplies 2,500 feet of 1.5" HDPE water pipeline $3,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Personal Services (permanent employee) UDWR Heavy Equipment Crew $20,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Materials and Supplies 2,500 feet of drill pipe for waterline casing $0.00 $0.00 $5,000.00 2027
Archaeological Clearance UDWR Arch Clearance of timber harvest area $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 2027
Archaeological Clearance Contracted Arch Clearance of timber area $10,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$108,500.00 $0.00 $108,500.00 $8,500.00 $117,000.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
Utah Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) S022 $38,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) S025 $11,300.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Sportsman for Fish & Wildlife (SFW) S027 $38,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Wildlife Conservation Foundation (WCF) S056 $10,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) Dedicated Hunter donation of cut tire trough, cement, and drill pipe $0.00 $0.00 $6,500.00 2027
Habitat Council Account QHCR $10,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2027
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) UDWR Arch Clearance of timber harvest area $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 2027
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Bighorn Sheep N4 R2
Threat Impact
Disease – Alien Organisms Very High
Bighorn Sheep N4 R2
Threat Impact
Livestock Farming and Ranching High
Blue Grouse
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Elk R2
Threat Impact
Droughts Low
Elk R2
Threat Impact
Improper Forest Management High
Wild Turkey R1
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Wild Turkey R1
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Medium
Moose R3
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Moose R3
Threat Impact
Improper Forest Management Low
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Improper Forest Management High
Habitats
Habitat
Aspen-Conifer
Threat Impact
Droughts Medium
Aspen-Conifer
Threat Impact
Habitat Shifting and Alteration Medium
Aspen-Conifer
Threat Impact
Improper Forest Management High
Aspen-Conifer
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Very High
Mountain Meadow
Threat Impact
Soil Erosion / Loss High
Mountain Shrub
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Low
Project Comments
Comment 01/12/2026 Type: 1 Commenter: Makeda Hanson
As always, great to see these pipe fences used where feasible to reduce fences becoming a barrier or hazard to migrating wildlife.
Comment 02/05/2026 Type: 1 Commenter: Miles Hanberg
This project represents a unique opportunity to do meaningful aspen regeneration/timber management on DWR owned land. Water quantity is likely to improve while reducing hazardous fuels and improving habitat. The project has the opportunity to benefit local economies through timber activities.
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
ID Feature Category Action Treatement/Type
1406 Pipeline Reconstruction Above surface
1407 Fence Reconstruction Pipe
3272 Water development point feature Reconstruction Trough
15556 Terrestrial Treatment Area Forestry practices Clearcutting
Project Map
Project Map