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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Intermountain Region Dixie National Forest Escalante Ranger District August 2016

Ranch Creek Watershed Improvement Project

Scoping Notice

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For More Information Contact: Terry DeLay

Escalante Ranger District P.O. Box 246 Escalante, UT

84726 Phone: (435) 826-5401 Email: [email protected]

Fax: (435) 826-5491

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................. 3

Project Location .................................................................................................................... 3 Relationship to the Forest Plan ............................................................................................. 4 Existing and Desired Conditions ........................................................................................ 10

PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................................... 28 PROPOSED ACTION .................................................................................................................... 29 PROJECT DESIGN FEATURES ................................................................................................... 31 DECISION FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................... 35 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ............................................................................................................ 35 COMMENTS REQUESTED.......................................................................................................... 36 MAPS .............................................................................................................................................. 37 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................... 41

LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Management area and acres within the Ranch Creek project area ..................................... 4 Table 2. Existing and desired conditions for riparian areas ............................................................ 14 Table 3. Species Composition of Shrublands in Project Area ....................................................... 16 Table 4. Existing and desired condition for shrublands .................................................................. 18 Table 5. Existing and desired conditions for woodlands* .............................................................. 20 Table 6. Existing and desired condition for forests ......................................................................... 22 Table 7: Current VSS Distribution by Northern Goshawk Home Range ....................................... 26 Table 8. Existing and desired conditions for the wildland urban interface ..................................... 27 Table 9. Project design features for all action alternatives ............................................................. 31

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Junipers and other coniferous species underlying and growing into the crowns of legacy cottonwoods and other deciduous riparian species on Horse Creek. .............................................. 11 Figure 2. Junipers and other coniferous species underlying and growing into the crowns of legacy cottonwoods and other deciduous riparian species on Birch Creek. .............................................. 11 Figure 3. Junipers and other coniferous species underlying and growing into the crowns of aspen and other deciduous riparian species on Ranch Creek. ................................................................... 11 Figure 4. Close up view of Ranch Creek stream channel showing the trampling of the stream bank during October. ............................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 5. Looking downstream on Ranch Creek stream channel showing the trampling of the stream bank during October. ........................................................................................................... 12 Figure 6. Extended view of Ranch Creek stream channel showing the trampling of the stream bank during October. ...................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 7. Close up view of the Horse Creek GDE showing the hoof sheer and vegetative damage.......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Figure 8. Extended view of the Horse Creek GDE showing the hoof sheer, vegetative damage, and fecal matter that is impacting the water quality. ...................................................................... 13 Figure 9. Management Areas and Vicinity Map ............................................................................. 37 Figure 10. Vegetation Cover Types Map ........................................................................................ 38 Figure 11. Vegetation Treatments Map .......................................................................................... 39 Figure 12. Other Treatments Map .................................................................................................. 40

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BACKGROUND

The Ranch Creek Watershed and Riparian Improvement Project is designed to maintain and improve riparian areas and stream and watershed function, as well as to benefit Bonneville cutthroat trout and other wildlife species.

Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) (BCT) are the only native sport fish found in southwestern Utah’s Bonneville basin. As with other subspecies of cutthroat trout throughout the Intermountain West, habitat alterations and introductions of non-native trout from the late 1880s until the 1970s caused large-scale losses of this native fish (Hadley and Golden 2016). Active management of BCT began in southern Utah after the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 (Hepworth et al. 2003). By the 1990s, interagency commitment to conserving, protecting, and expanding populations of BCT led to the development of a formal management strategy for the state of Utah (Lentsch et al. 1997), which was followed by a strategy and agreement for range-wide conservation (Lentsch et al. 2000). BCT are on the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species List and BCT conservation has also been identified as a primary objective for the East Fork Sevier River drainage (8th-level Hydrologic Unit Code [HUC] 16030002) by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) (Hepworth et al. 2003).

The BCT population in Ranch Creek was first identified in 1995 and has had a relatively stable distribution and standing crop since the 1990s (Hadley and Golden 2016). Individuals from this population have only been reintroduced into one other stream (Cottonwood Creek) in 2013 and the success of that reintroduction is still being evaluated (Hadley and Golden 2016). Disease certification samples in 2015 showed that Ranch Creek has recently become infected with whirling disease which could jeopardize this core, conservation population.

Birch Creek and Horse Creek both contain populations of nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Nonnative trout are a Management Indicator Species (MIS) for the Forest. MIS is a concept used by the Forest Service to serve as a barometer for species viability at the Forest level. Standing crop of brook trout in both Birch Creek and Horse Creek would be considered below average when compared to other trout populations across southern Utah (Golden 2013). Birch Creek and Horse Creek have been identified as candidates for future BCT restoration by the Bonneville cutthroat Southern Geographic Management Unit planning team of the Utah Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Cutthroat Trout.

Project Location

The Ranch Creek project is located within Garfield County, Utah on the Escalante Ranger District of the Dixie National Forest approximately 15 miles south of Antimony, Utah and encompasses approximately 14,071 acres. The project area is located within Township 33S Range 1W Sections 20-21, and 27-34, Township 33S Range 2W Sections 25 and 36, Township 34S Range 1W Sections 2-11, 15-18, and 20-22, and Township 34S Range 2W Section 1 and 12 (see

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Management Areas and Vicinity Map, Figure 9). The project area is within the Ranch Creek-Sevier River and Sweetwater Creek sub-watersheds which includes the headwaters of Ranch Creek, Birch Creek, and Horse Creek. Access is by County Road 1660 (Johns Valley Highway, CR 1660), and FR 30234. There is approximately 191 acres of private land within the project area. There are no designated wilderness areas or inventoried roadless areas (IRA) within the project boundary.

Relationship to the Forest Plan

This analysis incorporates by reference the direction provided in the Dixie National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended (Forest Plan) (USDA 1986). All administrative activities affecting the National Forest must be based on the Forest Plan. The Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities and provides the overall guidance for management activities by specifying goals and objectives, desired future conditions, management direction, and standards and guidelines. The management areas (MA) within the Ranch Creek project area include MA 1 (General Direction), MA 2B (Roaded Natural Recreation), MA 5A (Big-Game Winter Range), MA 6A (Livestock Grazing), MA 7A (Wood Production and Utilization) and MA 9A (Riparian Management) (see Management Areas and Vicinity Map, Figure 9 and Table 1).

Table 1. Management area and acres within the Ranch Creek project area

Management Area Description Management Area Code Acres

General Direction 1 2,125 Roaded Natural Recreation 2B 1,119 Big-Game Winter Range 5A 4,960 Livestock Grazing 6A 4,601 Wood Production and Utilization 7A 853 Riparian Management 9A 222 Total 14,071

Guidance for development of the purpose and need for action came from the Forest Plan, as amended (USDA 1986), specifically the following goals and direction related to the management of soil, water, sensitive species, wildlife, fish, riparian areas, silviculture, fire, and fuels.

General Direction (1) (applies to all management areas)

Soil and Water

Goal No. 29: Provide water and soil guidance to other resource activities to protect or improve water quality and quantity and soil productivity (IV-8).

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Goal No. 32: Design and implement practices on the ground that will reestablish acceptable soil, hydrologic, and vegetative conditions that are sufficient to secure and maintain favorable water flow (IV-9).

Goal No. 33: Increase water yields where possible through timber harvest program when consistent with other multiple-use goals (IV-9).

Desired Future Condition: Water quality and soil will be maintained. Condition of riparian areas will be maintained, or if necessary improved (IV-22).

Wildlife and Fish

Goal No. 14: Improve the quantity and quality of aquatic habitats through direct habitat improvement and increased coordination with other land use programs (IV-5).

Goal No. 15: Maintain or enhance the terrestrial habitat for all wildlife species that presently occur on the forest (IV-5).

Goal No. 16: Maintain or improve the current capacity of big game winter ranges on National Forest lands (IV-6).

Goal No. 17: Manage classified species (bald eagle (E), peregrine falcon (E), Utah prairie dog (T), Astragalus perianus (E), Bonneville cutthroat trout (S) and Colorado River cutthroat trout (S); (E = Endangered, T = Threatened, S = Sensitive)) habitat to maintain or enhance their status through direct habitat improvement and agency cooperation (IV -6).

Goal No. 17A: Restore or maintain forested landscapes in a properly functioning condition (PFC). Functioning forested landscapes provide habitat for the northern goshawk and its prey to support a viable population of goshawks in Utah (IV-6).

Desired Future Condition: Habitat will be improved for sensitive species, including aquatic species (IV-20).

Improve riparian ecosystems that are currently in an unacceptable condition (IV-20).

Standards and Guidelines: Maintain aquatic habitat capable of supporting self-sustaining trout populations to provide for those populations. Where natural geologic and biologic conditions will allow, maintain the following stream habitat conditions: A) Maintain 40% or more of overhanging grasses, forbs, sedges and shrubs along banks of streams; B) Maintain 50% or more of total stream bank length in stable condition; C) No more than 25% of stream substrate should be covered by inorganic sediment less than 3.2 mm in size; D) Maintain or improve overall aquatic habitat to support existing self-sustaining trout populations. (IV-33) Maintain fish passage during all flow levels except peak flow events. Follow guidelines in Evans and Johnston, 1980. (IV-42)

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Riparian

General Direction: Prescribe management activities to achieve riparian area objectives. (IV-42)

Locate and construct arterial and collector roads to maintain basic natural condition and character of riparian areas (IV-42).

Timber /Silviculture

Goal No. 24: Emphasize harvesting productive sawtimber stands that are highly or moderately susceptible to attack by the mountain pine beetle and other forest pests (IV-7).

Goal No. 25: Harvest timber in coordination with other resources (IV-7).

Goal No. 26: Improve the growth rate in timber stands through silvicultural treatment (IV-7).

Goal No. 27: Promote the utilization of insect killed trees, forest debris, slash and Unmerchantable green trees through an aggressive, coordinated firewood sales program (IV-8).

Goal No. 28: Required short-term and intermittent timber sale roads will be constructed to the minimum standard necessary to accommodate logging traffic (IV-8).

Desired Future Condition: A combination of silvicultural harvest methods that maximize present net value will be used in conjunction with meeting multiple use objectives and associated constraints on timber management. Intensive practices such as pre-commercial thinning will be used in all timber working groups except aspen. Future silvicultural condition of timber stands will be improved over current conditions.

Future silvicultural condition of timber stands will be improved over current conditions. Conversion of slow growing over mature stands to younger, more vigorous stands will provide the benefits of increased timber growth and reduced susceptibility to insects and disease. Emphasis on harvesting mature stands, stands of poor quality and low value species and stands with insect and disease problems will reduce mortality and growth loss (IV-21).

Fire and Fuels

Goal No. 48: Ecosystems are restored and maintained, consistent with land uses and historic fire regimes, through wildland fire use and prescribed fire (IV-13).

Standards and Guidelines: Reduce hazardous fuels. The full range of fuel reduction methods is authorized, consistent with forest and management area emphasis and direction (IV-33).

Prescribed fire is appropriate forest wide (IV-33).

Recreation

Goal No. 5: Provide a trail system adequate to disperse recreation users and prevent overuse in popular areas, and provide safety for the user (IV-3).

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Roaded Natural Recreation (2B)

Desired Future Condition: This area is characterized by a modified natural environment. Resource modification and utilization practices usually harmonize with the natural environment. In some of the modified zones within this area, utilization practices enhance recreation activities, maintain vegetative cover, and soil. The opportunity to have a high degree of interaction with the natural environment and to face challenges associated with more primitive forms of recreation will not be important. Both motorized and non-motorized forms of recreation are possible in this area. The natural features of the landscape will dominate (IV-68).

Big-Game Winter Range (5A)

Desired Future Condition: Acreage of these areas will remain essentially the same as currently exists. Forage production will be improved and increased. Various browse species; sagebrush, bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, oak, etc., provide the majority of winter forage in these areas. The most palatable browse and other forage species will be favored. Thermal cover will be retained and improved. Vehicle traffic and public access will be restricted to prevent stress on wintering animals (IV-97).

Livestock Grazing (6A)

Desired Future Condition: Acreage of areas receiving this emphasis will remain essentially the same as presently. Production and range condition will be improved. Areas where vegetation manipulation practices have been accomplished will be maintained for optimum forage production. Numbers of livestock improvements (water developments, fences) will increase (IV-109).

Wood Production and Utilization (7A)

Desired Future Condition: This management area contains most of the commercial timber on the forest and is the most highly productive for growing timber. The basic long-range objectives of timber management for this area are:

1. Create and maintain nearly equal areas in seedlings and saplings, pole timber, immature saw timber and mature saw timber.

2. Create and maintain stand conditions that will minimize growth loss and mortality from insects and diseases.

3. Convert slow growing stands of mature saw timber (beyond culmination of mean annual increment for the product size objective) to young, thrifty stands of desirable species (IV-114).

Riparian Management (9A)

Desired Future Condition: Riparian ecosystem remains healthy and viable. Sufficient habitat remains to support at least minimum viable populations of riparian dependent wildlife species. Water quality is not impaired below existing levels and is improved in some areas. Stream channel stability is maintained or, in areas where it is severely degraded, is improved to at least

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minimally acceptable standards. Area provides multiple resource outputs while providing protection to riparian dependent values (IV-135).

Direction: The goals of management are to provide healthy, self-perpetuating plant communities, meet water quality standards, provide habitats for viable populations of wildlife and fish, and provide stable stream channels and still water body shorelines. The aquatic ecosystem may contain fisheries habitat improvement and channel stabilizing facilities that harmonize with the visual setting and maintain and improve wildlife or fish habitat (IV-135).

Provide habitat to meet or exceed the needs of estimated existing populations for all aquatic MIS (IV-147; Aquatic Monitoring Amendment 2010, p. 23).

Forest riparian ecosystems are treated to improve wildlife and fish habitat diversity through specified silvicultural objectives. Timber harvest and other vegetation treatments are used to achieve multi-resource benefits emphasizing riparian values. (IV-135)

Prevent stream channel instability, loss of channel cross-sectional areas, and loss of water quality resulting from activities that alter vegetative cover (IV-141).

Standards and Guidelines: Maintain at least 80% of potential ground cover within 100 feet from the edges of all perennial streams, lakes and other water bodies, or to the outer margin of the riparian ecosystem, where wider than 100 feet. (IV-141).

Other Direction

Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2670

Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2670 provides management direction for Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants and Animals (FSM 2670). Forest Service policies for designated sensitive species (FSM 2670.32) states:

• Assist States in achieving their goals for conservation of endemic species.

Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout

The Forest Service is a partner in implementing the Range-wide Conservation Agreement and Strategy for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) (Lentsch et al. 2000). The Forest Service has committed to cooperate and assist in range-wide habitat enhancement, re-introduction, non-indigenous species control and monitoring projects on National Forest System (NFS) lands where appropriate. The Conservation Strategy directs signatories to:

a) Protect the genetic integrity of Bonneville cutthroat trout populations.

b) Expand Bonneville cutthroat trout populations and distribution through introduction and reintroduction from either transplanted or brood stock Bonneville cutthroat trout.

Objectives:

Maintain or restore water quality to a degree that provides for stable and productive riparian and aquatic ecosystems;

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Maintain or restore stream channel integrity, channel processes, and the sediment regime (including the elements of timing, volume, and character of sediment input and transport) under which the riparian and aquatic ecosystems developed;

Maintain or restore riparian vegetation to:

a) provide an amount and distribution of large woody debris characteristics of natural aquatic and riparian ecosystems;

b) provide adequate summer and winter thermal regulation within the riparian and aquatic zones;

c) help achieve rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration characteristic of those under which the communities developed.

Actions:

Enhance and maintain habitat

• Restore altered channel and habitat features to historic conditions. Actions may include stream bank stabilization, large woody debris introduction, and vegetation planting for improved riparian areas.

• Restore natural hydraulic and sediment regimes, restore floodplain and riparian function, and expand available spawning and rearing habitat. This action includes securing instream flow needs through water acquisition or regulation.

Control and prevent the spread of whirling disease.

Utah Wildlife Action Plan (Utah Wildlife Action Plan Joint Team 2015)

This plan lists inappropriate fire frequency and intensity as a high level threat for BCT and aspen-conifer ecosystems with the following as potential conservation actions.

2.3.14 Conduct upland vegetation treatments to restore characteristic upland vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.

2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.

2.3.17 Apply or allow more fire in habitats/locations where fire was historically more frequent or intense.

The plan also lists channel downcutting as a high level threat to BCT, aquatic forested habitat, aquatic scrub/shrub habitat and riverine habitat with the following as potential conservation actions.

2.3.6 Restore aquatic habitat complexity.

2.3.8 Restore floodplain connectivity.

2.3.15 Conduct riparian vegetation treatments to restore characteristic riparian vegetation, and reduce uncharacteristic fuel types and loadings.

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Existing and Desired Conditions

The proposed project’s purpose and need derive from an analysis of existing and desired conditions. This section provides a description of the existing and desired conditions within the project area aimed at determining the gap, or need to change, between these conditions. The existing condition is the current status of the resource, while the desired condition is the condition that we wish to achieve. The gap is the difference between existing and desired conditions, and the Proposed Action defines how the gap can be closed.

The descriptions of the existing and desired condition for the vegetation resources are organized under the four criteria determined to be part of a properly functioning condition (PFC) (Amundson 1996, USDA 2000b, 2006). The four ecosystem characteristics discussed and compared throughout the analysis are vegetative structure, composition, disturbance regime, and patterns. PFC operates within the range of a natural range of variation (NRV) where extreme events are not desired. An ecosystem that is properly functioning is thought to be resilient to disturbances in structure, composition, and biological or physical processes (Forest Service Manual [FSM] 2020.5). Ecosystems at risk are those that may be degraded beyond the range of resiliency and sustainability. The ecosystem characteristics serve as the measure to compare the existing condition to the desired future conditions defined by the Forest Plan.

The channel geometry or shape is important for the proper functioning of streams in dissipating energy and being resilient to watershed disturbances. It also provides proper depths and shading capable of better supporting aquatic species by leading to cooler temperatures and more instream habitat. Fine sediment levels are important for proper functioning of the stream in sustaining aquatic biota. Suspended and deposited sediment can directly and indirectly impact aquatic organisms through clogging gills, smothering fish eggs and invertebrates, reducing water and oxygen flow through interstitial spaces (the space between sand grains), and reducing habitat (covering spawning gravels, reducing pool depth, etc.) (Waters 1995).

Riparian Areas

Existing Condition The riparian area includes approximately 122 acres within the project area. The elevation ranges from 7,990 to 9,200 ft.

The dominant overstory is blue spruce (Picea pungens) and cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) with a poorly developed mid-story of blue spruce. Understory composition is mainly juniper (Juniperus spp.) with scattered Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and cottonwood. Most of the commercial overstory was harvested during 1960 and 1970. The lower portions of the main stem of Horse Creek, Birch Creek, and Ranch Creek have much of the overstory being juniper or spruce with some older cottonwood and water birch (Betula occidentalis) trees. Ranch Creek also has a noticeable amount of aspen (Populus tremuloides). Willow (Salix spp.) is noticeably

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browsed, especially in Horse Creek, and there is a lack of young cottonwood and water birch. Under the juniper and spruce there is a lack of sedges and other riparian dependent species.

The lack of riparian understory is contributing to increased fine sediment delivery in some places in the stream. Pebble counts in Ranch Creek and Birch Creek have shown that 25-50% of the substrate consists of fine sediments less than 3 mm. Visual observations throughout portions of Horse Creek would indicate similar issues.

Level III Riparian Inventory sites are present at two locations on Ranch Creek and Birch Creek, as well as one location on Horse Creek. Level III sites are intensive field inventory designed specifically to answer a particular question. In this case the inventory was designed to specifically assess riparian vegetation condition and trend over time. With the exception of the Ranch Creek site within the exclosure downstream from FR 30234, none of the Level III inventory sites were meeting Forest Plan objectives for riparian vegetation at their last reading. Both sites on Birch Creek and the site on Horse Creek rated as mid-seral vegetation communities with anywhere from 14-39% of the woody species regeneration comprised of coniferous species and 8-22% Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) or Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). The vegetation community at the Ranch Creek site upstream from FR 30234 rated as very early seral at its last reading with more than 25% of the woody species regeneration measured being Rocky Mountain juniper. Visual observations along these streams show that conifers, particularly Rocky Mountain juniper, have grown into the historic floodplain on the first terrace as well as the active floodplain, completely underlying and growing into the canopies of legacy cottonwood galleries, as well as other riparian deciduous woody

Figure 1. Junipers and other coniferous species underlying and growing into the crowns of legacy cottonwoods and other deciduous riparian species on Horse Creek.

Figure 2. Junipers and other coniferous species underlying and growing into the crowns of legacy cottonwoods and other deciduous riparian species on Birch Creek.

Figure 3. Junipers and other coniferous species underlying and growing into the crowns of aspen and other deciduous riparian species on Ranch Creek.

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species in some cases (see Figures 1-3). The conifers are increasing fuel loading and ladder fuels that could contribute to crown and stand replacing fires within riparian areas. This type of fire behavior has been observed in areas with similar vegetation on Mount Dutton on the Powell Ranger District during the 2002 Sanford Fire and along Corn Creek and Birch Creek on the Escalante Ranger District during the 2008 Corn Creek Fire. Elevated fuel loads and ladder fuels from coniferous species succeeding into riparian areas and legacy cottonwood galleries resulted in stand replacing fires within riparian areas on the east side of Mount Dutton. Impacts to hydrology, sediment transport and stream bank stability from the upland and riparian fire impacts resulted in undesirable impacts to stream channel morphology and the complete extirpation of remnant BCT, MIS nonnative trout and other fish populations in those streams (Hepworth et al. 2003, Rodriguez 2012).

Visual observations and geomorphic surveys along a headwater portion of Ranch Creek stream show that the stream bank receives noticeable amounts of trampling and has an uncharacteristically high width to depth ratio resulting in poor fish habitat (see Figures 4-6). Repeated geomorphic surveys conducted since 2002 in a livestock exclosure further downstream on Ranch Creek have shown that the stream channel is capable of narrowing and deepening (which improves fish habitat) when excessive ungulate pressure is removed.

Additionally, there is a spring or groundwater dependent ecosystem (GDE), along Horse Creek that incurs excessive trampling from ungulates. Riparian plant vigor is likely negatively impacted as excessive utilization and trampling occurs here (see Figures 7-9). Additionally, fecal matter deposition on the GDE is negatively impacting water quality with excessive

Figure 4. Close up view of Ranch Creek stream channel showing the trampling of the stream bank during October.

Figure 5. Looking downstream on Ranch Creek stream channel showing the trampling of the stream bank during October.

Figure 6. Extended view of Ranch Creek stream channel showing the trampling of the stream bank during October.

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nutrient loading and fecal coliforms. This is a concern because the ecology of the GDE is affected by the quality of the water supporting the site. Changes in water quality can have detrimental effects on flora and fauna. For example, fecal matter and increased sediment from damaged vegetation increases nutrients which will increase aquatic vegetation growth and bacterial abundance while decreasing dissolved oxygen concentrations. Lowered dissolved oxygen concentrations can alter macroinvertebrate communities by replacing intolerant clean water taxa with taxa associated with impaired aquatic systems. This GDE is less than an acre in size and due to its proximity to the road and being in the bottom of the drainage, there is no effective way to keep cattle from damaging the wetland in a very short amount of time (USDA 2012).

Forest Service administrative road FR 34047 (which also doubles as OHV trail route number FR 30235) is in or near the bottom of the Birch Creek drainage for most of its distance. One section in particular, approximately 1,100 feet in length, is close to being undercut by the stream channel and there is no opportunity to redirect or prevent sediment and runoff from the road from entering the stream.

Desired Condition Desired conditions for riparian areas are for them to be healthy and viable, having mostly riparian dependent species that are healthy and vigorous. Riparian areas should be, at a minimum, meeting Forest Plan objectives for late seral vegetation communities, bank stability effective ground cover and trend. No more than 25% of stream substrate should be covered by inorganic sediment less than 3.2 mm in size.

Desired condition for BCT across the Forest is to maintain and improve the amount of existing occupied habitat for conservation populations, as well as maintaining recruitment and population size structure. Within the Southern Geographic Management Unit the desire is to maintain the representation of unique genetic lineages and to provide redundancy and resiliency for those lineages (Haak et al. 2011, Lentsch et al. 2000). Desired condition for MIS nonnative trout is to maintain standing crop greater than or equal to average when compared to other southern Utah trout streams.

Figure 7. Close up view of the Horse Creek GDE showing the hoof sheer and vegetative damage.

Figure 8. Extended view of the Horse Creek GDE showing the hoof sheer, vegetative damage, and fecal matter that is impacting the water quality.

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Desired condition for Birch Creek, which is management area 9A, is for the stream to have water quality that is improved or at least not impaired beyond the levels that existed in 1986. Stream channel stability is maintained or improved to the least minimally acceptable standards. Table w summarizes existing and desired conditions for riparian areas.

Table 2. Existing and desired conditions for riparian areas Existing Condition Desired Condition

Structure: Hardwood component (cottonwood and willow) is declining. Composition of juniper is increasing. Total canopy cover is 21% and all hardwood canopy cover percentage is 4%. Juniper composition is 226 trees per acre (TPA) and 30% of total stocking.

Structure: Amount and type of vegetation community types present that maintain riparian dependent resources and provide a high rate of recovery following disturbance.

Juniper less than 5% stocking.

Composition: Cottonwood composition is 61% with an average of 454 TPA.

Cottonwood regeneration is minimal. Species composition and distribution is trending toward conifer dominance.

Composition: A minimum hardwood composition of 75%.

The plant community type composition emphasizes hydrophytic vegetation.

Disturbance Regime: Fire regime condition class (FRCC) 1 of 2 to 3.

Cottonwood sp. are represented by older age classes with few seedling/saplings present. Abundance and distribution of regeneration indicates a lack of historic disturbance regimes. Competition from juniper is reducing grass/forb and shrub composition.

Disturbance Regime: Fire regime condition class of 1.

Minimal carryover of disturbance features into the following years. Although dynamic, plant communities and hydrologic functions persist or recover rapidly.

Patterns: Total percent vegetation cover over stream channel is less than 50%. Distribution of cottonwood, willow and shrub spp. is discontinuous along stream.

Patterns: Total percent vegetation cover over stream channel is over 50%. Plant community type composition and accompanying riparian ecosystem functions maintain proper ground water recharge, storage, delivery, water tables, channel morphology and bank stability.

Fine Sediments: Substrate covered by fine sediment less than 3mm is estimated to be between 23-50%.

Fine Sediments: Substrate covered by fine sediment less than 3mm should be less than 20%.

Sediment and Water Delivery to Stream from Roads and Trails: The Birch Creek ATV) trail (FR 304047) is hydrologically connected to Birch Creek at more than 10

Sediment and Water Delivery to Stream from Roads and Trails: The number of roads and

1 The Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) Standard Landscape Worksheet Method and Mapping Method provide tools for fire, vegetation, and fuels assessment and management at both the landscape and stand levels. These methods are used to describe general landscape fire regime and vegetation-fuel characteristics. Estimates of these characteristics are calculated for comparison with estimates of natural fire regime reference values and reference condition vegetation-fuel characteristics to index fire regime condition class (a classification of the amount current conditions have departed from those of historical reference conditions) Barrett, S., Havlina, D., Jones, J., Hann, W., Frame, C., Hamilton, D., Schon, K., Demeo, T., Hutter, L., and Menakis, J. 2010. Interagency fire regime condition class guidebook. https://www.frames.gov/partner-sites/frcc/frcc-guidebook-and-forms/

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locations. Approximately 1,100 ft. of FR 304047 is close to being undercut by the stream.

FR 30135 is hydrologically connected to Horse Creek at more than 5 locations.

Sediment and overland flow is being routed to the stream at both of these locations.

motorized trails that are hydrologically connected to the stream is minimal, preferably zero.

Stream Crossings: The Birch Creek ATV trail (FR 304047) have locations where streams are crossed and due to the crossings not being functional users have created additional crossings.

Stream Crossings: Stream crossings that are functional, single, and have minimal impacts to the channel and minimal amounts of sediment contribution.

Stream Channel Geometry: The headwaters of Ranch Creek near the confluence with the two southernmost tributaries are heavily trampled and browsed to the point where the stream channel is undefined in the lowest gradient portion. Only ~10% of this stream channel is meeting desired condition.

Stream Channel Geometry: A stream channel that has healthy vigorous riparian species and has a well- defined channel with a width/depth ratio appropriate for an E channel type. Desired value is 100%.

Improved fish habitat capability and enhanced status of Bonneville cutthroat trout in Ranch Creek through creating a stream channel that has healthy vigorous riparian species and has a well-defined channel with a width/depth ratio appropriate for an E channel type.

Aquatic Organism Passage: FS Road 30135 has a culvert that appears to be an impediment to fish passage approximately 0.13 miles to the northwest of the FR30135/FR31453.

Stream miles accessible to aquatic organisms is 3.6

Aquatic Organism Passage: Habitat connectivity for aquatic organisms.

Stream miles accessible to aquatic organisms is 4.4.

Shrublands

Existing condition

The shrublands cover approximately 1065 acres of the project area. Shrublands are areas where the predominant vegetation includes shrubs, forbs and grasses with a minimal representation of conifer species. The shrublands cover type occurs within an ecotone extending from the edges of riparian corridors upland and adjacent to pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine stands. The shrublands complex is a mosaic of mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula), black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) and herbaceous plant communities. Co-dominant shrubs may include antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.) and Green ephedra (Ephedra viridis var. viridis). Dominant grasses include introduced crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), and natives such as Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum), needlegrasses (Stipa spp.) and bluegrasses (Poa spp.). Juniper spp. are the dominant conifer at lower elevations. Shrublands occurring at higher elevations may contain scattered juniper spp. (Juniperus osteosperma and Juniperus scopulorum) in association with pinyon pine or ponderosa pine were favorable microsites exist. Table 3 shows the shrublands species composition in the project area.

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Table 3. Species Composition of Shrublands in Project Area

Shrubland Component Species

Percent Cover

(Per Acre Basis)

Tall Shrub Mountain Big Sagebrush 11 Green Ephedra

Rabbitbrush Medium Shrub Bitterbrush

12 Black Sagebrush Mountain Snowberry Short Shrub Low Sagebrush 18

Conifer Juniper spp. 4

Grass Crested Wheatgrass

4 Idaho Fescue Bluebunch Wheatgrass Needlegrass Forb Milkvetch 5 Opuntia spp.

Litter Layer 9

Bare Ground 37

Total 100

Currently, juniper spp., pinyon pine and ponderosa pine occur within the shrubland community. Conifer density in terms of trees per acre varies with elevation. At the lowest elevation point within the project area, juniper spp. dominates as the primary conifer species. Juniper density in association with other conifers increases as elevation increases.

Historical disturbance regimes affecting the shrubland community are stand replacing firs with a mean fire interval of 30-50 years. Mixed severity disturbances result from insect and disease outbreaks and drought cycles. The severity of disturbance regimes is influenced by a host of factors including: the density of the vegetative communities, distribution or percentage of area covered by vegetation, age class distribution of vegetative groups, time since the last disturbance, as well as cultural practices and topographic and climatic factors. The typical disturbance of wildland fire tends to reduce the composition of conifers within the shrubland community and promote the development of grasses ad forbs. Mixed severity fires promote the creation of different age classes within the shrubland community. Fire adapted shrub species such as sage and bitterbrush typically exhibit variable age classes representing the occurrence of disturbance events. The current density of juniper spp. is an indication of the lack of disturbance along with a lack of age classes of shrub species.

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Juniper spp. density is represented by a few scattered mature trees and many seedlings and saplings distributed across the shrubland community. The presence of seedlings and saplings indicate a lack of disturbance and an encroachment of juniper. Without disturbances, conifers will continue to encroach in the shrublands increasing the fuel loading and changing the composition of the vegetation to one that is more likely to support stand replacing fires instead of mixed severity fires. Stand replacing fires tend to be larger in scale and more likely to have higher severity which often results in damages to soils, aquatic and wildlife habitat, range forage, and watershed function. These large scale and high severity fires also create areas in which invasive species such as cheatgrass can spread more rapidly. Monitoring of the shrublands show that conifer encroachment currently represents 4 percent of the shrubland community. Without a disturbance regime of any scale or magnitude the percentage of area occupied by juniper spp. will continue to increase.

Desired Condition

Shrubland areas are healthy and viable, having a variety of age classes of grasses and shrubs that are healthy and vigorous. Native late seral species should dominate the herbaceous layer. Conifer encroachment is less than 10% of the total vegetative cover. Young conifers on the edges of the shrublands that act as ladder fuels are reduced limiting the potential for a fire burning in the shrublands to transition to the crowns of nearby stands of trees. The brush and grasses in the shrublands have a variety of age classes which break up the continuity of mature brush stands that readily carry fire. Table 4 summarizes existing and desired conditions for shrublands.

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Table 4. Existing and desired condition for shrublands Existing Condition of Shrublands Desired Condition of Shrublands

Structure:

Sagebrush/grassland Complex: Existing proportions of structural stages.

• 13% of the area with 0-10% shrub cover • 40% of the area with 11-30% shrub cover • 47% of the area with 31-50% shrub cover

Bare soil averages 37%

Structure:

Sagebrush/grassland Complex: The landscape proportions of structural stages, described in terms of shrub canopy, should be within the following ranges:

• 20-40% of the area with 0-10% shrub canopy • 35-55% of the area with 11-30% shrub canopy • 15-35% of the area with 31-50% shrub canopy

Bare soil should average less than 20%.

Composition: Native, late seral sagebrush dominates the shrub canopy layer with a lack of younger age classes present. Grass species are distributed mainly in openings with little representation within shrub communities. Conifer species are reproducing and expanding across the shrublands. Invasive species are minimally represented across the area.

Composition: Native, late-seral species should dominate the herbaceous layer. Invasive plants should be less than 10 percent of relative frequency.

A mosaic of age classes should be present.

Disturbance Regime: Evidence of recent fire history or insect and disease outbreaks not observed. The primary disturbance regime is cultural practices consisting of mowing and excavation for the development of irrigation projects.

A fire return condition class (FRCC) of 2 to 3.

Disturbance Regime: Lethal fire regime on an approximately 20 to 40 year return interval.

A fire return condition class (FRCC) of 1.

Patterns: Conifers of various ages encroaching on the shrublands. Sagebrush communities are becoming homogeneous with little variation of age classes.

Patterns- Conifers should be absent or limited by periodic fire to a few scattered seedlings. Vegetation patterns are usually patchy with several age classes represented in a given area.

*Referenced from (Hood and Miller 2007, Stebleton and Bunting 2009, USDA 2000b, 2006, 2009).

Woodlands

The pinyon-juniper forest cover types within the project area are diverse in age class distribution and species composition. Romme and colleagues defined three general kinds of pinyon-juniper vegetation based primarily on canopy structure, understory characteristics, and historical disturbance regimes. The three types of woodlands include: persistent pinyon-juniper woodlands, pinyon-juniper savannas, and wooded shrublands (Romme 2009). Dominant species within woodlands consist of Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) and pinyon pine (Pinus edulis). There are different plant associations relative to each woodland type. Persistent pinyon-juniper woodlands are characterized as occurring on poor sites with shallow rocky soils and having variable overstory densities. The understory is generally sparse and consists of low densities of shrubs, grasses, and forbs. The disturbance regime is infrequent and generally stand replacing. Pinyon-juniper savannas are characterized as

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occurring on moderately productive sites capable of supporting grass cover. Pinyon-juniper overstory components within the savanna structure are typically low density with trees distributed singly or in small groups. Savanna understory composition is dominated by grasses with scattered shrub species. Disturbance regime for the pinyon-juniper savanna structure is typically infrequent and generally stand replacing. Wooded shrublands occur on moderate to moderately-high sites which favor the development of shrub species. Overstory density is variable ranging from low to high density depending on site conditions and disturbance frequency. On more mesic sites, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and aspen (Populus tremuloides) may be present as a minor overstory species component. Understory species composition within the wooded shrublands is dominated by shrub species such as sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), cliffrose (Purshia stansburiana) and Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii). Disturbance regimes for the wooded shrublands tends to be mixed severity occurring at a mean return interval of 50-70 years. Disturbance events are typically fire but also include insect and disease agents, episodic drought, and cultural practices.

Existing Condition

The pinyon-juniper forest cover type includes approximately 2254 acres of the project area. Elevation ranges from 7,800 to 8,800 ft. The most common pinyon-juniper forest cover type occurs as wooded shrublands. Persistent pinyon-juniper woodlands occur along steep, rocky outcrops. The stand structure of the wooded shrublands is predominantly even-aged with scattered uneven-aged pockets. The dominant overstory is juniper with a developed mid-story of pinyon and juniper. The understory composition is developed and dominated by juniper in association with shrub species consisting of mountain mahogany, cliffrose, and Gambel oak. Approximately 5% the woodland cover type was chained during the 1960 and 1970 entries. Stand maintenance occurred in late 2000s.

Desired Condition

Desired conditions in the pinyon-juniper forest cover type are a variety of age classes throughout the stands. A grass shrub understory is present in some of the younger age classes. The stand is resilient when disturbed by fire and is not conducive to large scale fire spread. Table 5 summarizes existing and desired conditions for woodlands.

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Table 5. Existing and desired conditions for woodlands* Existing Condition of Woodlands Desired Condition of Woodlands

Structure: Existing Overstory

• Grass/forb: ~0% • Seedling/sapling: ~33% • Young forest: ~33% • Mid aged forest: ~33% • Mature forest: ~0% • Old forest: ~ 0%

Juniper cover percent exceeds 50%.

Structure: Balanced Overstory Range:

• Grass/forb: ~10% • Seedling/sapling: ~10% • Young forest: ~20% • Mid aged forest: ~20% • Mature forest: ~20% • Old forest: ~20%

Not more than 25% of stands composition in juniper species.

Composition: VSS2 Class 1 is less than 10%. Composition: Shrub, forb and grass composition make up 20% or more of total vegetation.

Disturbance Regime: Endemic insect and disease populations. Juniper regeneration is expanding into adjacent grassland/shrubland areas.

FRCC is 2 trending toward 3.

Disturbance Regime: Endemic insect and disease populations. Fires burning every 10 to 30 years prevent pinyon-juniper stands from spreading into neighboring grasslands/shrublands. Fire regime is mixed severity. FRCC 1.

Patterns: Current understory development is trending toward late seral stage. Species composition is trending toward climax with juniper dominant. Percent canopy openings is less than 20%.

Patterns: Patterns are within historical ranges. (Pattern sizes, shapes and corridors are maintaining processes.) Periodic fires created uneven-aged stands composed of various even-aged groups.

Old Growth PJ: Horse Cr. Old Growth PJ – 7% , Birch Cr. Old Growth 16% and Ranch Cr. Old Growth PJ 23%.

Old Growth PJ: 7-10 percent of each drainage managed for old growth retention.

Fuels and Fire Danger: Pinyon-juniper stands that are largely made up of mature trees with little variation in age classes. Continuous crown distribution

Fuel loading: 10-12 tons/ac.

Fuels and Fire Danger: A mosaic of age classes and crown distribution in the pinyon-juniper stands.

Fuel loading: 5-7 tons/ac.

*Referenced from (Hood and Miller 2007, Stebleton and Bunting 2009, USDA 2000b, 2006, 2009).

Ponderosa Pine, Mixed Conifer, Aspen, and Spruce Fir

Forested vegetation covers the middle and higher elevation portion of the Ranch Creek project area. At middle elevations are stands of ponderosa pine. Higher elevation stands are a mixed conifer complex including Douglas-fir, blue spruce, white fir (Abies concolor), and aspen. The 2 Vegetation structural stage (VSS) is a method of describing the growth stages of a stand of living trees. It is based on tree size (DBH) and total canopy cover. Overall, the VSS is dependent on the time it takes seedlings to become established and subsequent growth rates. Life expectancy of trees determines how long the oldest VSS can be. There are six VSS classes defined by Reynolds et al.1992: grass-forbs/seedlings (class 1) – Few trees greater than 1 inch DBH present. seedling/sapling (class 2) – Saplings, 1inch up to less than 5 inches in DBH, young forest (class 3) – Trees 5 inches DBH up to less than 12 inches DBH. mid-aged forest (class 4) – Trees 12 inches DBH up to less than 18 inches DBH, mature-forest (class 5) – Trees 18 inches DBH up to less than 24 inches DBH, old-forest (class 6) – Trees 24 inches DBH and greater

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desired representation of size classes within the forest cover types in the project area is outlined in the Northern Goshawk Forest Plan Amendment (USDA 2000c) which describes studies by Reynolds et al. (1992) as a standard for the Dixie National Forest. Reynolds recommends a distribution of 10 percent grass-forb/shrub (DBH 0-1”), 10 percent seedling-sapling (DBH 1-5”), 20 percent young forest (DBH 5-12”), 20 percent mid-aged forest (DBH 12-18”), 20 percent mature forest (DBH 18-24”), and 20 percent old forest (DBH 24” +). This is displayed as 10-10-20-20-20-20 where each percentage equates to a vegetation structural stage (VSS) of 1 through 6.

Existing Condition

The ponderosa pine cover type includes approximately 3903 acres within the project area. Elevation ranges from 8,000 to 8,600 ft. The dominant overstory is ponderosa pine with a developed mid-story of aspen and Douglas fir. The seral aspen component is in decline. The understory composition is poorly developed and dominated by juniper spp. Stand structure is predominantly even-aged with scattered uneven-aged pockets. Even-aged stands are VSS 3 and uneven-aged stands are VSS 4. Most of the ponderosa pine timber type was harvested during the 1960 and 1970 entries. The previous stand entries created a predominance of even-aged stand structures.

The mixed conifer cover type includes approximately 2553 acres within the project area. Elevation ranges from 8,200 to 9,200 ft. The stand structure is predominantly even-aged with scattered uneven-aged pockets. Even-aged stands are VSS 3 and uneven-aged stands are VSS 4. The dominant overstory is Douglas fir and blue spruce with a developed mid-story of Douglas fir, white fir and aspen. The aspen component is in decline. The understory composition is developed and dominated by white fir, blue spruce and juniper spp. Approximately 60% of the mixed conifer timber type was harvested during the 1960 and 1970 entries. Previous stand entries created a predominance of even-aged stand structures.

The aspen cover type includes approximately 2294 acres within the project area. Elevation ranges from 9,200 to 10,200 ft. The stand structure is predominantly even-aged. Even-aged stands are VSS 3 (53%) and VSS 4 (47%). The dominant overstory is aspen with a developed understory consisting of alpine fir, juniper, and ponderosa pine. Both climax and seral aspen stands are in decline. The understory aspen composition is poorly developed and dominated by juniper spp.

The spruce fir cover type includes approximately 1208 acres within the project area. Elevation ranges from 9,600 to 10,200 ft. The stand structure is predominantly even-aged with scattered uneven-aged pockets (11%). Predominant stand structure is even-aged and VSS 4. Uneven-aged stands are predominantly VSS 4. The dominant overstory is Engelmann spruce and alpine fir with a developed mid-story of alpine fir and Engelmann spruce. The seral aspen component is in decline. The understory composition is developed and dominated by alpine fir. Approximately 10% the spruce/fir timber type was harvested during the 1960 and 1970 entries. The previous stand entries promoted diversity of age classes and uneven-aged stand structure.

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Desired Condition

The desired condition for forest stands as well as habitat condition is evaluated by the vegetative structural stage (VSS) in which the forest stand or habitat is currently expressed. The VSS categorizes the forest successional stage, canopy cover percentage, and the number of canopy layers for each area of analysis. The habitat quality of the northern goshawk is typically evaluated using VSS analysis. Within the proposed treatment area, VSS is currently below the target values defined in the Forest Plan. Table 6 summarizes the existing and desired conditions for forest cover types.

Table 6. Existing and desired condition for forests Existing Conditions of Forests Desired Condition of Forests

Structure

Ponderosa Pine:

• Grass/forb: ~0% • Seedling/sapling: ~0% • Young forest: ~30% • Mid aged forest: ~30% • Mature forest: ~40% • Old forest: ~ 0%

Ponderosa pine canopy structure is 90% even-aged. Stand Density Index3 (SDI) ranges from 52-344. Basal Area (BA) ranges from 34-217 sq. ft./acre.

Mixed Conifer:

• Grass/forb: ~1% • Seedling/sapling: ~5% • Young forest: ~31% • Mid aged forest: ~44% • Mature forest: ~15% • Old forest: ~ 4%

Canopy structure 50% even-aged. SDI ranges from 35-399. BA ranges from 20-242 sq. ft./acre.

Structure

Ponderosa Pine: Balanced Range:

• Grass/forb: ~10% • Seedling/sapling: ~10% • Young forest: ~20% • Mid aged forest: ~20% • Mature forest: ~20% • Old forest: ~20%

75% of multiple canopy structure is ponderosa pine. Stand Density Index (SDI) not greater than 216 and Basal Area less than 120 sq. ft./acre.

Mixed Conifer: Balanced Range:

• Grass/forb: ~10% • Seedling/sapling: ~10% • Young forest: ~20% • Mid aged forest: ~20% • Mature forest: ~20% • Old forest: ~20%

Not more than 50% of stands have multiple canopies. SDI not greater than 300 and BA less than 160 sq. ft./acre.

3 Stand density index (SDI) – An index value based on the relationship between number of trees per acre and their average diameter Reineke, L. H. 1933. Perfecting a stand-density index for even-aged forests. 46:627-638 p.. It is premised on the characteristic distribution of tree sizes in even-aged stands. The index is the number of trees per acre at an average stand diameter of 10 inches diameter breast height (DBH). The index is not influenced by age and site quality. Although SDI and the maximum size-density relationship were originally described for pure, even-aged stands, Long and Daniel (1990) have proposed extension of its utility to uneven-aged and multi-aged situations. The maximum SDI varies for each tree species and is measured at a given reference diameter Long, J. N. D., T.W. 1990. Assessment of growing stock in uneven-aged stands. 93-96 p.. At 25 percent of maximum SDI, trees begin competing with each other and begin to out-compete understory vegetation. At 35 percent of maximum SDI, trees fully occupy the site. At higher densities, competition between trees either results in reduced growth and vigor on individual trees or may result in competitive stress and tree mortality Long, J. N. 1985. A practical approach to density management. 61:23-27 p.

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Aspen:

• Grass/forb: ~0% • Seedling/sapling: ~0% • Young forest: ~53% • Mid aged forest: ~47% • Mature forest: ~0% • Old forest: ~ 0%

Aspen canopy structure 100% even-aged. SDI ranges from 84-488. BA ranges from 34-266 sq. ft./acre.

Spruce Fir:

• Grass/forb: ~0% • Seedling/sapling: ~10% • Young forest: ~27% • Mid aged forest: ~44% • Mature forest: ~19% • Old forest: ~ 0%

Spruce / fir canopy structure 89% even-aged. SDI ranges from 71-557. BA ranges from 32-265 sq. ft./acre.

Aspen: Balanced Range:

• Grass/forb: ~20% • Seedling/sapling: ~20% • Young forest: ~10% • Mid aged forest: ~10% • Mature forest: ~10% • Old forest: ~30%

SDI not greater than 300 and BA less than 140 sq. ft/acre.

Spruce Fir: Balanced Range:

• Grass/forb: ~10% • Seedling/sapling: ~10% • Young forest: ~20% • Mid aged forest: ~20% • Mature forest: ~20% • Old forest: ~20%

40% of stands have multiple canopies. SDI not greater than 335 an BA less than 150 sq. ft./acre.

Composition

Ponderosa Pine: Canopy cover ranges from 30%-60%

Mixed Conifer: Canopy cover ranges from 5%-25%, average 17%

Aspen: Conifer composition approximately 59%

Spruce Fir: Canopy cover ranges from 25%-75%

Composition

Ponderosa Pine: More than 75% canopy cover is ponderosa pine.

Mixed Conifer: White fir composition is less than 25% of stand stocking.

Aspen: Mature and old forest less than 150 years old. Conifer composition not more than 15% cover at stand level. Shrub and herbaceous layers well developed. Ground cover at least 85%.

Spruce Fir: Engelmann spruce exceeds 40% of stand composition.

Disturbance Regime

Ponderosa Pine: PP mistletoe is endemic. Mortality is minimal. Fuel loading 1-6 tons/ac. FRCC 2.

Mixed Conifer: DF mistletoe is widespread and affecting more than 10 TPA in groups > 10 Mortality is increasing in DF, average 8 TPA. Fuel loading 5-100 tons/ac. FRCC 2-3.

Disturbance Regime

Ponderosa Pine: Endemic insect and disease populations. Pockets of mortality do not exceed 5 trees/acre. Mortality groups of <10 trees. <1% of trees with black stain, <10% with root disease, <20% with dwarf mistletoe or stem rust. Fire regime is non-lethal type with a fire return interval of 5 to 25 years. FRCC of 1.

Mixed Conifer: Endemic insect and disease populations affecting 10% or less of host type. Defoliation affecting not more than 50% of crowns. Pockets of mortality do not exceed 5 trees/acre and distribution of occurrence at no more than 10 trees per group. Fire regime is mixed severity with a fire return

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Aspen: Mortality is increasing as mature seral aspen clones are overtopped by conifer. Climax aspen stands are declining due to age and stand competition. Fuel loading 4-46 tons/ac. FRCC 2.

Spruce Fir: Endemic insect and disease levels. Seral aspen component is declining due to succession. Fuel loading 4 - 46 tons/ac. FRCC 2-3.

interval of 10 to 40 on dry sites and 30-60 years for mesic sites. FRCC of 1.

Aspen: Endemic insect and disease populations. Less than 30% topkill and branch mortality in mature and old age classes. Fire regime is mixed severity with a fire return interval of 20 to 50 years. FRCC of 1.

Spruce Fir: Endemic insect and disease populations affecting. Defoliation affecting not more than 50% of crowns. Mortality do not exceed 5 trees/acre and less than 5% of aces in root disease centers. Fire regime is either mixed severity with a fire return interval of 50 to 80 or lethal regime with a fire return interval of 100 – 300 years. FRCC of 1.

Patterns

Ponderosa Pine: Current understory development is trending toward mid and late seral stages. Species composition is trending toward climax with juniper encroachment. Distribution of AS clones are declining due to succession.

Total percent PP old growth 2%. Total old growth percentage within Ranch Creek-Sevier River 40%, Sweetwater Creek 17%.

Mixed Conifer: Current understory development is trending toward mid and late seral stages. Species composition is trending toward climax with juniper encroachment. AS clones are in decline due to succession.

Total percent DF old growth 4%. Total old growth percentage within Ranch Creek-Sevier River 40%, Sweetwater Creek 17%.

Aspen: Current understory development is trending toward mid and late seral stages. Species composition is trending toward climax with conifer encroachment. Distribution of AS clones are declining due to succession.

Spruce Fir: Current understory development is trending toward late seral stages with AF dominant and seral aspen declining due to succession.

Total percent SF old growth 2%. Total old growth percentage within Ranch Creek-Sevier River 40%, Sweetwater Creek 17%.

Patterns

Ponderosa Pine: Patterns are within historical ranges. (Pattern sizes, shapes and corridors are maintaining processes.) Periodic fires created uneven-aged stands composed of various even-aged groups.

7-10 percent of each drainage managed for old growth retention.

Mixed Conifer: Patterns are within historical ranges. (Pattern sizes, shapes and corridors are maintaining processes.) Periodic fires created uneven-aged stands composed of various even-aged groups.

7-10 percent of each drainage managed for old growth retention.

Aspen: Patterns are within historical ranges. (Pattern sizes, shapes and corridors are maintaining processes.) The role of fire is to influence the distribution of structural classes stages across the landscape.

No old growth retention target for aspen stands.

Spruce Fir: Patterns are within historical ranges. (Pattern sizes, shapes and corridors are maintaining processes.) Role of historic disturbance regimes is to maintain heterogeneous pattern of species, structure classes.

7-10 percent of each drainage managed for old growth retention

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Fuels and Crown Fire Potential

Ponderosa Pine: Ponderosa stands with a dead and down fuel loading of 8-14 tons/acre. Some Ponderosa trees with canopy base height that extends onto the bottom 1/3 of the tree. Tall understory growth of invading conifers, and manzanita.

Mixed conifer: Dead and Down Fuel Loading in Mixed Conifer 50-55 tons per acre average.

Aspen: Aspen stands with greater than 10% conifer in the stand. Dead and down fuel loading at greater than 15 tons per acre.

Fuels and Crown Fire Potential

Ponderosa Pine: Dead and down fuel loading of and average of 5 tons/acre in the Ponderosa Pine stands. Canopy base height higher than the bottom 1/3rd of the tree in ponderosa pine.

Mixed conifer: 15-20 tons / acre of dead and down fuel loading in mixed conifer stand as measured within 1 year post burn.

Aspen: Less than 10% Conifer in Aspen stands. Dead and down fuel loading 3 tons/acre. Increase in stems per acre of aspen shoots post-treatment.

Old Growth

Ponderosa Pine: Total percent PP old growth 2%. Total old growth percentage within Ranch Creek-Sevier River 40%, Sweetwater Creek 17%.

Mixed Conifer: Total percent DF old growth 4%. Total old growth percentage within Ranch Creek-Sevier River 40%, Sweetwater Creek 17%.

Aspen: N/A

Spruce/Fir: Total percent SF old growth 2%. Total old growth percentage within Ranch Creek-Sevier River 40%, Sweetwater Creek 17%.

Old Growth

Ponderosa Pine: 7-10 percent of each drainage managed for old growth retention.

Mixed Conifer: 7-10 percent of each drainage managed for old growth retention.

Aspen: No old growth retention target for aspen stands.

Spruce/Fir: 7-10 percent of each drainage managed for old growth retention

Referenced from (USDA 2000b, 2006, 2009).

Northern Goshawk Home Range

Northern goshawk nesting home ranges consist of three components: a nest area, a post-fledgling area (PFA), and a foraging area (Reynolds et al. 1992). The home range averages about 6,000 acres and should consist of forested stands in a wide range of all structure and age classes to meet shelter and foraging needs for both the goshawk and its prey species. Within the Ranch Creek project area there are portions of three northern goshawk home ranges: Horse Lake, Hurricane Hollow, and Ranch Creek. Table 7 describes the desired condition of the distribution of Vegetation Structural Stages (VSS) across the project area.

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Table 7: Current VSS Distribution by Northern Goshawk Home Range

*dbh = diameter at breast height (breast height = 4.5 feet)

Wildland Urban Interface

The Dixie National Forest identifies Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) as; the area adjacent to an at-risk value (structure, community, critical infrastructure or municipal watershed) where wildland fuels and human development exist, creating a fire environment that poses a threat to life safety and/or property damage. The private land inholding within the Ranch Creek project are is determined to be WUI because there are several cabins and outbuildings at risk to fire.

Existing Condition

The existing condition in the ponderosa pine stands adjacent to private lands is over desired values for dead and down fuel loading. Additionally, a low canopy base height and understory component composed of ladder fuels could lead to crown fire or independent torching during a wildfire.

Pinyon-juniper stands surrounding the private land in the project area are mature with little understory. The exceptions to this are areas near natural openings and shrublands. Canopy spacing in some areas is tight enough to support large scale crown fire growth.

Conifers have encroached into the shrublands near private lands. Some areas of shrublands contain overly mature, fire prone brush that would support large fire growth.

Desired Condition

Lands and vegetation surrounding private land and structures would not support large scale, resource damaging wildfire. Forest Service land adjacent to private lands would not sustain rapid fire growth or large crown runs. The vegetation has a variety of age classes in a mosaic and limited amount of ladder fuels which would impede fire growth and decrease the likelihood of a fire transitioning to a crown fire. All stands around private land would limit rapid fire growth and

Home Range Vegetative Structural Stage (VSS), percent of Total Forested Acres 1 2 3 4 5 6

Grass/Forb/ Seedlings > 1.0”dbh*

Saplings 1.0”-.99” dbh

Young Forest 5”-11.9” dbh

Mid-Aged Forest 12”-17.9” dbh

Mature Forest 18”- 23.9” dbh

Old Forest 24” + dbh

Desired Condition 10 10 20 20 20 20

Horse Lake 0 10 27 44 19 0

Hurricane Hollow 0 0 17 67 17 0

Ranch Creek 3 32 60 5 0 0

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impede a fire crossing the boundary from Forest Service land onto private land or vice versa. Table 8 summarizes the existing and desired conditions for the wildland urban interface.

Table 8. Existing and desired conditions for the wildland urban interface Existing Condition of WUI Desired Condition of WUI

Fuel Loading: Fuel loading in the ponderosa pine stands average 8-14 tons/acre.

Fuel Loading: Fuel loading in the ponderosa pine stands averages 5 tons/acre.

Canopy Base Height: Canopy base height extends onto the bottom 1/3 of the tree in sections of ponderosa pine stands. Tall understory growth of invading conifers and manzanita.

Canopy Base Height: Canopy base height higher than the bottom 1/3rd of the tree in ponderosa pine stands.

Composition: Pinyon-juniper stands are largely made up of mature trees with little variation in age classes.

Some areas of mature brush with little variety in age. Conifer encroachment is evidenced by multiple age classes of conifers distributed throughout the WUI.

Composition: Pinyon-juniper stands consist of a mosaic of age classes.

A mosaic of age classes in the shrublands and less than 10% conifer component.

Disturbance Regime: FRCC 2 to 3 Disturbance Regime: FRCC 1

Trail System

Existing Condition Portions of the non-motorized Great Western Trail follow FR 140, administrative roads FR 31453, 31451 and 31451A. Off highway vehicle intrusions are common on portions of this non-motorized trail which is not designated as shared use.

Desired Condition Non-motorized trail tread should be 18- 24” wide. Motorized and non-motorized routes should be separated.

Water Availability

Existing Condition There is a good habitat area within the Horse Creek drainage for wild turkey nesting and brood rearing, but that specific area lacks an adequate water source.

Desired Condition The desired condition for water availability is to continue to improve wildlife habitat capability through direct treatment of water distribution (USDA 1986: IV-35).

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PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION

The purpose of this project is to maintain and improve riparian areas and stream and watershed function, as well as to benefit Bonneville cutthroat trout and other wildlife species. This purpose translates into the following specific needs:

• There is a need to increase the proportion and health of riparian dependent species in the riparian zone along Horse Creek, Birch Creek, and Ranch Creek. Improving the density and diversity of riparian hydric species will help achieve rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration characteristics to those under which the communities developed. In addition, conifers, especially juniper trees, often outcompete grasses and forbs in upland settings (Bates et al. 2011, Ross et al. 2012, Roundy and Vernon 1999). The allelopathic nature of juniper can also reduce ground cover which can lead to elevated erosion of soils from juniper uplands (Cline et al. 2010, Petersen and Stringham 2008, Pierson et al. 2007, Pierson et al. 2010, Roundy and Vernon 1999). It is reasonable to assume that upland conifers encroaching on riparian areas such as those found within the project area are causing reductions in riparian vegetation density and diversity similar to those seen in upland settings. Increased rates of erosion are likely to follow any loss of stabilizing ground cover within the riparian areas and meadows.

• There is a need to reduce the amount of sediment being introduced into Horse Creek, Birch Creek and Ranch Creek. Decreasing trampling and damage to the riparian plant communities, improving channel habitat, and decreasing bank erosion will improve water quality and maintain and enhance riparian vegetation and the status of BCT.

a) In order improve water quality and channel stability there is a need to relocate approximately 1,100 ft. of FR 34047/FR 30235 and provide proper drainage.

b) There is a need to improve water quality and channel stability by reducing the hydrologic impacts of FR 34047 on Birch Creek and FR 30135 on Horse Creek.

c) There is a need to improve water quality and riparian vegetation health within the Horse Creek GDE and the Ranch Creek headwaters meadow.

• There is a need to improve habitat for and increase stream miles accessible to native aquatic organisms.

• There is a need to restore and enhance ecosystem health while promoting the overall sustainability and diversity of vegetative systems and hydrologic functioning of the watershed.

• There is a need to restore forest stand resiliency and resistance to insects and disease by reducing competition-induced mortality.

• There is a need to improve and maintain desirable forested conditions such as stand structure, stand structural stage, species composition, and VSS class distribution for northern goshawk habitat.

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• There is a need to reduce the risk of uncharacteristically severe and stand replacing wildfires by reducing fuel loading, raising canopy base height, reducing ladder fuels, and opening canopy.

a) There is a need to decrease the probability of crown fires and reduce surface fire intensity to improve fire management effectiveness and firefighter safety.

• There is a need to separate non-motorized trail users from motorized vehicles especially in an areas where sharp switchbacks limit visibility.

• There is a need to improve habitat and disperse wildlife by providing an adequate water source in the Horse Creek drainage.

PROPOSED ACTION The action proposed by the Forest Service to meet the purpose and need is as follows:

Action 1: Treat riparian areas to promote riparian dependent vegetation species (see Figure 11).

• Remove Rocky Mountain juniper within 122 acres surrounding Birch Creek, Horse Creek and Ranch Creek. Within the current riparian influence zones trees will be hand thinned. Riparian influence zones will include the area from the edges of the active stream channel to whichever of the following widths is most appropriate:

• To the top of the inner gorge; • To the outer edges of the riparian vegetation; • To a 100 feet slope distance (200 feet, including both sides of the stream

channel). • Trees thinned within the riparian influence zone will be pile and burned, chipped,

lopped or scattered.

Action 2: Relocate portion of Birch Creek ATV trail away from stream (see Figure 12).

• Relocate approximately 1,100 feet of FR 34047/FR 30235 upslope away from the stream by approximately 100 feet. The old section of road bed will be decommissioned by ripping, re-contouring, erosion control matting, and the addition of course woody debris.

Action 3: Fence the Horse Creek GDE and upper Ranch Creek meadow with ungulate proof fencing (see Figure 12).

• At the Horse Creek GDE build an exclosure capable of restricting ungulates. The exclosure fence will be built out of either post and wire or wood logs brought on site and will be approximately 700 feet in length and encompass approximately 0.77 acres

• At the Ranch Creek headwater meadow and stream build an exclosure capable of restricting domestic ungulates, and if monitoring shows a lack of channel dimensions improvement, wild ungulates as well. The exclosure fence will be built out of log materials gathered or cut on site and will be approximately 2290 feet in length and encompass approximately 3.4 acres.

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Action 4: Install grade control structures at the downstream end of the lower section of Horse Creek to raise streambed elevation, and use heavy equipment to establish a wide floodplain (~30 feet wide on each side of the stream) accessible by floods with a recurrence interval of ~1.5 years. Slope back banks between the stream channel and abandoned terrace so that the slope is less than 45 degrees. Fill from the channel widening and bank sloping could be used as fill for an erosion feature found within the drainage where some water conveyance practices from an adjacent landowner have led to a gully that transverses across an inactive alluvial fan. The channel length to be reconstructed is approximately 1.0 miles and the erosion feature to be filled is approximately 0.3 miles (see Figure 12).

Action 5: Treat the shrubland community to remove encroaching conifers and improve structure of brush (see Figure 11).

• Remove up to 90% of pinyon and juniper, as well as all other conifer species less than 9 DBH. This would total 1065 acres of shrubland improvement. In areas less than 30% slope (not including soil areas with erosive issues) and accessible to heavy equipment, tracked machinery with mastication heads will be used. In all other areas hand cutting will be used to remove conifer species. On the edges of shrubland openings large mature trees will be left and small immature trees will be removed to create a feathered edge.

Action 6: Treat Goshawk nest areas and PFAs to meet the intent of the Goshawk Amendment.

Action 7: Treat up to 7,745 acres of forest stands to alter species composition and density by using silvicultural treatments, hand and mechanical thinning, and using prescribed fire (see Figures 10 and 11).

• Within the aspen cover type implement vegetation treatments including group selection harvest, stand improvement thinning, pre-commercial thinning, and mechanical conifer thinning.

• Within the mixed conifer cover type implement vegetation treatments including group selection harvest, individual tree selection harvest, sanitation-salvage harvest, prescribed burning, and pre-commercial hand thinning.

• Within the ponderosa pine cover type implement vegetation treatments including commercial thinning, improvement thinning, individual tree selection harvest, pre-commercial hand thinning, sanitation-salvage harvest of which 145 acres will be planted with ponderosa pine, and prescribed burning.

• Within the spruce-fir cover type implement vegetation treatments including group selection harvest, individual tree selection harvest, pre-commercial thinning, and prescribed burning.

• Within the pinyon-juniper woodland cover type implement vegetation treatments including group selection cutting utilizing both mastication and hand thinning methods, and individual tree selection thinning utilizing both mastication and hand thinning methods.

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Action 8: Reroute sections of non-motorized Great Western Trail off of FR 140 (see Figure 12).

• Construct approximately 0.8 miles of non-motorized trail in order to reroute the trail off of FR 140. The current location of the non-motorized Great Western Trail on FR 140 is shared with vehicle traffic including logging trucks Keeping non-motorized trail users off a motorized route not only improves the recreation experience but also user and vehicle safety.

Action 9: Install a water guzzler in the Horse Creek drainage (see Figure 12).

• A water guzzler is an apparatus that is placed in an area with no other water source and that consists of a catchment pad that collects rain and snowmelt and channels it to troughs or another vessel where it is available for wildlife and/or permitted livestock. This drinking area will be fenced from livestock for exclusive use by wildlife. Approximate size of fenced area is 1/20th of an acre.

PROJECT DESIGN FEATURES Project design features are project and site specific level measures that are to be taken to avoid or minimize impacts from implementation of proposed project activities. Design features derive from federal laws and regulations, established Forest Service policies, Forest Plan standards and guidelines, and best management practices. Design features are prepared by the interdisciplinary team specifically for this project, and are integral components of both action alternatives. Table 9 describes project design features for the Proposed Action.

Table 9. Project design features for all action alternatives Fuels and Air Quality

F-1. Prescribed Fire Plans will be developed that are based on the best available science, project objectives and site-specific fuel types and geography. Implementation of prescribed fires will be in accordance with these plans.

F-2. While conducting prescribed fires, Environmental Protection Agency and Utah Department of Environmental Quality air quality standards through compliance with the Utah State Smoke Management Plan will be maintained.

Heritage

HR-1. Project work in areas identified by the Forest Archaeologist need to be conducted when the ground is dry. If vehicles are required for the work, they must use rubber tires.

HR-2. New fence construction locations need to be cleared by the Forest Archaeologist before implementation.

Hydrology and Soils

HS-1. Perennial streams, ponds, and groundwater dependent ecosystems (e.g., springs and wet meadows) will have a buffer of 100 feet from the edge of the water body or to the outer edge of the riparian vegetation, whichever is greater, where the following activities will avoided:

• Servicing, refueling or staging of equipment (within 150 feet of all riparian areas)

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• Broadcast or pile burning • Use of heavy equipment within the inner gorge or where hydric species are present • Skidding • Landings • Activities that would reduce potential groundcover below 80 percent. • Cutting of deciduous vegetation along the edge or within the stream channel

HS-2. Intermittent streams will have the following activities avoided:

• Slash and burn piles within 50 ft. of the channel • Burning large wood found within the channel that acts as a stabilizer • Depositing cut material into the channel except for areas where otherwise identified as a need • Use as turn-around areas • Cutting of deciduous vegetation along the edge or within the stream channel • Non-designated crossings with heavy equipment.

HS-3. Riparian Areas • Temporary fencing to exclude livestock and wild ungulates will be constructed around the section of

stream where channel reconstruction occurs. This fence will remain in place for 5 growing seasons or until at least 70% groundcover is within the riparian area (the newly constructed floodplain) and the adjacent upland sloped banks have recovered to at least 80% of original groundcover (USDA 1986: IV 41, 49), whichever is greater.

• Temporary fencing to exclude livestock and wild ungulates from the riparian areas that have had vegetation treatments will be used if average woody browse exceeds 40% of new leaders on willow and cottonwood under browse height or if there are less than 300 stems/acre of aspen trees without the leader being browsed within aspen stands. In non-aspen riparian areas this temporary fence will have designated water gaps where needed and will remain in place until further analysis can be completed on the grazing allotment that contains the treated areas that would allow for a different grazing system that could maintain the intended effectiveness of the vegetation treatments. In riparian areas with aspen stands this fence will remain in place until there are at least 300 stems/acre of aspen trees with the leader above the browse height.

• Large wood from riparian vegetation treatments will be added to sections of Birch Creek to reach an average density comparable to reference reaches where currently the density is less than that value.

• Where chipping of the cut trees within the riparian occurs the chips will be spread out to no more than 2 inches in depth. Additionally, where lop and scattering occurs the material will be cut such that it will not exceed 12 inches in height.

• Juniper trees identified as needed to provide shade or bank stability in an area void of hydric vegetation capable of providing needed shade and bank stability will be retained.

HS-4. Uplands and Roads will have the following restrictions and avoidances:

• Avoid operating soil disturbing equipment when soil moisture levels are greater than 75 percent field capacity or on slopes greater than 40 percent

• Reuse old existing landings where their location is compatible with management objectives and water quality protection

• Use old roads for new temporary road locations where the old road location is not contributing to adverse effects to water resources

• Use suitable surface drainage and roadway stabilization measures to disconnect the road from the waterbody to avoid or minimize water and sediment from being channeled into surface waters and to dissipate concentrated flows

• Avoid temporary road construction on or within 50 feet of unstable slopes • Outsloping of temporary roads would be constructed where possible • A minimum of a 15 foot buffer of no vegetation removal along all roads with cut slopes (temporary or

system) should be maintained to the edge of aspen treatment units or other even-aged management openings.

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• For decommissioning roads re-establish stable slope contours and surface and subsurface hydrologic pathways to the extent practicable

• In areas identified as having a high erosion potential, effective groundcover values equal to or greater than average values that currently exist will be maintained after treatments in order to prevent excessive erosion.

• Avoid burning more than 20 percent of a delineated drainage (Ranch Creek, Birch Creek, or Horse Creek) in any 3 year period of time.

Noxious Weeds

NW-1. All ground disturbing equipment will be thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt, mud, and plant materials at an off-forest location prior to being transported to the project area.

NW-2. Disturbed soils will be evaluated to determine whether rehabilitation is needed and, if so, the methods to use. Seed mixes used for rehabilitation purposes will be certified noxious weed free. Seed mixes will include species that germinate rapidly to provide a quick cover of vegetation (the “nurse crop” technique).

NW-3. If used for rehabilitation purposes, only certified noxious weed-free hay, straw, and mulch will be used.

NW-4. Noxious weeds will be controlled on all disturbed areas should they become established in accordance with the Dixie NF Decision Notice for Noxious Weed Management of January 2000 (USDA 2000a).

Range

RG-1. Protect range allotment improvements (fences and water developments) during implementation activities.

RG-2. Livestock grazing will continue to be administered through existing range allotment decisions and annual operating instructions to minimize impacts on regeneration and seeding establishment of vegetation. Measures may include livestock management activities such as herding, salt placement, timing of grazing, fencing, and rest. Rest will follow established DNF guidelines. Normally, the Forest requires that burned or treated areas be rested for two full years.

Prior to stocking these areas an evaluation is needed to make sure that the rangelands are within 80% of desired effective ground cover values for the site and desirable plant species are established and producing seed.

These timeframes may be modified based on documented consensus from an Interdisciplinary Team. Utilization standards are described in the Forest Plan and apply to this project.

Timber

TM-1. Unmerchantable material may be made available for fuel wood and biomass opportunities if markets exist.

TM-2. During timber sale layout, live trees with visible wildlife use indicated by the presence of nests and/or tree holes will be identified and retained.

TM-3. All skid trails and landing locations will be preapproved before logging operations occur.

TM-4. All felled timber will be decked and all slash generated from harvest activities will be piled by October 31 of each year in which harvest operations occur.

Wildlife

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WL-1. Project activities shall cease which "May Affect" threatened, endangered, or proposed species discovered within or adjacent to the project area during project layout or implementation that has not been addressed within the environmental analysis until the potential affect is removed or until consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is concluded. Also, project implementation shall cease if any sensitive species is discovered within or adjacent to the project area that has not been addressed within the environmental analysis until an assessment can be made to determine the impact and potential adverse effects to the species.

WL-2. To maintain hiding cover for big game within forested ecosystems, retain a minimum of 50 percent of the perimeter of natural openings, aspen regeneration treatments, and meadows, and 75 percent of the edge along arterial and collector roads, as described in DNF S&G IV-34.

WL-3. To maintain habitat for a variety of wildlife species all forested landscapes shall be managed for no less than 300 snags per 100 acres in the mixed conifer and spruce/fir cover types and 200 snags per 100 acres in the aspen and ponderosa pine cover types. Guidelines in the goshawk amendment to the forest plan guideline F (USDA Forest Service, 2000, p. CC-21) are to be followed.

WL-4. To provide for the needs of a wide variety of wildlife, an average of 100 tons per 10 acres of coarse woody debris in the mixed-conifer and spruce-fir cover types, 30 tons per 10 acres in the aspen cover type, and 50 tons per 10 acres in the ponderosa pine cover type shall be retained following the guidelines outlined in the goshawk amendment to the forest plan, guideline G (USDA Forest Service, 2000, p. CC-22).

WL-5. If new raptor nests are found within or adjacent to the project area, a buffer shall be placed around the nest, and a timing restriction will be established if the nest area is occupied. Buffer size, timing restrictions, and restrictions of harvest activities will be made on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration site-specific raptor needs and utilizing raptor protection guidelines from the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (2002). If goshawk nests are found, the requirements in the forest plan are to be followed to protect the species.

WL-6. To avoid impacts to breeding northern goshawks, timing restrictions will be applied to all activities within the designated nest areas and PFAs if nests are active as outlined in the goshawk amendment to the forest plan (USDA Forest Service, 2000, p. CC-23).

WL-7. To provide habitat for the goshawk and its prey the percent of the group acreage covered by clumps of trees with interlocking crowns should typically range from 40-70% in post-fledgling and foraging areas, and 50-70% in nest areas as described in USDA Forest Service (2000, p. CC-22).

WL-8. To minimize impacts to foraging and nesting wildlife, prohibit burning in bitterbrush openings and avoid burning bitterbrush within the interspaces of ponderosa pine.

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DECISION FRAMEWORK

The responsible official for this analysis and decision is the Escalante District Ranger, Dixie National Forest, 700 West Main, Escalante, Utah, 84726. The Environmental Assessment will be made available for administrative review before the final decision is made per Forest Service Objection Regulations at 36 CFR 218 subparts A and B.

Given the purpose and need, the deciding official reviews the proposed action and the other alternatives in order to make the following decisions:

• The Responsible Official will decide whether to implement the Proposed Action (Alternative 2) as described, a modification thereof, an additional Alternative, or No Action (Alternative 1).

• Whether further analysis is needed through the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The Ranch Creek Watershed Improvement project was listed in the Schedule of Proposed Actions on July 1, 2015.

Scoping The Ranch Creek Watershed Improvement Project was officially available for a 30 day public scoping period beginning on August 24, 2016. This scoping notice was mailed to a list of Federal, State and local elected officials, Tribal governments and interested parties.

Comment Analysis The comments from the scoping period will be analyzed. Comments may be addressed by current laws or regulations, or considered outside the scope of the analysis. Comments identifying a critical concern to be addressed and tracked through the analysis will be designated as:

• Issue. An Issue is carried through the analysis and may result in a modification of the Proposed Action or addition of a specific Project Design Feature.

• Key Issue. A Key Issue is an Issue of great enough concern to generate an additional Alternative to the Proposed Action. The new Alternative may be fully analyzed and considered during the decision process, or may be considered but eliminated and not carried further in the analysis.

The Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations require this delineation in Sec. 1501.7, “…identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental review (Sec. 1506.3)…” A list of non-key issues and reasons regarding their categorization may be found in the Comment Analysis, included in the project record.

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COMMENTS REQUESTED

Scoping Process. Individuals, organizations, Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies that are interested in or affected by the Proposed Action are invited to participate in the scoping process. Comments received will be used in the preparation of the environmental analysis.

Comments will continue to be received and considered throughout the analysis process. Comments received in response to scoping, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record of this proposed action and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered. To be most helpful in development of the analysis, comments are requested by the end of the 30 day comment period on September 21, 2016. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency’s decision regarding the request for confidentiality; where the request is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within a specified number of days. Comments submitted anonymously will be considered in this proposal.

Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc or .docx) to [email protected] and include the project title in the subject line. Written comments should be addressed to the responsible official: Terry DeLay, Escalante District Ranger, PO Box 246, Escalante, UT, 84726 or faxed to 435-826-5491. Oral or hand-delivered comments must be received within our normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at this office, or at an official agency function (i.e., public meeting) that is designed to elicit public comments.

Please contact Brooke Shakespeare, Hydrologist, at (435) 826-5434 or email [email protected] with any questions

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MAPS

Figure 9. Management Areas and Vicinity Map

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Figure 10. Vegetation Cover Types Map

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Figure 11. Vegetation Treatments Map

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Figure 12. Other Treatments Map

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Amundson, J. K., Ogle, K., Winward, A., Stender, P., Newhouse, D., Colin, T., . . . 1996. Properly functioning condition. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Region 4. Barrett, S., Havlina, D., Jones, J., Hann, W., Frame, C., Hamilton, D., Schon, K., Demeo, T., Hutter, L., and Menakis, J. 2010. Interagency fire regime condition class guidebook. https://www.frames.gov/partner-sites/frcc/frcc-guidebook-and-forms/ Bates, J. D.;Davies, K. W.;Sharp, R. N. 2011. Shrub-steppe early succession following juniper cutting and prescribed fire. 468-81 p. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-011-9629-0 Cline, N. L.;Roundy, B. A.;Pierson, F. B.[and others]. 2010. Hydrologic response to mechanical shredding in a juniper woodland. 467-477 p. <Go to ISI>://WOS:000280315300009 http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.2111/REM-D-09-00196.1 Golden, M. 2013. Dixie national forest fish surveys fy2012. Cedar City, UT: Dixie National Forest, Supervisor's Office. Haak, A.;Williams, J.;Colyer, W. 2011. Developing a diverse conservation portfolio for bonneville cutthroat trout. Missoula, MT: Trout Unlimited. Hadley, M.;Golden, M. 2016. 2015 survey of bonneville cutthroat trout in the east fork sevier river drainage, utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Hepworth, D. K.;Ottenbacher, M.;Chamberlain, C.;Whelan, J. 2003. Abundance of bonneville cutthroat trout in southern utah, 2001-2002, compared to previous surveys. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Hood, S. M.;Miller, M. 2007. Fire ecology and management of the major ecosystems of southern utah. Gen. Tech. Rep. Rmrs-gtr-202. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 110 p. Lentsch, L.;Converse, Y.;Perkins, J. 1997. Conservation agreement and strategy for bonneville cutthroat trout (oncorhynchus clarki utah) in the state of utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Division of Natural Resources. Lentsch, L.;Toline, C., .;Kershner, J.[and others]. 2000. Range-wide conservation agreement and strategy for bonneville cutthroat trout (oncorhynchus clarki utah). Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Long, J. N. 1985. A practical approach to density management. 61:23-27 p.

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Long, J. N. D., T.W. 1990. Assessment of growing stock in uneven-aged stands. 93-96 p. Petersen, S. L.;Stringham, T. K. 2008. Infiltration, runoff, and sediment yield in response to western juniper encroachment in southeast oregon. 74-81 p. <Go to ISI>://WOS:000252491000008 Pierson, F. B.;Bates, J. D.;Svejcar, T. J.;Hardegree, S. P. 2007. Runoff and erosion after cutting western juniper. 285-292 p. <Go to ISI>://WOS:000246880300010 http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.2111/1551-5028%282007%2960%5B285%3ARAEACW%5D2.0.CO%3B2 Pierson, F. B.;Williams, C. J.;Kormos, P. R.[and others]. 2010. Hydrologic vulnerability of sagebrush steppe following pinyon and juniper encroachment. 614-629 p. <Go to ISI>://WOS:000284723900002 Reineke, L. H. 1933. Perfecting a stand-density index for even-aged forests. 46:627-638 p. Reynolds, R.;Graham, R. T.;Reiser, M. H.[and others]. 1992. Management recommendations for the northern goshawk in the southwestern united states. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Rodriguez, R. 2012. Life history and analysis of endangered, threatened, candidate, sensitive, and management indicator species of the dixie national forest, v.6.0 2011. Cedar City, UT: USFS Dixie National Forest. Romme, W. H., Allen, C. D., Bailey, J. D., Baker, W. L., Bestelmeyer, B. T., Brown, P. M., . . . Weisberg, P. J. 2009. Historical and modern disturbance regimes, stand structures, and landscape dynamics in pinon-juniper vegetation of the western u.S. 62 (3), 203-222 p. Ross, M. R.;Castle, S. C.;Barger, N. N. 2012. Effects of fuels reductions on plant communities and soils in a pinon-juniper woodland. 84-92 p. <Go to ISI>://WOS:000300469900011 Roundy, B. A.;Vernon, J. L. 1999. Watershed values and conditions associated with pinyon-juniper communities. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service. Stebleton, A.;Bunting, S. 2009. Guide for quantifying fuels in the sagebrush steppe and juniper woodlands of the great basin. Technical note 430. Denver, CO: USDI Bureau of Land Management. USDA. 1986. Land and resource management plan for the dixie national forest. Cedar City, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Dixie National Forest. USDA. 2000a. Environmental assessment for noxious weed management dixie national forest. Cedar City, UT: USDA Forest Service, Dixie National Forest.

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USDA. 2000b. Properly functioning condition: Rapid assessment process. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region. USDA. 2000c. Utah northern goshawk project decision notice, finding of no significant impact and amendment. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region. USDA. 2006. Dixie and fishlake national forest pfc vegetation strategy. Cedar City, UT: USDA Forest Service, Dixie and Fishlake National Forests. USDA. 2009. Properly functioning condition. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region. USDA. 2012. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems: Level 1 inventory field guide. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. Utah Wildlife Action Plan Joint Team. 2015. Utah wildlife action plan: A plan for managing native wildlife species and their habitats to help prevent listing under the endangered species act. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Waters, T. F. 1995. Sediment in streams: Sources, biological effects, and control. Place·Published: American Fisheries Society.


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