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Highway 6 Fuel Break
Region: Southeastern
ID: 7290
Project Status: Current
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Project Details
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Need for Project
The project area is a isolated region east of the town of Wellington. Pinyon-Juniper trees have been steadily invading the upland/sagebrush habitats in portions of the project over the last decade. As these vegetation types increase in size and density, the risk of unplanned fire events increase with increasing fuel loads. Studies have shown that the invasion of juniper and other conifers into the sagebrush rangelands degrades sagebrush habitat types. The project area is within Phase I, and II PJ development. In Phase II PJ trees are co-dominant with shrubs and herbs and all vegetation layers influence ecological processes on the site. With increased traffic along Highway 6, small fires from vehicles have increased within the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Right Of Way (ROW), thus increasing threats to recreation areas and wildlife habitat within Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed areas near Highway 6.
Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.
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Objectives
The overall objectives of the project area is to alter the fire behavior, intensity and fire frequency within the UDOT ROW by decreasing the amount and arrangement of hazardous fuels. The treatments of the proposed project are designed to change the overall fire behavior; the project is expected to limit the size and intensity of large unplanned wildland fire events by implementing a fuel break within the Highway 6 ROW. Specific objectives are: * Reduce the risk of large fire events by changing fuel characteristics. * Break up continuous fuel beds by creating a linear design feature (fuel break). * Reduce the amount and height of hazardous fuels by lop and scatter and masticating vegetation 150 feet on each side of the proposed routes. * Reduce the risk of large fire events in WUI areas near Sunnyside and East Carbon. * Protect crucial habitat for a variety of wildlife species.
Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.
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Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?)
The more immediate threat is that with increased fuel loading from the invading trees and invasive grass near the highway, vehicle fires will occur at higher rates. Some portions of the project area are comprised of big sagebrush and Colorado Plateau mixed low sagebrush shrubland, an unplanned fire event would result in the long-term loss of these shrub communities, and the habitat values associated with this type. The longer-term threat/risk is the slow but continual increase in PJ trees and cheat grass that out compete the more desirable shrubs, forbs, and grasses. If the invasion continues unabated, then eventually the sagebrush shrubland habitats will be converted to a PJ type and cheat grass mono cultural stands, resulting in a long-term loss of sagebrush habitat and sagebrush obligate species.
LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.
TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.
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Relation to Management Plans
The proposed project will meet multiple objectives found within different plans; Price RMP ROD: Emphasize the use of mechanical, chemical, and biological methods, as well as fire and livestock grazing, to achieve the desired plant community for fish and wildlife habitats. Promote the use of native plant species that are desirable for wildlife, livestock, watershed management, and other resource values while maintaining vegetation species diversity. Coordinate with federal, tribal, and State agencies to develop information, strategies, and plans to manage fish and wildlife habitat and facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities. Maintain or improve the connectivity and productivity of fish and wildlife habitats to support the UDWR population objectives. Fire and fuels; To reduce risks and restore ecosystems through fuels management, allow the following fuels management tools throughout the planning area unless otherwise restricted: wildland fire use; prescribed fire; and mechanical, chemical, seeding, and biological actions.
List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.
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Fire/Fuels
PJ trees have steadily encroached over the last decade into sagebrush habitat. As these trees increase in size and numbers, habitat values for wildlife and grazing are lost as available forage declines. In addition the increase the trees has also increased the hazardous fuel loading and the risk of an unplanned fire event has also been increased. As sagebrush ecosystems shift to mid tree dominance by PJ, fuel loads double. As they shift to full tree dominance, fuel loads double again. An unplanned fire event would result in the long term loss of sagebrush habitats, and the habitat values associated with this type. In PJ woodlands, the ability of understory plants to recover after disturbance rapidly declines after pre-fire tree cover reaches about 40 to 50% (Fire science brief, Fire Science Program). The fuel breaks are designed to help stop unwanted fires.
If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.
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Water Quality/Quantity
After a fire, the competition with understory vegetation can increase the amount of bare soil, which can lead to an increase in runoff, soil loss and erosion (Thurow and Hester 2015). Erosion can lead to a reduction in soil productivity and can also increase non-point source water pollution, thus having the potential to affect water quality within a watershed over time (Thurow and Hester 2015). Invasive species such as cheatgrass currently exists in the project area. Cheatgrass has a higher fire frequency meaning it burns more often which results in more soil erosion. Noxious and invasive weed species utilize large amounts of water and release toxins into the soil that inhibit growth of other plants, which can also reduce the water quality and quantity. The impacts from a fire would be at a local site level.
Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.
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Compliance
Project work will be completed only within the existing UDOT ROW. Areas of concern for wildlife and botany have been identified by BLM Price Office biologist. Timings and avoidance will be established on an as needed basis.
Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.
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Methods
All methods of vegetation removal and maintenance will be conducted with UDOT staff and will occur within the median and shoulder of the UDOT ROW. Invading PJ would be masticated. Mowing of the median and shoulder would occur after or during the blooming stage, usually late June early July.
Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.
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Monitoring
Vegetation monitoring for this project would be pre/post treatment photo points. Photo points including pre and post treatments, will be uploaded into the WRI database.
Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.
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Partners
BLM, SITLA, Private, and DWR. BLM or the state will contact SITLA about the fuel break project. BLM met with UDOT and discussed the project in November 2023. It was agreed to move forward with the project and UDOT would implement the project.
List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.
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Future Management
The project area will have continued monitoring and possible maintenance of the fuel break areas.
Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.
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Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources
There will be no change to current livestock grazing management. The project is designed to establish fuel breaks along an existing roadway to reduce the risk of more frequent fires and protect big game habitat and livestock forage. The roadways have been identified as areas where fires are sparked by vehicles. Improving conditions within this remote part of Highway 6 may also improve opportunities for wildlife viewing and other recreational activities.
Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.
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