The purpose for the project is to create a fire resilient landscape around communities within the Shurtz Canyon Area of Iron County, UT using mechanical, manual, pile burning, and seeding to protect values that include, but are not limited to: Public and fire fighter safety, Wildland Urban interface, existing and expanding, Escalante Desert watershed health, Recreation infrastructure, in addition to critical wildlife habitat. Big Game use this area as critical migration and stopover habitat as documented by collar data by the UDWR (see map in photo section). Collared mule deer pass through this area in the early fall and spring as mule deer and elk transition from winter to summer range. Often mule deer will give birth in this area increasing the need for nutritious forage for lactating females and their offspring. Improving range conditions will improve body condition for big game. Improved body condition will improve survival and condition of the animal once it reaches its winter range which is a critical element for big game winter survival. The area has one of the larger deer herds in the state with approximately 15,000 animals. This unit is one of the premier general season deer hunting units in Utah and provides ample hunting opportunity to the public. The Zion unit is also home to a population of elk that provide one of the few over-the-counter any-bull general season hunting opportunities for elk in the state. Improving and maintaining habitat condition in the Zion unit is important to sustaining wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities that benefit the public. By doing so, we are also maintaining and enhancing economic stability in surrounding rural communities. Many of these rural incomes rely on wildlife and wildlife habitat as a source of income. This project area is identified as "priority for restoration of crucial mule deer habitat" under the Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan (Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan, 2025-2030). "Crucial" is defined as "habitat necessary to sustain the areas mule deer herd". Allowing the area to remain in phase 2 and 3 pinyon and juniper encroachment means less quality habitat to meet mule deer objectives. This project will specifically meet the objective of "working with local, state and federal land management agencies via land management plans and with private landowners to identify and properly manage crucial mule deer habitats, especially fawning, wintering and migration areas". The Zion Unit Mule Deer Management Plan specifically states to "reduce expansion of Pinyon-Juniper woodlands into sagebrush habitats and improve habitats dominated by Pinyon-Juniper woodlands by completing habitat restoration projects like lop & scatter, bullhog, and chaining" (Zion Mule Deer Management Plan, 2020).

Objectives are as follows: -Objectives are to reduce losses, complement resource management objectives, and sustain productivity in biological systems. Return of ecosystems to earlier seral stages in proposed treatment areas mimics historic disturbance regimes. Early seral stages for the systems present are typically comprised of forbs, grasses, and young shrubs that are more resilient to wildfire than late seral stages comprised of dense pinyon juniper woodlands. Reduction in tree density would create openings for diverse understory to establish and increase diversity within proposed treatment polygons. - Increase mule deer usage of migration habitat and hold over time of migrating. This data can be determined through the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Migration Initiative. -Increase or maintain elk use on the private ground, while reducing the negative impacts to private landowners and their operations. - Increase amount of flowing plants by 10%. -Maintain or improve current resource conditions on all identified for maintenance of current management allotments and continue current management on all allotments identified for custodial management while preventing further resource deterioration. -Protect the cultural and historic values in the planning area from accidental or intentional destruction and give special protection to high value cultural and historic sites. -Plan, modify, and implement resource management activities in a manner which will minimize impacts to visual resources. Apply special emphasis in environmental assessment and project design to projects in the scene area (foreground visual zone) to meet VRM objectives. -Manage wildlife habitat to favor a diversity of game and nongame species. Provide forage for current big game numbers and prior stable or long-term numbers in the future should populations increase, and habitat improvements occur. Improve habitat in poor condition on crucial deer winter range to reduce depredation on private lands. Protect against the loss of crucial big game habitat from encroachment by incompatible uses...Avoid deterioration of riparian/fisheries habitat currently in fair or good condition -Improve watershed conditions on areas identified with significant condition problems and on other sensitive watershed areas (riparian areas). Avoid the deterioration of or improve watershed condition on all other Federal lands

The entirety of the project is located in Iron county in the Shurtz Canyon area. Managers have recognized the need for fuels reduction projects to take place in this area. The need is due to the increase in WUI infrastructure, increased recreation, and a degradation of habitat for wildlife. In October 2016 the Hicks Creek fire burned approximately 1,455 acres. Fire behavior was unprecedented for that time of year. Many scattered homes, including the Cedar Highlands subdivision were put on notice that they may need to evacuate due to proximity of the fire to private property. Additionally in July of 2024 the Graff Point fire started and burned just south of the project area. The Graff Point fire burned into the Hicks Creek fire, thus helping fire personal suppress the fire easier due to diminished fire behavior when it hit the Hicks Creek fire scar. These two fires, the increase in recreation activity, the addition of homes in Cedar Highlands as well as new and planned subdivisions have increased the need for a project of this kind to take place in the Shurtz canyon area. Many weeks were spent out on the project site looking at soils, existing vegetation type and cover, studying ESD's along with LANDFIRE data to determine the best possible design and treatment type for each polygon. Many mountain brush sites, along with many sagebrush sites have not seen disturbance in them for many years, this has allowed for the encroachment and infilling of pinyon and juniper into these zones. Many areas once dominated by brush have been outcompeted and are now less diverse and void of any ground cover at all. It is anticipated that if we reintroduce disturbance into this area, that we will see a rebound of vegetation types once found in abundance in these areas. Sheet and Rill erosion contributes to the amount of sediment from the late phase II pinyon juniper sites that lack under story. With the mastication, mulch will cover the bare soil while seeds are established. Decreasing soil erosion and moisture lost, while increasing soil moisture holding availability and cover of the soil. In areas in or near the treatment sites that have been cleared and seed have proved to be very successful (see pictures for details). This project will increase and maintain the availability of a diverse suite of vegetational communities. A healthy landscape has a diversity of vegetational states within an ecological site. A diverse landscape benefits a larger community of wildlife species and people. A diverse landscape is also more resistance and resilient to disturbance. By allowing this landscape to continue to move further into a dominant PJ woodland it increases the risk of its resistance to disturbance and its resilience to bounce back and heal after a disturbance. This project will directly and indirectly affect positively high interest game. Mule deer and elk are found in the project area. Mule deer could use this area for a staging area in their migration, as has been seen on other projects on the neighboring Parowan Front; allowing deer to be in better condition as they enter the winter range and allows the deer to spend less time on sensitive winter ranges. Elk will use this area from the fall to spring, if weather does not force them to lower elevations. In consultation with the wildlife biologist over this unit, he would prefer that the elk and mule deer remain in these areas longer, because it would give managers a chance to manage them, rather when they enter Zion National Park and management is not an option. See in the "Need for Project" section the critical importance of this area to big game. This area is necessary for sustainable big game populations. A species of greatest resource concern that has been documented in the area is the California Condor. Condors summer near Kolob Reservoir (6 miles south) and the release site is approximately 2 miles to the east, the open areas will increase the visibility of condors as they search for carrion. The anticipated increase in herbivore use would theatrically increase the number of carcasses available to the condors also. Working with Hawk Watch that monitor condors on the Zion we were told "that any improvements for ungulates will benefit condors and their populations". With this treatment condor habitat will be improved. The Utah Division of wildlife has worked worked with partners for years to provide lead free ammo to those that have deer or elk tag for these units. This program is successful in getting lead free ammo in the hands of sportsmen, which may correlate with fewer condors being lost from ingesting lead from carcasses. As previously stated, because this area has been identified as a critical migration corridor for mule deer habitat, we feel that the need for project and importance should be elevated because of the overall impact of the habitat to these species of wildlife. Another ecological qualifier for elevating this project is that the project falls within an identified Bird Habitat Conservation Area (BHCA) as previously discussed. The project will also address multiple conservation needs for several bird species not reflected in the species section of this proposal.

Shurtz Canyon Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project (HFRP) The Proposed project conforms to the following objectives of the Cedar Beaver Garfield Antimony Resource Management Plan (RMP), approved in 1986, as amended in 2005 by the Utah Land Use Plan Amendment for Fire and Fuels Management (UT-USO-04-01) that were based on the general goals of the NFP. -Fire Management Objective: To reduce losses, compliment resource management objectives, and sustain productivity in biological systems. (page 138) Return of ecosystems to earlier seral stages in proposed treatment areas mimics historic disturbance regimes. Early seral stages for the systems present are typically comprised of forbs, grasses, and young shrubs that are more resilient to wildfire than late seral stages comprised of dense pinyon juniper woodlands. Reduction in tree density would create openings for diverse understory to establish and increase diversity within proposed treatment polygons. -Rangeland Management Objective: Maintain or improve current resource conditions on all identified for maintenance of current management allotments (...) and continue current management on all allotments identified for custodial management while preventing further resource deterioration. (page 94). There are three allotments that would be impacted by the proposed action. Proposed treatments aim to improve Rangeland Health Standard 3 which includes diversity of vegetation species, age class, and frequency. -Cultural Resources Management Objective: Protect the cultural and historic values in the planning area from accidental or intentional destruction and give special protection to high value cultural and historic sites. (page 141) Deer Herd Unit management Plan, Deer Herd Unit #29, Zion. (2020) Habitat Management Objectives are to: 1) Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the unit by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. 2)Reduce highway deer mortality along Interstate I-15 south of Cedar City and along Highway 14 east of Cedar City. 3) A major proportion of both summer and winter habitat for deer on this unit is on private land. Therefore, it is paramount to work with private landowners to maintain both summer and winter habitat. Currently, there are two CWMU's. One is comprised of 15,000 acres (Mt. Carmel) in the Muddy Creek drainage on the east portion of this unit. Another is comprised of 5500 acres (East Zion) in the Clear Creek drainage. Other landowners have expressed interest in a CWMU and they may be organized in the future. 4) Seek cooperative projects to improve the quality and quantity of deer habitat in order to support herd objectives. 5) Provide improved habitat security and escapement opportunities for deer. Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan, (2025-2030). Habitat goals and objectives include the following; 1) Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges.2) Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts.3) : Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2024. Color Country and Paria River Fire Management Plan (September, 2022) The Color Country and Paria River Fire Management Plan identifies the Antelope Range- Parowan Front, Fire Management Unit (FMU) as a priority for conversion of encroached pinyon and juniper dominated communities to a sagebrush community with a diverse component of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. This would be consistent with the vegetative monitoring data that has been collected within the Project Area to identify the Ecological Site Description. Additionally, all fires that start within this FMU are to be fully suppressed due to the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and Crucial winter range for mule deer.

The Shurtz Canyon HFRP is home to Cedar Highlands, a 165-lot subdivision with 75 lots currently occupied. There are approximately 120 full-time and 94 part-time residents. The community has an active Homeowner Association (HOA) that sets guidelines for fuels treatments and fireproof construction practices. The HOA received a Utah Fire Grant in 2019 and hosted three Firewise community events, cleared access to fire hydrants, and clearing vegetation in community areas. Right-Hand Canyon Road, a dirt, 2-lane county road, provides access for residents year-round. During emergency events, residents must use alternate routes to evacuate, and Right-Hand Canyon Road is used for ingress by first responders (State of Utah 2019). Adjacent to the subdivision is the Cedar City Cattlemen's/ Sheepherder's livestock trail that is used to move sheep off Square Top Mountain to Cedar City seasonally. A powerline is located within the livestock trail corridor. The Trails at Shurtz Canyon is a new community currently under construction (July 2024) and is located at the intersection of Old Highway 91 and Tipple Road in Iron County, UT. The 245-lot community includes single family homes with shared clubhouse and recreation facilities following three construction phases. Model homes are currently being constructed on-site. The Shurtz Canyon HFRP area was selected for treatment because these communities are amongst the highest wildfire risk areas within the Color Country District as defined by the State of Utah's Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal. Utah Forestry, Fire, and State Lands also identifies high risk communities with susceptibility scores at https://ffsl.utah.gov/fire/wildfire-community-preparedness/communities-at-risk/. In addition to the community's at risk, in 2016 and again in 2024, Shurtz canyon experienced 2 major wildfire events. The Hicks Creek fire started in October of 2016 and burned approximately 1,455 acres. It started on private lands and burned onto BLM administered lands. A local Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) was called into manage the fire. Multiple crews, engines, heavy equipment and aircraft were also dispatched to help suppress the fire. In July of 2024 The Graff Point fire started after a series of storms came through the area. The fire was first reported during the evening hours of July 12 and burned actively throughout the night. A Critical incident Management Team (CIMT) was called in to manage fire suppression activities. Ground personal, heavy equipment and multiple types of aircraft were also dispatched to help suppress the fire. Portions of the Graff Point fire burned into the 2016 Hicks Creek fire, this helped to slow fire progression, and allowed fire personal opportunities to go direct on the fire edge. The fact that the Hick Creek fire was instrumental in slowing and stopping the Graff Point fire is evidence for the need of this project. Historical photos as well as LANDFIRE data show that many areas within the Shurtz Canyon HFRP that were once mountain brush sites, or Sagebrush sites have been encroached upon and taken over by pinyon and juniper trees. This encroachment has taken place due to the lack of disturbance in the area. The few locations within the project area that have had disturbance in them have proven that once the pinyon and juniper are removed, the natural vegetation that once dominated the area will return.

Reducing the amount of pinyon/juniper will increase and prolong stream flows, while reducing erosion caused by bare soil. The species planted will help stabilize the soil and reduce erosion. Kormas et al. found that drainage's dominated with juniper experience "snow water equivalent peaks higher, snow melts out earlier, and more water is lost to evapotranspiration in catchments when compared to sagebrush steppe vegetation". In a study from 2008, Deboodt, et. al (2008) mentions that juniper trees can use up to 30 gallons of water a day, when adequate moisture is present. It also states that Vegetative modeling has shown that 9 to 35 trees per acre can utilize all the precipitation delivered to a site in a 13-in annual precipitation zone. In their study researchers monitored two watersheds 12 years prior to treatment (cutting). After the treatment analysis indicated that juniper reduction significantly increased late season spring flow by 225%, increased days of recorded groundwater by an average of 41 days , and increased the relative availability of late season soil moisture to soil depths of .76 meters. It was also noted that managing vegetation for water yield may be obtainable at a much lower precipitation threshold than what was previously understood. Baker, et. al (1984) found a 157% increase in stream flows over a 147 ha pinyon and juniper treatment. Recent research Roundy, et. al. (2014) has shown that mechanical treatments to remove pinyon and juniper increase time that soil water is available. Even four years after treatment, treated areas showed from 8.6 days to-18 days additional water availability at high elevation sites. It is important to note that the Shurtz Creek drainage is flows to the Cedar Valley, and the Cedar Valley aquifer. As noted in the need for the project the Cedar Valley aquifer is declining and efforts from multiple stakeholders are in effect to recharge and conserve the aquifer. Improving watershed health is will help hold water longer (snow pack) and allow for infiltration into the soil and potentially to the ground water. Roth, et. All (2017) stated snow pack is deeper and last longer in the open site at the low and mid sites (4-26 and 11-33 days, respectively). Additional research by Young, et. al. (2013) also showed a relationship between tree removal and soil climates and wet days on these sites, which while providing more available moisture for desired vegetation could also provide moisture for weeds. Numerous studies have shown that increased infiltration rates and less overland flow improve both water quality and quantity. Reducing pinyon and juniper trees, according the available research should increase snow pack, and time that snow pack is on the ground, increase spring flows, and increase soil moisture. It is expected that similar results will happen in this area after the treatment takes place. Several unnamed seeps have been improved by the previous landowners to hold water in ponds. We will plan removing the trees near and around the seeps in an effort to increase water flows from the seeps, increasing the surface water.

The NEPA/Final Decision documents are completed and have been signed by the Cedar City Field Office Manger. A cultural inventory for the project will be contracted prior to project implementation. Sites will be avoided where required and incorporated into the mosaic design of the project where possible.

BLM will provide overall project oversight on projects that take place on public lands. If needed, project area will be aerially seeded to meet wildlife habitat objectives in accordance with the Ecological Site Description and LANDFIRE data. Seed will be requested through GBRC. Archeology clearances will be completed with project oversight provided by the BLM Fuels Archaeologist. Multiple project polygons have been identified within the Project Area. It is expected that the project will be treated with mastication,(XXX), and by lop and scatter or cut and pile techniques. There are over 2,498 acres designated as hand thin and pile, these acres will be cut in stages over the life of the NEPA document. It is anticipated that up to 300 acres of hand thin and pile that will take place this year.

There are numerous photo points established for the project for before and after pictures. BLM has recently initiated a new Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring program (AIM) to improve the effectiveness of monitoring on BLM lands. This monitoring program uses standard core indicators and methods to provide a statistically valid sampling design across the landscape. This year, the Cedar City Field office will have an entire team devoted to AIM monitoring, and although the sample points are random, it is likely that some of these points will fall within the project area. This monitoring is done from a broad-to-fine scale. The dataset at the site scale (which includes this project) describes habitat indicators, such as sagebrush cover, sagebrush height, grass and forb cover, riparian stability, and/or proximity of detrimental land uses and structures. These data will ensure appropriate project implementation, as well as guide future actions in sage grouse habitat. NRCS will contract practice 645-Upland Wildlife Habitat Management, which will require two years of rest from livestock grazing. Since the proptery is not grazed this will not be an issue. If livestock grazing will be considered as a tool to improve wildlife habitat as needed. Using the data from the migration initiative collared deer movements can be monitored. This will show if there is hold over in these treatment areas, if hunting pressure is affecting the deer, if weather changes timing, or duration of migration, and use of private lands verses public lands. FFSL Forester will establish photo points at random locations within the treatment and monitor yearly for a minimum of 5 years and greater at landowners' consent.

Utah State University Extension, NRCS, SITLA, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands, The Nature Conservancy, DWR, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Iron County, SWARM, UPDOG, UPDRIT, Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (Southern Utah University), Livestock Permittees.

The treated areas, if needed, would be rested from livestock grazing for a minimum of 2 growing seasons to allow for seedling establishment. The area would also be monitored for re-encroachment of pinyon-juniper and maintenance would be conducted on an as needed basis. If Invasive weeds were to occur those weeds would be monitored and treated on an as needed basis.

The majority of the project area is in Phase 2 and Phase 3 condition. The project is expected to improve health, composition, and diversity of shrubs, grasses, and forbs in accordance with Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines and the Ecological Site Description, which will be beneficial to create forage for wildlife and livestock alike. Furthermore, the project will be proactive in improving vegetative communities and removing ladder fuels within areas that are dominated by pinyon and juniper, which will minimize the potential for a catastrophic wildfire throughout the area, which would be detrimental to productive desired vegetation. It is expected that the vegetative treatments will result in increased forage production that are consistent or greater to what has been identified in the Ecological Site Description. It is expected that the treatment will also benefit hunting opportunities within the area in the long-term. Few treatments that have occurred within the vicinity of the project have been highly successful and wildlife sign (primarily mule deer) is found throughout the treated areas. Wildlife viewing is popular with the public and the treatments have provided greater opportunities to view wildlife. By implementing this project, and reducing the risk of additional catastrophic fires within the area many of the species that call Shurtz Canyon home will either benefit directly or indirectly from this project. Removing pinyon and juniper trees will help to increase many of the species that mule deer rely on throughout the year. As we design these projects, we also keep in mind that there are species that can benefit from leaving some trees, such as the Mexican Spotted Owl. The trees we leave can act as perches for the owls and also nesting sites. Overall, by reducing the risk of wildfire in the area, many species will benefit directly and indirectly This treatment will enhance the beauty and the opportunity to view and enjoy Utah's wildlife and wild places