Specifications include, but are not limited to: This is a second half of BLM project in partnership with the Watershed Restoration Initiative (the first half was released in mid July under number 6496(1), PO202330). The overall purpose of this phase of the project is to take a collaborative approach to improve wildlife habitat. This includes improving the big game transition and winter range by seeding and mechanically thinning encroaching pinyon juniper woodland from mountain brush, sagebrush, grasses, and forbs areas. The pinyon juniper expansion and fading understory in this area is having negative impacts to the nearby water quality. The area is seeing a transition from a pinyon juniper phase II to a phase III community which is greatly reducing the available wildlife forage. This pinyon juniper expansion is largely the result of reduced occurrences of natural disturbance including a natural wildland fire cycle. As pinyon juniper has become dominant on the landscape and as the loss of understory vegetation increases, there will be continued increases in sediment transfer into Lost Creek and big game and small game animals will continue to experience a loss in foraging habitat. Reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire is an important project goal. Vegetation management methods will include bullhog treatments to remove encroaching pinyon and juniper stands. The cultural resources survey aspects of this project total 2,810.0 acres with approximately 2,531 acres occurring on BLM land and 279 acres on SITLA land. More information on the project needs, objectives and management plans can be found here.
