Upper Sevier River
Community Watershed Project
Annual Report
2001
The Upper Sevier River Community Watershed Project
is a collaborative partnership addressing restoration
needs, management challenges, and research
opportunities for rangelands, agricultural lands,
forestlands, and aquatic ecosystems in the Upper Sevier
Watershed.
Mission
The mission of the Upper Sevier River
Community Watershed Project is
organized into four major endeavors:
•Restoration and maintenance of watershed ecosystems
•Cooperation, coordination and cooperation
•Research, monitoring and adaptive management
•Demonstrating restorative techniques
Located in rural southwestern Utah, the 1.2 million acre
Upper Sevier Watershed has provided many goods and
services to people for a long time. As use increased over
the decades since settlement, the health of the watershed
has declined.
Streamside vegetation has diminished, streambanks
have eroded, and water quality impaired. Fish and
wildlife habitat has also degraded
Decades of fire suppression, although well
intentioned, have actually damaged the health of the
watershed: forest types that depend on fire for renewal
are outside their historic range of condition. Fire
suppression has also resulted in high volumes of fuel
(dead wood on the forest floor), creating a wildfire
risk to homes and other structures bordering
wildlands.
Watershed Issues
The natural resources within the Upper Sevier River Watershed
are vital to the local communities, both economically and for
maintaining rural lifestyles of ranching and farming. If these
values are to be sustained into the future, measures must be
taken now to begin improving resources within the watershed.
Specific issues we are addressing include:
•Access: How will we continue
to provide access while ensuring
that roads and trails do not
degrade the environment?
•Water Quality: How will we ensure water quality and
quantity for local ranchers, farmers, and communities, while
providing for the needs of recreationists, fish, and wildlife?
•Riparian and Upland Vegetation: How will we maintain or
restore streamside and upland vegetation communities that are
resilient and sustainable?
•Fire Safety: How will we continue to
protect private property while using fire to
improve forest and rangeland health?
Watershed Partners
The Upper Sevier watershed area is extremely diverse in regards to to land ownership and resources. There
are over twenty local, state, and federal agencies currently involved with the management of this watershed.
In addition, there are numerous private landowners interested in managing their lands to improve ecological
conditions. Such mixed ownership will offer challenges for collaboration but also offer tremendous
opportunities to develop partnerships. Only by working together will we be able to achieve our mission of a
fully functioning watershed. Some of the partners to date include:
Upper Sevier River Watershed Partners
Utah State University
Extension Service
Utah Association of
Conservation Districts
USDA - Forest
Service Rocky
Mountain Research
Station
USDA Forest Service Dixie National Forest
Garfield County
Upper Sevier Soil
Conservation District
Southern Utah
University
National Park
Service
Bureau of Land
Management
Utah Division of
Forestry, Fire and
State Lands
USDA - Farm Service
Agency
Paiute Tribe of Utah
Utah Division of
Water Quality
Utah Division of
Wildlife Resources
Panguitch City
Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation
USDA - Natural
Resources
Conservation Service
Kane County
Color Country
Resource
Conservation and
Development
Iron County
Annually the Upper Sevier project hosts
a tour of the watershed. This partnership
event has solidified our common goals for
watershed restoration. Projects from all
agencies and groups have been emphasized
during these events. Capturing and utilizing
the enthusiasm generated through our
partnership meetings is critical to the success
of the watershed project.
2001 Upper Sevier Watershed tour sponsored
by the Utah State University Extension Service
and the Utah Association of Conservation
Districts.
Cooperative Watershed Accomplishments
Generalized Project Types Implemented in 2001
Wildlife
5%
Vegetation Management
12%
Roads
3%
Fire Management
17%
Information/Education
7%
Monitoring
2%
Noxious Weeds
3%
Riparian
10%
Planning
3%
Recreation
38%
Percentage of dollars spent per thousand by project type. ($4,223,500 total)
Recreation projects implemented the largest financial contribution within the watershed
with completion of the Red Canyon Bike Trail. The trail was completed with funding
assistance from the Utah Department of Transportation to maintain safe access through
the scenic geologic features within Red Canyon.
Fire Management projects within the watershed maintained a high monetary presence
with the implementation of the National Fire Plan. With the additional placement of
state and federal fire management specialists from Fire Plan funding, this watershed
management tool will be enhanced in the coming years.
Vegetation Management projects within the watershed have concentrated on hazardous
fuel reduction projects, aspen regeneration and tree thinning objectives within the
watershed. These project are assisting in placing these ecosystems into their historic
range of condition.
Riparian projects maintain a high presence in the watershed with the objectives of
restoring stream side erosion and increasing the the presence and diversity of riparian
plants. Goals from these projects are targeted at reducing sediment loads, improving
water quality properties and promoting improved fisheries, wildlife habitat and range
management.
Forest Service
Accomplishments
Accomplishment Highlights for 2001
•8500 acres of prescribed fire and fuel
reduction treatments.
•85 miles of recreational trail
development and improvement
•440 acres of riparian restoration and 2
miles of stream bank stabilization.
•23 miles of road improvements.
•10 wildlife habitat improvements
installed.
•3 miles of water development
improvement to help protect riparian
areas.
•Increased emphasis in watershed
monitoring projects.
•5 environmental educational projects.
Project Name
SERP Planning
Horse Valley Prescribed Fire
Sanford Creek Prescribed Fire
Poison Creek Prescribed Fire
Southern Utah Fuels Demonstration Project
Mammoth Creek DFS Hazardous Fuel Reduction
Asay Area Urban Interface Fire Management
Duck Creek DFS Hazardous Fuel Reduction
Outdoor Science Center
Red Canyon Botanical Area
Cedar Mountain Science Center
Upper Sevier Watershed Web Site Development
Red Canyon Visitor Center
East Fork Sevier Cross Section Monitoring
Blue Fly Cross Section Monitoring
Utah Prairie Dog Monitoring
Animony Creek Water Quality Monitoring
Arizona Willow Monitoring
Peregrine Falcon Monitoring
Pass Creek Watershed Monitoring
Butler Creek Water Quality Monitoring
Bald Eagle Monitoring
Sidney Timber Sale Monitoring
Hancock Peak Timber Sale Monitoring
Yellow Jacket Aspen Regeneration Monitoring
East Fork Sevier Water Temperature Monitoring
Northern Goshawk Monitoring
ATV Monitoring Project
Forest Service Noxious Weed Treatment
Utah Partners in Flight
West Fork Asay Headcut Stabilization
Everett Hollow Headcut Stabilization
Navajo Lake Road Reconstruction
Aspen/Mirror Lake Parking Lot/Restrooms
Panguitch Lake Campground Vegetation Management Plan
Lowder/Bunker Stream Crossing NEPA
East Fork Sevier Prescribed Fire Planning
Brain Head to Navajo Lake Bike Trail NEPA
Pollywog Lake Sage Grouse Water Enhancement NEPA
Adams Head/Mount Dutton Ecosystem Management Planning
Pass Creek TSI/Management Ignited Fire
Rendezous Vegetation Management Project
Duck Creek Access Management Road Analysis
Great Western Trail Maintenance
Crawford Pass Trailhead Construction
Coyote Hollow Parking Site
Podunk Guard Station Vault Toilet
Panguitch District ATV Trail Maintenanace
North Sanford Creek Road Closing/ Trail Improvement
Grandview Trail Construction
Dispersed Recreation Maintenance Program
Culinary Water Quality Monitoring
Navajo Lake Culinary Water System
Red Canyon Bike Trail
Ranch Creek Skid Trail Reclamation
Alstrom Hollow Riparian Restoration
Mud Springs Riparian Fences
Berry Springs Pipeline
Swains Creek Streambank Stabilization
Pass Creek Gully Revegetation Project
East Fork Drainage Willow Planting
Seed Lakes/Sand Wash Fence
Prospect Creek Pipeline
Swains Creek Riparian Exclosure Fence
Cameron Wash Exclosure Fence
Showalter/Rock Creek, Propect Creek Riparian Fence
East Hunt Creek Riparian Fence
Tebbs Riparian Improvements
Ranch Creek Exclosure Fence
Project Type
Fire Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Information/Education
Information/Education
Information/Education
Information/Education
Information/Education
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Noxious Weeds
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Accomplishment
plan
2383 acres
2663 acres
2400 acres
1 site
671 acres
plan
800 acres
1 site
2 structures
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
Forest-Wide
1 site
Forest-Wide
Forest-Wide
1 site
1 site
Forest-Wide
1 site
1 site
1 site
5 sites
Forest-Wide
District Wide
Watershed-Wide
plan
1 site
1 site
plan
plan
plan
plan
276 acres
plan
2 water structures
1 plan
2000 acres
308 acres
plan
1.5 miles
1 site
1 site
1 structure
50 miles
1 structure
30 miles
40 sites
8 sites
4 sites
5 miles
.3 miles
2 acres
.4 miles
1 mile
5 acres
5 acres
30 acres
.9 miles
1.1 miles
30 acres
60 acres
170 acres
40 acres
10 acres
20 acres
Cost (K)
19
20
20
25
50
107
214
240
10
11
20
70
100
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
10
35
25
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
4
5
5
15
20
50
1
2
3
4
10
11
25
25
28
40
200
3
3
5
5
6
7
7
7
7
10
11
13
13
15
23
Agency
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Over 100 projects were implemented on the forest within the watershed in 2001.
Project Name
East Fork Riparian restoration below Tropic Reservoir
Blue Fly Riparian Restoration
South Hollow Road Improvement
Cameron Wash Road Improvement
Pine Lake Gravel Pit Rehabilitation
Blue Springs Road Closures
Blue Springs Road Rehabilitation
Jones Corral/Mount Dutton Travel Management
East Fork Sevier Road Improvement
Yellow Jacket Aspen Regeneration Exclosure Fence
Poison Creek Reseeding
Long Hollow and Skunk Creek Water Developments
Ranch Creek Cattle Crossing
Upper Barney Timber Sale
Blue Pine Ponderosa Pine Project
Winnemucca Springs Pipeline
Aspen Herbivory Study
Daves Hollow Corral
Daves Hollow Water Pipeline
Sheep Creek Watershed Fencing Project
Castle Creek Aspen Regeneration Project
Rhyolite Fuel Reduction Project
Englemann Spruce Planting
Ike Valley/Turkey Track/Rock Canyon Thinning
East Fork Sevier Thinning
Strawberry/Broad Hollow Ponds
Sanford and Hunt Creek Fish Inventories
Tropic Reservoir Waterfowl Island Project
Ahlstrom Hollow Water Development
Deer Creek Riparian Restoration
Shumake Hollow Sagbrush Revampment
Limerock Wetland Restoration
Marshall Canyon Water Guzzler
Berry Springs Utah Prairie Dog Site Development
Bull Rush P-J Thinning and Snowbank Pipeline
Project Type
Riparian
Riparian
Roads
Roads
Roads
Roads
Roads
Roads
Roads
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Accomplishment
30 acres
40 acres
.5 miles
.5 miles
2 acres
4.7 miles
2.3 miles
15 miles
3 miles
.25 acres
300 acres
2 structures
1 acre
517 acres
276 acres
2.1 miles
1 site
1 structure
3 miles
5 miles
100 acres
1.3 MBF
181 acres
715 acres
800 acres
3 ponds
2 stream sections
6 islands
1 structure
2 acres
5 acres
2 acres
1 structure
1 site
15 acres
Cost (K)
25
34
1
1
3
5
5
15
100
2
5
6
8
10
10
10
10
11
14
20
30
50
60
100
107
3
3
3
4
5
5
5
5
6
8
Agency
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Forest Service
Partnership Accomplishments
Partners have implemented over 65 project within the watershed. A
diversity of project accomplishments is listed below sorted by agency
contribution.
Project Name
Henrie Riparian Exclosues and Range Management
USU Extension Farm Streambank Stabilization
Roller Mill Sage Grouse Treatments
Sandy Creek Prescribed Fire
Upper Sevier Watershed Web Site Development
BLM Noxious Weed Treatment
DD Hollow Fuels Treatments
Horse Valley Prescribed Fire
South Canyon P-J Thinning
Roller Mill Sage Grouse Treatments
Lars Fork Headcut Stabilization
Ground Water Quality Monitoring for Duck Creek Area
Kane County Noxious Weed Treatment
Iron County Noxious Weed Treatment
Piute County Noxious Weed Treatment
Garfield County Noxious Weed Treatment
Heaton Ranch Garfield Co Streambank
Hatch Area Sevier River Riparian Demonsrtation Project
Roller Mill Sage Grouse Treatments
Utah Prairie Dog Conservation Project
Black Canyon Riparian Restoration
South Canyon P-J Thinning (DWR Portion)
Limekiln Creek Prescribed Fire Reseeding
Mount Dutton Prescribed Fire Reseeding
Smith Canyon Prescribed Fire Reseeding
Cottonwood Creek Trail Maintenance
Sandford Creek Trail Maintenance
Blue Fly Creek Fence Removal
East Fork Sevier Willow Planting
East Fork Sevier Fence Removal
East Fork Sevier Seeding and Guzzler Repair
East Fork Sevier Pond Restoration
Powell District Pond Maintenamce
Sheep Creek Fence Removal
Tom Best Spring Pond Maintenance
Strawberry Pond Fence
Three Creeks P-J Cutting
Tom Best Spring Range Exclosure
Wilson and Cascade Guzzler Development
Marshall Canyon Water Guzzler
Cascade Guzzler Repair
Heaton Ranch Garfield Co Streambank
Aspen Herbivory Study
Private Landowner Noxious Weed Treatment
Utah Prairie Dog Conservation Project
Henrie Riparian Exclosues and Range Management
Tebbs Riparian Improvements
Hatch Riparian Fence (Leland Riggs)
Bull Rush P-J Thinning and Snowbank Pipeline
Cedar Mountain Science Center
Red Canyon Bike Trail
East Fork Sevier Water Quality Monitoring
Initial TMDL Develorment
Science Field Day
Panguitch Summer Camp
USU Extension Noxoius Weed Trials
Panguitch and Butler Creek Willow and Tree Planting
Crawford Pass Trailhead Construction
Panguitch District ATV Trail Maintenanace
Grandview Trail Construction
Upper Sevier Watershed Web Site Development
Project Type
Riparian
Riparian
Wildlife
Fire Management
Information/Education
Noxious Weeds
Planning
Planning
Vegetation Management
Wildlife
Riparian
Monitoring
Noxious Weeds
Noxious Weeds
Noxious Weeds
Noxious Weeds
Riparian
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Vegetation Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Fire Management
Recreation
Recreation
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Vegetation Management
Vegetation Management
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Riparian
Vegetation Management
Noxious Weeds
Wildlife
Riparian
Riparian
Riparian
Wildlife
Information/Education
Recreation
Monitoring
Riparian
Information/Education
Information/Education
Noxious Weeds
Riparian
Recreation
Recreation
Recreation
Information/Education
Accomplishment
10 acres
3 sites
40 acres
1000 acres
1 site
Watershed-Wide
3000 acres
9000 acres
300 acres
40 acres
.5 acres
plan
Watershed-Wide
Watershed-Wide
Watershed-Wide
Watershed-Wide
.25 miles
.25 miles
40 acres
plan
1.5 miles
200 acres
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
10 acres
1 site
1 site
1 site
1 site
.25 miles
1 site
Watershed-Wide
plan
.5 miles
.5 miles
40 acres
25 acres
1 site
5 miles
1 site
plan
educational
educational
5 sites
.5 miles
1 site
50 miles
49 miles
1 site
Cost (K)
15
118
14
12
15
10
4
20
20
6
0.5
20
10
10
10
15
10
3
10
17
60
10
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
12
21
20
33
10
15
20
12
23
1200
6
7
1
10
7
1
9
10
32
15
Agency
319 EPA
319 EPA
319 EPA
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
Boy Scouts
County Government
County Government
County Government
County Government
County Government
DWR
DWR
DWR
DWR
DWR
DWR
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
DWR - Dedicated Hunter Program
Garfield County
John Berryman Institute
Landowner
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Private Landowner
Private Landowner
Private Landowner
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Soutern Utah University
Utah Department of Transportation
Utah State Division of Water Quality
Utah State Division of Water Quality
Utah State Extension Service
Utah State Extension Service
Utah State Extension Service
Utah State Extension Service
Utah State Recreation Fund
Utah State Recreation Fund
Utah State Recreation Fund
Utah State University
Partnership Goals
The partnership goals for next year will help define the watershed goals and objectives with the addition of the
following two emphasis items:
Completion of Upper Sevier Watershed Management Plan – This task is scheduled to begin in November of 2001 with
a collaborative effort. Utilization of the completed watershed assessment will help focus the plan development.
Selection of a new Upper Sevier Watershed Coordinator – This position will be hired in early 2002 to dedicate full time
support for the community watershed effort. Coordination of all groups, agencies and landowners will be the key
emphasis of this position.
Addressing the Issues
Environmental Consequences and Outcomes
The following are two examples of the many resource issues
we are addressing in our restoration efforts.
•Upland Vegetation: How will we maintain or
restore upland vegetation communities that are
resilient and sustainable?
The Spruce Ecosystem Recovery Project is
targeted at defining management objectives
for thousands of acres of dead and dying
Englemann spruce trees within the watershed.
Outcomes from this issue has have lessened
the fuel loading potentials for a large high
intensity wildland fire occurrence, increased
the potential for aspen regeneration and
socioeconomic benefits for the utilization of
the timber in this project area.
•Access: How will we continue
to provide access while ensuring
that roads and trails do not
degrade the environment?
The 93,099-acre Duck Creek - Swains Access
Management project area is located at the
southeast corner of the Cedar City Ranger
District, within Kane, Garfield, and Iron
Counties, Utah. It includes 20,242 acres of
private land. Most of these private lands are
developed with summer homes and cabins. From
a resource perspective, most disciplines agree
that there are more roads present than are needed
to manage the forest and provide recreational
opportunities. Undesirable impacts are occurring
to wildlife, vegetation, and hydrology. Outcomes
for this project will improve wildlife habitat sites,
decrease sediment movement from an excessive
road network, and lessen the trafficking effects
on vegetation management projects.
Watershed Products
Upper Sevier River Watershed Assessment
Because the Upper Sevier Watershed is so
large, subwatersheds have been assessed
through collaboration among our partners.
The assessment was completed this year with
an Open House in Panguitch Utah in May of
2001. Forty three thematic maps where
displayed for the following management
concern areas:
•Hydrology
•Hillslope Processes
•Water Quality
•Riparian Vegetation
•Stream Channel Morphology
•Forest Vegetation
•Range Vegetation
•Wildlife
•Fisheries
•Fire
•Agriculture
•Human Uses
The results and comments from the assessment
process will now be incorporated into the
watershed management plan for further
evaluation and implementation of projects
within the watershed.
Typical watershed assessment map rating
Typical watershed assessment map rating
low, moderate and high priority areas
low, moderate and high priority areas
Interactive Journey – Multimedia Experience
The Upper Sevier River Watershed Project has
produced interactive media for many watershed
projects. 360 degree panoramas, video glide
camera sequences, audio/visual stories, and
geographic information system graphics are used
to showcase restoration activities. Users of this
experience can take virtual field trips, examine
topics such as ecological function in more detail,
learn about watershed dynamics, share
collaborative monitoring results, listen to oral
histories, discuss management issues, or review
planning documents.
Feedback loops are also being incorporated into
the website to increase the ability to interact more
directly with our customers and partners.
Featured Watershed
Partner
Allen Henrie has been involved in the Upper Sevier Watershed with his ranching operation and also as the
chairman of the Upper Sevier Soil Conservation District Board.
Water quality is not new to Allen, he grew up on his family ranch located at the headwaters of the Upper
Sevier Watershed. Even at an early age, his father taught him that the river running through their property was best to
wind back and forth and that moderate stocking rates for their cow-calf operation were best for productive grasses, the
land and water quality. Today, he continues to learn about water quality and build upon this foundation of taking care
of the land.
Allen was one of the first operators in the Upper Sevier Watershed who sought out and obtained funding to
complete a demonstration project on his private property. His projects include fencing riparian areas so that livestock
grazing could be managed properly, improving upland by controlled burns, looking at alternative methods of
controlling rabbit brush, planting native willows and replanting pasture with more productive grass species. As a
result of these projects, Allen operation has improved economically, water quality has improved, the vegetation is
vigorous and the cows and the wildlife are happy.
Allen is a good example of how a private land owner can improve water quality through management. In
recognition of his efforts, Allen received the Annual Non Point Source (NPS) Water Quality Award from the NPS
Taskforce.
Congratulations, Alan
Future Actions and Opportunities for 2002
Utah’s Blue Ribbon Fisheries
What is it?
In his State-of-the-State address, Governor Leavitt proposed
a bold new initiative to create more blue ribbon fisheries in
Utah and more opportunities for quality fishing.
Blue Ribbon waters would provide Utah's almost half-amillion anglers with quality angling experiences in
aesthetically pleasing settings where the waters are
environmentally productive and sustain healthy fish
populations. Not only will this preserve a wonderful part of
our culture and recreation, but it will be an economic boon
to the communities in which these waters reside.
Enhancement and access
To accomplish this, the state would invest about $300,000 to
begin the exciting work of creating and enhancing habitat
on many waters throughout Utah which have the potential
of becoming Blue Ribbon fisheries. The initial
demonstration area for this initiative would be the Sevier
River Basin.
Habitat restoration and enhancement work is already
underway on the East Fork of the Sevier River and the
Sevier River in Garfield and Piute counties.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) works primarily in locally identified conservation priority
areas where there are significant problems with natural resources. High priority is given to areas where State or
local governments offer financial, technical, or educational assistance, and to areas where agricultural
improvements will help meet water quality objectives. Activities must be carried out according to a conservation
plan.
EQIP offers contracts that provide incentive payments and cost sharing for conservation practices, such as manure
management systems, pest management, erosion control, and other practices to improve and maintain the health
of natural resources.
The EQIP program is scheduled to receive $125,000 of funding for the next five years within the Upper Sevier.
Partnership Budget and Cost
2001 Funding by Watershed Partner Agency/Group
131.5
Private Groups and Individuals
1321
State Government
1593
Dixie National Forest
700
USFS National Office
167
Division of Wildlife Resources
County Government
77
BLM
87
147
EPA - 319 Funds
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
Cost (Thousands)
These charts summarize our funding level for the fiscal 2001 and projected 2002 budget. Funding figures listed
are based dominantly on project implementation work; salary and other fixed cost budgetary items are not captured in
these charts. The business plan out year prediction for these budgets are consistent when all factors of funding are
considered. 2002 budget figures are estimated by modestly increasing our project implementation levels from 2001.
Federal program funding can shift from year to year; in anticipation of these swings we will strive to seek funding
from all sources of state, federal and private funding with two main emphasis objectives. First, with completion of the
watershed management plan, all partners will be able to utilize unified cooperative goals as a leverage tool to attain
funds. Secondly, the Upper Sevier Watershed Coordinator will be able to actively combine all of the partnerships
goals and objectives to increase the opportunity of leveraging funds for the project.
2002 Estimated Funding (Cost per thousand)
125
NRCS - EQIP Funds
150
Private Groups and Individuals
State Government
1550
1600
Dixie National Forest
700
USFS National Office
Division of Wildlife Resources
175
County Government
100
BLM
100
EPA - 319 Funds
150
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
Partnership Contacts
Project Coordinators
Tyce Palmer
Utah Association of Conservation Districts
Zone 5-Coordinator
2460 West Highway 56, Suite #5
Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 865-0703
Fax (435) 586-7249
tyce-palmer@ut.nacdnet.org
Steve Robertson
Dixie National Forest
Ecosystem Group Staff Officer
1789 North Wedgewood Lane
Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 865-3700
Fax (435) 865-3791
srrobertson@fs.fed.us