Upper Sevier River
Community Watershed Project
2002
Annual Report
Demonstrative Restorative Techniques
Research Monitoring
and Adaptive Management
The State Division of Environmental Quality has applied a
stream visualization assessment
process to private land along
the Sevier River to increase
awareness of stream channel
conditions.
The Utah State Division of
Wildlife Resources and local
land owners on the East Fork of
the Sevier River have restored
over 9 miles of stream channel
to improve fisheries habitat and
riparian function.
Partnership Overview
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:
•
Research, monitoring and adaptive management
•
•
•
Demonstrating restorative techniques
Restoration and maintenance of watershed ecosystems
Cooperation, coordination and collaboration
Restoration and Maintenance
of Watershed Ecosystems
Utah State University
researchers and private land
managers have demonstrated
range and pasture management techniques that can be
applied to better manage
vegetative conditions within
the watershed.
The Upper Sevier Soil Conservation District has emphasized
cooperation, coordination and
collaboration through annual
field tours within the watershed
and with monthly technical
advisory committee meetings
emphasizing watershed assessment and planning goals.
Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration
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The Upper Sevier Watershed
Management Plan continues to
progress utilizing direction found
in “Ecosystem Analysis at the
Watershed Scale” federal guide.
This analysis method has been
preferred for our interagency
plan development.
Utilizing Geographic Information System
(GIS) maps, each watershed has been
displayed to show its’ major ecological and
social features. This will increase a cooperative understanding of the watershed
structure and ecosystem dynamics.
Visualization and
Watershed
Characteristics
Utilizing local knowledge of
the watershed conditions,
historical and current
condition analysis is used to
better understand restoration opportunities.
Current & Historical
Conditions
Assessment
Partnership Goals
In an effort to better understand the watershed focus areas, the watershed assessment process will need to be
collaboratively assembled into a plan document for all the watershed. Current goals for development of watershed plan
will focus on the East Fork Sevier River. This area is slated for total maximum daily load analysis (TMDL) in the upcoming
year and will help in cooperative management in the watershed with the EPA and the State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
Cooperation and coordination between the public and government agencies will be essential for a cohesive
development of the watershed management plan. The current structure of the technical advisory
committees (TACs) will facilitate this effort in involving multiple resource perspectives.
Restoration
Opportunities
Restoration projects are currently
being prioritized according to
current recommendations and key
issues. Restoration objectives will be
a driving force in the future and will
assist in fund leveraging objectives.
Priority Ratings of
Watersheds for
Resource Issues
Key Issue Identification
Priority ratings are currently being
compiled and will need to be cooperatively agreed upon to enhance the
leveraging ability of the watershed.
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Issue identification will focus on the
most relevant management questions
associated with human values and
resource conditions. The partnership
must collaboratively agree on key
issues that have been represented by
many resource specialists and landowners.
Accomplishments
Riparian and Habitat Management
•
•
•
•
23 miles of riverine valleys
inventoried
450 acres of soil and water
resource improvements
110 acres of lake habitat
improved
10 miles of stream channels
restored
Major accomplishments within the
watershed with riparian and habitat
improvements have been highlighted by cooperative fisheries
projects with private landowners
and State Division of Wildlife
Resources. Species habitat
monitoring on management
indicator species has also been a
partnership goal.
Access Management
•
•
•
Duck/Swains Access Management Project DEIS
released, October 2002
176 miles of trails maintained/improved
Upper Sevier Trails Workshop held October 2002
Access management objectives this
year have involved actions
associated with the Upper Sevier
Trails Workshop to develop goals
related to trail expansion along the
Sevier River. The Duck Creek
Swains Access Management draft
EIS (released Oct. 2002) will
address possible road decommissioning and closure for watershed
and habitat improvement goals.
Vegetation Management
•
•
•
•
•
1,500 acres of noxious weeds
treated
480,000 acres of rangeland
monitored
17 acres of reforestation
2,500 acres of rangeland
improved/established
4 million board feet of timber
harvested
Vegetation management has been
emphasized this year by the Utah
State University Extension Service
with workshops highlighting range
and pasture management. Forest
Service emphasis has included
projects related to the Englemann
Spruce ecosystem recovery efforts,
aspen regeneration monitoring and
tree stand density reduction related
to mixed conifer and ponderosa
ecosystems.
Fire Management
•
•
•
101 acres of brush disposal
2,000 acres of wildland/urban
interface lands treated
40,000 acres of prescribed
fire objectives meeting
ecological goals.
Current accomplishments within
the watershed include urban
wildland fire interface projects
with landowners, Forest Service
and State of Utah Division of
Forestry and Fire to work together
in achieving structural protection
goals. The prescribed fire accomplishments within the watershed
have focused on vegetative/fuels
management for ponderosa pine
and pinyon-juniper ecotypes.
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Duck Creek Fuels Reduction Analysis
Environmental Conseqences/Outcomes Related to Fire Management
Duck Creek, Utah, located in the Upper Sevier River Asay Creek subwatershed, was identified as one of the Urban Wildland
Interface Communities at risk from fire as part of the National Fire Plan. Duck Creek consists of several privately owned, small
subdivisions adjacent to Forest Service lands. A recent spruce-bettle epidemic, as well as a lack of periodic fire, and current drought
conditions in southern Utah, has left this area at high risk to wildland fire.
Forest Service
staff have
emphasized the
importance of
partnerships in
achieving
common goals in
the urban
wildland fire
interface areas of
the forest.
The Duck Creek Fuels Reduction project, currently in the analysis stage, with
work scheduled to begin next summer, will reduce accumulated fuels and
create defensible natural space around the perimeter of several subdivisions.
Overall, the project covers a 15,000 acre area, to be completed over the next
5 years.
Currently, fuel load throughout much of this area is as high as 25-50 tons/
acre. Following the treatment, which will consist of removal of smaller
diameter trees, followed by pile and broadcast burning, fuel loads are
expected to be in the vicinity of 15 tons/acre.
Thinning of
dense
undergrowth
will see an
increase in
aspen,
grasses and
forbs, thereby
reducing
erosion
within the
watershed.
Private lands adjacent to forest lands with high fuel
loading are at risk to catastrophic wildfire. Fuel
reduction programs are much safer and cost
effective than wildland fires.
Fuels
(high density small
diameter trees and large
concentrations of downed
woody debris)
Reduction
As part of the
fuels reduction,
area
homeowners
are encouraged
to maintain
defensible
space on their
own property,
as well as
surrounding
forest lands.
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Maintaining defensible natural spaces with low
fuel loading around communities will decrease
fire hazard.
Accomplishments and Growth
Roles, Traditions
Panguitch
elementary
grade school
students help
plant willows,
pull weeds and
improve
riparian
conditions along
Panguitch Creek
as part of
Community
Watershed Days.
Various partners continue to take the lead role in furthering
watershed restoration objectives.
Utah State University (USU), and in particular Garfield
County Extension continues to work with local schools and
civic groups to accomplish volunteer restoration projects.
This past year’s annual watershed days included watershed
education and improvements at the Panguitch Outdoor
Classroom, and willow planting and fencing on local
ranches. In addition, 4-H and scout groups have used the
USU Panguitch farm for demonstration stream restoration
projects.
Upper Sevier Soil Conservation District remains the
leader in providing landowners with available low interest loans and other costshare opportunities. They have also taken the lead role in developing the Upper Sevier Community Watershed Project Newsletter to
better involve and update local landowners.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) continues to complete phases of restoration work in the East Fork of the Sevier
River. Re-establishing streambank vegetation and re-creating stream meanders has encouraged other adjacent landowners in the
area to improve fisheries and riparian habitat and function. Species habitat restoration involving forage development goals has been
an annual goal for DWR, within the watershed. Currently seeding plans for this fall include over 5,000 acres of forage improvement
within the watershed.
U.S. Forest Service personnel continue to work closely with partners in all aspects of watershed management, and in helping
partners understand the interactions between such issues as grazing, recreation, riparian protection and non-point pollution. The
emphasis for large-scale watershed restoration is a forest priority that has broad support from forest leadership.
Fund Leveraging
Watershed field
trips with topics
such as the 2002
Farm Bill help
local ranchers/
farmers
understand fund
leveraging
opportunities.
In the upcoming year, the Watershed Steering Committee and Color Country
Resource Conservation and Development District will continue to work with
landowners to best utilize available funds and seek new sources. Of special
interest is the 2002 farm bill which will give private landowners the opportunity
to apply conservation practices to their own lands for watershed benefits. The
watershed has also been successful in attaining Non Point Source Pollution
(319) funding for use within the watershed.
Wyden Amendment
Wyden Amendment Funds (USFS & BLM funds that can be used
with local partners to accomplish high priority restoration,
protection and enhancement work on private lands adjacent to
public lands) continue to be successfully used in 2002. The funds
will continue to be used as part of the Upper Sevier Community
Watershed Project as opportunities for private/public restoration
continue to increase throughout the watershed. The Wyden
amendment funding is one of the best ways to work with a variety
of private landowners installing watershed practices that will help
foster improved communication for watershed restoration goals.
Installation
of fencing on
the Tebbs
Ranch, near
Panguitch, is
just one way
Wyden funds
were utilized
in 2002.
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Sanford Fire
Challenges and Change
Within the boundaries of the Upper Sevier River
Watershed the Sanford Fire burned from April 22 to
July 1 consuming portions of 78,000 acres (6% of the
watershed) before it was declared contained.
In the wake of one of the largest fires in the history of
the Dixie National Forest, the Sanford Fire provides
opportunities to work with partners in long-term
restoration and monitoring.
Partners we are working with include:
•
•
•
Division of Wildlife Resources in the
monitoring and recovery of riparian habitat
for fisheries reintroduction and improvement.
Private landowners for monitoring of
sedimentation and downstream effects from
accelerated post-fire runoff.
Livestock allotment managers to monitor the
vegetative re-establishment that will be
conducive to grazing within the burn perimeter.
Many of the already burned areas within the Sanford
Fire were scheduled for subsequent-year prescribed
fire treatments to reduce accumulated fuels and to
improve vegetation conditions and habitat for
wildlife. However, high burn intensities in some
drainages, followed by post fire flood events, caused
sediment runoff that exceeded historic levels within
the watershed. A long-term monitoring plan composed of various resource specialists and communicating with local partners will help ensure that
desired future conditions are met for areas affected
by the Sanford Fire.
Top - While the Sanford Fire created a desired mosaic of burned and unburned areas, some areas within the burn perimeter may require rehabilitation and
supplemental seeding to stabilize the watershed.
Center - Forest Service personnel will continue to work with partners such as private landowners and Division of Wildlife Resources. High levels of sediment
have affected the fishery on the East Fork of the Sevier River and also altered some vegetation and riparian functions.
Bottom - Of special concern to resource personnel is a remnant population of pure-strain Bonneville cutthroat trout located within the Deep Creek drainage.
Following the fire, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and U.S. Forest Service personnel rescued and relocated about 218 live cutthroat trout. It may be several
years before the stream is sufficiently recovered to reintroduce the fish.
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Future Actions and Opportunities
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Analysis
Burned Area Monitoring - Sanford Fire
Much of the Upper Sevier River and its tributaries are slated
for Total Maximum Daily Load Analysis (TMDL), as part of
the Clean Water Act and subsequent listing as a 303(d)
“impaired” water. The Utah Division of Water Quality has
initiated
TMDL work
along the East
Fork of the
Sevier River.
The TMDL
studies will
identify
designated
uses of water
(irrigation,
fisheries,
culinary water sources), and specific chemical and biological
critieria necessary for protection of the designated uses, along
with
antidegredation
provisions
necessary to
protect water
quality.
It is vital that
the Upper
Sevier River
Community
Watershed
group take a
collaborative
Although much of the area burned during the Sanford Fire
(78,000 acres) was scheduled for future prescribed burning
treatments, the intensity of the burn and large area the fire
covered, and the fact that it happened all at once, may pose
altered watershed
function for many
years.
Shortly following
the fire, intense
thunderstorms
carried a great
deal of debris into
the East Fork
Sevier River and
tributaries,
degrading fish
habitat and
removing critical streamside vegetation.
Short-term emergency rehabilitation efforts, including placing
log erosion
barriers and
annual grass
seeding is helping
to slow and
direct run-off;
however, longterm monitoring
will need to
focus on the
following:
role in developing the
TMDL for the watershed.
The watershed management
plan currently being
developed will need to
coincide and coordinate to
ensure a successful TMDL
and watershed plan that
will be useful for all
partners in the watershed
and to achieve common
goals.
• Vegetative recovery in
mixed conifer stands
• Aspen regeneration success
• Long-term soil productivity
• Riparian and stream
channel recovery
• Prevention of noxious
weeds and invasive plants
• Forage level suitable for
livestock use
• Road damage that effects
the
safety of
travel.
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Partnership Budget
FY2002
4000
Budget in Thousands
3500
3000
Total Need
2500
Estimated Expenditures
2000
1500
1000
500
0
BLM
NRCS
DEQ
UDWR
EPA
Forest
Service
Private
Lands
Grants
Watershed Partners
These charts summarize our funding level for the fiscal 2002 and projected 2003 budget. Funding figures listed are based on
project implementation work; salary and other fixed cost budgetary items are not captured in these charts. The business plans out
year prediction for these budgets are consistent when all factors of funding are considered. Budget figures for 2003 are estimated
by modestly increasing our project implementation levels from 2002. 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 completion
of the watershed management plan, all partners will be able to utilize unified cooperative goals as a leverage tool to attain funds.
With federally managed lands comprising over 80 percent of the watershed, a continued emphasis of the partnership budget will be
dominated by federal resources.
FY2003
5000
Budget in Thousands
4500
4000
3500
3000
Total Need
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
BLM
NRCS
DEQ
UDWR
EPA
Private
Lands
Watershed Partners
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Forest
Service
Grants
Partnership Contacts
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
Richard Jaros
Dixie National Forest
Soil and Water Program Manager
1789 N. Wedgewood Ln.
Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 865-3722
Fax (435) 865-3791
sjaros@fs.fed.us
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