RICHFIELD FIELD OFFICE
Need:
Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) Analysis of Public Lands on the Colorado
Plateau
Issue:
Although there is data and research on OHV impacts in other areas and other types
of terrain, no comprehensive area-wide recreational survey has ever been done.
There is no specific research on the impacts of various types of OHV's on Plateau
ecosystems as defined by climate, soil type and vegetative cover. What are the
impacts from use of four-wheelers, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, etc. to wildlife, soils,
sedimentation rates, and vegetation? Knowledge is needed on user demographics
and the types of activities currently being conducted as well as what future activities
might be anticipated.
Application:
This type of project would gather data on what the needs and desires of the public
recreationist are and what level of facilities and services are required. Impacts of
recreational use would be better understood and reduced in terms of their effects on
wildlife populations, riparian areas, watersheds, natural areas, etc. Types of uses
could be better designed to fit land designations so as to improve the recreational
experience and the health of the land. This type of data will allow greater predictive
abilities and enhance the effectiveness of mitigation measures when analyzing soil
disturbing recreational activities on public lands.
Category:
Survey - Visual resources.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
Federal Agencies, User Groups.
Estimated cost:
$50,000 - 100,000.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Tim Finger, Wilderness/Recreation Specialist - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Issue:
Recreation, Livestock and Wildlife Impacts on the Henry Mountain Bison Herd
The Henry Mountain Bison herd is the only free roaming herd in the U.S. No
assessment of habitat and use conflicts has been conducted. A full scale
assessment of the habitat of the Henry Mountain Bison herd has not been
conducted and is needed to assure proper management of the herd. There is no
information regarding impacts to the Henry Mountain Bison herd as a result of
recreation use. Is the increased recreation use causing bison to alter traditional
seasonal use patterns? Is recreation use having any impacts during breeding and
calving seasons? Is there any conflict and/or overlap of forage consumption
between livestock and bison? There is a need to determine optimum carrying
capacity numbers for each species in terms of range conditions. Currently the Bison
have moved into new ranges where there is little forage allocation. There is also no
forage allocation for wildlife in these areas.
Application:
Currently there is little information on the movement patterns of these species within
the Henry Mountains or their impacts to the range. Gathering this data will allow
proper management of the Henry Mountain bison herd and other native species and
address mitigation for conflicts between different users in the Henry Mountains.
Category:
Research - wildlife, recreation impacts.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
UDWR.
Estimated cost:
$50,000 - 100,000.
Status:
Contact:
New proposal (2001).
Gary Hall, Assistant Field Office Manager - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Issue:
Habitat Characteristics and Assessment for Northern Goshawk, Mexican Spotted Owl
and Southwest Willow Flycatcher
Detailed assessments for each of these species in this area is currently unavailable.
Such information is needed for planning purposes. We would like to examine and
conduct an assessment of the habitat characteristics for Northern Goshawk,
Mexican Spotted Owl and Southwest Willow Flycatcher within the Henry Mountain
Field Station. These species are federally protected and management is directed by
recovery plans. Critical habitat designations have been made for the Mexican
Spotted Owl. A full assessment of what is nesting, roosting and foraging habitat is
needed for each of these species. A determination regarding impacts from
associated activities and mitigation for such impacts is needed. Determinations for
restoration of declining habitats is also needed
Application:
Information would be used by other agencies and academia. This type of research
and monitoring would assist BLM in long-term management of these species and
their habitats and would assure sustainability of each species and such habitats.
Category:
Research - wildlife, T&E species, habitat assessment.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
UDWR, Academia, Other Agencies.
Estimated cost:
>$100,000.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Lori Armstrong, Resource Advisor - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Habitat Characteristics and Assessment for Utah Prairie Dog on the Parker Mountain
Issue:
Detailed assessments for Utah Prairie Dog on the Parker Mountain is currently
unavailable. Such information is needed for planning purposes. We would like to
examine and conduct and assessment of the habitat characteristics for Utah Prairie
Dog on the Parker Mountains. This species is federally protected and management
is directed by recovery plans and conservation strategies. A full assessment has not
been conducted of habitat characteristics located on the Parker Mountain. Utah
Prairie Dog populations have fluctuated over decades and it is not known whether
those fluctuations on Parker Mountain are a result of disease or alteration in habitat
characteristics. A determination regarding impacts from other activities, specifically
livestock grazing and mitigation for such impacts is needed. Determinations for
restoration of declining habitats is also needed.
Application:
Information will be used by other agencies and academia. This type of research and
monitoring would assist BLM in long-term management of this species and its
habitats and would assure sustainability of such.
Category:
Assessments - wildlife, prairie dogs, T&E species, habitat impacts.
Scope:
Local, with potential regional application.
Potential partners:
UDWR.
Estimated cost:
$50,000 - 100,000.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Lori Armstrong, Resource Advisor - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Seasonal Use Areas and Preferred Use Areas of Desert Bighorn Sheep
Issue:
The identification of suitable range and the carrying capacity for Desert Bighorn
sheep is needed. A full scale assessment of the habitat within the drainages of the
Dirty Devil River is needed. Such information will assist with management decisions
for maintenance of habitat and for determinations regarding potential conflicts with
livestock and other uses. Is there any conflict between the extent of conflict and
overlap of forage consumption between livestock and Desert Bighorn sheep?
Application:
This type of analysis and data will allow proper management of Desert Bighorn
Sheep within the Dirty Devil watershed along with mitigation for conflicts between
different users.
Category:
Inventory and assessment - wildlife, Desert Big Horn sheep.
Scope:
Local, with some application regionally.
Potential partners:
UDWR.
Estimated cost:
$50,000 - 100,000.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Gary Hall, Assistant Field Office Manager - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Control of Invasive Tamarisk in Critical Wildlife Habitat Areas
Issue:
Invasive Tamarisk is rapidly spreading in watersheds throughout the Colorado
Plateau, including critical habitat for a number of key species of concern including
Desert Bighorn Sheep, Mexican Spotted Owl, Southwest Willow Flycatcher and
others. Wildlife populations, species diversity and naturalness are being adversely
affected. An effective small-scale management project is needed in high priority,
site specific locations (seeps, springs and riparian corridors). This project, using a
range of biological, chemical and mechanical methods would gather information on
success rates per effort while reducing impacts to natural systems.
Application:
This data will allow enhanced knowledge of watershed restoration techniques in
areas of critical wildlife habitat which have been invaded by Tamarisk and
improvement of native habitats for many protected species. Information will provide
for management of riparian corridors and will meet T&E species mandates
Category:
Research - wildlife, invasive species, restoration experimentation.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
UDWR, Academia, Chemical Companies.
Estimated cost:
Total $50,000 - 100,000.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Lori Armstrong, Resource Advisor - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Completion and Publication of NRCS Order 3 Soil Surveys within Wayne County, Utah
Issue:
Order 3 Soil Surveys have been completed throughout much of Utah, and areas
remaining for completion have not been done do to costs and remote nature. NRCS
cannot complete these areas in a timely order without financial assistance.
Application:
Order 3 soil survey information is needed to assess site characteristics and
ecological capacity. This is a critical base data layer for determining a variety of
resource values and potential uses and impacts for a variety of programs.
Category:
Baseline inventory - soils.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
NRCS.
Estimated cost:
$.50/acre, over 100,000 acres.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
LaRell Chappell, Soil Scientist - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Sagebrush Steppe Habitat and Avian Population Dynamics and a Bibliography of
Previous Research
Issue:
Examine the habitat characteristics of sagebrush on different sagebrush obligate
bird species. Such assessments are especially critical for the Sage Grouse which is
currently under consideration for federal listing.
Application:
Research and monitoring would assist BLM in long-term management of avian
habitat in sagebrush steppe communities and would assure sustainability of such
habitats.
Category:
Research - sagebrush steppe habitat, sage grouse.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
UDWR, NRCS.
Estimated cost:
$100,000.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Lori Armstrong, Resource Advisor - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Pinon and Juniper Encroachment into Sagebrush Communities
Issue:
Many factors have led to the increase in the density of Pinon-juniper throughout the
West. What has precipitated are vast areas once dominated by sagebrush,
sagebrush/grasslands are now dominated by Pinon-juniper. As Pinon-juniper
increases in density less opportunity exists for palatable, more desirable species to
occupy the landscape. Wildlife species dependent on the forage in a sagebrush
community lose grass, forbs, and browse species to the encroachment of Pinonjuniper.
Application:
Regional scale, information will be used by other agencies and academia and a
variety of different programs. This type of research and monitoring would assist
BLM in long-term management of sagebrush steppe communities and would assure
sustainability of such communities. The implementation and completion of such a
project would allow land managers more opportunity to maintain and/or restore
sagebrush communities and the wildlife populations that are tied to these
communities.
Category:
Research - vegetation, sagebrush, piñon- juniper, wildlife.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
NAU, USGS, NSTC. This issue and need have been incorporated into the BLM
Colorado Plateau Pinon-juniper Strategy. NSTC is also providing assistance in
bibliographic research.
Estimated cost:
> $100,000 but proposal can be broken into smaller discrete projects likely running
between $5,000 - 10,000.
Status:
New proposal (2001). This issue and need have been incorporated into the BLM
Colorado Plateau Pinon-juniper Strategy. NSTC is also providing assistance in
bibliographic research.
Contact:
Lori Armstrong, Resource Advisor - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701
Need:
Effective Vegetative and Physical Reclamation Techniques on the Colorado Plateau,
and a Bibliography of Past Research
Issue:
Increasingly, programs are initiated for restoration of abandoned minesites and
watersheds. The Colorado Plateau has a unique assemblage of soil and vegetation
types, combined with unique climatic and precipitation patterns. What vegetative
species have the best chance of survival if used in reclamation given these
characteristics? Is it better to use native species, which are more difficult and
expensive to acquire and work with, or are there non-native species that may work
without adverse impact? Should vegetative species be acquired from local areas so
that they are acclimated to local climatic patterns? What types of soil characteristics
govern success, or require additional treatment prior to revegetation.
Application:
Regional scale, information will be used by other agencies. This type of information
would greatly enhance restoration and reclamation efforts, resulting in cost savings
in time and materials, and result in enhanced success of reclamation.
Category:
Data acquisition - bibliography, reclamation treatments.
Research - reclamation.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
NSTC, USGS, academia.
Estimated cost:
$10,000 - 25,000 per project.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Lori Armstrong, Resource Advisor - (435) 896-1500
150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701