WLCI Grant: Watershed Management & Habitat Enhancement at Triple Creek Forage Reserve

A. Legislative Authority: Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-579)

B. Project Background Information: The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) has been formed to implement a long-term science-based program to assess and enhance the quality and quantity of aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale in Southwest Wyoming, while facilitating responsible development. The WLCI is a part of the Secretary of Interior’s Healthy Lands Initiative.

This project will support the WLCI and the Secretary of Interior’s Healthy Lands Initiative by providing habitat improvement and enhancement of habitats for a number of species including BLM Wyoming sensitive species. TU will benefit by expanding and enhancing habitat for wildlife species, forming partnerships with US Forest Service, BLM, Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is mandated to place priority management efforts toward species that are of special concern due to threats or low population condition. Keeping these BLM and State listed sensitive species off the Endangered Species list is a primary goal. This agreement will also facilitate working with partners such as private landowners, wildlife groups and other government agencies who promote wildlife enhancement and the representation of wildlife interests on public and private lands. A key component of the WLCI is building partnerships with local communities and users, including the wildlife community.

C. Project Objective: The main purpose of the WLCI program is to provide for wildlife habitat enhancement projects on a landscape scale in Southwest Wyoming through developing partnerships. The main purpose of this project is to establish a forage reserve on Forest Service administered lands. This project provides an opportunity to meet WLCI objectives for healthy habitats and restore the tall forb, aspen and riparian communities through rest from grazing and improved livestock management. Restoration of these plant communities will reduce sediment inputs into area streams, benefiting native trout and the assemblages of other native aquatic species inhabiting these streams. The area contains important summer range and parturition habitat for the Wyoming Range mule deer herd unit, which is currently the largest herd unit in the state, and also provides both summer and parturition habitat for a portion of two distinct elk herd units.

D. Benefits: This project will support the WLCI and the Secretary of Interior’s Healthy Lands Initiative by providing habitat improvement and enhancement for a BLM Wyoming sensitive species. The recipient will benefit through partnerships to complete purchase of grazing permits and work with partners to close 5,115 acres to livestock grazing, and place 53,560 acres into a Forage Reserve. Development of vegetation critera, monitoring mehtods, timeframes and locations and collection of data including condition and trend data. The recipient will benefit by providing healthy habitat for wildlife species and facilitating management efforts to keep BLM and State listed sensitive species off the Endangered Species list. This project will help meet objectives to conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. The area will be used for identified appropriate grazing use to facilitate completion of additional wildlife enhancement projects in the WLCI area and outside the TPFR. This agreement will also facilitate working with partners such as private landowners, wildlife groups and other government agencies who promote wildlife enhancement and the representation of wildlife interests on public and private lands. A key component of the WLCI is building partnerships with local communities and users, including the wildlife community.

E. Statement of Joint Objectives/Project Management Plan:

1. Purpose. The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) is a part of the Secretary’s Healthy Lands Initiative. WLCI works with partners to implement a long-term science-based program to assess and enhance the quality and quantity of aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale in Southwest Wyoming, while facilitating responsible energy and other developments. Funds will be used for a WLCI supported project to create a forage reserve to enhance wildlife and aquatic habitat in the northwest side of the WLCI landscape area. This area will ensure the long-term, sustainable health of vegetative communities and create a forage reserve to facilitate future treatments to benefit fish and wildlife habitats, including several conservation populations of sensitive and threatened species. Improvement of watershed/vegetative conditions in upland and riparian habitats on 58,657 acres throughout the project area will be accelerated.

2. Triple Peak Forage Reserve Agreement (TPFR) Statement of Deliverables
a. Months 1-3 (Spring 2008) Complete purchase of grazing permits by late spring 2008.
b. Months 3-6 (Summer 2008) Work with partners to close 5,115 acres to livestock grazing, and place 53,560 acres into a Forage Reserve.
c. Month 3-6 (summer 2008) Develop additional vegetative criteria and monitoring methods, time frames, and locations with WLCI involvement.
1) WLCI involvement includes sharing information associated with methodolgy; monitoring protocols; monitoring tools (such as LIDAR, Quickbird, etc if available); and incorporation of information into a landscape level WLCI data and information system.
2) TU involvement includes coordination with partners on development of vegetation critera, monitoring mehtods, timeframes and locations and collection of data including condition and trend data.
d. Month 6-12 (summer 2008 to summer 2009) Finalize establishment of forage reserve and identify appropriate grazing use.
e. Provide appropriate years of rest following grazing use.
f. Use area for identified appropriate grazing use to complete additional wildlife enhancement projects in the WLCI area and outside the TPFR.
g. Continue monitoring for improvements of aquatic, watershed and vegetative conditions and interchange information and data among the recipient and WLCI.
h. Summer 2008 provide progress report. Provide follow-up report on any additional activities in the TPFR by September 10, 2008.
i. Provide yearly progress reports on any improvements, enhancements, monitoring information, and progress toward meeting the goals of the forage reserve, by September 10 each year if the project is funded past the first year.