Management Feature

Alternative 1

Proposed Action

Wasatch Plateau Sheep Grazing

Sustainable Multiple

Use Grazing Alternative

Submitted to

Manti-La Sal NF

March 27, 2004

Sustainable Multiple Use Alternative Livestock Grazing -

Submitted to Manti-La Sal NF

Dec. 24, 2004

ALLOWABLE FORAGE USE

Riparian: Grass and Forbs

Spring: 50-60%

Summer: 45-50%

Fall: 30-40% or 4" to 5" of stubble or regrowth (DEIS 3-5)

or as different in non-NEPA Allotment Management Plan (DEIS 3-5)

Riparian areas are unsuitable for sheep grazing except in designated sites spaced for essential access to water or crossings

• Sheep grazing allowed in riparian areas until one or more of the following conditions is met:
• Streambank trampling ≥15%
• 6" stubble height in greenline
• Browse on riparian shrubs exceeds 30% of current year's growth
• Graminoids above greenline utilized more than 25%
• One-half of suitable beaver habitat free of livestock grazing within 10 years

ALLOWABLE FORAGE USE

Upland: Grass and Forbs

0% to greater than 45% use of key plants, depending on non-NEPA allotment management plan (DEIS 3-5)

1. 50% biomass retention by palatable grasses/forbs
2. ≤40% combined utilization by sheep and wildlife of grasses/forbs in "unsatisfactory condition" shrublands/ grasslands
3. 25% utilization during drought

• 25% if forage production of desirable species is good or excellent (≥ 50% of reference area)
• 15% if grazing outside growing season and forage production of desirable species is fair or poor (<50% of reference area)
• None if during growing season and forage production of desirable species is fair or poor (<50% of reference area)

Shrub/aspen sprout branch tips

No limits on utilization of shrub or aspen mentioned in the DEIS or Forest Plan

1. ≥70% of current year's branch tips remain unbrowsed sheep and wildlife by end of grazing season
2. ≤20% browsed stem tips of shrubs in shrublands/grasslands of "unsatisfactory condition"

≤30% browse of current year's leader growth

Goshawk habitat

Implement goshawk amendment (DEIS 2-2)

Goshawk amendment guideline v for grazing management: "When it is determined through the landscape assessment process that ungulate grazing is contributing to an identified functioning-at-risk condition related to habitat needed to support goshawk and its prey [only in forest patches], modify grazing practices to maintain or restore the desired seed, mast, and foliage production defined in the landscape assessment process."(2003 M-LS NF Forest Plan Amendment UTMLEA2003-01)

≤20% utilization (ave.) by wildlife and sheep within 5,400 acres of home range

≤20% utilization (ave.) by wildlife and sheep within 5,400 acres of home range.

(Derived from USFS Technical report on management for goshawk, Reynolds et al. 1992)

REFERENCE AREAS

Unspecified number of exclosures less than 5 acres to monitor effects of no grazing (DEIS 3-4)

Reference areas are used to help determine suitability of sites for sheep grazing

Reference areas (100-1,000 acres for each major vegetation type in areas free of livestock grazing ≥ 10 years) are used to help determine suitability of sites for sheep grazing and allowable utilization

FORAGE PRODUCTION REQUISITE FOR SHEEP GRAZING

No minimum current forage production required, only a potential average for the planning area:

Having the potential to produce an average of 200 lbs forage per acre over the average of the planning period (DEIS 3-1).

Capable rangelands were last evaluated during the 1969s and 1970s (DEIS 3-1).

Forage production required for sheep grazing:

• sufficient palatable forage to retain ≤50% of palatable plant biomass at end of season of wildlife and sheep grazing
• grass/forb biomass ≥50% and ground cover ≥85% of NRCS soil potential; and
• at least 200 lbs.of forage/acre on an air dry basis.

Current forage production required for sheep grazing:

1. sufficient to provide for wildlife and sheep at ≤50% combined utilization
2. current production 200 lb/acre native forage on capable and suitable land

DISTURBED SITES (E.G., FIRE, MECHANICAL TREATMENT)

No special limits on sheep utilization following wild fire.

"Livestock operators would be required to take [unspecified] short-term reductions following treatment [by prescribed burning]"(DEIS 3-4)

Burned sites are unsuitable until recovery to forage production standards (see above)

Avoid sheep grazing of burned sites until recovery to good vegetation condition (50% of reference area)

MEADOWS

No special limits to sheep utilization of meadows.

No special limits on sheep utilization of meadows specified.

See forage utilization for "Upland: Grass and forbs"

No direction for shrubs/aspen browsing

Can be utilized if soil bulk density ≤10% higher at end of grazing season compared to a reference meadow

A suitable-use tall forb meadow (≥50% NRCS soil potential for native forebs and grasses) can be visited only once a year

• Can be utilized if soil bulk density ≤15% higher at end of grazing season compared to a reference meadow (Forest Service Handbook 2509.18)
• A tall forb meadow can be visited only once a year

ASPEN STANDS

No limits to sheep utilization of aspen stands specified

Can be grazed if:

1. young stems are above elk/deer/sheep browse height; AND
2. native grass/forb biomass ≥50% of NRCS soil potential

Can be grazed if:

1. young stems are growing above elk/deer/sheep browse height (approx. 7 ft); AND
2. grass/forb biomass ≥50% and ground cover ≥85% of a reference area

WILDLIFE HABITAT

No special limits to sheep utilization of special wildlife habitat specified (e.g., for mule deer fawning or winter habitat, other MIS habitat, sage grouse nesting/brooding habitat, goshawk prey habitat)

• Key mule deer fawning and winter habitat unsuitable for sheep grazing
• Occupied and potential TES habitat can be utilized by sheep if evidence indicates grazing will not directly or indirectly contribute to retardation of the species' reproduction and potential spread

• Key mule deer fawning and winter habitat unsuitable for sheep grazing
• Habitat for or condition of management indicator species and species of special concern can be grazed if the reproductive, structural or functional needs of that species is being met.
• Potential nesting and brood-rearing habitat for sage grouse can be grazed if residual grass height is 18 cm (6 inches during nesting and brood-rearing season).
• See "Goshawk habitat" above

INVASIVE SPECIES SITES

Sheep can graze in patches of noxious weeds until they have produced seed (2-2).

[No mention of invasive species other than noxious weeds.]

Unsuitable for sheep grazing if site contains any of the ten exotic, invasive species considered most threatening to the northern Manti-La Sal Wasatch Plateau area

Invasive species are considered an ecological conflict when rating allotments

MUNICIPAL WATERSHEDS

No special limits to sheep utilization in municipal watersheds.

Unsuitable for sheep grazing if the watershed supplies culinary or household water

Unsuitable: does not count for forage calculations

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Permittee should report any observed instances of sheep impacting an archaeological siete (2-2)

Sensitive archaeological sites unsuitable for sheep grazing unless evidence indicates grazing would not be likely to adversely impact the site

Unsuitable for sheep grazing if sites will be impacted

MONITORING

No monitoring commitments stated.

Annual

1. Forage production and utilization and shrub browse at end of grazing season in all major vegetatetion types on the allotment
2. Forage production on burned sites until suitable for grazing
3. Absence of sheep from riparian areas except at designated watering/crossing sites
4. Presence of the ten most threatening exotic, invasive species

Once every three years:

• Reference area forage production
• TES habitat condition

Trend: annual on 1/5 of allotments

on permanent representative transects:

• Upland and riparian plant communities based on the proportion of plant species present as compared to the appropriate reference area and including but not limited to measures of ground cover, canopy cover and production of vegetation species, bare ground, rock (>3/4"), crust, and litter.
• Riparian area condition of streams, seeps, springs, and wetlands through Level II Riparian Inventories or equivalent wetlands inventories.
• Soil bulk density

Condition: annual on 1/5 of allotments in major vegetation types:

1. Adherence to allotment's utilization, upland and riparian criteria
2. presence of exotic or invasive plant species considered most threatening to the District
3. Condition of habitat of relevant species of concern
4. Livestock impacts to identified archaeological sites

Burned sites are monitored until forage has attained suitable use status

VEGETATION TREATMENTS

Treat 15,347 acres by spraying tarweed, burning quaking aspen [14,000 acres], and seeding [unspecified as to whether the seeding will be of exotic or native species] (DEIS 2-2)

• Use genetically-local native seed and seedlings in revegetation
• Use nonpersistent non-natives only as an emergency and as an intermediate step to accomplish native plant restoration

• 1. No active conversion of sagebrush to other vegetation types.

2. No seeding of non-native forage species.

3. Incorporate invasive species prevention and passive and active treatments into allotment management plans and annual operating instructions, including considering eliminating livestock grazing in areas of high populations of invasive plants (see SMU Alternative, Inv. Plts. Objective 4)

NUMBER OF SHEEP AUMS

No stated changes from current AUMs; "stocking [in possible AMPS] will be based on capacity of the rangelands after considering forage utilization, etxtent of rangelands in unsatisfactory condition, vegetative trends, and soil trands" (DEIS 2-2)

Not specified

AUMs are calculated for utilization limits on use of current (i.e., updated from 1960s and 197s), palatable forage on suitable lands

STRUCTURAL RANGE IMPROVE-

MENTS

Install 24 water troughs to reduce impacts in riparian areas and to increase distribution of forage use (Email sent 1/24/05 by John Healy, M-LS NF)

Structural improvements as needed to retain sheep in suitable areas

Structural developments as needed for protection of sensitive species, habitats, etc.

GRAZING SYSTEM CHANGES

Continue to authorize sheep grazing on an allotment by allotment basis (DEIS 1-4)

Any reduction s in permitted number would take place over a two-year period (DEIS 2-1)

Grazing system changes as needed to remain within utilization limits and suitable sites

Grazing system changes as needed to remain within utilization limits and specified areas

ALLOTMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN DEVELOP-

MENT

"A new or amended Alloptment Management Plan maybe [sic] developed for each allotment and implemented as funding allows" (DEIS 2-1)

Not specified

Allotment management plans will be completed with an EIS in a public process.

ALLOTMENT PRIORITIZATION FOR APPROPRIATENESS OF SHEEP GRAZING

None

Not specified

Allotments and pastures are rated for

1. ecological conflicts
2. ecological values foregone
3. social conflicts
4. level of demand for livesetock use

Prioritized allotments are placed in an Allotment Decision Matrix to determine whether the allotment/pasture should be open, closed, available for permit relinquishment, or extended rest (See Table 1 below):

LEVEL OF DEMAND

LEVEL OF CONFLICT -- SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL

Low Ecological

Low Social

Low Ecological

Moderate Social

Low Ecological

High Social

Moderate Ecological

Low Social

Moderate Ecological

Moderate Social

Moderate Ecological

High Social

High Ecological

Low Social

High Ecological

Moderate Social

High Ecological

High Social

Low Demand

Open

IPR, close, or create ERA

IPR, close, or create .ERA

IPR, create .ERA

IPR, close

IPR, close

IPR, close

Close

Close

Moderate Demand

Open

Open

IPR, create .ERA

Open

IPR, close, or create .ERA

IPR, close

IPR, close, or create .ERA

IPR, close

IPR, close

High Demand

Open

Open

IPR, Open or create .ERA

Open

IPR, Open or create .ERA

IPR, create .ERA

IPR, Open or create .ERA

IPR, create .ERA

IPR, close, or create .ERA