EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area Habitat Management Plan March 2017
Primary Purpose of BPWMA: The primary purposes of the Browns Park WMA are to: preserve, restore, and enhance both aquatic and terrestrial habitat for wildlife; protect cultural resources; and provide for recreational opportunities that are compatible with the purpose of a wetland ecosystem. Management of this area is directed to maintain a diversified plant community with a diversified structural component. Public access is managed to reduce disturbance during the critical reproductive period for wildlife that utilize this area. This approach will benefit many of the upland and wetland wildlife species that occupy or visit the area, while providing for recreational opportunities during prescribed waterfowl, mourning dove, and pheasant hunting seasons.
Wildlife Species: Browns Park WMA provides crucial year-round habitat for a variety of avian species, but particularly for waterfowl, pheasants, and shorebirds. Wintering bald eagles utilize the area for foraging as well as tundra swans and trumpeter swans. American white pelicans visit the area to forage during spring, summer, and fall. Browns Park WMA provides critical wintering habitat for mule deer and elk. The WMA is also within the Uintah Sage Grouse Management Area.
Habitat Conditions/Problems: Water quantity and water quality is fairly constant to Browns Park WMA due to the Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir upriver. However, flash flooding can be a problem for the infrastructure, including roads, fences, and canals. Thunderstorms also cause increased silt in the Green River from several tributaries upriver. Soil condition is a limiting factor in keeping ponds full on several units. Soil is very sandy and water seeps out quickly. Muskrat and beaver control is required to prevent damage to dikes and canals. Carp and white sucker introduction comes from the Green River and requires some control to decrease competition for food and water turbidity. Noxious and invasive weeds are present and need to be monitored and treated annually. Cattails also need to be controlled to maintain open water on the units. One unit is being leased for crop production to increase habitat for Canada geese and mule deer. There is potential to increase the lease acres on this and other units pending maintenance of pumps and road improvements.
Access Plan: Public access is limited on Browns Park WMA. Vehicles are restricted year round and the units are closed to the public except during listed hunts, which include waterfowl, mourning dove, pheasant, and archery mule deer seasons. Direct access to the Green River for fishing is allowed year round as well as direct access to the Parsons Homestead. There are parking areas at each entrance that allow room for several vehicles. There are no blinds or maintained toilets. Camping is allowed on adjacent public lands and there are pit toilets at BLM administered campgrounds and boat ramps.
Maintenance Activities: Boundary structures, which include fences and gates, are maintained to control access and reduce livestock trespass. Information and regulatory signs are placed and replaced as needed. Roads and dikes are mowed, graded, and maintained. Water control structures are placed and replaced as needed. Habitat is monitored for noxious and invasive weeds and control efforts are implemented on an annual basis. Buildings at the headquarters site and water pumps are maintained and kept in good functioning condition. Equipment is maintained and kept at an operational level. Public use facilities are maintained and repaired as necessary, which includes parking lots and boat launches.
Habitat Improvement: Habitat is evaluated and enhancement, restoration, or development activities are selected for implementation on selected sites. Numerous methods are used for these activities including planting, mechanical manipulation, burning, herbicide treatments, and introduction of biological control agents. Wetland habitats need prescribed fire or other manipulation used to remove residual vegetation on a three-five year rotational schedule. Dewatering should be accomplished when opportunity exists and conditions are appropriate on the Parson’s Unit to help with carp control and vegetation management. Rotational scheduling every three to five years would allow for less impact to nesting and brood rearing birds. The Butch Cassidy Unit is managed in coordination with Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge because it straddles the Utah-Colorado state line.
Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area
-Habitat Management Plan-
March 2017
Prepared by:
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Northeastern Region
318 North Vernal Avenue Vernal, Utah 84078
Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area Habitat Management Plan March 2017
I. Background Information
Property Description Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area (BPWMA) is located in Daggett County, Utah. The area is 47 miles northeast of Vernal, UT and 17 miles east of Dutch John, UT. The WMA lies along the Green River and consists of four geographically separated units: Headquarters Unit, Butch Cassidy Unit, Bridgeport Unit, and Parson’s Unit. The areas lie within or part of the following sections: Sections 13, 24, 25, & 36, T2N, R24E; Sections 19, 21, 30, & 31, T2N, R25E; Sections 2, 3, 10, &11, T1N, R25E;. The total acreage of these sections equals approximately 2,668.7 acres. BPWMA also includes approximately 624.64 acres of leased Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. Leased BLM property lies within or part of the following sections: Sections 24 & 25, T2N, R24E; Sections 3, 11, & 15, T1N, R25E; Sections 19 & 31, T2N, R25 E. See maps in Appendix A.
Butch Cassidy Unit-657.7 acres Headquarters Unit-559.2 acres Bridgeport/Meyers/Parson’s Units-1451.8 acres
Encumbrances: Minerals All mineral rights are held in reservation to the United States of America.
Water rights/shares The UDWR currently has 19 water rights for the WMA. These rights include water rights for irrigation, stock watering, wildlife propagation, and domestic water use. Water rights pertaining to BPWMA are detailed in Table 1 below.
Table 1. BPWMA Water Right Information WUCNO Flow (cfs) Source Priority Period of Use* 41-373 3.1 Crouse Creek 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 4/15 to 10/15 41-376 0.125 Crouse Spring 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 4/15 to 10/15 41-417 0.25 Watson Spring 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-420 3.0 Crouse Creek 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-423 4.0 Green River 1870 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-424 5.0 Sears Creek 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-428 4.0 Green River 1870 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-430 2.5 Green River 1870 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-577 3.0 Crouse Creek 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-585 4.0 Green River 1870 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-1019 1160.15 acft Pot Creek 19230813 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-1117 0.4 Crouse Creek 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-1120 0.75 Crouse Creek 1888 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-1203 1.0 Green River 1870 S: 01/01 to 12/31 I: 04/01 to 11/01 41-2974 2.0/99.516 Green River 19561216 I: 04/01 to 11/01 acft 41-3026 0.015 Crouse Spring 1870 S: 01/01 to 12/31 D: 01/01 to 12/31 41-3070 1.5/79.32 Green River 19630924 I: 04/01 to 11/01 acft W: 01/01 to 12/31 41-3138 10/577.215 Green River 19680319 I: 03/01 to 03/31 and 11/02 to acft 12/31 W: 01/01 to 12/31 41-3304 5/1050 acft Green River 19570327 I: 04/01 to 11/01 W: 01/01 to 12/31 *S(Stock Water), W(Wildlife), O(Other), I(Irrigation), D(Domestic)
Easements/ROWs/MOUs The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has a Recreation or Public Purpose lease with the BLM on 624.64 acres; serial number UTU-37403. Deed #26143 allows for 2 cell towers and access to them and is located on the Butch Cassidy Unit. A natural gas pipeline crosses the Parsons and Meyers Units. Moon Lake Association has a power line right of way to the buildings on the Headquarters Unit.
Grazing There are currently no grazing leases on any unit within fenced areas on the Browns Park WMA. The Bridgeport Unit is currently under a cropshare agreement, but does not allow for grazing. The unfenced portion of the Butch Cassidy Unit will follow the BLM grazing allotment that surrounds that parcel. Future grazing will be considered if benefits can be derived from the practice. Appropriate measures would have to be taken to reduce impacts to wetlands and waterfowl nesting habitat which may include fencing. All grazing requests, including trailing cattle through the WMA, will be considered on a case by case basis and may or may not be approved.
Land acquisition history Most of the property was deeded to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources from United States of America Fish and Wildlife Service under Section 8 of the Colorado River Storage Project Act. Section 8 “authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to investigate, plan, construct, operate and maintain (1) public recreational facilities…and (2) facilities to mitigate losses of, and improve conditions for, the propagation of fish and wildlife, and …whereas, a conveyance to the State of title to these acquired lands so as to allow intensive wildlife management by the State would be in the public interest…” The Fish and Wildlife Service originally acquired the lands through land sales. The Fish and Wildlife Service, which is now the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), retained a revisionary clause on many of the mitigation parcels so if the Utah DWR no longer manages them, the parcels return to the BOR. This clause also guides what can happen on the WMA in terms of selling, etc. Other parcels, including parts of Butch Cassidy, were parts of land swaps between the Utah State Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA).
Historic Uses of the WMA Historically, Browns Park was used by Native Americans as a hunting and wintering area. As settlers moved in, Browns Park was utilized for cattle grazing during winter due to its milder winters compared to surrounding areas. Outlaws also frequented the area due to its remote location and rugged terrain. As more settlers moved in, lands were purchased, homesteads were built, and settlers started irrigating and farming what is now Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area. After Utah Division of Wildlife Resources obtained the property, some of the agricultural lands were turned into water impoundments to benefit waterfowl and other wildlife and to mitigate loss of nesting and brood rearing habitat from the construction of Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir. Some areas are still irrigated to provide forage and cover for wildlife, while others are being reclaimed to a sagebrush/desert scrub ecosystem.
Purpose of Division Ownership The purpose of managing these lands for waterfowl, mule deer, and other wildlife is to provide mitigation for Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir. Lands were first acquired by Bureau of Reclamation and Fish and Wildlife Service and then deeded to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to manage. The purpose of waterfowl management areas are for the protection of the wildlife resources, propagation of wildlife, to provide recreational opportunities for waterfowl hunting, and to protect and enhance the wetlands and associated uplands. Big game and upland game hunting opportunities exist on the WMA. These lands also provide opportunity for non-consumptive wildlife uses by the public.
Key Wildlife Species Occurring on the WMA Browns Park WMA was originally purchased for waterfowl habitat values. Nineteen different duck species use Browns Park either during migration, for nesting and brood rearing, or as wintering habitat. Canada geese, tundra swans, and trumpeter swans are common winter residents; occasionally snow geese migrate through in small numbers. Browns Park provides year-round and seasonal habitat for many other species of wetland and shore birds, including herons, pelicans, cormorants, bitterns, coot, rails, cranes, and grebes. The wetland habitat also provides year-round habitat for mammals such as beaver, muskrat, and otters.
Because of Browns Park’s location along a river corridor and its lower elevation than surrounding areas, Browns Park is an important wintering area for mule deer and elk. Moose frequent the river corridor during the summer months and into fall. Browns Park is also home to several predatory species, including mountain lion, coyote, and bobcat. The upland habitats are home to cottontail rabbits, black and white-tailed jackrabbits, mourning dove, ring-necked pheasant, wild turkey, and Greater sage grouse. Neotropical migratory birds can also be found in the riparian and upland habitats during migration and breeding seasons. A variety of raptors inhabit Browns Park, including bald eagles, golden eagles, osprey, and several species of hawks. Turkey vultures, ravens, and black- billed magpies are also common in the park. Owls include great horned owls, Western screech-owl, Northern saw-whet owl, and an occasional burrowing owl. Northern flickers are common in the park along with an occasional Lewis’s woodpecker. See Appendix B for a complete list of species that can potentially be found seasonally or year-round in Browns Park.
Public Recreation Opportunities Waterfowl hunting is the main recreational draw for Browns Park WMA. Pheasant hunting, mourning dove hunting, and archery deer hunting are allowed on the area during the prescribed seasons. Pheasants have only recently been released for the hunting season and continuing release is dependent on future funding from sportsmen’s organizations. Direct access to the Green River for fishing is allowed year round as well as access to the Parsons Homestead. All other access is prohibited outside the above mentioned hunting seasons.
Conservation Partners Involved in Acquisition Browns Park WMA was deeded to the State of Utah from the Department of the Interior and what are now the Bureau of Reclamation and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Several parcels were also acquired through land trades with SITLA and GSA.
II. Property Inventory
Existing Capital Improvements Existing capital improvements that are maintained as part of the WMA are listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Capital Improvements At Browns Park WMA.
ITEM AS OF 2016 Fence 4 miles Parking Lots 5 Dikes 10 miles Roads 9.3 miles Water Control Structures 23 Gate Openings 12 Entrance Signs 4 Bridges/Channel Crossings 3 Ditches/Channels 4 miles Pump Units 3 Buildings/Structures 8(house/shop/equipment shed/granary/fire shed/2 lean-tos/pump shed)
Water Rights: Detailed water right information can be found on file in the Utah Division of Water Rights Vernal Office and online on the Utah Division of Water Rights website.
Wood Products No wood is harvested or utilized for commercial purposes on Browns Park WMA.
Cultural Resources The majority of the area within the WMA has been disturbed at some point, either by farming practices or water impoundment. No new surface disturbing activities will be completed without prior cultural resource surveys. Significant cultural resources will be avoided during surface disturbing activities. There is an old homestead on the Parson’s unit that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places; attempts were made to stabilize the log cabin walls but the roof and remaining buildings are in disrepair. Adjacent BLM lands were used by Native American tribes prior to settlement and many cultural sites can be found throughout Browns Park. Outlaws, such as Butch Cassidy, also frequented Browns Park where they supposedly had hideouts.
Sensitive Species On Browns Park WMA, there are 15 state wildlife species of concern that have been identified. See Table 3 for a list of species and ranking at state and national levels. See Appendix B for definitions of Sensitive Species Ranking codes.
The listed State Sensitive Species use Browns Park to different degrees. Bald eagles can be found in Browns Park year round, but the majority of bald eagles use Browns Park as a wintering area because of the open water on the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. A pair does nest in Browns Park and has been successful at fledging several young each year. Northern leopard frogs and golden eagles also use Browns Park year round. American bitterns and American white pelicans use Browns Park during the nesting season, however, American white pelicans have not been actively nesting in the area. White-faced ibis use Browns Park during their spring migration; they are not commonly seen during the fall migration. Burrowing owls and Lewis’s woodpeckers have been documented, but there are no known nests for either species in Browns Park. Available burrows are a limiting factor for Burrowing owls because of lack of prairie dogs in the area. Colorado River cutthroat trout are not currently known to be in Browns Park, but they have been released in Crouse Creek so there is potential for them to travel downstream.
Table 3. State Sensitive Species Found on Browns Park WMA
Species State Rank National Rank T&E Status Northern Leopard Frog S3 N5 American Bittern S3/S4B, S3N N4B, N4N American White Pelican S3B N4 Bald Eagle S2B, S4N N5B, N5N Burrowing Owl S3B N4B, N4N Golden Eagle S4 N5B, N5N Greater Sage-grouse S3 N3N4 Candidate Lewis’s Woodpecker S3 N4B, N4N White-faced Ibis S2/S3B N4B, N4N Big Free-tailed Bat SU N3/N4 Fringed Myotis S2B N4 Little Brown Myotis S4 N3 Spotted Bat S3 N3/N4 Townsend’s Big-eared Bat S4 N3/N4 Midget Faded Rattlesnake SNR N4 Colorado River Cutthroat S3 N2/N3 Trout
Important Fish and Wildlife Habitats and General Conditions Browns Park WMA supports a varied complexity of ecosystems. Approximately 392.37 acres are open water, 336.22 acres are marsh, and 1,940.11 acres are upland complexes. The Headquarters Unit exhibits heavy stands of alkali bulrush and reed canary grass along with interspersed stands of cattail and phragmites. Other associated marsh plants are carex, juncus, chara, and light stands of sago pondweed. On some of the higher bottomlands and floodplain periphery, some dense stands of willow are found; the drier portions support stands of salt grass, red top, sand drop seed, and a mixture of annual forbs. In the lower Headquarters Unit, there are stabilized sand dunes supporting stands of scratch grass, sagebrush, and greasewood. Scattered throughout almost all ecosystems is the noxious weed, perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). Dense stands of tamarisk were abundant along the Green River, but due to intense past eradication efforts and annual monitoring and control, tamarisk is now only found in small isolated areas.
The bench lands above the river bottoms on the Butch Cassidy Unit are native rangeland. The bench lands above the river bottoms on the south side of the Green River were mostly under agricultural development, formerly of high land mixtures and grain. Since the major drought of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the land has sat fallow. Annual cheat grass, Russian thistle, and other noxious weeds are the dominant plant species at the present on the former farmlands. Annual cheat grass does provide spring grazing for deer. In fall 2014, the fields were seeded with a brush and forb mix. The area is bordered with sagebrush, greasewood, and galleta grass. Some pinyon-juniper stands are also found along the border. Crouse Creek passes through the central portion of the Headquarters Unit with an annual flow rate of approximately one cfs. The riparian area is heavily covered with greasewood, river elm, and box elders. Cottonwood trees have been planted within the past 7 years and are slowly establishing along Crouse Creek and the Green River.
The Bridgeport Unit exhibits basically three ecosystems: (1) uplands of dense greasewood stands with some areas of short sagebrush; (2) the inter-mediary area is mostly agricultural land; and (3) the marsh of heavy stands of alkali bulrush-cattail stands. The open water supports heavy stands of Chara and algae (blue-green). Perennial pepperweed and Russian thistle is scattered throughout the marsh borders and in the agricultural areas. The agricultural area is currently under alfalfa production.
The Parson’s Unit uplands support mixtures of grasses. Greasewood dominates the dry upper benches above the ponds. Alkali bulrush and cattails have developed dense border stands around most of the water areas. Cottonwood trees have been planted within the past 7 years along Sears Creek and the Green River and are slowly establishing on this unit too.
The Meyers Unit, which is included in the Parsons and Bridgeport acreage, remains undeveloped mainly because of the sand pockets that exist throughout the bottom lands. This area was formerly developed for agricultural purposes. The area is mostly annual grasses and forbs. Sagebrush, galleta grass, and Indian rice grass dominate the upper sandy bench land.
The riparian corridor along the Green River bordering the marshes is quite variable. Small isolated stands of cottonwood are found along with isolated stands of buffalo berry. Willow stands are found bordering the river in all units. Tamarisk and Russian olive can also be found along the Green River; efforts have been made to eradicate these invasive trees on the WMA, however, they are common on the adjacent BLM lands.
Intense spraying efforts for perennial pepperweed, musk thistle, and knapweed on all the units has worked to keep these noxious weeds from dominating the ecosystems. Annual efforts are needed to continue to control these weeds as well as tamarisk and teasel. Canada thistle has been increasing and biocontrol insects were released in fall 2014 and spring 2015. It is too soon to tell the effectiveness of the insects on the thistle patches. The biocontrol consisted of a release of stem mining weevils (Hadroplontus litura) in early summer and a release of stem gall flies (Urophora cardui) in fall.
Habitat Limitations The soils on the area are of low productivity consisting of mostly sandy soils. The soils do not hold water well, requiring high irrigation input to support any crops. Water must be lifted by pumping on the Bridgeport Unit for use on the uplands, which are irrigated using flood irrigation with excess water going to the pond impoundments. Water must also be lifted from the Green River by pumping on the Headquarters Unit to fill the pond impoundments. Pasture irrigation on the Headquarters Unit is by flood, gated pipe, and a K-Line irrigation system. The Headquarters pasture can only be irrigated during the spring and early summer months because water flow decreases and a high volume of water seeps out of the ditch before it reaches the pump and diversions, thus affecting what can be grown. Due to the low productivity of the soil, noxious weeds are a problem wherever soil is disturbed.
Human Use-Related Problems Vandalism to signs and fences are the major human related impact to the area. Hunters leaving spent shotshells is also a problem, but progress has been made the past few years at eliminating this issue by posting “No Littering” signs, which has decreased the amount of spent shotshells found on the WMA. Annual trash pickup also seems to help prevent others from littering.
Adjacent Land Uses and Potential Impacts Surrounding land ownership includes BLM, USFWS, SITLA, and some private lands. BLM comprises most of the ownership. Grazing by livestock occurs in the spring, April through mid-June, and is the major land-use disturbance. The grazing to date has not had a negative impact upon the surrounding watershed above the waterfowl impoundments.
Recreational use of the lands occurs primarily during the hunting seasons. Vehicle access is restricted on the property. No motorized vehicles are allowed inside the boundaries except on the public road that passes through the Headquarters Unit. Roads inside the boundaries are used only for administrative purposes. Shed antler gathering has increased in popularity in recent years and bordering lands receive a lot of OHV use during March and April. Most fishing access occurs on adjacent lands, but the Green River which flows through the WMA, sees a lot of use by guided and non-guided fishermen during April through September.
III. Management Goals and Objectives
Management of the Browns Park WMA will take into account the goals, objectives, and strategies of other Division planning efforts. These other plans are briefly discussed below.
UDWR Strategic Plan (2005-2014) The management of the Browns Park WMA has relevance to the following goals and objectives as outlined in the Division’s strategic plan:
Resource Goal: Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat.
Objective R1-Protect existing wildlife habitat and improve 500,000 acres of critical habitats and watersheds throughout the state by 2014.
Objective R2-Increase fish and game populations to meet management plan objectives, and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities.
Objective R3-Conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered.
Constituency Goal: Achieve broad-based support for division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah.
Objective C1-Increase public awareness of wildlife as a quality-of-life issue in order to expand our support base and achieve stable funding.
Objective C2-Improve communications with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners and government agencies to obtain support for division programs.
Objective C3-Expand programs to recruit and retain young hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers.
These goals and objectives will be accomplished by properly managing the water, vegetation, wildlife and human components of the WMA according to those strategies mentioned in the property and habitat management sections below. These sections detail property maintenance and development, wildlife species and habitat management, and access and fire management on the WMA.
Utah Wildlife Action Plan The first-edition Utah Wildlife Action Plan, adopted in 2005, was entitled the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. This document, commonly known by the acronym WAP (Wildlife Action Plan), outlined a statewide approach for the partnership- based coordinated planning and implementation of wildlife and habitat conservation practices. The WAP is currently undergoing revision for 2015-2025 and is simply entitled Utah Wildlife Action Plan. The updated WAP identifies key habitats throughout Utah, specifies threats to each habitat, and lists strategies for improving conditions in each habitat. The following strategies come from the WAP for improving conditions in aquatic emergent, open water, riverine habitats, lowland sagebrush:
1) Promoting policies that maintain or restore natural water and sediment flow regimes.
2) Promoting policies that reduce inappropriate grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife.
3) Continuing the use of appropriate methods for reducing the spread and dominance of invasive weeds, including “early detection-rapid response” programs.
4) Promoting policies and management that allow fire to return to a more natural regime.
5) Promoting and funding restoration that reduces the Uncharacteristic class, including cutting/mulching/chaining of invading pinyon and juniper trees, herbicide or mechanical treatment of non-native invasive species such as cheatgrass and secondary perennial weed species, and rehabilitation of burned areas following wildfire.
6) Developing and deploying techniques to diversify the understory species composition and age classes of decadent even-aged sagebrush stands.
7) Developing and deploying techniques to diversity species composition in monoculture or near monoculture stands of seeded non-native plants (e.g. crested wheatgrass).
8) Promoting management that includes seeding a diversity of grasses, forbs and shrubs that will lead to increased resiliency and resistance in the plant community.
The WAP lists threats to habitat and wildlife species, identifies objectives and potential conservation actions for each threat, and indicators of success for each objective. The WAP also lists species of greatest conservation need that are found in Utah. Browns Park WMA will use the updated Wildlife Action Plan to help guide management actions that will maintain, conserve, protect, enhance, and increase key habitats found within the WMA. This in turn will help reduce threats and limiting factors and potentially increase population numbers of species of greatest conservation need that are found on Browns Park WMA.
Wildlife Species Management Plans Given the high number of different wildlife species that occur on Browns Park WMA that have no individual management plans, current management activities focus on waterfowl and big game species. The current management activities benefit other species as well by providing quality habitat year round to support different species’ needs. Potential impacts to state sensitive species will be taken into account prior to administering management activities to reduce adverse effects on sensitive species, especially during breeding and nesting seasons.
Utah Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan
Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges.
Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts.
Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2019.
Recreation Goal: Provide a diversity of high-quality hunting and viewing opportunities for mule deer throughout the state.
Recreation Objective 2: Increase opportunities for viewing mule deer while educating the public concerning the needs of deer and the importance of habitat and other limiting factors.
Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah
Sage-grouse Management Goal: Protect, maintain, improve and enhance sage-grouse populations and habitats within the established Sage-grouse Management Areas.
Utah Statewide Elk Management Plan
Habitat Management Goal: Conserve and improve elk habitat throughout the state.
Habitat Objective 1: Maintain sufficient habitat to support elk herds at population objectives and reduce competition for forage between elk and livestock.
Habitat Objective 2: Reduce adverse impacts to elk herds and elk habitat.
Utah Moose Statewide Management Plan
Habitat Management Goal: Assure sufficient habitat is available to sustain healthy and productive moose populations.
Objective: Maintain or enhance the quantity and quality of moose habitat to allow herds to reach population objectives.
Wildlife Management Program: Waterfowl Management Areas This is a periodic plan prepared for Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration grant monies. Funds from this grant are used to operate and maintain buildings, structures, and infrastructure on 24 WMA’s totaling about 120,000 acres to provide habitat for wildlife and to provide public hunting and other wildlife oriented recreation. In addition, monies are used to monitor waterfowl and other wetland dependent avian populations on important state administered management areas.
IV. Strategies for Property Management
Development Activities • Survey needs: o No survey needs currently.
• Fence needs: o There are currently no additional fences or gates required-only routine maintenance of existing fences and gates.
• Sign needs: o Develop a new spreadsheet of sign types, location, status, condition, and number. Inventory sign condition and order signs annually as needed. o Update all existing signs to new Utah DNR template. o Install signs on new parcels
• Facilities: o Replace rotting water lines from spring source to house and bunkhouse. o Reseal water holding tank to prevent roots growing through the cracks and contaminating the water. o Build fence around the spring source to meet Utah health standards. o Replace old house roof and shop/bunkhouse roof. o Continue periodic inspection of buildings, infrastructure and maintenance programs using the WIM system. o Update electrical wiring
• Water control structures: o Continue maintenance of existing water control structures. o Install pipe along a half mile portion of Parson’s canal where hillside keeps sloughing off. Install corresponding beaver exclosures and head gate to manage water flow and reduce sediment load through pipe. Work with Native Fish Recovery Team to install fish excluder along Parson’s canal to prevent Northern pike and white sucker spawning. o Upgrade water diversion structure at Headquarters Unit to prevent erosion and increase ease of use.
• Public Access needs: o Fence crossovers need to be installed/replaced on Headquarters Unit, Butch Cassidy Unit, and Bridgeport Unit. o Footbridge over Parson’s canal needs to be inspected and maintained. o Roads will continue to be maintained to allow access to entrances and dikes will continue to be mowed prior to waterfowl season.
• Habitat needs: o Evaluate wetland and upland habitats annually. o Communicate with other local habitat managers and researchers. Investigate, test or implement new or different habitat improvement methods including, but not limited to: burning; chemical use; seedling or seed plantings; grazing; drawdowns; seasonal flooding; water control; mechanical methods; Biological Control Agents (BCA); and other currently unknown mechanisms. These methods can be used to aid in the control of noxious weeds, make alterations in vegetation succession stages, achieve desirable interspersion ratios, maximize food production and develop desirable cover types. o If identified during habitat evaluations, request additional funding through the UDWR Habitat Council to improve vegetative quality of upland habitat to benefit wildlife such as deer, pheasants, geese, etc. o Identify and investigate potential benefits or concerns with native or exotic new plants and wildlife species dispersing into the WMA. o Develop habitat management needs and strategies for suites of wildlife species. o Seek funding to seal ponds to lessen water loss during summer months. o Continue to work with local rancher to increase acreage in alfalfa production on WMA to increase habitat for transplanted Canada geese.
Annual Operations and Maintenance Activities • Fence maintenance: o Inspect entire boundary and internal fence lines each year. Repair and replace old or damaged fences and gates.
• Road and dike maintenance/closures: o Maintain areas where motorized vehicles are unauthorized. o Grade all main public dirt roads once a year. Grade dirt dikes and non- public use roads as needed. o Mow dikes prior to waterfowl season to improve hunter access. o Maintain dikes by filling muskrat holes. Assess and fill any weak sections. o Monitor and repair foot bridges as necessary.
• Parking areas: o Maintain existing parking areas.
• Noxious weed control: o Noxious weed control efforts will be conducted by WMA personnel through water management, chemical treatments, mechanical control, and the use of biological control agents. Annual weed maps will be generated to aid in assessing effectiveness of control methods.
• Predator, other animal, and fish control: o Apply necessary control methods annually to keep mammalian predators, muskrat, and carp populations in check. Public trappers, along with state WMA personnel, are all involved in control of some of these populations. o Continue beaver control year round to reduce damage to infrastructure and changes to water distribution. o Install fish excluder along Parson’s canal to prevent fish colonization of ponds.
• Sign replacement and closures: o Maintain boundary, entrance, and regulatory signs to clearly identify ownership, access, vehicle restrictions, and rules and regulations enforced on the WMA. Assure that all signs are clear, legible, and in place prior to hunting season. Rebuild, repaint, or replace signs as needed. o Update ‘littering prohibited’ signs.
• Maintenance of water developments: o Manage water levels and maintain dikes, culverts, head gates, risers, ponds, and wetlands to maximize habitat quality on the WMA. Check water control structures weekly through most of the year, with daily checks during high water events. o Periodically assess water control structures for damages from muskrat, beaver, or rust. Replace equipment as needed. o Excavate and remove accumulated vegetation and sediment from head gate areas. o Remove and safely store extra spill boards prior to hunting season. o Check water depths and excavate the inlet heads and main distribution irrigation channels as needed.
• Habitat enhancement and development: o Maintain and manage all WMA habitats and vegetation. o In upland areas, evaluate habitat conditions, prepare and conduct herbaceous seedings, or renovations. Throughout the WMA keep at least 10-20 percent of the habitat and its associated biotic communities in early succession stages. o Manipulate wetlands to recycle dormant seed banks to increase habitat quality for wildlife. On the WMA wetlands, keep at least 10-20 percent of the habitat and its associated biotic communities in early succession stages and habitat types.
• Facilities: o Maintain buildings and grounds. Clean, paint and make repairs as needed. Mow and water lawns and irrigate trees. Winterize low use buildings and drain all necessary exterior pipes, hoses, and sprinklers as winter approaches. o Inspect, monitor, and replace as needed, all inventory listed within the WIMS Program System.
• Equipment: o Maintain all equipment and machinery and make necessary repairs. This includes: daily lubrication during use periods and one complete annual service with fluid changes or stabilizations. Winterize equipment as season approaches.
• Wildlife census: o Browns Park will continue to be a release site for urban Canada geese permitting adequate habitat exists for resident and translocated geese. o Current wildlife census activities include: . monthly or bimonthly waterfowl population census; . quarterly nongame bird census; . breeding pair duck and goose surveys; . duck and goose brood surveys; . mourning dove banding; . waterfowl hunter counts and bag check surveys; . tracking and tabulation of animal control efforts.
V. Strategies for Habitat Management
Management Plans for Wildlife Species Browns Park WMA was originally acquired to mitigate for wetland habitat and mule deer winter range loss from building the Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir. Strategies for habitat management primarily focus on quality habitat conditions for waterfowl, while taking into consideration other wildlife, habitat, and human components of the WMA. These strategies include:
• Provide an array of different water depths and pond sizes that are interspersed with different habitat types which are diverse in structure, succession stage, composition, density and occurrence intervals, and that meet the diverse species and annual cycle needs of wildlife that use the area. This management focus is on improving conditions for waterfowl, which is also beneficial to other high priority upland game, shore and wading bird species, and sensitive species, while minimizing negative impacts to other wildlife that use the area. • Maintain a diverse plant and wildlife community using available tools, technology, and knowledge. • Maintain control of undesirable plant species, increase food quality and production, and enhance cover quality. • Maintain control of undesirable wildlife species that negatively impact higher priority species. • Minimize negative impacts to wildlife from public recreational use, along with other impacts on the WMA.
Objectives or strategies to preserve, enhance, or restore wildlife populations on the WMA are usually habitat related. The strategies are completed as mentioned earlier or by following a series of plans as listed in the Habitat Improvement Plan section. While some groups of wildlife species (such as waterfowl) or individual species (such as mule deer and Canada geese) are dealt with directly through their own strategies, surveys, population goals, harvest recommendations, UDWR’s long term Standardized Operating Procedures, or the Pacific Flyway Council, most of the avian species do not have individual plans to guide management activities.
Habitat Improvement Plan The enhancement, creation, and maintenance of quality habitat conditions on Browns Park WMA are done primarily for waterfowl because the WMA was originally created to benefit waterfowl species. As improvements have been made to waterfowl habitat, other species have also benefitted. The habitat conditions for all wildlife on the WMA are important, and although waterfowl is of primary concern, efforts are made to accommodate the needs of other species. Examples of this include: installing osprey nesting platforms; planting upland shrubs and forbs for mule deer; planting cottonwoods to improve riparian habitat for passerines and turkeys; keeping willow patches to accommodate moose; and maintaining wetland areas that attract shorebirds and wading birds.
As for other Waterfowl Management Areas, the “waterfowl mission” for Browns Park WMA “is to perpetuate, enhance and increase wetland resources to maximize habitat, wildlife populations and public use through education, management and regulation.”
Habitat Objectives:
1. Maintain, restore, preserve, enhance, diversify, and manage existing wetland resources. 2. Inventory existing habitat conditions. 3. Expand wetland resources. 4. Aggressively combat invasive weeds with herbicide, prescribed burn treatments, and water management. 5. Properly manage selenium concentrations with water management and prescribed burn treatments. 6. Repair, replace, and maintain fences and signs to keep motorized vehicles out of the WMA and reduce public intrusion into wildlife production areas and important big game winter range. 7. Increase recreational opportunities where compatible with wildlife needs. 8. Provide and promote regulation to insure maintenance and preservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat. 9. Identify education parameters and develop awareness of wetland and wildlife resources and values. 10. Preserve, restore, enhance, and manage upland and riparian habitats.
Examples of recent efforts to expand, preserve, maintain, restore, enhance, and diversify habitat include:
• A new water pump was installed in 2015 at Headquarters so water rights can be better utilized and wetland habitat expanded. Bentonite was applied to about a quarter of the pond impoundment area to reduce water loss. Additional bentonite will be applied as funding permits. • In 2015, a lease agreement was reached with a local rancher to put the old fields on the Bridgeport Unit back into hay production to expand and diversify habitat for translocated urban Canada geese. • In 2014, 40 acres of upland habitat were seeded with Wyoming big sage, bitterbrush, and fourwing saltbush to restore important big game winter range from competitive grasses. • Over 400 cottonwood saplings were planted and fenced in the riparian area along the Green River during 2011 and 2012. Saplings were irrigated to increase survival until roots could reach the water table. • In 2013, burned over 200 acres on the Parsons Unit to manage selenium concentrations and invasive weeds. • In 2015, burned over 100 acres on the Butch Cassidy Unit in cooperation with Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge to manage for invasive weeds. • Maintained structures on over 23 water control structures, 3 pump units, 24 miles of channels, dikes, and roads, over 4 miles of fence, and hundreds of signs. • Installed goose nesting platforms and wood duck nest boxes. • In 2014, released biocontrol agents (Hadroplontus litura and Urophora cardui) to control Canada thistle. Canada thistle patches where biocontrol agents were released have experienced reduced vigor and have not expanded. • Bake Oven Flat Restoration Project (2013) Seeding of 150 acres of degraded rangeland to enhance Mule deer winter range browse.
Additional Plans that guide BPWMA Management Access management plan Public access is limited to specific hunting seasons to achieve WMA management goals and objectives, specifically to protect breeding and nesting waterfowl and other wildlife. Vehicles are restricted year round and access is limited to walk in and non-motorized vehicles. Browns Park WMA is currently open for the following seasons: waterfowl, mourning dove, archery deer, and pheasant. Direct access to the river for fishing is permitted year round, as well as access to the Parsons Homestead. The Browns Park Headquarters Unit is currently classified as a Wildlife Management Area so it is open for deer, elk, and moose hunting in addition to the above listed seasons. See map in Appendix A for access points and parking areas.
Water management plan WMA personnel will utilize water rights pursuant to what is allowed for each water right in a conservative fashion that will guarantee continuation of the previously listed water rights. Water use will be monitored to follow the proper designations and limits of use for each water right, which may include irrigation, seasonal flooding, and pumping.
Grazing management plan Parts of Browns Park WMA were historically grazed as part of a working ranch. Grazing has not been allowed on the WMA since the UDWR obtained ownership. Grazing has not been allowed due to the difficulty of successfully grazing a wetland habitat and not incurring habitat and infrastructure damage. The unfenced portion of the Butch Cassidy Unit will follow the surrounding BLM grazing allotment’s regulations. Future grazing will be considered if benefits can be derived from the practice. Appropriate measures would have to be taken to reduce impacts to wetlands and waterfowl nesting habitat which may include fencing and not grazing during the waterfowl breeding and nesting season. All grazing requests, including trailing cattle through the WMA, will be considered on a case by case basis and may or may not be approved.
Weed management descriptions and strategy Weeds are a constant problem on Browns Park WMA and WMA personnel utilize a variety of control methods depending on species and what has been shown to work in the past and elsewhere. Significant progress has been made the past several years at eliminating Russian olive and decreasing occurrence of tamarisk by using mechanical methods and herbicide. However, the surrounding properties have not managed to control these species so re-colonization is a constant battle, as it is with all of the following weed species. Common teasel is also controlled via mechanical methods prior to flowering; annual removal has so far limited the expansion of teasel. Biocontrol agents were released to control Canada thistle in patches where spraying is difficult; future releases may occur depending on funding and if biocontrol agents continue to control existing thistle patches. Musk thistle and untreated Canada thistle patches are controlled with herbicide. Due to both thistles’ ability for high reproduction and viability of seeds of up to seven years in the environment, annual surveys and herbicide treatments are required. Other weeds that are also controlled with herbicide include knapweed, perennial pepperweed (tall whitetop), reed canary grass, and cattails. Currently, phragmites has not been a problem; it is found on Browns Park WMA but it has not shown invasive qualities and it is believed to be the native species. WMA personnel work with Uintah County Weed Department to determine rotation of herbicides to reduce the potential for weeds to develop resistance to specific herbicides.
Predator management plan Predators are currently controlled by WMA personnel throughout the year. Due to Browns Park WMA’s remote location, getting trapping bids from reliable trappers is difficult, and most years no bids are received to trap Browns Park WMA. Mammals that require control include coyote, fox, skunk, raccoon, beaver, and muskrat. Methods currently used include trapping and hunting by UDWR personnel. Public trappers are utilized through the waterfowl management area trapping protocol and bid process.
Fish management plan Browns Park WMA does not currently manage for sport fish. No fishing is allowed within the ponds on any of the units, but direct access to the Green River for the purpose of fishing is allowed year round. The Green River is managed under its own management plan. The only impoundments that are connected to a fish source are on Parsons from the Green River and on Headquarters from Crouse Creek. Crouse Creek was recently stocked with Colorado cutthroat and fish have been observed on Headquarters Unit. Due to the connectivity of the ponds on Parsons Unit to the Green River, there is a threat that the ponds could be a spawning area for white sucker, Northern pike, carp, or other undesirable or harmful species to the Green River fishery and endangered and threatened fish downriver. Drawdown of water through the winter months reduces fish numbers in the shallow ponds; however, the deeper areas can hold fish year round. To reduce this threat, a fish excluder needs to be installed along the Parsons canal and then the ponds need to be either drained or chemically treated to remove any existing fish.
Fire management plan Prescribed burns will be initiated as State of Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands resources allow and weather permits. Fire management plans will be drafted prior to the initiation of prescribed burns to detail objectives of the burn and other fire related information. Prescribed burns are beneficial in reducing vegetative accumulation and oxidizing selenium. Prescribed burns should be initiated every three to five years. In case of a wildfire, wetland areas will be allowed to burn and fire in upland sagebrush areas will be fought to reduce the likelihood of invasion by cheat grass. Wildfire will also be fought if it is in the area around any infrastructure buildings, such as at Headquarters and around the historic Parsons Homestead. Appropriate reclamation measures, such as seeding, will be taken after a wildfire. See map in Appendix A for more information.
VI. Summary Statement of Proposed Uses
The goals and objectives of the Browns Park WMA are to preserve, restore, and enhance both aquatic and terrestrial habitat for all wildlife and to provide public hunting opportunity for waterfowl and other defined species. Maintaining a highly functional system in a healthy state will benefit the wildlife resources and public users.
VII. Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation is accomplished through site assessments, wildlife surveys, data collection (species presence and harvest) and analysis, and through diligent observation. The area supervisor will be responsible for monitoring the overall effectiveness of the program. Appropriate UDWR sections will provide expertise as required and the regional team will amend this plan as needed.
VIII. Appendices
Appendix A: Maps
Appendix B: Wildlife and Plant Information
APPENDIX A: Property Maps
APPENDIX B
Specific Wildlife List for Browns Park WMA These are animals that have been reported on the WMA or that could occur here. *Reported on WMA
AVIAN
Common Name Scientific Name
Eared Grebe* (Podiceps nigricollis) Pied-billed Grebe* (Podilymbus podiceps) Western Grebe* (Aechmophorus occidentalis) Common Loon* (Gavia immer) American White Pelican* (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Double-crested Cormorant* (Phalacrocorax auritus) American Bittern* (Botaurus lentiginosus) Great Blue Heron* (Ardea herodias) Snowy Egret* (Egretta thula) Black-crowned Night-heron* (Nycticorax nycticorax) White-faced Ibis* (Plegadis chihi) Tundra Swan* (Cygnus columbianus) Trumpeter Swan* (Cygnus buccinator) Snow Goose* (Chen caerulescens) Canada Goose* (Branta canadensis) Wood Duck* (Aix sponsa) Mallard* (Anas platyrhynchos) Northern Pintail* (Anas acuta) Gadwall* (Anas strepera) American Wigeon* (Anas americana) Northern Shoveler* (Anas clypeata) Blue-winged Teal* (Anas discors) Cinnamon Teal* (Anas cyanoptera) Green-winged Teal* (Anas crecca) Lesser Scaup* (Aythya affinis) Ring-necked Duck* (Aythya collaris) Canvasback* (Aythya valisineria) Redhead* (Aythya americana) Common Goldeneye* (Bucephala clangula) Bufflehead* (Bucephala albeola) Common Merganser* (Mergus merganser) Ruddy Duck* (Oxyura jamaicensis) Hooded Merganser* (Lophodytes cucullatus) Turkey Vulture* (Cathartes aura) Northern Harrier* (Circus cyaneus) Cooper’s Hawk* (Accipter cooperii) Sharp-shinned Hawk* (Accipter striatus) Red-tailed Hawk* (Buteo jamaicensis) Rough-legged Hawk* (Buteo lagopus) Osprey * (Pandion haliaetus) Golden Eagle* (Aquila chrysaetos) Bald Eagle* (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) American Kestrel* (Falco sparverius) Ring-necked Pheasant* (Phasianus colchicus) Greater Sage-grouse* (Centrocercus urophasianus) Wild Turkey* (Meleagris gallopavo) Virginia Rail* (Rallus limicola) Sora* (Porzana carolina) American Coot* (Fulica americana) Sandhill Crane * (Grus canadensis) Semipalmated Plover* (Charadrius semipalmatus) Killdeer* (Charadrius vociferous) American Avocet* (Recurvirostra americana) Black-necked Stilt* (Himantopus mexicanus) Greater Yellowlegs* (Tringa melanoleuca) Lesser Yellowlegs* (Tringa flavipes) Spotted Sandpiper* (Actitis macularia) Long-billed Curlew* (Numenius americanus) Willet* (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) Long-billed Dowitcher* (Limnodromus scolopaceus) Wilson’s Snipe* (Gallinago delicata) Wilson’s Phalarope* (Phalaropus tricolor) Red-necked Phalarope* (Phalaropus lobatus) Bonaparte’s Gull* (Larus philadelphia) Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) California Gull* (Larus californicus) Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) Mourning Dove* (Zenaida macroura) Eurasian Collared-dove* (Streptopelia decaocto) Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) Western Screech-owl* (Otus kennicottii) Great Horned Owl* (Bubo virginianus) Burrowing Owl* (Athene cunicularia) Northern Saw-whet Owl* (Aegolius acadicus) Common Nighthawk* (Chordeiles minor) Common Poorwill* (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) Belted Kingfisher* (Ceryle alcyon) Black-chinned Hummingbird* (Archilochus alexandri) Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) Broad-tailed Hummingbird* (Selasphorus platycercus) Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) Northern Flicker* (Colaptes auratus) Lewis’s Woodpecker* (Melanerpes lewis) Downy Woodpecker* (Picoides pubescens) Hairy Woodpecker* (Picoides villosus) Gray Flycatcher* (Empidonax wrightii) Western Kingbird* (Tyrannus verticalis) Eastern Kingbird* (Tyrannus tyrannus) Northern Shrike* (Lanius excubitor) Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) Clark’s Nutcracker* (Nucifraga columbiana) Black-billed Magpie* (Pica hudsonia) Pinyon Jay* (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) Common Raven* (Corvus corax) Horned Lark* (Eremophila alpestris) Tree Swallow* (Tachycineta bicolor) Violet-green Swallow* (Tachycineta thalassina) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) White-breasted Nuthatch* (Sitta carolinensis) Marsh Wren* (Cistothorus palustris) House Wren* (Troglodytes aedon) American Dipper* (Cinclus mexicanus) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) Mountain Bluebird* (Sialia currucoides) Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) Townsend’s Solitaire* (Myadestes townsendi) American Robin* (Turdus migratorius) Gray Catbird* (Dumetella carolinensis) Sage Thrasher * (Oreoscoptes montanus) European Starling* (Sturnus vulgaris) Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) Blackburnian Warbler* (Setophaga fusca) Yellow Warbler* (Dendroica petechia) Black-throated Gray Warbler* (Dendroica nigrescens) Wilson’s Warbler* (Wilsonia pusilla) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Western Tanager* (Piranga ludoviciana) Lazuli Bunting* (Passerina amoena) Black-headed Grosbeak* (Pheucticus melanocephalus) Spotted Towhee* (Pipilo maculatus) Sage Sparrow* (Amphispiza belli) Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) American Tree Sparrow* (Spizella arborea) Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Song Sparrow* (Melospiza melodia) Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) Dark-eyed Junco* (Junco hyemalis) White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) Bullock’s Oriole* (Icterus bullockii) Western Meadowlark* (Sturnella neglecta) Red-winged Blackbird* (Agelaius phoeniceus) Yellow-headed Blackbird* (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) Brewer’s Blackbird* (Euphagus cyanocephalus) Brown-headed Cowbird* (Molothrus ater) Gray-crowned Rosy-finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) House Finch* (Carpodacus mexicanus) American Goldfinch* (Carduelis tristis) Lesser Goldfinch* (Carduelis psaltria) House Sparrow* (Passer domesticus)
MAMMALS
Common Name Scientific Name
Moose* (Alces alces) Elk* (Cervus elaphus) Mule Deer* (Odocoileus hemionus) White-tailed Deer* (Odocoileus virginianus) Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana) Coyote* (Canis latrans) Mountain Lion* (Felis concolor) Bobcat * (Felis rufus) Red Fox* (Vulpes vulpes) Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Cottontail Rabbit* (Sylvilagus spp.) Black-tailed Jackrabbit* (Lepus californicus) White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) River Otter* (Lontra Canadensis) Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Raccoon* (Procyon lotor) Weasel * (Mustela spp.) Mink (Neovison vison) Badger * (Taxidea taxus) Beaver * (Castor canadensis) Muskrat* (Ondatra zibethicus) Deer Mouse* (Peromyscus maniculatus) Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) Rock Squirrel* (Spermophilus variegatus) Pocket Gopher * (Thomomys spp.) Ord Kangaroo Rat* (Dipodomys ordii) Meadow Vole* (Microtus pennsylvanicus) Olive-backed Pocket Mouse* (Perognathus fasciatus) Spotted Bat* (Euderma maculatum) Big Free-tailed Bat* (Nyctinomops macrotis) Pallid Bat* (Antrozous pallidus) Townsend’s Big-eared Bat* (Corynorhinus townsendii) Hoary Bat* (Lasiurus cinereus) Big Brown Bat* (Eptesicus fuscus) Western Pipistrel* (Pipistrellus Hesperus) Silver-haired Bat* (Lasionycteris noctivagans) Little Brown Myotis* (Myotis lucifugus) Yuma Myotis* (Myotis yumanensis) Long-eared Myotis* (Myotis evotis) Fringed Myotis* (Myotis thysanodes) Long-legged Myotis* (Myotis volans) California Myotis* (Myotis californicus) Small-footed Myotis* (Myotis subulatus)
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
Common Name Scientific Name
Great Basin Gopher Snake* (Pituophis catenifer) Wandering Garter Snake* (Thamnophis elegans) Midget Faded Rattlesnake* (Crotalus oreganus concolor) Western Yellowbelly Racer* (Coluber constrictor) Northern Leopard Frog* (Rana pipiens) Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) Woodhouse’s Toad* (Bufo woodhousii)
FISH
Common Name Scientific Name
Common Carp * (Cyprinus carpio) White Sucker* (Catostomus commersonii) Northern Pike* (Esox lucius) Brown Trout* (Salmo trutta) Rainbow Trout* (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fathead Minnow* (Pimephales promelas) Channel Catfish* (Ictalurus punctatus) Colorado Cutthroat* (Oncorhynchus clarki pleuriticus) Smallmouth Bass* (Micropterus dolomieu) Green Sunfish* (Lepomis cyanellus) Redside Shiners* (Richardsonius balteatus) Mountain Whitefish* (Prosopium williamsoni) Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) Flannelmouth Sucker (Catostomus latipinnis) Bluehead Sucker (Catostomus discobolus) Mottled Sculpin* (Cottus bairdii) Speckled Dace* (Rhinichthys osculus)
CRUSTACEANS
Common Name Scientific Name
Crayfish* (Orconectes virilis) Snail No known data Mussel No known data Clam No known data
State Sensitive Species Code Definitions For Table 3
• N- Ranks designated at a national level (N-rank) for a particular nation. • S-Ranks designated at a subnational or state level (S-rank). • 1-Critically imperiled (typically having 5 or fewer occurrences, or 1,000 or fewer individuals). • 2-Imperiled (typically having 6 to 20 occurrences, or 1,001 to 3,000 individuals). • 3-Vulnerable (rare; typically having 21 to 100 occurrences, or 3,001 to 10,000 individuals). • 4-Apparently secure (uncommon but not rare, but with some cause for long-term concern; typically having 101 or more occurrences, or 10,001 or more individuals). • 5-Secure (common, widespread, abundant, and lacking major threats or long-term concerns). • B-Breeding, conservation status refers to the breeding population of the species. Follows the numeric part of the rank, if used. • N-Non-breeding, conservation status refers to the non-breeding population of the species in the nation or state/province. Along with “B”, used here for migratory birds and bats. If a conservation status rank does not include “B” and/or “N” after the number, or after one of the letters or marks below, the species resides within that level (whether G, N, or B) all year. • H-Of historical occurrence but not known recently extant. Possibly extinct or extirpated, but with some reasonable hope of rediscovery. Routinely applied after 20 years of no observations (whether or not any surveys were conducted). Used instead of a number. • NR-Not ranked, i.e. not yet assessed. Used instead of a number. • U-Unrankable, due to conflicting or inadequate information. Used instead of a number. • X-Presumed extinct or extirpated, with rediscovery not reasonably expected. Not located despite extensive and intensive searches. Extinction is a global (range-wide) phenomenon, while extirpation applies to loss within a particular national or subnational area, with the entity still extant elsewhere. Used instead of a number. • #/#-Range of ranks due to uncertainty, e.g. S2/S3 indicates a state rank ranging from S2 to S3. • ?-Recorded within a nation or state, but local status not available, not yet determined, or ‘Indeterminate’. Used instead of a number.
Common and Scientific Names of Invasive and Noxious Weeds in this Document
PLANTS
Common Name Scientific Name
Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium L) Cattail (Typha spp) Common Reed (Phragmites australis) Tamarisk (Tamarix spp) Knapweed (Centaurea spp) Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)