Dive into the fascinating world of Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative, a powerhouse program dedicated to enhancing and reviving vital ecosystems across the state. In the fiscal year spanning from July 2022 to June 2023, this initiative achieved a remarkable feat, transforming a whopping 148,883 acres of land in Utah, with some impactful projects right in the Cedar Valley. Established in 2006 as a collaborative effort by the Utah Department of Natural Resources, this program focuses on elevating the health and biodiversity of watersheds, improving water quality, and fostering sustainable use of natural resources. Join us as we explore the incredible restoration projects undertaken, showcasing the program’s commitment to ecological well-being and the engagement of over 86 partners in this noteworthy endeavor.
Cedar Valley Projects
- Eagle Mountain Wildlife Migration Corridor Preservation FY24 (6530) (CURRENT)
Using data collected by the UDWR, BLM, Eagle Mountain City, and other partners a mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) migration corridor was identified running through the middle of an undeveloped area within the City of Eagle Mountain. The objectives of this phase of effort are to install fencing along roads, improve watershed health, and improve habitat for migrating deer and other wildlife. - 2019 Camp Williams Noxious Weed Reseed (5099) (COMPLETED)
160.2809 ac The Utah National Guard has been implementing noxious weed treatment on Camp Williams with mechanical and chemical methods. Now reseeding is needed to ensure long term noxious weed control. - Eagle Mountain Wildlife Migration Corridor Preservation (5180) (COMPLETED)
121.1064 ac Using data collected by the UDWR, BLM and other partners a mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) migration corridor was identified running through the middle of an undeveloped area within the City of Eagle Mountain. The objectives of this phase of effort are to install fencing along roads, and improve habitat for migrating deer and other wildlife - Cedar Fort Discretionary seed (3159) (COMPLETED)
259.2418 ac Private landowner is finishing an NRCS EQIP project to seed 200 acres just north of Cedar Fort from a past fire. Previous seeding failed. Requesting use of DWR range drill to better unsure seeding success. - Cedar Fort Fire Rehab (1437) (COMPLETED)
49.7242 ac This project consists of a follow-up plateau treatment on 170 acres that were seeded with DWR assistance in 2007. - Dump Fire ESR (2497) (COMPLETED)
3,990.1676 ac Stabilize 3,053 acres on BLM lands by aerial seeding, constructing erosion control structures and chaining areas burned by the Dump Fire. - Cedar Fort PJ Removal Phase 2 (4524) (COMPLETED)
2,681.722 ac We will be bullhogging approximately 705 acres south of Cedar Fort, UT. This will protect critical winter range for big game from being lost to PJ encroachment. It will also increase the amount of available forage for wildlife and livestock. - Fairfield Upland Game Project (2646) (COMPLETED)
23.2512 ac Enhance 40 acres of degraded range land for upland game by harrowing, and planting desirable vegetation and planting 20 acres of food plots. - Reseeding Before Juniper Thinning at Camp Williams (5117) (COMPLETED)
19.9401 ac This project entails purchasing seed for areas that will undergo Utah juniper thinning treatments. Utah National Guard is funding this reseeding project and the thinning project. Junipers on the perimeter of stands will be limbed to a height of 2 meters and trees in closed-canopy areas will be removed to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire leaving or entering Camp Williams. The seed purchased in this project will aid in the recovery of the herbaceous understory of these stands and their edges.
Annual Report
DWR Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative works to improve and restore high-priority watersheds and habitats throughout the state. During this past fiscal year — between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 — a whopping total of 148,883 acres were improved across Utah through this unique and innovative program.
Created in 2006, this Utah Department of Natural Resources partnership-based program, focuses on improving watershed health and biological diversity, increasing water quality and yield, and improving opportunities for sustainable uses of natural resources, including restoring fish and wildlife habitats. As one of the initiative’s founding partners, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources plays a key role in planning, overseeing and completing regional restoration projects.
Between 2022-23, Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative completed a lot of habitat restoration work, including:
- Restoring 148,883 acres across Utah, including 31,518 acres burned by wildfires.
- Mixing and spreading 523,120 pounds of seed on various landscapes (including those burned by fires) across Utah.
- Completing a total of 101 habitat restoration projects.
- Improving 262 miles of streams.
- Creating an estimated 644 jobs in the state.
Over $37 million of total funding was invested by more than 86 partners to pay for the different restoration projects. Part of the funding for these projects comes from the DWR Habitat Council, which is funded by a portion of revenue from the fees customers pay for licenses, permits, stamps and certificates of registration. Other funding partners include the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, conservation groups and many other non-government organizations.
Habitat work through Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative includes:
- Aerial seeding after a wildfire.
- Removing encroaching trees for sagebrush preservation and rangeland fire management.
- Prescribed fires to reduce fire fuels in an area (which reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire) and to enhance the aspen habitat utilized by many wildlife species.
- Stream restoration through various techniques, including an innovative method of building artificial beaver dams. This unique dam-mimicking technique was conceptualized in Utah and decreases erosion, raises river levels and even improves water quality.
- Planting shrubs and sagebrush to provide feed and shelter for mule deer, sage-grouse and other wildlife species.
“These proactive projects to improve wildlife habitat and watershed health throughout the state are crucial, not only for our fish and wildlife species, but also for the residents of Utah,” Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative Program Director Tyler Thompson said. “It takes a great deal of coordination and funding to make these projects possible, and we are very grateful to our many partners and their continued support of wildlife conservation and improving water quality.”
Since 2006, this program has improved over 2.5 million acres of Utah’s landscapes through a total of 2,700 restoration projects and has created an estimated 6,560 jobs. Visit the WRI website to see where these projects have taken place across the state.
Serve the people of Utah as trustee and guardian of the state’s protected wildlife. Strengthen support for wildlife management by demonstrating the value and importance of wildlife to all Utahns. Conserve, enhance, and actively manage Utah’s protected wildlife populations.