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Utah National Forest –20+ Years of Environmental Cooperation

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service October 2014

Cooperation

Cooperation between the US Forest Service, the State of Utah, and a variety of stakeholder groups has resulted in the development of successful water resources monitoring programs and land management projects. These efforts have resulted in improved watershed condition and reduced non-point source pollution.

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Water Quality Monitoring

The US Forest Service has collected water quality monitoring data in partnership with the Utah Division of Water Quality.

Cooperative baseline sampling program - started in 1992. Data used by UDWQ for Statewide assessments and by Forest Service for environmental assessments of Forest projects

Samples collected at 240 water quality sites on six National Forests

Water Quality Monitoring

Utah Lakes TMDL – 2004-2009

Eleven lakes sampled in five Utah National Forests

Reports with recommendations for reducing non-point sources resulted in several projects implemented

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Water Quality Monitoring

Metals Sampling - Abandoned Mine lands (USGS Synoptic Study, Jordan River TAC for Alta, American Fork mine rehab w/ Trout Unlimited, Snowbird)

Nutrient Sampling – 2015 (Working w/ UDWQ to review proposed standards for nitrogen and phosphorus and collect data using proposed protocols)

Bacterial Sampling – grazing allotments (Working w/ UDWQ on data collection for water quality baseline sites)

Successful Projects

Cooperation between the US Forest Service, its’ permittees, and various stakeholders has resulted in many successful projects. Four examples –

Utah Lakes TMDL projects

American Fork Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Watershed Condition Framework restoration projects

Education - Keep it Pure and Silver Lake Exhibits

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Successful Projects

Utah Lakes TMDL project example – Bridger Lake Campground.

Trail Bridges

Piers

Fencing

Trail trend surface improvements

Dead tree salvage

Partners include Utah and WyomingStudent Conservation Corps

Successful Projects

American Fork Abandoned Mine Reclamation - Partners include UDWQ, Trout Unlimited, Snowbird Resort

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Successful Projects

American Fork Abandoned Mine Reclamation – Reducing mine drainage to streams

Successful Projects

Saddle Creek Restoration - Watershed Condition Framework project

Partnerships include Ruby Pipeline mitigation, Utah Habitat Council, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife

Total Costs – Forest Service $306,800, Partners $133,113

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Successful Projects

Saddle Creek Restoration - Road Relocation

Successful Projects

Saddle Creek Restoration - Elk Valley unauthorized route decommissioning and fencing riparian areas

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Successful Projects

Saddle Creek Restoration - Hells Hollow Aspen Prescribed Fire

Successful Projects

Education - Keep it Pure

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Successful Projects

Education - Silver Lake Exhibits