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Monroe Mountain Aspen
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Monroe Mountain Aspen Collaborative Working Group
Jody A. Gale*, Agriculture Agent, Sevier County and Economic Development Area Agent Southern Region, USU Extension, Richfield, Utah Carl Kim Chapman, Area Animal Scientist , USU Extension, Richfield, UtahSteve E. Daniels, Extension Specialist & Collaborative Facilitator, USU Extension, Logan, UtahTom Tippetts, Central Region Coordinator, Grazing Improvement Program, Ut. Dept. of Ag. and Food, Great Basin Research Center, Ephraim, UtahMary O’Brien, Director Utah Forests Program, Grand Canyon Trust, Castle Valley, Utah
Society of Range Management – Utah Section6-7 November, 2014,
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
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Introduction
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Introduction, Cont’d. In 2010, the UT Dept. of Ag. and Food and the Grand Canyon
Trust convened a non-FACA collaborative working group to address aspen decline on Monroe Mountain and to develop recommendations.
The collaborative seeks consensus to support needed aspen management activities, as the USFS attempts to provide multiple-land-use management.
One major cause of aspen decline is the long term lack of fire and other disturbances.
Chronic herbivory by wildlife and livestock is significant factor.
Collaborative efforts include: monthly meetings, fieldtrips, photographic transect study, fire modeling, BYU exclosure study, grazing allotment improvements, etc.
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Trail Camera Study Objectives
1. Determine which large herbivores are active in aspen transects (6’x100’)
2. Determine what forage is being grazed by large herbivores active in those transects.
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Methods 6’x100’Belt Transect, Non-randomized, Non-replicated
Four Locations
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ResultsPercent Camera Trigger and Activity by Species
Aug19-Nov11, 2011(Top) & Apr3-Nov8, 2012 (Bottom)Location #Trg Beef Graz Actv NAtv Deer Graz Actv NAct Elk Graz Actv NAct Othr
Tibadore27
1
33 84 15 1 3 14 71 15 63 53 25 22 1
WhtLdg16
1
15 38 58 4 52 44 40 16 13 62 38 0 20
BrntFlt65
8
62 59 26 15 0 0 0 0 37 55 22 23 1
SqawSpr40
6
53 75 16 9 46 84 11 5 0 0 0 0 1
Location #Trg Beef Graz Actv NAtv Deer Graz Actv NAct Elk Graz Actv NAct Othr
Tibadore15
3
48 91 5 4 14 50 32 18 34 62 29 9 4
WhtLdg33
9
14 74 26 0 59 67 28 5 26 68 23 9 1
BrntFlt25
8
24 81 12 7 34 55 38 7 39 69 30 1 3
SqawSpr17
6
16 93 7 0 60 64 31 5 22 69 21 10 2
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ResultsPercent Camera Trigger and Grazing by SpeciesAug19-Nov11, 2011(Top) & Apr3-Nov8, 2012 (Bottom)
Location #Trg Beef Aspn Gras Unkn Deer Aspn Gras Unkn Elk Aspn Gras Unkn Othr
Tibadore27
1
33 0 33 67 3 0 0 100 63 3 35 62 1
WhtLdg16
1
15 11 33 56 52 35 0 65 13 69 8 23 20
BrntFlt65
8
62 0 5 95 0 0 0 0 37 0 18 82 1
SqawSpr40
6
53 1 17 82 46 4 0 96 0 0 0 0 1
Location #Trg Beef Aspn Gras Unkn Deer Aspn Gras Unkn Elk Aspn Gras Unkn Othr
Tibadore15
3
48 4 34 61 14 10 20 70 34 9 26 65 4
WhtLdg33
9
14 0 0 100 59 7 0 93 26 14 0 86 1
BrntFlt25
8
24 0 34 66 34 0 27 73 39 0 28 72 3
SqawSpr17
6
16 0 4 96 60 1 1 97 22 5 5 90 2
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ResultsPercent Browsing of Aspen Leader During Livestock Grazing Period (Beef, Deer, Elk)
2011 range 13% at Tibadore to 58% at Burnt Flat and Squaw Springs. Three of four transects exhibiting 52-58% browsing.
2012, range from 65% at Tibadore to 91% Burnt Flat
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ResultsAnimal Unit Months (AUM’S) by Species
AUM’s for Livestock Have Decreased Over Time
AUM’s for Wildlife Have Increased Over Time
Total AUM’s Have Remained Relatively Constant
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Conclusions Beef, Deer and Elk are active in transect.
The most commonly observed activity was grazing.
Beef generally preferred grazing grass.
Deer and Elk had mixed preferences for grass and aspen.
Contrary to popular belief, all three large herbivores were observed and/or photographed together.
AUM’s for livestock have decreased, increased for wildlife, and total AUM’s have remained relatively constant .
Record of Decision expected soon on USFS EIS to treat 50,000 acre's (mixed) in 10-15 yrs.
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Public Interest In Aspen Aug2013. Congressional ATV Tour
Sept2013. Governors Aspen ATV Tour
Jan2014. Proposed Aspen New State Tree
Mar2014. Okerland SB41 Passed&Signed
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Questions?Gale*, J.A.1, Chapman, C.K.2, Daniels, S.E.3, Tippetts, T.A. 4, O’Brien, M.H. 5
1Associate Professor and Agricultural Agent Sevier County and Southern Region Economic Development Area Agent, Utah State University Extension, 250 N. Main, Cnty. Adm. Bldg., Richfield, Utah 84701, [email protected]
2Professor and Area Animal Scientist, Utah State University Extension, 250 N. Main, Cnty. Adm. Bldg., Richfield, Utah 84701, [email protected]
3Professor, Extension Specialist and Collaborative Facilitator, Utah State University Extension, UMC4900, Logan, Utah 84322, [email protected]
4Central Region Coordinator, Grazing Improvement Program, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Great Basin Research Center, 494 W. 100 S., Ephraim, Utah 84627, [email protected]
5Director Utah Forests Program, Grand Canyon Trust, HC 64 Box 2604, Castle Valley, Utah 84532, [email protected]
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