1. Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative Mule Deer

2. Statewide Mule Deer Plan 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 2013.Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2013.

3. What is Mule Deer Habitat Food - What do Mule Deer Eat? Summer Range/Transitional Range - Summer Range/Transitional Range - Succulent Grasses and Flowering Plants for Fawn Production, Growth and Survival Winter Range - Winter Range - Shrubs, Particularly Sagebrush for Winter Survival Water – Mule Deer Rarely Travel far from Water Cover - Ideal Mule Deer Habitat also Includes Thermal and Escape Cover with openings providing forage and feeding areas.

4. Mule Deer Habitat - Threats Loss and Degradation of Habitat Due to - Human Population Expansion/Development Human Population Expansion/Development Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Expansion Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Expansion Drought Drought Catastrophic Wildfire Catastrophic Wildfire Invasive Species Invasive Species Conifer Expansion into Aspen Conifer Expansion into Aspen

5. UWRI Background A Partnership Driven Effort to Conserve, Restore and Manage Ecosystems in Priority Areas Across the State Locally Led Teams Develop and Implement Projects Designed to Enhance Utah’s Wildlife and Biological DiversityWildlife and Biological Diversity Water Quality and Yield for all UsesWater Quality and Yield for all Uses Opportunities for Sustainable UsesOpportunities for Sustainable Uses Partners Include: USFS, BLM, SITLA, USFWS, NRCS, NPS, UDAF, Farm Services Agency, Private Landowners, Sportsman Groups, Academia, Local Governments, Industry, Etc. Partners Include: USFS, BLM, SITLA, USFWS, NRCS, NPS, UDAF, Farm Services Agency, Private Landowners, Sportsman Groups, Academia, Local Governments, Industry, Etc.

6. UWRI Focus Areas UWRI Focus Areas

7. Mule Deer Habitat Restoration Techniques Slow and/or Reverse Habitat Threats

8. Dixie Harrow

9. Chain Harrow

10. Dixie Harrow

12. Lop and Scatter

15. Ely Chaining

17. Bullhog

20. Water Development

21. Fire Rehabilitation

22. Northeastern Region Mule Deer Projects ’05-’10 85,967 Total Acres 11,379 3,445 19,752 28,387 1,615 2,060 1,850 10,029 7,450

23. Central Region Mule Deer Projects 46,265 Total Acres 4,972 7,518 10,595 1,384 20 1,178 10,173 121 3,857 4,283 2,164 ’05-’10

24. Southeastern Region Mule Deer Projects ‘05-’10 38,208 Total Acres 7,805 94 10,577 654 500 2,516 8,227 2,279 5,556

25. Northern Region Mule Deer Projects ‘05-’10 66,874 Total Acres 58,296 85 6,794 199 1,140 230 75 55

26. Southern Region Mule Deer Projects ‘05-’10 161,953 Total Acres 14,701 27,029 11,478 40,621 3,107 2,075 7,688 2,345 8,955 1,822 6,321 13,990 2,735 18,802 75 82 127

27. Results – 2005-2010 $63 Million Dollars Spent Statewide for Mule Deer $63 Million Dollars Spent Statewide for Mule Deer 400,000+ Acres Treated Statewide for Mule Deer 400,000+ Acres Treated Statewide for Mule Deer 70+ Water Development Projects 70+ Water Development Projects It’s Not Just About Dollars and Acres It’s Not Just About Dollars and Acres DWR Has Taken a Leadership Role in UWRI DWR Has Taken a Leadership Role in UWRI Resulting in Wildlife Benefit Resulting in Wildlife Benefit

28. UWRI Monitoring UWRI Monitoring Wildlife Monitoring Crew Wildlife Monitoring Crew Big Game Response Big Game Response Passerine Birds Passerine Birds Small Mammal Trapping Small Mammal Trapping Threatened and Endangered Species Response Threatened and Endangered Species Response Vegetation Monitoring Crew Vegetation Monitoring Crew Measures Vegetative Composition Measures Vegetative Composition Seeding Success Seeding Success Browse Characteristics Browse Characteristics Both Crews Compare Treated w/ Untreated Sites Both Crews Compare Treated w/ Untreated Sites

30. http://wildlife.utah.gov/watersheds