Northern Region

Farmington Bay Bypass Canal
This project was proposed in the Intermountain West Joint Venture, Great Salt Lake Focus Area Plan, and was completed in 2000. The project will greatly improve water level management capability on 6,200 acres of wetland habitat at Farmington Bay WMA. The bypass canal will route high spring runoff around the WMA, allowing the superintendent to regulate water levels in the various units, an important tool for managing habitat for waterbirds. This was a cooperative project involving the Division, the Utah Reclamation, Mitigation, and Conservation Commission, Ducks Unlimited, and a grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Council.

Weber River Acquisition/Restoration
The recent acquisition of two properties along the Weber River provides public access to an additional mile of the river for fishing and wildlife viewing. River restoration work included bank stabilization, creation of deep pools, establishment of overhanging vegetation and stable underwater habitat (rootwads and large boulders), and productive riffles. The acquisitions are a continuation of a program to increase angler access and improve fish habitat along the Weber River, especially the stretch between the Peterson Bridge and the town of Morgan. In previous projects, the Division has funded river restoration projects on private lands in exchange for perpetual conservation easements.

Henefer-Echo Burn Restoration
In August, 1999, about 3000 acres of critical deer winter range burned on the Henefer-Echo Wildlife Management Area. The habitat restoration project involved seedbed preparation (dragging an anchor chain between two crawler tractors over about 2000 acres) followed by an aerial seeding of a mixture of grasses, forbs and shrubs. Seed dribblers mounted to the tractors were used to seed several important browse species. The dribblers "dribble" seed onto the tracks. As the tractor moves forward, the seed is pressed into the soil. The Lost Creek Foundation contributed $15,000 worth of forage kochia seed for this project.

Montes Creek Acquisition
The Division made the second of three payments on the purchase of the Montes Creek Pond and the surrounding property (approximately 175 acres). The pond will be developed into a recreational warmwater fishery, and the area will be managed for upland game, waterfowl and a variety of nongame species. The high value riparian area along Montes Creek offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Green River Corridor Burn
Over the past 15 years, the DWR, BLM and the Forest Service have carried out prescribed burns in dense stands of pinyon-juniper woodlands along the Green River Corridor to provide habitat for a growing herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. In the fall of 1999, personnel from the Manila District of the Ashley National Forest burned an additional 200 acres of woodlands. The area was aerially seeded in March, 2000. Financial support for the project was received from the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep.

Tabby Mountain Access Management
Earlier this year, the Duchesne County Commission passed an ordinance to allow the Division to seasonally close public roads on the Tabby Mountain Wildlife Management Area. A seasonal closure during the winter will limit disturbance of big game on their winter range, and reduce damage to the public roads on the unit. In May and June, the Division's heavy equipment crew maintained many of these roads and closed a few roads that were established by off-road users in recent years. The closed roads were seeded to restore habitat.

Mallard Springs Pothole Development
The Mallard Springs Wildlife Management Area is located in Duchesne County approximately 1.5 miles southeast of Myton, Utah. The 270-acre WMA was purchased in 1993 to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and upland game. Current use by waterfowl during migration and nesting seasons is limited due to the lack of open water. This project will be evaluated to determine if pothole development is a viable option for improving waterfowl habitat on the unit.