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ConocoPhillips DOGM Earthday Award Nomination Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Project: Price River Drainage Wet Meadow Enhancement. Wet meadows are critical habitat for many species, including sage-grouse. Important during nesting and brood rearing periods.
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ConocoPhillips DOGM Earthday Award Nomination Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Project: Price River Drainage Wet Meadow Enhancement
Wet meadows are critical habitat for many species, including sage-grouse. Important during nesting and brood rearing periods.
Concern: Loss of critical wet meadow habitat Occurring though erosional downcutting of water courses around meadows
Concern: Loss of critical wet meadow habitat Occurring through erosional downcutting of water courses around meadows Leads to lowering of water table & desiccation of wet meadows, and subsequent alteration of vegetation
Project Goal: Protect and enhance critical wet meadow habitats within the Price River Drainage
Methodology: • Vegetation Inventory • Grazing Management: Short Duration – High Intensity Rest Rotation system. • Vegetative treatment – treat uplands to reduce brush cover and increase grass/forb cover which will maximize water infiltration and slow overland flow. • Active in-channel projects to slow run-off, build sediment, and maximize ground water infiltration
ConocoPhillips provided initial $30,000 to map vegetation at a detailed level within the Drunkards Wash Field. • Helped directly identify wet meadow areas needing treatment. • Have found additional $44,000 for mapping more acres of critical wildlife habitat. Completed in March 2005 with > 700,000 acres mapped.
Grazing Management: • Working with land owners and NRCS to develop grazing plan and cross fence pastures to improve grazing practices.
Vegetation Treatment: • Treat upland surrounding wet meadows using mechanical & chemical methods • Reduce shrub cover and increase grass & forb cover • Maximize water infiltration & slow overland flow
Ely Chain Pipe Harrow Lawson Aerator
In-channel structures: • Passive dikes: temporary hold water from heavy run-off events, allow sediment to drop out, increase ground water infiltration, and meter channel flow.
ConocoPhillips Contributions: • Vegetation Survey $30,000 • Surveying, engineering, materials, and equipment $55,000 Overall project budget $228,000 (not including vegetation mapping project)
ConocoPhillips Worthy of DOGM Earthday Award for their support of an important habitat improvement project!