In 2003, the UP Mosaic Group, comprised by specialists from the BLM, USFS, CDOW, PLP, Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), Tri-State and other organizations worked together to complete the Dry Creek/Spring Creek Vegetation Management Strategy, a coordinated, interagency plan to guide land management at a watershed scale. Spring Creek and Dry Creek had been identified as priority watersheds by the UP Watershed Prioritization team, based on ecological needs and social and economic criteria. Based on this plan, in the spring of 2004, UP implemented a variety of on-the-ground restoration and vegetation management treatments in the Dry Creek/Spring Creek watersheds on the Uncompahgre Plateau.  These combined treatments, which totaled roughly 4,966 acres, were designed to enhance the fire survivability of the power lines and aesthetic impact of the utility corridor, accomplish wildlife habitat goals and improve overall land health. Tools included hydro-ax, roller chop, prescribed fire and cheatgrass spray. Planning and implementation of on-the- ground projects were done collaboratively, with multiple interests being embraced, funds leveraged and shared, and tasks efficiently coordinated. To see a map of Completed Projects, click here.

Description of Projects:

Sims Mesa Area

• CDOW treated BLM land
• Tools: Combination of hydro-ax and roller chopper. 
• Driver (primary goal):To improve Gunnison sage-grouse and mule deer habitat by reducing pinyon pine and juniper encroachment into the sagebrush parks, increasing the amount and diversity of shrubs, and restoring a native grass/forb understory in the sagebrush stands.

Government Springs Area

• Roller chopped on old chainings done in the 1960’s. The CDOW completed more treatments in the general vicinity of the power lines. 
• Tool: Hydro-ax
• Driver: The goal of these treatments was to improve mule deer habitat by reducing the pinyon-pine-juniper canopy enough to allow establishment of additional grasses and forbs and reinvigorate the existing mountain shrub community.  The CDOW treatments were in previously untreated stands of mixed pinyon pine-juniper, sagebrush, and oakbrush shrubs.

• In addition, prescribed burns took place and are ongoing near the power lines in areas that were roller chopped in 2001 and BLM land.
• Tool: Roller chopper with scheduled prescribed fire . 
• Driver/goal: To reduce the fire hazard along the powerline and to improve the aesthetic impact of the corridor.

• Work on private lands (HPP funds) was done within an old chaining where the young pinyon pine and juniper trees were becoming dense, and the shrub component old and decadent.
• Tool: Hydro-ax
• Driver/goal: to improve deer habitat and protect wildland urban interface (W.U.I.). 

• To accomplish the restoration and vegetation management efforts on BLM land along the power lines in the Government Springs area, Tri-State covered the cost of the cultural clearance for treatments along the right-of- way, Western Area Power Administration supplied four lineman for a week to help flag in the treatment units, and BLM supplied funding for the roller chop work. The CDOW covered the cost of all their habitat treatments on both BLM and private lands.

To download a pdf of the Spring Creek/ Dry Creek Vegetation Management Strategy and the BLM Environmental Assessment, click here.

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