Council backs small pinyon‑juniper treatment pilot to test habitat tradeoffs for pinyon jay and mule deer

Evan Reese, a habitat biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife (speaker 9), asked the council for support to pilot a small pinyon‑juniper treatment on county property above Bear Creek campground. The proposed study would test mastication, edge‑creation and reseeding aimed at improving mule deer and big‑game range while attempting to avoid or limit harm to pinyon‑jay use.

Reese said the project is small scale (Emery County portion about 10 acres) and framed as a proof‑of‑concept coordinated with BLM fuels crews; BLM would fund fuels work and the county or local partners would seek Watershed Restoration Initiative funding for seed and restoration on county parcels. He told the council the agency plans pre‑treatment bird surveys, mastication (mulching) in targeted patches, seeding and post‑treatment monitoring to check effects on pinyon jays.

Council members asked about grazing impacts and whether cattle movement would be restricted during seeding; Reese said those operational details would be worked with BLM and grazers and that the project would likely include temporary rest periods for seeded areas. Several council members indicated conditional support. A motion to recommend support for the habitat restoration project and forward the recommendation to the county commissioners passed by voice vote; the motion included a request that further implementation details be provided as they are developed.

Why it matters: The treatment aims to reduce fuels and improve deer range while testing whether carefully designed treatments can avoid harm to a species that has been petitioned for endangered‑species listing; it is a small pilot with monitoring and potential funding through state restoration grants.

Next steps: Division staff will return with project details and funding plans, and the council requested a report back at the next meeting.