Monroe Mountain Aspen

1. Monroe Mountain Aspen
Collaborative Working Group
Jody A. Gale*, Agriculture Agent, Sevier County and Economic
Development Area Agent Southern Region, USU Extension,
Richfield, Utah
Carl Kim Chapman, Area Animal Scientist , USU Extension,
Richfield, Utah
Steve E. Daniels, Extension Specialist & Collaborative
Facilitator, USU Extension, Logan, Utah
Tom Tippetts, Central Region Coordinator, Grazing Improvement
Program, Ut. Dept. of Ag. and Food, Great Basin Research Center,
Ephraim, Utah
Mary O’Brien, Director Utah Forests Program, Grand Canyon Trust,
Castle Valley, Utah
Society of Range Management – Utah Section
extension.usu.edu
6-7 November, 2014,
Utah State University, Logan, Utah

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Introduction

3. Introduction, Cont’d.
 In 2010, the UT Dept. of Ag. and Food and the Grand Canyon
Trust convened a non-FACA collaborative working group to
address aspen decline on Monroe Mountain and to develop
recommendations.
 The collaborative seeks consensus to support needed aspen
management activities, as the USFS attempts to provide
multiple-land-use management.
 One major cause of aspen decline is the long term lack of fire
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and other disturbances.
 Chronic herbivory by wildlife and livestock is significant factor.
 Collaborative efforts include: monthly meetings, fieldtrips,
photographic transect study, fire modeling, BYU exclosure
study, grazing allotment improvements, etc.

4. Trail Camera Study
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Objectives
1. Determine which large herbivores are
active in aspen transects (6’x100’)
2. Determine what forage is being grazed by
large herbivores active in those transects.

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Methods
 6’x100’Belt Transect, Non-randomized, Non-replicated
 Four Locations

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Results
Percent Camera Trigger and Activity by Species
Aug19-Nov11, 2011(Top) & Apr3-Nov8, 2012 (Bottom)
Location #Trg Beef Graz Actv NAtv Deer Graz Actv NAct Elk Graz Actv NAct Othr
Tibadore 271 33 84 15 1 3 14 71 15 63 53 25 22 1
WhtLdg 161 15 38 58 4 52 44 40 16 13 62 38 0 20
BrntFlt 658 62 59 26 15 0 0 0 0 37 55 22 23 1
SqawSpr 406 53 75 16 9 46 84 11 5 0 0 0 0 1
Location #Trg Beef Graz Actv NAtv Deer Graz Actv NAct Elk Graz Actv NAct Othr
Tibadore 153 48 91 5 4 14 50 32 18 34 62 29 9 4
WhtLdg 339 14 74 26 0 59 67 28 5 26 68 23 9 1
BrntFlt 258 24 81 12 7 34 55 38 7 39 69 30 1 3
SqawSpr 176 16 93 7 0 60 64 31 5 22 69 21 10 2

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Results
Percent Camera Trigger and Grazing by Species
Aug19-Nov11, 2011(Top) & Apr3-Nov8, 2012 (Bottom)
Location #Trg Beef Aspn Gras Unkn Deer Aspn Gras Unkn Elk Aspn Gras Unkn Othr
Tibadore 271 33 0 33 67 3 0 0 100 63 3 35 62 1
WhtLdg 161 15 11 33 56 52 35 0 65 13 69 8 23 20
BrntFlt 658 62 0 5 95 0 0 0 0 37 0 18 82 1
SqawSpr 406 53 1 17 82 46 4 0 96 0 0 0 0 1
Location #Trg Beef Aspn Gras Unkn Deer Aspn Gras Unkn Elk Aspn Gras Unkn Othr
Tibadore 153 48 4 34 61 14 10 20 70 34 9 26 65 4
WhtLdg 339 14 0 0 100 59 7 0 93 26 14 0 86 1
BrntFlt 258 24 0 34 66 34 0 27 73 39 0 28 72 3
SqawSpr 176 16 0 4 96 60 1 1 97 22 5 5 90 2

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Results
Percent Browsing of Aspen Leader During
Livestock Grazing Period (Beef, Deer, Elk)
 2011 range 13% at Tibadore to 58% at Burnt Flat
and Squaw Springs. Three of four transects
exhibiting 52-58% browsing.
 2012, range from 65% at Tibadore to 91% Burnt Flat

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Results
Animal Unit Months (AUM’S) by Species
 AUM’s for Livestock Have Decreased Over Time
 AUM’s for Wildlife Have Increased Over Time
 Total AUM’s Have Remained Relatively Constant

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Conclusions
 Beef, Deer and Elk are active in transect.
 The most commonly observed activity was grazing.
 Beef generally preferred grazing grass.
 Deer and Elk had mixed preferences for grass and aspen.
 Contrary to popular belief, all three large herbivores were
observed and/or photographed together.
 AUM’s for livestock have decreased, increased for wildlife, and
total AUM’s have remained relatively constant .
 Record of Decision expected soon on USFS
EIS to treat 50,000 acre's (mixed) in 10-15 yrs.

11. Public Interest In Aspen
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 Aug2013. Congressional ATV Tour
 Sept2013. Governors Aspen ATV Tour
 Jan2014. Proposed Aspen New State Tree
 Mar2014. Okerland SB41 Passed&Signed

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Questions?
Gale*, J.A.1, Chapman, C.K.2, Daniels,
S.E.3, Tippetts, T.A. 4, O’Brien, M.H. 5
1Associate Professor and Agricultural Agent Sevier County and
Southern Region Economic Development Area Agent, Utah
State University Extension, 250 N. Main, Cnty. Adm. Bldg.,
Richfield, Utah 84701, jody.gale@usu.edu
2Professor and Area Animal Scientist, Utah State University
Extension, 250 N. Main, Cnty. Adm. Bldg., Richfield, Utah
84701, kim.chapman@usu.edu
3Professor, Extension Specialist and Collaborative Facilitator,
Utah State University Extension, UMC4900, Logan, Utah
84322, steve.daniels@usu.edu
4Central Region Coordinator, Grazing Improvement Program, Utah
Department of Agriculture and Food, Great Basin Research Center,
494 W. 100 S., Ephraim, Utah 84627, ttippets@utah.gov
5Director Utah Forests Program, Grand Canyon Trust, HC 64 Box
2604, Castle Valley, Utah 84532, maryobrien10@gmail.com

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