Summer Tour 2004

The 2004 High Altitude Revegetation tour was held in northeastern Utah. We visited stream channel stabilization, erosion control, wildlife habitat restoration and mining reclamation. We saw head-cut stabilization, erosion control involving water spreaders, gully plugs and contour plowing/revegetation. We observed the restoration of a drained mountain reservoir for wildlife use. The US Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service Bureau of Reclamation, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining have all been involved with several projects in the Uintah Bashin area of Utah (between Strawberry and Flaming Gorge Reservoirs). We also viewed areas of mine reclamation for wildlife use.

The upper Strawberry River projects have focused on head-cutting and stream bank stabilization. Bob Davidson, US Forest Service, explains the treatments of juniper, willow plantings and changing the grazing system.	A high mountain lake was drained and converted to a wetland and wildlife habitat.
We viewed the sagebrush die-off area near Vernal, Utah. Utah has had severe drought conditions for the past six years. As a result of the drought, vast areas of sagebrush have suffered, with corresponding impacts to sage grouse and other wildlife species.	John Spencer, SF Phosphates LTD Co. explains the surface phosphate revegetation and mine operations. In conjunction with mine reclamation, big horn sheep habitat is being restored.