1. Call to Order - Chairman Howard Johnson extended a welcome and called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM. He asked those present to introduce themselves. Howard expressed appreciation for those who had wished him well during his recovery from hip surgery. Howard excused those listed above who had called and asked to be excused. He reported that Russ Hendricks (UFBF) had decided to leave Utah to take a position with the Idaho Farm Bureau. It was decided to have a letter of
appreciation prepared for Howard's signature and a gift of up to $30.00 sent to Russ to recognize his support of the Utah GLCI Coalition Steering Committee.

2. Minutes - Jake Jacobson read the minutes of the May 20,1999 meeting which were approved. (Motion by Larry Ellicott and second by Blake Walbeck)

3. Unified Federal Policy for A Watershed Approach to Management of Federal Land and Resources - Boyd Christensen, state BLM office, gave an overview of this proposed Federal Executive policy and how it might affect Utah's private grazers. It is one of the major elements of the federal executive branch's Clean Water Action Plan. A national multi-agency team, lead by the BLM and Forest Service, developed the draft policy. The intent of the policy is: 1) to provide a consistent approach to managing federal lands and resources across all federal agencies; 2) to provide a framework for watershed based management; and 3) to provide a way to improve water quality and sustained use of federal land resources. Boyd explained that we in Utah already have example of how this proposed policy would work. These are the three NPS watershed projects of Little
Bear River, Chalk Creek, and Otter Creek. In each watershed, especially Otter Creek, there has been significant interaction between public land managers and private grazers. Boyd indicated that the proposed policy is scheduled to be placed on the
Federal Registry on August 2, 1999. There will be a 90 day comment period. He encouraged the GLCI and all members of the coalition to read and make comments to the draft. He gave the Internet address for the draft policy as: http://www.blm.gov or http://www.fs.fed.us/clean/unified. Larry Ellicott offered to make copies of the proposed policy and mail them to members of the coalition and chairs of the soil conservation district boards. A motion was made by Dean Maxwell and seconded by Larry Ellicott that the GLCI coalition prepare a response to the proposed policy and include the recommendation that the federal agencies utilize the Coordinated Resource Management Planning (CRMP) process in their watershed management approach.
This motion passed unanimously. [Ex post facto: Kathy Anderson, US-FS, called me (Jake) on 7/29/99 indicating that the proposed Unified Federal Policy Federal Registry publication date of Aug 2, 1999 has been put-on-hold indefinitely. The
proposed policy may have to go through the Federal NEPA process.]

4. July 7, 1999 GLCI Tour Report - Jake Jacobson The tour was held as planned. Seventy people were on the buses and trailing vehicles for the tour. There were 141 invitation letters sent of which 93 people sent their RSVP. Ten of the attendees were from the target audience - Utah Legislature Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee members and their key staff. There were several private land managers and natural resource government agency (state & federal)
representatives. Approximately 20 more people joined the tour group for the evening meal and program in Nephi. Bob Drake, National GLCI Coalition Chair (OK) was the keynote speaker. A copy of the final agenda is attached. Projected cost from GLCI funds for the tour totaled $2,467.04 (Buses $675.00, food $1,428.89, and copying of the tour program $363.15). There
were significant amounts of in-kind value (labor, vehicles, information, etc.) contributed by many coalition members, SRM professionals and presenters. Larry Ellicott volunteered to prepare and distribute certificates of appreciation for tour presenters. Appreciation was also expressed at the meeting for members of the GLCI Outreach Task Force and coalition members who helped with the tour and members of Utah Section of the Society for Range Management (SRM) who did most of the planning and presentation of tour topics and who cooked the evening meal.

4. GLCI Budget Finance Committee - Russ Hendricks, Chair of this committee was unable to attend or give a report, nor other committee members. The importance of having this committee continue with its objectives was discussed, especially in light of the awareness of the GLCI Coalition's funding needs gained during the tour. It was recommended that the Utah Farm Bureau leadership be contacted as soon as possible and encourage them to appoint a replacement for Russ on the GLCI Steering Committee. Russ is retiring soon and has served as chair of this committee. It was also desired that Russ' replacement be asked to serve as Chair of the committee. This recommendation was made in the form of a motion by Bill Hopkin, seconded by Larry Ellicott and it passed unanimously.

5. Future Funding Sources - There was a discussion about the importance of seeking as many sources of funding as possible to support the GLCI Coalition mission and objectives. Bonnie Young indicated that there are several EPA grants available which my meet our needs. Bill Hopkin described a project he is working on which he hopes EPA will fund. The project would help
predict and document the impacts of elk grazing on watershed health. It was hoped that the Budget committee could explore these types of opportunities.

6. Utah GLCI By-laws and Incorporation - Bonnie Y. reported that attorney Travis Bowen's firm had drafted the GLCI Coalition's articles for incorporation as a legal non-profit corporation. She has one set of the document. She requested that Howard and other representatives of the coalition review and comment on the draft. After this review, the draft will be ready to present at to the Coalition for approval and implementation.

7. Coordination with the state Riparian Coalition - There is still a desire to coordinate activities and see where the two coalitions can work together. The Riparian Coalition has not met for several months. Jake will discuss with George Hopkin, current chair of Riparian Coalition, about the potential of having closer coordination between the two coalitions.

8. Other Items - Jake said that when Dean Zeller, BLM, called to be excused at this meeting. He had requested that it be reported he had made contact with national office about the status of the Invasive Species Executive Order 13112 as he
had volunteered to do at the last meeting. The intent of this order is to slow introduction of new species. Action on this issue has slowed. He will report in more depth at the next meeting.Bill Hopkin suggested that the GLCI Coalition look at two issues: first, the importance of educating the general public of the value natural resources is to all citizens and the to health of our nvironment. It was pointed out that this is one of the GLCI's major objectives. The second item is that a study should be made of the impact of livestock populations to the populations of wildlife. For example, from historical records he had noticed that the population of sage grouse seems to decline in proportion to the reduced population of sheep in Utah's grazing lands. Small Pasture Guide Booklet - Jake distributed copies of the recently published A Small Pasture Management Guide for Utah. This publication was
put together by a committee of USU, NRCS, FSA, RC&D professionals and an SCD member. The committee was chaired by James Barnhill, Ag Extension Agent, Weber County. It was funded with an USDA - EQIP education grant. Its target audiences are small pasture owners around Utah's communities. It was suggested that the GLCI might offer to help distribute these to the target audience. Blake Walbeck stated that Howard, and possibly Roger Banner, would attend GLCI chairs training session in Reno in August. He indicated that plans are progressing for the National GLCI Conference scheduled for Dec. 5-8, 2000 at
Balley's in Las Vegas.

Lunch - Some of the above discussion was held during a catered box lunch which was provided by UDAF Conservation program. Bill Hopkin offered to have Deseret Land and Livestock, Inc. provide the lunch at the next meeting. He asked to be reminded before the meeting. Next meeting will be Thursday, Sept 16, 1999 at Utah Farm Bureau Federation building starting at 9:30 AM.

Meeting adjourned at 1:15 PM.
####

GLCI RANGE TOUR SUMMARY - 7 July 1999

Hosted by the Utah Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) Coalition Steering Committee, and the Utah Section, Society for Range Management. Target Audience: Utah State Legislators on the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committees and staffers from the Utah Congressional Delegation.

Objective:
1. Educate state and national legislators on Natural Resource issues in Utah.

2. Illustrate the use of scientific data to solve Natural Resources problems.

Spanish Fork Canyon Watershed and Wildlife Habitat Management Dee Nelson (FS), John Fairchild (DWR), Mark Farmer (UDAF) In 1990, 121 ha of juniper-pinyon woodland were chained and seeded to a variety of native and introduced grasses, forbs and shrubs. There were two objectives: 1) increase forage for elk to prevent them from migrating to lower elevation fields; 2) reduce erosion and improve water quality in Soldier Creek. Vegetation cover increased from 7% on unchained areas to 34% on chained and seeded areas. Paired runoff plots showed that unchained areas produced 5.8 times more runoff and 9.2 times more sediment than chained and seeded areas. Eroded sediment averaged 462 kg/ha in unchained areas, compared to essentially no runoff or erosion on treated areas after 3 years. Forage for wildlife increased from 30 lb/ac before treatment to over 1000 lb/ac following chaining and seeding. Use of the site by both deer and elk, measured by pellet groups, showed the entire site was heavily used by both big game species.
Spanish Fork River Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP)
Jan Anderson (NRCS), Richard Saunders (SCD)
Goal: Improve and protect the quality of natural resources in the Spanish
Fork River Watershed through a coordinated resource management approach.

First Years Accomplishments:
1. Secured $62,000 in grants for 2 demonstration projects and an education program.
2. Investment of $63,000 in labor and materials for noxious weed control on 2400 acres.
3. Conducted 3 field tours with local news media and congressional representation.
4. Hired full time technical assistant.
5. Completed inventories of weed infestations, soil erosion rate estimates, and developed resource management plans for demonstration sites.
6. Stabilized 400 feet of eroding stream bank through assistance and funding of DWR Habitat Program.
7. Seeded 18 acres on demonstration sites along Thistle Creek adjacent to Highway 89.
***
Improved Pasture Management - Dean Miner (USU Extension)
More than 150,000 acres of grass are harvested in Utah annually, and an equal number of acres are grazed directly by livestock. As access to federally-controlled range diminishes, the value of improved pastures as an alternative feed source for livestock will increase. Pastures also provide important wildlife habitat, especially near urban areas, and open green
space buffers between development and environmentally-sensitive areas.
***
Noxious Weeds - Eureka/Tintic Area
Squarrose Knapweed Invasion - Pat Fosse (BLM), Steve Dewey (USU Extension), Scott Jensen (DWR) Over 100,000 acres in west central Utah are currently infested with squarrose knapweed. It invades disturbed areas, especially following wildfires, as well as healthy and diverse rangelands. A successful partnership between BLM, USU Extension, DWR, Juab and Tooele Counties, and USFS Shrub Lab. is restricting the spread of knapweed, reducing existing populations, and developing knowledge to manage this serious problem. The herbicides Tordon, Grazon P+D, and Curtail are effective against squarrose
knapweed without causing serious injury to desirable grasses. Spring application is best, but application in the fall following wildfires is also effective. Research into the life history of knapweed and competition studies will identify an assemblage of species which individually or in combination can be used to restrict the spread and density of squarrose knapweed.
***
Cheatgrass - Steve Monsen and Susan Meyer (USFS Shrub Lab)
Overgrazing before the turn of the century reduced perennial grasses and opened shrub-grasslands to invasion by cheatgrass. The continuous fine fuel of dried cheatgrass carries fire better than native vegetation and most native shrubs cannot survive fire. The ability of cheatgrass to re-establish after fire has created a widening cycle of destruction, with ever more frequent fires burning ever larger areas, converting more and more shrub-grassland to virtual weed patches. Second generation noxious weeds that are more difficult to control are starting to replace cheatgrass: medusahead rye, jointed goatgrass, rush skeleton weed, and various knapweeds. There is a short window of opportunity to learn to control these new weeds before they establish. We need to learn what species and plant communities are resistant to invasion. It is also necessary to identify potential invasion sites to remove grazing and restore the resistant plant community before these noxious weeds establish. Crested cheatgrass will resist cheatgrass invasion, but not invasion by knapweeds.
***
Wildfire Rehabilitation, Jerico - Harvey Gates (BLM), Durant McArthur (FS Shrub Lab)
Over 300,000 acres burned in 1996, and 50,000 acres to date in 1999. Following the 1996 wildfire, it was determined by Resource Specialists that 110,000 acres needed to be seeded to re-establish perennial grasses to prevent wind and water erosion and invasion by cheatgrass and other noxious weeds. The remaining areas above 6000 ft elevation and on north and east slops had sufficient native vegetation that would come back naturally. About 16,000 acres were seeded using rangeland drills, and seed was flown on 65,000 acres and covered by an anchor chain by March 1997, when all rehabilitation was stopped by court order. Environmental groups and an Indian Tribe convinced a judge that chaining was a threat to cultural heritage sites. An ecological disaster occurred on the remaining 30,000 acres. Cheatgrass, mustard weed, and squarrose knapweed invaded and dominated these areas. Cheatgrass comprised 86% of vegetative cover on unseeded sites, and 70% of cover on areas where seed was flown on, but not covered by the chain. Perennial grasses comprised 92% cover on drilled sites and 78% cover on areas where seed was flown on then covered by an anchor chain. A functional plant community was re-established by the rehabilitation efforts that will greatly reduce wind erosion and resist increase of cheatgrass. The untreated areas will continue to erode and are highly likely to burn frequently because of the continuous fine fuel cover of cheatgrass.
***
CRP Maintenance Practices, Levan - Bob Newhall (USU Extension)
Maintenance practices are required on CRP seedings. Prescribed burning, mowing, discing, and railing are approved maintenance practices. Livestock grazing is proposed as a less costly and more effective practice to stimulate and invigorate the seedings. The approved practices of burning, mowing and discing were harmful to the shrub component. Grazing increased
the vigor of the grasses without harming the shrub component.