16. Little Cottonwood Creek, Upper
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 14S R 21E Section 12 Cassia County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Juniper/Aspen
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have severely altered the habitat along the upper portions of this creek in addition to the lower. Utilization has severely impacted the riparian and aspen understory. Riparian and aspen regeneration have been severely impacted. Trampling and utilization have disrupted the stream flow, impacted the creek channel, and led to severe erosion. Down-cutting and head-cutting have occurred, with a lowering of the water table and loss of the riparian greenline. Wildlife, fisheries, watershed, and riparian values have been severely impacted in this drainage.
Recommendations: Livestock should be permanently removed from the Little Cottonwood drainage. Recovery of riparian and aspen species requires a minimum of 3-6 years. Riparian and aspen need to reach a height of 3-6 feet in order to withstand short duration grazing impacts. The levels of erosion and need for bank stabilization in addition to the need for riparian recovery in this drainage may require more than the recommended minimum of 3-6 years.
List of Figures:
1. Severe utilization impacts to channel, aspen regeneration, and understory.
2. Severe impacts to adjacent spring; trampling, loss of understory, utilization of riparian species.
