24. Pole Camp Creek

Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 14S R 18E Sections 6, 32 Twin Falls County
Forest Division: Cassia

Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Shrub-Aspen/Conifer

Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have heavily altered this creek, adjacent springs, and the adjacent habitat. Utilization has impacted the riparian understory and severely impacted riparian regeneration. Trampling and utilization have disrupted spring flows, impacted the creek channel, and disturbed the hydric soil regions. The riparian structure and greenline have been completely lost from sections of this drainage course. Wildlife and fisheries values have been heavily impacted.

Recommendations: Livestock should be withdrawn from this drainage until substantial recovery of bank stability, riparian species, riparian regeneration, and the riparian understory has been achieved. Substantial recovery of riparian shrub species and aspen requires a minimum of 3-6 years. Willows and other riparian shrubs need to achieve a height of 6 feet or more in order to withstand short duration grazing impacts.

                    1. Utilization impacts to riparian species and other vegetation, Channel widening, erosion.

                    2. Severe erosion, loss of riparian structure and riparian greenline.