25. Right Hand Fork
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 16S R 22E Section 2 Cassia County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Shrub-Juniper
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have altered this drainage course and led to down-cutting and lowering of the water table. Trampling and utilization have impacted the creek channel. Utilization has impacted the riparian structure; riparian species and the riparian greenline have been lost from much of this drainage course.
Recommendations: Livestock should be withdrawn from this location until substantial recovery of riparian species and riparian regeneration has been achieved. Substantial recovery of riparian shrub species 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.
List of Figures:
1. Utilization impacts, channel widening; loss of riparian structure.
2. Cumulative impacts; lowering of the water table, severely downcut channel.
