26. Sage Hen Spring
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 15S R 21E Section 19 Cassia County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass
Impacts: Livestock utilization has severely impacted this spring site. The old-growth aspen grove has been severely impacted and has lost regenerative growth. Trampling and utilization have impacted the spring site and wet meadow. Wildlife values have been severely impacted. This spring is near an active Sage Grouse lek, and Sage Grouse were near the site on the day of survey.
Recommendations: Livestock should be permanently withdrawn from this location. The value of this spring site to Sage Grouse and other wildlife should outweigh livestock utilization. This spring and substantial amounts of adjacent uplands should be protected from livestock utilization. Severe utilization levels at this site and at the other sites within this general area should lead to removal of livestock from this portion of the forest. Substantial levels of recovery at this spring site and at most sites in the area will require 3-6 years or more.
List of Figures:
1. Utilization impacts to spring site, loss of riparian species.
2. Severe utilization impacts to adjacent aspen grove,
loss of aspen regeneration and riparian species.
