28. South Cottonwood Creek
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 14S R 21E Section 33 Cassia County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Juniper
Impacts: This location was severely impacted by livestock utilization during the 1999 season. Utilization levels of the riparian understory, shrub understory and adjacent shrub community were extreme. Bare soil has been exposed with an accompanying loss of the cryptogamic soil crusts. Soil compaction is high and invasive exotics such as thistle are moving in. Impacts to the channel have led to erosion and loss of thermal capabilities. The riparian structure has been completely lost through cumulative impacts along parts of the creek. Riparian regeneration has been severely impacted; older riparian shrubs have also been heavily impacted. Fisheries values of the creek have also been heavily impacted by utilization.
Recommendations: Livestock should be permanently withdrawn from this drainage. The presence of a number of springs with riparian growth and the remnant riparian growth along the creek give an indication of the potential for habitat in this drainage. Removal of livestock would allow the area to recover and help to restore the wildlife and fisheries values once present. Mitigation activities such as the planting of appropriate riparian species could help to restore this location more rapidly.
List of Figures:
1. Extreme utilization impacts to creek channel, riparian species, and adjacent habitat.
2. Severe impacts to riparian vegetation, impacts to channel; invasive weeds.
3. Extreme utilization levels of adjacent upland habitat.
