31. Trapper Creek, Lower
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 15S R 21E Sections 4, 5, 6 Cassia County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Shrub-Juniper
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have changed the physical features of much of the lower creek channel. A large amount of the land is held in private ownership, but there are still areas of both forest service and BLM lands along the main channel. Impacts to the older riparian structure range from moderate to severe, depending on the location. Understory removal, loss of riparian regeneration, erosion, bank trampling, and the invasion of noxious weeds are occurring in the heavily utilized areas, which include many unimproved but popular recreation sites. Trapper Creek hosts sensitive fish populations; fisheries and wildlife values have been heavily impacted along this creek.
Recommendations: Livestock should be permanently withdrawn from the main Trapper Creek drainage. Fisheries, wildlife, and recreation values should preclude livestock utilization of the main canyon areas.
List of Figures:
1. Cumulative impacts; channel widening, loss of understory.
