33. Tributary, Shoshone Creek
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 14S R 18E Sections 8, 9, 16 Cassia County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have altered the physical features of this creek channel. Severe erosion of the channel has taken place, with a lowering of the water table and the beginning loss of the riparian greenline along edges of the creek. Many locations show heavy to severe utilization of riparian species, including the older growth. Understory removal, loss of riparian regeneration, erosion, bank trampling, channel widening and other impacts are occurring in these heavily utilized areas. The waters of this portion of the forest host sensitive fish populations; fisheries and wildlife values have been heavily impacted along this creek. This area of the forest receives a lot of visitor use. This creek and others parallel well-traveled roads; loss of scenic and recreational values is high. These photos were taken just south of the Shoshone Wildlife Ponds.
Recommendations: Livestock should be permanently withdrawn from the public lands portions of the main Shoshone Creek and its major tributaries. Fisheries, wildlife, and recreation values should preclude livestock utilization from these main canyon recreation and access areas.
List of Figures:
1. Utilization impacts to older willows; severe trampling and erosion of banks.
2. Severe impacts to riparian and adjacent vegetation; impacts to channel.
