35. Unnamed Creek/Spring, Buckhorn
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 12S R 20E Section 4 Cassia County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Aspen/Conifer
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have altered the physical features of this creek and spring site. Livestock utilization has led to trampling and erosion of the creek channel, loss of riparian and aspen understory, and loss of aspen and riparian regeneration. Impacts to the adjacent shrub community have also been heavy to sever, leading to loss of the cryptogamic soil crusts and exposure of bare soils. Loss of understory is limiting to wildlife, particularly birds and small mammals.
Recommendations: Livestock should be withdrawn from this spring site and creek flow until substantial recovery of riparian species and aspen has been achieved. Substantial aspen and riparian regeneration requires a minimum of 3-6 years. Aspen and 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 to channel; impacts to riparian and aspen regeneration.
2. Severe utilization impacts to adjacent shrubs and understory.
