37. Wagonwheel Spring
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 14S R 18E Section 14 Twin Falls County
Forest Division: Cassia
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Aspen
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have severely altered this spring site. Livestock utilization has led to trampling and erosion of the spring channels, disturbance of the hydric soils, erosion, and degraded water quality. Utilization has led to the loss of riparian species, and impacts to aspen and riparian regeneration. An old trough sits in the spring channel. The loss of understory and hiding cover is limiting to wildlife.
Recommendations: Livestock should be withdrawn permanently from this spring site. This spring is within a drainage that was planned to serve as a wildlife corridor at one time by the forest service. The area was originally to be protected from livestock use. The nearby systems of beaver ponds and other wildlife resources should preclude livestock from this drainage.
List of Figures:
1. Severe utilization impacts to spring site; old trough in channel.
2. Severe impacts to hydric region, channel, and adjacent habitat.
