6. Cherry Spring, Upper Region
Land Manager: BLM, Burley Field Office
Legal Location: T 12S R 18E Section 34 Twin Falls County
Allotment: # not known
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass
Impacts: A spring has been utilized to fill a small reservoir at this location. Utilization during the 1999 season severely impacted the soils and vegetation of this site. As shown by the photographs, cattle have already been turned out on this allotment in 2000. Utilization impacts to vegetation have led to complete removal in some areas. No riparian structure remains along the small spring flow. Severe trampling of hydric soils and loss of cryptogamic soil crusts has occurred. Wildlife values at this site and on the adjacent uplands have been seriously impacted.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this location until substantial recovery of the watering site and adjacent upland vegetation has been achieved. Riparian recovery without mitigation efforts such as planting of appropriate species would probably not be possible. All but vestigial remains of the riparian shrub community once present have been removed through cumulative livestock utilization impacts.
List of Figures:
1. Spring site, severe 1999 utilization impacts, compounded by 2000 season use.
2. Severe impacts to reservoir, spring channel, and vegetation.
