3. Keg Hollow, Keg Hollow Spring

Land Manager: BLM, Burley Field Office
Legal Location: T 15S R 25E Sections 3, 4, 5 Cassia County
Allotment: #5003 Jim Sage

Dominant Plant Community Type: Sagebrush-Juniper/Shrub-Grass

Impacts: This drainage and surrounding habitat areas were burned previously in a BLM controlled burn. The area is presently supporting an extensive cheat grass (Bromus tectorum) community along with other invasive annual species. Livestock have been utilizing the burned area, with extensive impacts to the small stream course and the spring locations. Severe understory removal, loss of riparian regeneration, and severe erosional processes dominate the drainage and spring sites.

Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from these locations until substantial recovery has been achieved. Significant riparian recovery (dependent on regenerative capability) and bank stabilization would require a minimum time period of 3-6 years. Willow, aspen, and other riparian shrubs need to achieve a height of 6 feet or more before exposure to livestock utilization can be tolerated for short-duration grazing. Utilization impacts combined with fire impacts will probably require a recovery time of more than 6 years to re-establish a riparian community and stabilize the current severe erosion.

List of Figures:

1. Utilization impacts to creek and riparian zone; trampling and erosion.

2. Spring site; loss of aspen and riparian regeneration to fire and utilization, understory removal.