12. "Red's Cabin" Spring

Land Manager: BLM, Burley Field Office
Legal Location: T 15S R 22E Section 29 Cassia County
Allotment: #4027 Goose Creek Group

Dominant Plant Community Type: Juniper Woodland

Impacts: Unnamed but known locally as Red's Cabin, the cumulative livestock impacts at this location have severely altered the physical features of this spring and outflow site. Livestock grazing and trampling have led to the removal of riparian structure, loss of riparian regeneration, and loss of the riparian understory along the spring outflow. Old-growth riparian vegetation and the understory near the original spring site have been heavily impacted. Trampling has caused channel widening and loss of flow. The original spring site has been partially dewatered by pipeline and spring-box plumbing.

Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be permanently withdrawn from the spring location. The spring is a significant nesting site for migratory songbirds, although currently supporting very limited numbers. A return of healthy riparian cover to the site would be extremely valuable for wildlife species, particularly birds. Significant riparian recovery (dependent on regenerative capability) would require more than the minimum time period of 3-6 years for the spring site and immediate outflow channel. Portions of flow outside the pasture containing the spring itself are in various stages of impacts and should be rested until significant improvement has been achieved by both riparian and upland vegetation.

List of Figures:

1. Severe utilization impacts to riparian zone and adjacent vegetation of spring flow.