14. Spring Creek (Lower)

Land Manager: BLM, Burley Field Office
Legal Location: T 15S R 22E Sections 31, 32 Cassia County
Allotment: #4027 Goose Creek Group

Dominant Plant Community Type: Sagebrush-Juniper

Impacts: Cumulative impacts from past livestock utilization have altered the physical features of this location. Livestock grazing has led to loss of riparian structure and understory, erosion, loss of thermal capabilities, and loss of channel features. Although this location received minimal additional grazing impact in 1999, the BLM burned this drainage and its riparian habitat in August of 1999. A previous BLM burn had killed an old-growth cottonwood grove; the recent burn severely impacted the remaining riparian zone and the adjacent upland habitat. Water quality has been severely degraded by sedimentation levels; particularly during precipitation events. Past utilization had been concentrated along the drainage course with long-term impacts to the riparian vegetation. The riparian greenline had been extensively replaced by non-riparian species prior to the fire.

Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be permanently withdrawn from this location. Significant riparian recovery, stabilization, and significant reduction in erosion potential will require more than 10 years. Riparian shrub recovery (dependent on any regenerative capability) would require a minimum time period of 3-6 years. Willow and other riparian shrubs need to reach a minimum height of6 feet or more prior to exposure even to short duration grazing. The loss of riparian structure from both cumulative grazing effects and the BLM fire will require more than the minimum years required for substantial recovery at this location.

                    1. Cumulative grazing impacts to the riparian zone compounded by late summer fire damage.