6. Cold Creek, North Fork
Land Manager: BLM, Burley Field Office/State of Idaho
Legal Location: T 15S R 22E Sections 15, 16, 21 Cassia County
Allotment: #4027 Goose Creek Group
Dominant Plant Community Type: Sagebrush-Grass
Impacts: The cumulative livestock impacts at this location have been severe. The stream had previously run continuously in wet years, intermittently in drier years. The canyon through which it travels is narrow, steep-sided and rocky. Livestock have concentrated in the tiny channel. Severe trampling, loss of channel and flow, and severe removal of riparian vegetation has resulted. This small riparian zone was further damaged by an escaped BLM controlled burn in August of 1999. The fire intensity at this location was severe. The remnants of the stream flow and the general fire area were impacted after the fire through trespass grazing by allotment permittees. This was not corrected by the BLM until mid-November 1999.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be permanently withdrawn from this drainage. Significant riparian recovery and upland shrub recovery (dependent on regenerative capability) will require more than 10 years. Significant bank stabilization and reestablishment of the stream channel will also require the recovery of significant riparian growth and protection from livestock utilization and trespass.
List of Figures:
1. Trespass damage to the fire-impacted, over-utilized creek.
