11. Winter Spring

Land Manager: BLM, Burley Field Office
Legal Location: T 15S R 17E Section 30 Twin Falls County
Allotment Location: Shoshone Basin

Dominant Plant Community Type: Sagebrush-Grass

Impacts: This site has been severely degraded by livestock utilization. Despite a series of small BLM exclosures to protect the spring and sections of flow, livestock have accessed the exclosure in1999 and already again in 2000. This has caused severe impacts to the soil, spring flow, and remnant riparian structure in the lower exclosure. Outside of the exclosure the spring habitat has been subjected to riparian species removal, severe utilization levels far beyond recommended standards, and impacts to adjacent upland vegetation. Utilization has exposed bare mineral soil on the banks above the spring flow and within the exclosure. Water quality outside the exclosures is severely degraded.

Recommendations: It is recommended that this entire location be permanently withdrawn from livestock grazing. More than 10 years will be required to obtain significant riparian regeneration and recovery outside of the tiny exclosures. Impacts have now been re-sustained within the exclosure. The spring, spring flow, and adjacent upland habitat should all receive protection from livestock utilization.

                    1. Severe impacts to spring flow, adjacent habitat, and impacts to exclosure habitat.

                    2. Severe utilization impacts to habitat; severely degraded water quality.