9. Unnamed Spring, State "Ponds"

Land Manager: BLM, Burley Field Office/State of Idaho
Legal Location: T 15S R 17E Section 36 Twin Falls County
Allotment Location: Shoshone Basin

Dominant Plant Community Type: Sagebrush-Grass

Impacts: This site includes upland sage-steppe habitat, but also includes an extensive wet meadow system with large artificial reservoir/ponds backed up behind earthen dam structures. The creek that has been held back was not running below the largest dam, leaving a lot of channel and habitat without water. The dry channel had previously been severely impacted by livestock. Any previous riparian structure has been removed completely. Utilization levels have been extreme- far beyond any recommended levels for Sage Grouse and other wildlife. Although a large amount of water is present, the severe removal of vegetation, soil compaction, shrub impacts, and invasion of exotic annuals has seriously degraded this state section. Acres of habitat have been converted to Burr Buttercup (Ranunculus testiculatus) an exotic that has no forage value for livestock or wild ungulates. Severe understory removal has occurred in the adjacent shrub community. The lack of cover and suitable forage is extremely limiting to wildlife, both to mammals and birds.

Recommendations: It is recommended that this area be permanently withdrawn from livestock grazing. The wildlife potential of this state land section should outweigh other uses. The current habitat degradation will take years for reversal and recovery. This site could potentially support a functional riparian community through mitigation efforts and protection from livestock utilization.

                    1. Severe utilization impacts to reservoir and adjacent habitat.

                    2. Severe impacts to meadow soils and uplands; acres of
                        compacted ground converted to exotic Burr Buttercup.