12. Pine Creek Reservoir, Pine Creek
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 12S R 29E Sections 15, 22 Oneida County
Forest Division: Sublette
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Aspen-Conifer
Impacts: Livestock utilization has severely impacted these locations. Wildlife and plant values have been severely degraded. Understory removal, loss of riparian structure, and trampling of hydric soils and the creek channel has been severe. Loss of groundcover, loss of cryptogamic soil crusts, and exposure of bare soil has been extensive around Pine Creek Reservoir. Non-riparian species have replaced the riparian greenline along the creek. Down-cutting and head-cutting are occurring along sections of the creek.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this location until substantial riparian recovery has been achieved. Recovery of the riparian structure, riparian and aspen regeneration, and understory recovery will take 3-6 years or more depending on regenerative capability.
List of Figures:
1. Severe utilization impacts to reservoir site.
2. Utilization impacts to channel, loss of riparian species; Pine Creek, upstream from reservoir.
