15b. South Heglar Spring and Vicinity
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 12S R 29E Sections 9, 10 Cassia County
Forest Division: Sublette
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Aspen Conifer
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have led to severe loss of riparian structure, severe loss of understory, and severe channel impacts, and degradation of water quality. Severe trampling has occurred in hydric soils, broken down banks, and led to channel widening. Utilization impacts have led to erosion, with severe areas of down-cutting and head-cutting. Riparian and aspen regeneration has been severely impacted. Shrub community habitat has been severely impacted on the hill above the South Heglar Spring trough. The original South Heglar Spring site has been dewatered through development.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this location and drainage until substantial riparian recovery, riparian regeneration, and understory recovery has been achieved. Recovery of the aspen and riparian shrub species will take 3-6 years or more, depending on regenerative capability. Aspen and riparian shrubs need to achieve a height of 6 feet or more in order to withstand short duration grazing. This area would benefit from mitigation efforts such as the planting of appropriate riparian species.
List of Figures:
1. Severe utilization of upland vegetation near spring troughs.
2. Severe utilization effects on aspen and riparian regeneration.
3. Severe impacts to creek flow and hydric soil region.
4. Severely degraded channel, severe loss of riparian structure.
