19. Sublette Troughs and Vicinity

Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 13S R 30E Section 24 Oneida County
Forest Division: Sublette

Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass

Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have led to loss of riparian structure and riparian regeneration along the Sublette Troughs spring flow and at adjacent spring areas. A small amount of willows are protected by an exclosure at the main spring. Livestock utilization at Sublette Troughs and in the vicinity has been very severe; leading to loss of groundcover, loss of shrub understory, and severe impacts to the spring flow.

Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this area until substantial riparian recovery, riparian regeneration, and understory recovery have been achieved. Recovery of riparian shrub species will take 3-6 years or more, depending on regenerative capability. Riparian shrubs need to achieve a height of 6 feet or more in order to withstand short duration grazing. These locations would benefit from mitigation efforts such as the planting of appropriate riparian species.

                    1. Severe utilization impacts to spring flow and meadow; a small exclosure protects the willows.

                    2. Utilization impacts to channel and meadow, loss of riparian structure.