20. Summit Springs
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 13S R 30E Section 15 Oneida County
Forest Division: Sublette
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Aspen-Conifer
Impacts: Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have led to loss of riparian structure and riparian regeneration at the spring site. Non-riparian species have replaced the riparian greenline along the spring flow. Utilization impacts have led to trampling of hydric soils and loss of the spring channel. Concentrated impacts near the troughs have led to loss of groundcover and exposure of bare soils. Utilization impacts to the shrub understory, meadow areas, and remnant riparian growth has been severe. Much of the spring flow is taken by water developments.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this area until substantial riparian recovery, riparian regeneration, and understory recovery have been achieved.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.
List of Figures:
1. Utilization impacts to spring site; loss of riparian species and understory.
2. Utilization impacts to springs and flow, loss of riparian structure.
