21. Upper Heglar Spring
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 11S R 29E Section 36 Cassia County
Forest Division: Sublette
Dominant Plant Community Type: Aspen-Shrub/Conifer
Impacts: The original spring site has been developed to provide water to a set of troughs in the main canyon. Livestock utilization at the watering site has led to severe levels of understory removal in the canyon bottom and in adjacent conifer habitat. Impacts to the adjacent aspen-shrub community have resulted in loss of aspen regeneration and shrub understory removal.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this area until substantial aspen and understory recovery has been achieved. Recovery of aspen or aspen regeneration requires 3-6 years or more, depending on regenerative capability. Aspen saplings need to achieve a height of 6 feet or more in order to withstand short duration grazing impacts.
List of Figures:
1. Utilization levels to ground cover near troughs.
2. Severe utilization effects to shrub understory and aspen regeneration.
