23a. Van Camp Creek, Lower
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 12S R 29E Sections 27, 28, 34 Cassia County
Forest Division: Sublette
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Aspen
Impacts: Cumulative livestock impacts to this creek and channel have resulted in severe down-cutting and head-cutting in several locations. The riparian structure has been lost along much of the creek, and the riparian greenline has been extensively replaced by non-riparian species. Water quality has been degraded. Wildlife and fisheries values have been seriously impacted. The channel has been widened and thermal capabilities have been lost in much of the lower sections of this creek. Existing old-growth riparian vegetation above the confluence with Lake Fork has been moderately to severely utilized, depending on accessibility to livestock. Riparian regeneration has been severely impacted. Loss of aspen regeneration and understory removal in adjacent shrub and aspen habitat has been heavy to severe.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this drainage. Riparian regeneration (based on regenerative capabilities) and riparian recovery generally requires a minimum of 3-6 years. Riparian shrub species need to achieve a height of 6 feet or more in order to withstand short duration grazing impacts. Due to the lack of current riparian structure and the need to stabilize the severe erosion, this site will likely need more than 6 years to achieve substantial recovery. Mitigation efforts to slow the erosion processes and the planting of appropriate riparian species would benefit this creek.
List of Figures:
1. Severe erosion and utilization impacts; trampling,
down-cutting, head-cutting.
Complete loss of riparian species and riparian
greenline.
2. Utilization impacts to channel, loss of riparian species.
3. Utilization impacts to old-growth riparian vegetation.
