23b. Van Camp Creek, Unnamed Springs
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 12S R 29E Section 28 Cassia County
Forest Division: Sublette
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Grass/Aspen
Impacts: This unnamed set of springs is used to fill a small reservoir for livestock. Cumulative impacts from livestock utilization have severely impacted the reservoir, springs, spring flow, and adjacent habitat. Understory removal among the aspens and loss of aspen regeneration has been severe. Loss of the riparian structure and greenline has occurred. The greenline has been extensively replaced by non-riparian species. Understory removal and impacts to the adjacent shrub community ranges from heavy to severe. Trampling has resulted in loss of groundcover, disturbance to hydric soil regions, and loss of cryptogamic soil crusts. Trampling has resulted in channel widening and disruption of flow. Water quality has been severely degraded.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this spring location along with the main drainage. Riparian and aspen regeneration (based on regenerative capabilities) and recovery requires a minimum of 3-6 years. Riparian shrub species and aspen 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 in main Van Camp Creek, this site would need to share the same timetable.
List of Figures:
1. Utilization impacts to spring flow; loss of riparian species and understory.
2. Severe utilization impacts to small spring reservoir and adjacent habitat.
