6. Lower Heglar Spring (Spring Canyon)
Land Manager: Sawtooth National Forest
Legal Location: T 11S R 29E Sections 25, 26 Cassia County
Forest Division: Sublette
Dominant Plant Community Type: Shrub-Juniper/Aspen-Conifer
Impacts: Livestock utilization has severely impacted this spring site and adjacent habitat. The spring flow now fills a set of troughs; impacts to the watering site have been severe. Soil compaction, trampling of hydric soils, and vegetation removal has occurred. Utilization has also led to understory removal, and impacts to the adjacent shrub and aspen community. Aspen regeneration and young conifers have both been seriously impacted in adjacent habitat locations. Utilization on shaded hillside areas has led to complete removal of groundcover and cryptogamic soil crusts. Bare soils have been exposed and erosion is now beginning in these locations.
Recommendations: It is recommended that livestock be withdrawn from this location until substantial understory and aspen recovery has been achieved. Substantial recovery of aspen 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.
List of Figures:
1. Trampling of hydric soil and meadow region.
2. Severe impacts to habitat; loss of understory and cryptogamic soil crust.
