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Cabin-Harry Neil Springs Restoration Project

5/23/2016

Project Area

The project occurs on the Minidoka Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest on the Raft River

mountain range, roughly 27 miles south of Malta, Idaho on the One Mile/Yost Cattle and Horse (C&H)

Allotment (Map 1). The location of the springs is in T14N, R14W, Sections 17, 22, and 27. Salt Lake

Meridian.

Introduction

The One Mile/Yost C&H Allotment is in the upper reaches of George Creek and One Mile Creek in the

Raft River watershed. Forest staff has observed degraded spring conditions and livestock water

developments placed with in Riparian Conservation Areas (RCAs) on portions of the One Mile/Yost

C&H grazing allotment during the 2015 grazing season. In response, the Forest Service and permittees

would like to remove the troughs from within the RCAs, relocate them in the adjacent uplands, and fence

the associated Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs)/ springs. These sources of water support

unique meadow and wet meadow habitat for a number of important plant and wildlife species.

Purpose and Need

The purpose and need of the project is to protect GDEs to meet Forest Plan Standards by removing or

reducing impacts from livestock while continuing livestock grazing on the allotment.

The Sawtooth National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) outlines desired

wetland conditions in Management Area and Forest level direction. First, there is a desire to improve

conditions of RCAs when implementing or reconstructing range improvement projects (p. III-48,

RAST03). The project follows this direction by removing existing water developments from the two

RCAs and fencing the water sources to remove impacts from the GDE and its associated RCA. Second,

the Forest Plan directs that management actions will neither degrade nor retard attainment of properly

functioning soil, water, riparian, and aquatic desired conditions (p. III-22, SWST04). Currently, the

degraded conditions have impaired soil conditions and lack sufficient vegetation vigor and rooting depth

that can filter water and retain water in subsoil area. The project is needed to improve the current soil and

water conditions. Finally, the Forest Plan has overarching direction to “Manage livestock grazing within

riparian areas to accommodate the maintenance or restoration of aquatic and riparian processes and

functions”. (p. III-47). These wetlands have experienced intensive livestock use and although they make

up a small percentage of area, have substantially high value as a water source and unique habitat features.

Scope of Analysis

This analysis will analyze the effects associated with livestock grazing, protective fencing and associated

water developments to restore the springs in the upper reaches of the One Mile/Yost C&H Allotment. It

is expected that the environmental documentation would be completed under a Categorical Exclusion.

Category 18 (36 CFR 220.6(e)(18)), as described in the Forest Service Handbook Chapter 30 (FSH

1909.15 Sec. 31.12), outlines restoration actions to wetlands, streams, and riparian areas that include

modifying water control structures and fencing to allow waters to flow into natural channels and

floodplains and restore natural flow regimes.

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Proposed Action

Approximately 1.2 miles of fence would be constructed around three spring areas to protect

approximately 24 acres. Table 1 displays the approximate fence distances, locations, and proposed

building materials. Maps 2-4 show the fence layout and spring locations. If approved, the project could

begin to be implemented after the decision is signed; depending on funding and Forest priorities. .

Table 1. Three groundwater dependent ecosystems identified for improved management.

Location Fence

Distance

(mi)

Area

Fenced

(acres)

Location

(Lat/Long)

Materials

Harry Neil

Spring

0.1 0.3 41.937386° N,

-113.468648° W,

Four-strand wire fencing

Cabin Springs 0.5 8.1 41.922146° N,

-113.437934° W

Four-strand wire fencing,

let-down style

Lower Cabin

Spring

0.6 15.3 41.917692° N,

-113.434433° W

Four-strand wire fencing,

let-down style

The Harry Neil Spring would have the trough removed from the stream channel and one 1500 gallon

trough would be moved to an upland area east of the channel. The small fence around the spring source

would be removed and the entire spring meadow complex, including the stock pond below the spring

would be fenced to restore wetland characteristics at the site and maintain adequate water for beneficial

uses.

The large water trough at Cabin Springs would be removed from the current location to reduce the

impacts to the wetland meadow and restore natural wetland characteristics while maintaining adequate

water for beneficial uses. Livestock water would be provided through a buried pipeline in three-1500

gallon troughs located 0.1 mile away from the spring, in the adjacent upland community. The fence in this

area would follow below FS Road 011 and out into the upland sagebrush and continue around the upland

meadow (see Maps 2-3 below). Approximately 0.3 miles below Cabin Springs there is Lower Cabin

Spring that would also be fenced from livestock.

Resource Concerns

The Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) has identified the following potential resource concerns that may arise

from the project along with proposed Best Management Practices (BMP”s) for the project.

Incidental Livestock Use in fenced areas.

Wildlife impacts due to new fences.

To ensure incidental use does not impede recovery of the springs in this project, the following additional

management indicators are proposed to be monitored when use occurs: (1) minimum 8” stubble height on

key hydric species, (2) maximum 10% browse use, (3) maximum <20% utilization on forage grasses by

livestock on all spring locations. If approved, the management of livestock would be incorporated into

Part III of the current and future term grazing permit(s) along with maintenance standards and

responsibilities of the proposed improvements on One Mile/Yost C&H Allotment. These improvements

would need to be kept functional at all times livestock graze in the pastures which contain them.

There is particularly high concern for the effects to wildlife from the fencing. The project addresses this

concern with the following mitigation:

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The new fences would be designed to allow wildlife passage (specifications are below).

The area fenced would be large enough to include not only the riparian zone but a portion of the

sagebrush/upland component to provide hiding cover for those wildlife species entering the

fenced area.

Installing fence markers to increase visibility for Sage-grouse. Wildlife escape ramps would be

placed in troughs.

Integrated Design Features and Monitoring Requirements Design features were developed based on standard operating procedures, Best Management Practices

(BMPs), Forest Plan standards and guides, and other procedural direction to eliminate or mitigate

potential impacts during project implementation. Specific monitoring requirements were also developed

to address non-routine information needs in the project area. The following is a list of these features and

requirements:

Fence

Four-strand wire, 12½ ga. with smooth bottom strand, top three strands are barbed wire; wire

spacing from ground: 18”, 24”, 30”, 42”; line posts space 16½ ft apart with a maximum of 10

metal to one line post on flat ground: green t-posts, 133 wt, and full pressure treated wood or

2-7/8” steel pipe posts; braces with pressure treated wood or 2-7/8” steel pipe posts posts; wood

vertical stays. Specifications meet federal and state recommendations for wildlife friendly

fences. See USDA Handbook 5E42d31- Range Structural Equipment and Wyoming Game and

Fish, Fencing Guidelines for Wildlife, Revised Version Habitat Extension Bulletin No. 53, 2004

Fence specifications are based on moderate snow level, wire spacing for big game (elk, deer,

moose, antelope, bighorn sheep) passage; effective exclusion of livestock based on anticipated

pressure; cost effectiveness versus other fencing materials/standards (i.e., 3 strand fence or wood

jackleg and railing) and minimizing perching opportunities for birds of prey. A four wire let-

down fence with the same spacing may be necessary to increase the life of the fence in this area

given the potential for heavy snow.

Gates would be constructed along each fence as a part of this project. These gates would be left

open when livestock are not adjacent to the exclosure to allow for easier wildlife access to the

area.

Chainsaw or lopping shearers would be used for fence line clearing where needed. Mechanized

post setting and wire stringing may be used with an ATV/UTV, 4x4 pick-up or tractor. Off-road

travel would be required to deliver and disperse fence materials but minimal ground disturbance

would reduce potential for noxious weed spread. Authorizations for off road travel would be

requested and authorized by the District Ranger with specifics of vehicles to be used, routes of

travel and dates of use described.

Water Developments

Trenching for the water development pipeline would be done with a ripper tooth on a tractor

approximately 12-24” deep.

Troughs would be cribbed, floated and include wildlife escape ramps. The wildlife escape ramps

would meet USDA Forest Service specifications. Cribs would be flush with the trough to reduce

potential issues associated with bat foraging at troughs.

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Monitoring

To help determine the success and effectiveness resulting from reducing livestock use at the

GDE’s photo points would be established and maintained at a 5 – 7 year interval and a Sage-

grouse Habitat Assessment for riparian habitat would be conducted in those sites that are found to

be in Sage-grouse habitat.

The project area will be monitored for noxious weeds before implementation of the project. After

the project is completed monitoring will continue for a minimum of three years and any

infestations that are detected will be treated. The Sawtooth National Forest Plan states:

NPST03 “To prevent invasion/expansion of noxious weeds, the following provisions will be

included in all special use authorizations, timber sale contracts, service contracts, or operating

plans where land-disturbing activities are associated with the authorized land use (additional

direction may be found in timber sale and service contract provisions and in Forest Service

handbooks):

a) Revegetate areas, as designated by the Forest Service, where the soil has been exposed by

ground-disturbing activity. Implement other measures, as designated by the Forest

Service, to supplement the influence of re-vegetation in preventing the invasion or

expansion of noxious weeds. Potential areas would include: construction and

development sites, underground utility corridors, skid trails, landings, firebreaks, slides,

slumps, temporary roads, cut and fill slopes, and travel ways of specified roads.

b) Earth-disturbing equipment used on National Forest System lands--such as cats, graders,

and front-loaders--shall be cleaned to remove all visible plant parts, dirt, and material that

may carry noxious weed seeds. Cleaning shall occur prior to entry onto the project area

and again upon leaving the project area, if the project area has noxious weed infestations.

This also applies to fire suppression earth-disturbing equipment contracted after a

WFDSS has been completed.

(Modified as part of 2012 Forest Plan amendment for WCS.)

NPST09 “The Forest shall comply with the intent and direction established in the above

provisions or clauses in a manner similar to that required of contractors or permittees.

References

USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Sawtooth National Forest Land and Resource Management

Plan. Amended June 2012.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Fence Guidelines for Wildlife. NO. 53. Habitat Extension

Services. 2004. Available [ONLINE] @

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/Departments/Wildlife/pdfs/BULLETIN_NO530001795.pdf [Dec. 8th,

2015]

Missoula Technology & Development Center. Fences, 5E42D31-Range Structural Equipment.

July1988/1999 Re-print.

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Map 1. Project location and allotment boundary.

ONE MILE/YOST ALLOTMENT BOUNDARY

¹ 0 1 2 0.5

Miles

! !

UTAH

IDAHO

^

Burley Twin Falls

Cabin-Harry Neil Springs Restoration Project

Area Map

Minidoka Ranger District- Raft River Division

Sawtooth National Forest

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Map 2. Cabin-Harry Neil Springs Restoration Project Locations

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Map 3. Cabin Springs Proposed Action.

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Map 4. Harry Neil Proposed Action.