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<br />lower erosion hazards and less salinity. Refer to Table 1.0 (Acreage and Proportionate Extent <br />of the Soils Within The Greater Sagers Wash Watershed) for identification of the moderately <br />saline and strongly saline soil map units. <br /> <br />0' <br />o <br />i'';'' <br />"'" <br /> <br />Erosion condition was evaluated by field observations of soil condition, vegetation condition and <br />cover, surface litter, gully erosion and flow patterns. The soils with severe or critical erosion <br />are shown in Table A-l.O, Soil Map Unit Tabular Summary. These areas are generally <br />associated with areas of high geological (natural) erosion and steeper sloping areas where <br />vegetation and cover are sparse (greater than 25 percent slopes) as in the badlands area and Book <br />Cliffs. <br /> <br />Soil loss estimates were made by using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and <br />are shown in Table A-2.0 (Soil Erosion, Sediment and Salt Prediction by Soil Taxonomic Units <br />for Existing Conditions and Selected Treatments). <br /> <br />Treatment opponunities are difficult on most of the soils within the watershed, especially in the <br />areas with less than 8 inches annual precipitation and on the steep sloping areas. Unfavorable <br />soil properties, such as thin surface layers, low organic matter, moderate to strong salinity and <br />alkalinity, and shallow soils are very common in the watershed and would present problems for <br />erosion control and vegetation enhancement. A comolex combination of effectively <br />implemented. prescribed management and structural conservation measures will be needed to <br />reduce soils erosion. sediment and salt loadinl! within the Greater Sal!ers Wash Watershed. <br /> <br />The selection and evaluation of potential treatment opportunities identified for The Greater <br />Sagers Wash Watershed are related to climate, soil type and condition, vegetation type and <br />condition, salinity, topography, geology, and type of erosion (Refer to Figure A-3 Treatment <br />0.P.portunities). Geologic and accelerated erosion is dominant on the badlands, geologic outcrops <br />areas and the steeper sloping saline soils (Chipeta Soils on 25 % to 50% slope). Some of these <br />areas are not feasible to treat or are subject to long-tenn management (Refer to Table 2.0- <br />Greater Sal!ers Wash Watershed Acreal!e and Potential Salt Yield Summary). <br /> <br />Over the long period, the most effective treatment measures will be those that result in improved <br />cover of vegetation and accompanying litter. Such measures include controlled grazing <br />supplemented by selected rangeland mechanical treatments (including contour pitting, furrowing, <br />Cisco Pits and water spreaders) effectively installed in key areas where treatment is most <br />functionable. Vegetation improvements (vegetation manipulation - sagebrush chopping, and P-J <br />chaining) are also effective in improving soil and vegetation condition, resulting in a reduction <br />of down stream salt loading and transport. <br /> <br />Due to the difficult conditions and complexity of the watershed area, an encroachment type <br />of treatment scenario would be most effective. This approach would require the use of a <br />selected mix of well designed and effectively installed land treatments and grazing <br />management some of which would be implemented on a demonstration type basis (Refer <br />to Figure A-4 Treatment Priority Areas). <br /> <br />12 <br />