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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />fi/2?/91 <br />~/'~- S ". <br />( ,. ..,..,~ ft.,.{C."~'L'iQ.,..-+r. <br /> <br />< <br /> <br />~ <br />o <br />en <br />o <br /> <br />RED CREEK SALINITY AND SEDIMENT PROJECT <br />(BLM Wyoming, BLM Utah, Ashley National Forest, SCS) <br /> <br />Red Creek is a sub-river basin located in southwestern Wyoming <br />and northeastern Utah and is part of the larger Green River <br />Basin. The watershed is 92,400 acres in size with approximately <br />70,000 acres in Wyoming. <br /> <br />Red Creek has been noted as an area of natural geologic erosion <br />but is also cited as having accelerated erosion from roads, <br />pipelines and improper use of forage. Based on data collected in <br />t.he early: 1970's, 84,.137 tons of sediment per year emanates from <br />the watershed as well as 1.98-39.44 tons of salt per day <br />depending on the discharge. <br /> <br />In 1981 a watershed management plan was formulated calling for <br />Lhe installation of numerous sediment. structures. Although <br />several of the recommended inst.ream structures were constructed <br />few lasted more than a year before being washed out. These <br />failures can probably be attributed to the braided nature of the <br />stream channel and the magnitude of the runoff events. <br /> <br />This is not to say that structures are not an option but rather <br />that they should be carefully engineered and the main channel <br />where the braided condition exists should be avoided. Currently <br />we are looking at installing several large structures below the <br />pipeline corridor so as to stabilize the channel above and below. <br />Such structures as these proposed would of course have to be <br />engineered large enough to stabilize the problem, therefore it <br />comes as no surprise that costs for each structure will run <br />$100,000 or for each for 5 structures. <br /> <br />Other work in the watershed would be road improvement, since <br />limited access is desirable. The roads that do exist are not <br />much more than two tracks with numerous headcuts and gully <br />problems associated with them. We would like to reconstruct only <br />those roads that are necessary for access and close the <br />remainder. Estimates for this would run at $200,000 or $25,000 <br />per mile and $5,000 for road closure. <br /> <br />Over utilization of forage appears to be a problem in the <br />floodplain of the Red Creek channel. It seems as though the <br />woody vegetation is grazed before it has a chance to grow much <br />beyond 1 foot in height. This of course never allows the <br />vegetation to grow and provide a large enough root mass to <br />stabilize the channel. Although cattle are undoubtly responsible <br />for some ~oody vegetation utilization they are not the only <br />culprits, since the area is host to a deer and elk herd. <br /> <br />Since no project is successful <br />of measuring progress we would <br />of an interpretive sign at the <br />informational brochure as well <br /> <br />without public education and a way <br />also incorporate the installation <br />mouth of Red Creek and an <br />as the restablishment of the USGS <br /> <br />~ _ l> <br /> <br />,ii:' _ ~L" <br /> <br />H1f <br />" _ i ~~~~~h-~_._-j;iJ <br />