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/I:)13.)'? ~ ,,-' .. riparian zones would indirectly reduce vegetation utilization levels and the effects of trampling. Impacts from Locatable Mlnernls Management. Existing and proposed withdrawals that segregate the federal mineral estate from mineral entry and location would protect about 162 miles of identified riparian zones from potential vegetation loss and other disturbances associated with mining locatable minerals. About 38 of these miles are within areas having a high likelihood for the potential for the occurrence of locatable minerals. The remainder of identified riparian zones, about 572 miles, would be open to mineral entry and location, and if mining were to occur, some loss of vegetation and other mining-associated disturbances could occur. About 91 of these miles are within areas with a high potential for the Occurrence of locatable minerals. Reclamation requirements would limit these impacts to the short- term. Impacts from Saleable Minernl. Management. Damage to and removal of the riparian vegetation type as a result of mineral material disposal would be m;nim;7ed by mitigating measures that would limit disturbance to the short-term. Impacts from Soil and Water Resource Management. Vegetation treatments designed to reduce soil erosion would enhance riparian areas by reducing the quantity and timing of water and sediment delivery. Acquisition of water rights including instream flows, would facilitate the management of riparian areas by improving the dependability of surface and sub- surface water. Impacts from Livestock Grazing Management. Implementing IGMCs, that is, total forage utilization limits, minimum stubble heights, and range readiness, would result in the rapid improvement in plant vigor which would lead to healing and building of streambaoks while dowo-cut or incised stream channels would further stabilize. The elimination of livestock grazing, including faIl use in some areas, and the elimination of some season-long grazing would result in improved plant vigor, diversity and composition, and an increase in above-ground biomass; streambaoks would stabilize, groundwater recharge would increase, and water tables would rise. ALTERNATIVE 0 IMPACTS Implementing these actions would thus result in a marked improved condition in riparian zones. Impacts from Forest Management. Eliminating commercial timber harvests within 1,000 acres of riparian areas would protect these areas from rutting, compaction, stream bank deterioration and channeli2ation. Restricting timber harvest to slopes less than 35% would prevent excessive sedimentation and dowocutting of riparian zones. Impacts from Recreation Management. Camping restrictions within the Powderhom SRMA would prevent excessive trampling, compaction and destruction of riparian vegetation. Closing about 1,500 acres of riparian zone to OHV use and limiting OHV use yearlong about 6,844 acres of riparian zones to designated routes would prevent rutting, deterioration of vegetation and streambanks. The construction of recreation facilities and subsequent use in or adjacent to riparian areas would cause the loss or degradation of these areas. The area affected by such development would be less than 10 acres. Impacts from Acquisition of Non-Federnl Lands. Acquisition of non-federal lands containing riparian zones would enhance riparian management on public land and would prevent development of these areas. Impacts from Rights-of-Way Management. Excluding rights-of-way from and designated rights-of-way avoidancc areas would protect about 6,970 acres of riparian areas from rutting, compaction, streambaok deterioration and channelization. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON RIPARIAN ZONES The management actions identified in this alternative would result in a marked improvement in riparian condition. The majority of this improvement would be the result of limiting total forage utilization and maintaining minimum stubble heights. There would be an increase in total production and diversity of plant species. 4-43