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CHAPTER FOUR protection of various resources On 42,261 acres within six ACECs would maintain or improve water quality and maintain or decrease accelerated erosion and sediment yields. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON SOILS AND WATER RESOURCES Overall hydrologic functions of riparian areas would be expected to improve. Future water quantity protection would be provided on 113 miles of fisheries if minimum stream flows are secured. Sediment and erosions rates would be expected to decrease where surface-disturbing activities, including OHV use, are reduced, where total forage utilization levels are implemented, and where plant basal cover objectives are achieved. IMPACTS ON RIPARIAN ZONES IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts from Riparian Zone Management. Overall riparian conditions would be improved and natural values would be enhanced. Limiting road construction and mitigating water source developments would minim;7e removal of vegetation and help improve riparian conditions. Requiring mitigating measures in all plans for surface- disturbing activities would help reduce site specific riparian area deterioration. Restricting potential oil and gas development and associated surface disturbance under a controlled surface use stipulation would protect riparian vegetation in Unit E-14, and prevent removal of sage grouse brood rearing habitat as a result of these activities. Impacts from Locatable Minerals Maaagement Existing and proposed withdrawals that segregate the federal mineral estate from mineral entry and location would protect about 117 miles of identified riparian zones from potential vegetation loss and other disturbances associated with mining locatable minerals. About 33 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 617 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 96 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 Minerals Management Damage to and removal of the riparian vegetation type as a result of surface disturbance from mineral material disposal would be minimi7ed by mitigating measures that would limit disturbance to the short- term. Impacts from Soli and Water Resource Management Vegetation treatDlents designed to increase plant basal cover and reduce accelerated soil erosion would enhance riparian areas by reducing the quantity and timing of water and sediment delivery. Acquisition of water rights, where appropriate, including instream flows, would improve the overall condition of riparian areas by improving the dependability of surface and sub. surface water. Mitigation measures required for erosion reduction in all surface-disturbing plans would indirectly help reduce riparian area deterioration. Impacts from Wildlife Habitat Management The improvement in upland and riparian areas through proposed management and vegetation treatDlents would maintain and help improve the condition of riparian areas. Managing fishery streams to improve their condition would indirectly help improve overall riparian zone conditions. Acquisition of instream flow water rights along 113 miles of fIshery stream would indirectly enhance and help improve the overall condition of riparian vegetation along these streams. Implementing mitigation required in all plans for surface disturbance involving fishery streams would indirectly help maintain or reduce riparian area deterioration. Impacts from livestock Grazing Management. Implementing livestock grazing management actions, including increasing use supervision, limits on total forage utilization, a cooperative weed-control program, minimum stubble heights, and range 4-58