Vegetation changes following livestock exclusion on the National Reactor Testing Station, Southeastern Idaho Vegetation


Category:  Ecology
Linked Publication
Language: English
Author(s): Roy O. Harniss
Description: In 1950, a large tract of land was acquired by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to form the National Reactor Testing Station (NRTS) in southeastern Idaho. An ecological survey of the vegetation using density, frequency and cover parameters was started in 1950 along macro-transects bisecting the NRTS. Subsequent surveys sampled the same vegetal plots in 1957 and 1965 and also sampled other areas. Domestic livestock has been excluded on-portions of the NRTS since 1950. An analysis of the change in the vegetation as the result of livestock exclusion was the main objective of this study. The conclusions concerning the effects of livestock exclusion on a sagebrush-grass range are: (1) There is little change in vegetation which cannot be attributed to the influence of precipitation; (2) Natural revegetation is slow and if an increase in grass is the management objective, the time element makes it not feasible if there is any other alternative for range improvement; (3) The protection of this range over a long period will prevent further deterioration of the range resource.