VEGETATION 



The early history (1847 to 1930) of land 

 use along the Wasatch Front is marked by log- 

 ging, fire, and severe overgrazing. Timber 

 stands were depleted, regeneration was sup- 

 pressed, and meadow and understory grasses 

 and forbs were depleted (fig. 6). Mud-rock 

 floods originated on denuded mountain slopes 

 and meadows during high intensity summer 

 rainstorms. Since its inclusion in the National 

 Forest System in 1933, the DCEW has been 

 completely protected from logging, fire, and 

 grazing by domestic livestock. In addition, in- 



tensive watershed restoration practices, in- 

 cluding contour furrowing and reseeding, 

 were applied to flood-source areas which in- 

 cluded the stream bottoms and lower side 

 slopes of both study watersheds of Chicken 

 Creek. The areas that were contour furrowed 

 are generally defined on the soils map (page 

 52) by soil type 16 and some of the adjacent 

 areas; the furrowed areas comprised about 15 

 percent of both watersheds. Most of the 

 treated area remains in grass and brush vegeta- 

 tion, but some furrows can be seen in the low- 



Figure 6. — An aspen stand that has been logged and heavily grazed. Forage is depleted, aspen 

 regeneration is suppressed, and the exposed soil presents a serious erosion hazard. Photo- 

 graphed during the era of severe land abuse, circa 1930. 



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