Dameron Exclosure

Description:

Plate 258. DAMERON EXCLOSURE 1941-2000 The Dameron exclosure was built in 1936 to study the impact that wildlife and livestock, have on the range. The exclosure is of a 3-part design with one area fenced to exclude livestock but to which wildlife, primarily mule deer in this case, have access. A second, adjacent area is fenced to exclude all ungulates, while a third, unfenced plot is grazed by both deer and cattle. By measuring the vegetation in all three plots, wildlife use can be separated from livestock use. This area is a major mule deer wintering area and the main browse species is cliffrose (see Plates 166-167). In general, cliffrose has regenerated only where both wildlife and livestock have been excluded. Cliffrose has not regenerated within the deer-only area, which means the mule deer use alone has been sufficient to keep cliffrose from recovering. There has also been an increase of pinyon-juniper both inside and outside the exclosure. In addition, the pole fence seen in the original photographs has been replaced with a woven wire fence. Plate 258 is viewed north to the south side of the exclosure. Both wildlife and livestock have grazed the area between the camera station and the fence. Pinyon and juniper have increased in all areas, while cliffrose has declined. The cleared area in the retake is a chaining completed by the Forest Service and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to restore wildlife habitat lost to invading pinyon-juniper. This is similar to Plates 168-176.

Photo Information:

U.S. Forest Service photo 407321 by Paul Bieler on April 20, 1941; retake by Charles E. Kay on August 5, 2000 - - Photo No. 4671-24; Original photo held by the Fillmore Ranger District, Fishlake National Forest, Fillmore, UT - - see file 2620 on the Dameron Canyon Study Exclosure.

Vegetative Community:

Mountain Brush, Pinyon, Juniper

South Central: Section 5, Range 5 W, Township 24 S; UTM - - for the exclosure 4290500 N, 370790 E; elevation 5,540 ft.