Upper Valley

Description:

Plate 384X. Upper Valley 1943 - 1948 - 1953 - 1961 - 2003 The Upper Valley Photo Plot Transect in Water Canyon was established in 1943 and reread in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1974, and 1979. The transect is just above the horse pasture associated with the now abandoned Upper Valley Guard Station. When the transect was established, the area was very heavily grazed by cattle, and green and rubber rabbitbrush were the most common shrubs. In 1953, Range Conservationist, Irwin Johnson concluded that “the increase in inferior and undesirable species in addition to the poor condition of snowberry and bitterbrush means [the] vegetation trend continues to be downward as it was from 1943 to 1948. Soil trend is also downward and to a very noticeable degree” Conditions had not improved by 1961 when it was noted that “this is a classic example of a seriously depleted range resource.” Range Conservationist Dan Baird reported that vegetation and soil conditions had improved by 1974, but that shrubs were declining as conifers on the transect increased. In 1979, Dr. Jim Bowns, range ecologist at Southern Utah University, observed that leader growth on bitterbrush and snowberry was excellent… Ponderosa pine trees are now more numerous and larger [than they were in 1943], which has changed the character of this site. At best it is an area of low productivity, but the condition is good and the trend has been up” (unpublished reports in the range files on the Escalante Ranger District, Dixie National Forest, Escalante, UT). Plate 384x is viewed southwest from the start of the Photo Plot Transect at the rock carin in the foreground. The person in the 1943 image is standing on the transect centerline. Conifers, primarily ponderosa pine, have increased dramatically. Pinyon and juniper have also increased. As conifers have increased, forage production has declined. Cattle had not grazed this area in 2003 when the site was revisited. Note the young pinyon growing on the rock carin in the 2003 retake.

Photo Information:

U.S. Forest Service photographs (unnumbered) taken by Ray J. Davis on August 13, 1943; Walter P. Cottam on August 17, 1948; I.H. Johnson on June 15, 1953; and I.H. Johnson in 1961; retake by Charles E. Kay on August 30, 2003 - - Photo No. 5274-19. Original photographs, negatives, and narrative reports held in the range files on the Escalante Ranger District, Dixie National Forest, Escalante, UT.

Vegetative Community:

Mountain Brush, Conifer, Pinyon, Juniper

South West: Section 1, Range 1 West, Township 36 South; UTM of transect starting point 425900 E, 4173200 N; elevation 7,800 ft.