Roger Peak

Description:

Plate 383X. Roger Peak 1948 - 1953 - 2003 The Roger Peak Photo Plot Transect was established in 1943 and reread in 1948, 1953, 1974, and 1979. The transect is situated along the Hell’s Backbone Road on the southside of Boulder Mountain. By road, the transect is located three miles east of Pine Creek and three-tenths of a mile west of the old gravel pit turn-off. When the transect was established, the area was very heavily grazed by domestic sheep and erosion was common. “Bitterbrush and oakbrush are the [most] common shrubs [on] the transect. Both have been heavily browsed and about 20 percent of the [bitterbrush] and 10 percent of the oak is dead. There are a few patches of tall oakbrush…but the majority…[is] 2-3 feet tall and [is] kept browsed off. Grass is not plentiful on this transect.” Both soil and vegetation trends were described as downward in 1953. After remeasuring the transect in 1974, Dan Baird noted that “the most striking change has been the increase in size and numbers of ponderosa pine.” In 1979, Dr. Jim Bowns, range ecologist at Southern Utah University, reported that “the trend…is definitely up and the condition is good or perhaps even excellent…This is primarily a bitterbrush range, the plant exhibiting exceptional leader growth and therefore good vigor…cattle have [used] this area this year, but utilization has been very light” - - domestic sheep use was discontinued sometime in the 1960s (unpublished reports in the range files on the Escalante Ranger District, Dixie National Forest, Escalante, UT). Plate 383x is viewed south from the low ridge crossed by the Photo Plot Transect. Fiftymile and Navajo Mountains are visible on the skyline in the 1953 image. The area has been logged and thinned. Nevertheless, ponderosa pine has increased dramatically. Bitterbrush is the most common shrub and it appears to have increased, except where it has been overtopped by conifers. Rabbitbrush seen in the 1948 and 1953 images has been eliminated. Grass cover has increased. Unless this area is repeatedly logged or thinned, it will became a closed pine forest with little understory vegetation. Livestock had not used this area in 2003 nor was there any old livestock sign. Deer and elk sign, however, was abundant and many bitterbrush plants were browsed.

Photo Information:

U.S. Forest Service photographs (unnumbered) taken by Walter P. Cottam on July 29, 1948; and I.H. Johnson on September 2, 1953; retake by Charles E. Kay on August 30, 2003 - - Photo No. 5274-14. 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, Oakbrush, Conifer

South West: Section 1, Range 2 East, Township 33 South; UTM of transect starting point 445200 E, 4201300 N; elevation 8,860 ft.