Shoofly Watershed Restoration

The project is located in the Shoofly Watershed approximately 15 miles Northeast of the town of Mitchell in Wheeler County. Western Juniper encroachment has increased over the years due to historic wildfire suppression creating both a water quantity and quality issue, as well as a loss of native vegetation resulting in degraded wildlife habitat. This project seeks to reduce the negative impacts Western Juniper imposes on the watershed functions by hand cutting juniper, and machine cut and pile areas within the upland and floodplain. In addition, the project will protect vegetation with exclusion fencing, enroll areas of Shoofly Creek into CREP, treat for herbaceous weeds, and provide off site stockwater to help distribute grazing patterns.

Many of the upland actions proposed would serve to reduce sediment inputs to the Shoofly Creek. Western Juniper lands have been shown to exhibit approximately 1600 lbs/acre of sediment during a 25/year event versus functional grasslands, that showed 400 lbs/acre [Western Juniper OSU 1995 pg 5 table 1]. By treating 235 acres of Western Juniper Woodland the project could potentially prevent 163 tons of sediment from entering the stream systems should a 25-year event occur.

Additionally, this project will treat 235 acres of Western Juniper. With a focus on water quantity. Treatment areas have been selected to maximize the impact on available water. Near springs, in the bottom of channels, and the Northern aspects. This project will allow approximately 565,000 more gallons to reach the watershed following treatment.