Habitat and Habitat Goals

The LK Ranch supports a wide range of plant communities including primarily sage, mountain shrub, and aspen, with riparian bottoms along several major drainages. The vegetative assortment within the LK provides a substantial diversity for wildlife species. Upland vegetation consists primarily of sagebrush interspersed with scattered mountain shrub and aspen communities at the upper elevations.

Mountain shrub species consist primarily of gambel oak, serviceberry, and chokecherry. Scattered stands of Aspen and some coniferous forest occur at the higher elevations on the LK Ranch. Coniferous forest and pinyon juniper woodlands provide thermal cover for big game, as well as habitat for a wide variety of birds and other small game species as well.

Upland under stories consist of a mix of grasses and forbs, with most species native to the sites. Various species of noxious weeds are also scattered throughout the native vegetation, but are not dominant.

Riparian vegetation, primarily found along Veatch Gulch and Flag Creek, includes some willow and a few stands of cottonwood trees, but is dominated by a mix of native sedges, rushes, and grasses.

The riparian areas and water sources on the LK Ranch are incredibly important to wildlife species throughout the year, while the irrigated hayfields and grasslands provide extremely high quality forage to wildlife species during critical periods.

HABITAT MANAGEMENT GOALS:

The overall RFW goals in terms of habitat management for the LK Ranch property are to:

1. Increase the number and nutritional health/quality of both mule deer and elk utilizing
the LK Ranch RFW on a year round and seasonal basis with continued implementation of an integrated and progressive livestock grazing management plan that is approved by CDOW per conservation easement guidelines.

2. Work cooperatively with CDOW to manipulate decadent/unproductive stands of sagebrush, pinyon/juniper, mountain shrub and aspen stands that are found on the LK Ranch RFW in order to improve the quality and diversity of these habitat types for the benefit of mule deer, elk, and sage grouse.

3. Aggressively identify, control and monitor any noxious weed infestations on the LK Ranch property to avoid long term losses of plant biodiversity and habitat quality.

4. Maintain, restore, and enhance riparian areas and available water resources on the LK Ranch RFW through habitat/water improvement projects and well managed livestock grazing management.

5. In conjunction with riparian enhancement projects, establish quality recreational trout fisheries and wetland waterfowl habitats on sites where feasible and biologically practical, to increase the diversity of available recreational opportunities (i.e., the east and main forks of Flag Creek, and spring fed pond sites throughout Veatch gulch) on LK Ranch property.

6. Interseed some irrigated crop land and upland dry cropland sites with high quality grasses, legumes/forbs, and shrubs specifically selected for mule deer, elk, and sage grouse.