Presettlement Vegetation Of Cache Valley, Utah and Idaho

Abstract

Explorers and early settlers found abundant grass and little sagebrush in Cache Valley in northeastern Utah and southeastern Idaho. Excessive grazing by livestock after settlement caused the grass to decrease and the sagebrush to increase. Most grassland areas were eventually plowed for dry-land or irrigated farming. However, in the dry-farm belt are many steep or rocky slopes, inaccessible corners, and similar areas that have not been plowed, irrigated, heavily grazed, or burned in recent years. Many of these areas support vegetation that, except for increased sagebrush, is undoubtedly similar to that described by explorers, early settlers, and historians.