a conservation guide · conservation and why we must all work together to pre-serve, protect and...

“Where conservation matters”

A Conservation Guide

Spring Creek Ranch


A Conservation Guide

Published in the United States by Shoreline Properties, LLC

Copyright © 2005 Shoreline Properties, LLC

All rights reserved under international and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Spring Creek Ranch

Written by Ryan Barker – Contributions by David Klock

Special Thanks

City of Lehi Community Conservation, LLC The Wilderness SocietyUtah State University Utah Division of Wildlife Resources The Nature Conservancy

Spring Creek

Ranch

Welcome to…


and compassionateintelligence must be extended

to all life forms, plants, animals,

rocks, rivers, and human beings.

This is the story of our past and

it will be the story of our future.”

–Terry Tempest Williams

“Our sense of community

INTRODUCTION

A B C D E F G H I J

HISTORY

SPRING CREEK

GUIDELINES

RESPECTING NATURE

LEARNING

PLANTS

ANIMALS

PARKS & RESOURCES

WATER

TableContents

of

Introduction History Spring Creek Guidelines Respecting Nature Learning Plants Animals Water Parks & Resources

This is a little book about the special place where youhave chosen to live. It’s a short story intended to offer athumbnail sketch of your new home town and what it

means to be a resident in the Spring Creek RanchPlanned Community. It is also about the importance ofconservation and why we must all work together to pre-

serve, protect and improve our natural surroundings.

INTRODUCTIONSpring Creek Ranch takes itsname from the small stream thatflows through it. The source ofSpring Creek is the Lehi MillPond, located less than a mile tothe North. This wonderful waterresource is fed by many under-ground springs and providessteady year-round flows to UtahLake on our Southern Boundary.

Spring Creek currently provideshabitat for many species of birds,mammals and aquatic life, so it isthe logical focal point of theSpring Creek Ranch community.More recently, however, SpringCreek has endured a number ofenvironmental hardships; thismakes it even more importantfor the community to play aprominent role in the steward-ship of the stream and the sur-rounding wetland areas into thefuture.

Spring Creek Ranch is located in

Lehi, Utah, which is a small butgrowing city. The residents herewill make you feel instantly wel-come and your new home isdesigned to give a real sense ofplace and belonging. When com-pleted, Spring Creek Ranch willbe comprised of 410 homes anda neighborhood church. You willbe able to enjoy three parks withplaygrounds, tennis and basket-ball courts, fitness areas andother recreation facilities, as wellas several parks and sitting areasfor more passive activities.

One of the key elements ofSpring Creek Ranch is its con-nectivity. Three master plannedtrails and a number of other con-necting trails will allow residentsto easily go from one park toanother or from one area to theother. Whether it’s a bike rideover a wooden bridge and alongthe flowing creek, or a little timein a park playing with your

A B C D E F G H I JIntroduction History Spring Creek Guidelines Respecting Nature Learning Plants Animals Water Parks & Resources

Spring CreekRanch

INTRODUCTIONfamily and friends, or merelyreading a good book in a quietplace with a fabulous view, itgoes without saying that SpringCreek Ranch is anything butordinary.

We live in a rapidly changingtechnological world. We allknow that life moves pretty fastand can become quite hectic.Now that Spring Creek Ranch isyour home, let some of thatstress go. Each time you make

that last turn into the place younow call home, try to slow downthe wheels just a bit and take agood look around. Let thestream that runs through our lit-tle corner of the world be a con-stant reminder of the importanceof being connected to our fami-lies, to our community, to ournatural surroundings and to ourCreator (however perceived).

Welcome Home!


• Beaver • Great-Blue Heron• Deer • Red-Tailed Hawk• Fox • Sandhill Crane• Marmot • Snowy Egret• Mink • Turkey Vulture• Muskrat • Canada Goose

What are some of the animals

at Spring Creek?

INTRODUCTION


Map of Spring Creek Ranch

NÕÕPark

Utah Lake

ConservationArea

Nature Trail

Spring Creek

Park

Spring Creek Trail

Park

Park

Townhomes

ParkLDS Church siteDesignated Wetlands

During the seventy million years preceding humanentry into present-day Utah Valley, vast geologicalforces continually shaped then reshaped the landscape.

Lake Bonneville, one of severalimmense Pleistocene lakes inwhat is now the western UnitedStates, covered most of westernUtah, including the Lehi area,for thousands of years. At itsapex, the lake was 348 mileslong, 145 miles wide, 1,040 feetdeep and covered almost 20,000square miles.

Archaeoligists have determinedthat the earliest inhabitants ofUtah were Paleo-Indian peoples,migratory hunters who first cameinto the area in approximately12,000-10,000 B.C. By 6,000B.C. this group had beenreplaced by another Indian cul-ture known as the Desert Archaicwhose artifacts have been foundin numerous caves surroundingthe Great Salt Lake.

Approximately 300-500 A.D. theDesert Archaic Culture eitherbecame supplanted by or evolved

into the Fremont Culture. Thesepottery-making people, dwellingin pit houses, occupied much ofUtah from approximately 500-1300 A.D. Fremont groups inUtah Valley raised corn, squash,and beans. However, fish fromthe lake and rivers was theirmajor source of food. BrighamYoung University scientists havediscovered more than fortyFremont village sites surroundingUtah Lake, including a tempo-rary fishing camp at Indian Fordon the Jordan River west of Lehiand a permanent village site atHeron Spring just south of townwhere Spring Creek enters UtahLake.

The first known white men toenter Utah Valley were theSpanish explorer priestsFrancisco Antanasio Dominqueszand Silvestre Velez de Escalante.This team left New Mexico inJuly 1776 in search of a route toMonterey, California.


HISTORY

Lehi &Spring Creek

After the Spanish expedition leftUtah Valley for Santa Fe, noknown white men entered thereuntil fur trappers arrived some45 years later.

The first organized Mormonexploration into the Lehi areatook place in December 1847.Led by LDS Apostle Parley P.Pratt, a small group with a


HISTORY

rawhide boat crossed over thePoint of the Mountain and fol-lowed the Jordan River upstreamto Utah Lake.

As a result of Pratt’s favorablereport, church leaders beganplans for colonizing Utah Valleyin late 1848. In March 1849 agroup led by John S. Higbee, amember of Pratt’s 1847 group,

good placeLehi is a

to live

crossed over the Point of theMountain. The exploration teambecame the first settlers in thevalley when they camped on theProvo River a few miles west ofpresent Provo.

During the spring and summerof 1851 at least thirty other fam-ilies arrived in the same vicinity.

"Lehi is a good place to live,"has been the community'sofficial slogan since 1911. Inaddition to a safe, quiet,family-oriented environment, thetown offers recreational opportu-nities such as the Legacy Centerwith its new indoor-outdoorpool and water park, Cabela’s,Thanksgiving Point, Wines Park,Willow Park, Veteran's baseballpark, Heritage Theatre, and theworld-famous Lehi RoundupRodeo, which for the past half-century has drawn top cowboysfrom all over America.

WHY CONSERVATION?The word “conservation” isderived from a Latin wordmeaning “to keep” or “to guard.”Today the challenge of conserva-tion extends to all of Earth's nat-ural resources, including air,water, soil, minerals, wildlife andhabitats.

We can look to the NativeAmericans of ancient times inNorth America and elsewhere tolearn good stewardship of ourland. For hundreds of yearsNative Americans have conservedand protected the Earth’s naturalresources. Chief Seattle of theSuquamish tribe understood theimportant role humans play inthe future health of the Earth.

ECOSYSTEMS

We live in and depend on adiverse ecosystem. We humans,along with all living things in anecosystem, depend on bio-diversity

to survive and prosper. Alongwith us, organisms and ecosys-tems depend on a healthy, pro-ductive environment containingdiverse plant and animal life.

Various species and geneticresources that are part of adiverse ecosystem provide anumber of benefits to us. Forexample, the quality of the waterwe drink, the air we breathe, andthe soil in which we grow ourfood depends on the integrity ofnatural ecosystems.

"Whatever befalls the earth befalls thesons and daughters of the earth… Wedid not weave the web of life; we aremerely a strand in it. Whatever we do

to the web, we do to ourselves." — Chief Seattle 1854


SPRING CREEK

You are living in a special place. Spring Creek Ranch takes its namefrom the stream that winds its way through the area. Bordered bystately cottonwoods and hosting an abundance of wildlife, the sourceof Spring Creek is the Lehi Mill Pond, which is fed by numerousunderground springs.

By all standards the Spring Creek ecosystem is wonderfully unique.Aside from the stream, Spring Creek Ranch is the host to manyimportant wetlands with natural flowing springs. Combined, the wet-lands and the stream enhance Spring Creek Ranch to provide abun-dant learning and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Conservation efforts

one part of an ecosystem affectsthe whole in some way.

The idea of the web of life isshown by the interdependencewithin an ecosystem. Animalsand plants depend on a complexsystem of food for survival. Forexample, in a typical prairieecosystem, the web might worklike this:

THE WEB OF LIFE

The sun through photosynthesisprovides energy for the grass;grasshoppers feed on the grass;birds and frogs eat the grasshop-pers; snakes eat birds, frogs andmice; owls and hawks eat thebirds as well as snakes, frogs andmice. When an animal dies, it isdecomposed by worms, fungiand bacteria.

This in turn releases nutrients tothe soil during the decayingprocess for the grass to use again.

Connecting the many plants andanimals with lines representingtheir functions and food chainswithin this web creates a tangledmaze, because of their great inde-pendence. It is obvious that allforms of life in the ecosystem aredependent on all other living andnonliving things for food, nutri-ents, and energy.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?By educating people about theconsequences of our actions,we can all gain a better under-standing of how to preserve theearth’s natural and wild places.

As employees in companies andinformed citizens, we can influ-ence corporations and variouslevels of government to makeenvironment-friendly choices. Ahealthier environment isn't pos-sible unless we all get involved.


SPRING CREEK

MAN AND NATURE ARE

INTERCONNECTED

All living beings form and arepart of ecosystems, which arediverse and always changing.Within an ecosystem, all aspectsof the environment (both livingand nonliving things) interactand affect one another. Everyspecies affects the lives of thosearound them.

An ecosystem is made up of all

the living animals, plants and thenonliving matter within a geo-graphic region. All the livingthings in an ecosystem depend onall the other things, living andnon-living for continued survival,food supplies and other needs.

In many ways, the actions andreactions that take place within anecosystem are like a spider web;when one strand is broken, theweb starts to unravel. What affects

3 Learn more about conservingnature and share what you'velearned with family and friends.

3 Encourage government andcorporations to provide productsand services that support a con-servation ethic.

3 Spread the word about theimportance of protecting nature.Our choices at all levels—indi-vidual, community, corporate andgovernment—affect the naturalworld.

3 Participate in recycling programs

3 Replace chemical pesticides onyour lawn, garden, and houseplants with nontoxic alternatives.Many of the every-day cleaningproducts we use find their wayinto our streams and wetlands,contaminating them. Gardensand lawns are healthier withoutthe use of chemical pesticides.

3 Reduce your home heatingand electricity use by 10 percent.A lot of Utah’s energy comes fromburning harmful fossil fuels,which emits greenhouse gasesthat cause global climate changeand air pollution.

3 Learn more about water wiselandscaping with native plants.

THE PLANS FOR SPRING CREEK

The goal of Spring Creek Ranchis to create a beautiful plannedcommunity, while protecting,enhancing and managing thehabitat and natural attributesthat exist at Spring Creek.

A team of biologists conducted anintensive study in order to estab-lish the existing condition ofSpring Creek and the surround-ing wetlands. This gave biologiststhe information they needed todevelop a restoration and conser-vation plan for Spring Creek.


SPRING CREEK GET INVOLVED

“Never doubt that a small group

of thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world. Indeed it’s

the only thing that ever has.”–Margaret Mead

This wetland "sponge" also filterschemicals and nutrients. Plantsand natural bacteria that live in awetland break up many chemi-cals and make them less harmful.Some towns even use wetlands tofilter wastewater from treatmentplants. This gives the wastewateranother chance to get cleanbefore it enters lakes andrivers.

Wetlands are wildplaces! They providefood, hiding places, andwater for birds, fish,insects, reptiles, and othercreatures. Some animals, likewood ducks and beavers, needwetlands to live; they can't sur-vive without marshes or ponds.

Be cautious when approachingthe wetlands. Avoid disturbingthe wildlife that depends on thewetland for survival. Enter a wet

land with caution; many of thewetlands are fed continuously byfree flowing springs that can beseveral meters deep. The depthof the water is hard to judge dueto the suspended vegetation inthe wetlands.

APPROACHING WILDLIFE

Spring Creek Ranch ishost to abundant anddiverse wildlife. Habitatpreferences and season-al changes determine(in a general sense),

where a particular animalmay be at a particular time.

Since wild animals, especiallyfemales with young, are unpre-dictable, keep a safe distancefrom all wildlife.

To see an animal in its naturalbehavior, try observing duringfeeding time (early morning andevening hours).


GUIDELINES

Wetlands are important! They store water and help preventflooding. Wetlands act like sponges and hold onto wateruntil it slowly seeps down into the ground. This waterreplenishes the aquifer (ah-quah-fur), or underground watersupply, which can take years. If a wetland is not around,floodwater has no place to go and can only rush into nearbylakes or rivers.

Why worryabout wetlands?

To experience wildlife in its nat-ural environment brings us intouch with a different worldwhere people are the outsiders.Wildlife lives by nature’s rules,not human values. Avoid feedingor patting a wild animal as thiswill have a negative impact on it,particularly as more people visitour natural areas in Spring CreekRanch.

DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE

Feeding wildlife does them nofavors. Every time an animalhas "just a little scrap of food," itloses a little more of the wildnessthat makes it so special --- andhelps it to survive. The tamer awild animal becomes the morelikely it is to turn into a pest or a"pet" and the less likely it is tolive a natural life.

There are many reasons why

feeding wildlife is not a goodidea:

• You might get hurt. Many ani-mals that are used to beingfed can become quite bold andinjure you in their attempts toget food.

• It can turn an animal into anuisance. Often, raccoons,which have been human fed,begin stealing food fromhumans.

• The animals might get hurt.Animals that have become tameas a result of being fed are morelikely to be hit by cars on thesurrounding roads.

• Species domination. Feedingwaterfowl, such as ducks, canresult in domestic species dis-placing native species.


Keepingwildlife wild

We all come into contact with wildlife at some time in ourlives. We see and smell wildflowers, listen to

birds, and at night we may cross paths witha raccoon or a muskrat. Seeing a wildnative animal is something special –unexpected and unpredictable. It's a signthat nature is alive and well.

RESPECTING NATURE WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP THE BIRDS ANDANIMALS HERE AT SPRING CREEK?

LETTING NATURE BE

Preserved wetlands and streamsare among the few places wherenatural ecosystems can operatelargely free from the influence ofhumanity. Any form of humanintervention, such as feeding theanimals, disrupts the naturalprocesses that occur within theseareas. It also denies you theopportunity to observe an animalbehaving naturally in the wild.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SMALL

Not all wildlife, of course arelarge, feathered, or furred. Smallanimals and plants, such asinsects and fungi, play a vital rolein nature. It's important toremember that they are the hid-den "engine rooms" that keepthe whole ecosystem functioning.They have a lot of work to doand it is best if we let them liveundisturbed.

Rocks and logs provide special

habitats for small animals andshould be left alone or replaced ifyou dislodge them. Dead woodis both home and food to anenormous number of tiny livingthings.

FISH NEED HOMES, TOO

Logs within the stream providehomes for a range of fish.Removing them takes away theirhomes. Small animals that liveunder rocks along the streambank can die if left exposed tothe sun.

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE

POLLINATOR

It is important to remember thatflowers have evolved to attractinsects and birds, which spreadtheir pollen to other flowers.Enjoy the sight and smell of liv-ing wild flowers, but leave themalone and let them pollinate andproduce seed for the next genera-tion of plants.


RESPECTING NATURE

Keepingwildlife wild

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN

AND ADULTS

Help make a difference in SpringCreek Ranch and volunteer inkeeping Spring Creek wild andnatural. Volunteers, from youthto seniors, can help nurture ouropen space back to its healthy,viable, sustainable state.

Enjoy the outdoor experiencewhile participating in activitiesthat include learning aboutnative plants, removing invasiveweeds, protecting water and soil,observing wildlife while improv-ing their habitats, seeding nativegrasses and planting native wild-flowers, trees and shrubs. Ourvolunteers are vital in helping toprotect and restore SpringCreek’s wild and natural areas.


Learningabout the

wildlifeat Spring Creek

LEARNING

outdoor experienceenjoy the

NATIVE PLANTS PROVIDE A

DIVERSE LANDSCAPE

Because native plants are part ofa community that includes otherplants and animals, a natural bal-ance has developed between theliving organisms. Therefore, sin-gle species of native plants don'tdominate a landscapelike many nonnativeplants do. Native plantsalso promote bio-diversi-ty by providing a land-scape full of differentshapes, sizes, texturesand colors.

NATIVE PLANTS HELP THE ANIMALS

As discussed earlier, native plantsprovide shelter and food to birds,butterflies and other wildlife,promoting diversity. In contrast,many nonnative plants are of lit-tle use to most wildlife. Becausemany animal habitats today arebeing lost to urban development,consciously creating or maintain-ing a habitat full of native plants

can be of great help and relief toanimals looking for a home.

NONNATIVE PLANTS OF SPRING

CREEK RANCH

Nonnative plants are invadingSpring Creek Ranch, causingtremendous damage. Called

exotics, aliens, non-indigenous species, andweeds, these invasivenonnatives get into areasof Spring Creek Ranchby various means.

Seeds and plant parts arebrought into the area by wildlife,wind, water, and humans.

Once inside an area, the mostaggressive of these nonnatives spread like wildfire into disturbedas well as undisturbed areas.These invasive plants often causeirreparable damage to naturalresources.


PLANTS

Plants ofSpring Creek Ranch

Native plants are plants that have evolved in a particular regionover many thousands of years. Therefore, they have adapted to theclimate, geography and animal populations of the region. Nativeplants provide habitat, and are a source of food for animals, suchas birds, butterflies and mammals.

The ecological balance of plants,animals, soil, and water achievedover many thousands of years isdestroyed. As native plants aredisplaced, animal populationsthat rely on the plants for foodand shelter also decline.

Nonnative plants may reduceor deplete water levels, or alterrunoff patterns and increase soilerosion, thus diminishing bothland and water quality. Somenonnatives release toxic chemi-cals into the soil or harbor diseases


PLANTSincreasing the stress on nativeplants.

Some nonnatives increase soilfertility, allowing other nonna-tives to out compete plants thathave evolved in the nutrient-poor native soils. Nonnativesthat interbreed with nativespecies can swamp native genepools. The growth and spread ofnonnatives can also change firepatterns and intensities, resultingin an altered ecosystem.

native plants

Because of their continuedimportance, biologists spendmore time studying mammalsthan any other group of animals.Considerable effort has beenspent on documenting the num-ber of mammals and their habi-tat at Spring Creek Ranch. Thereis a diverse but threatened mam-mal population at Spring CreekRanch consisting of beavers,muskrat, mink, deer, fox, andmany others.

BIRDS

Birds are two-legged vertebrateswith feathers, a characteristic thatdistinguishes them from all otheranimals. Modern birds lack teethand acquire food with a rigidprotein structure known as a bill.

Some scientists believe that birdsare the direct descendants ofdinosaurs, while others believethat birds originated from a sepa-rate group of reptiles, moreclosely related to primitive alliga-tors and crocodiles.

BIRD DIVERSITY

Ornithologists (scientists whostudy birds) have described9,648 bird species. More thanhalf of these species belong to asingle large category known asperching birds (Order Passeri-formes).

Songbirds represent a majorgroup within this order. Most ofthe world's bird species areknown and, next to mammals,birds are one of the most studiedgroups of organisms.

BIRDS AT SPRING CREEK

During the biological study overthirty species of birds were iden-tified at Spring Creek Ranchwith the majority of those beingsongbirds. You can find a richdiversity of birds ranging fromRed-Tailed Hawks to Great-BlueHerons and Turkey Vultures.The birds of Spring Creek Ranchmake it quite a unique place tovisit and live.


ANIMALS

MammalsMammals have roamed the earth for at least the last 300 millionyears. During that time they have produced a wide array ofspecies, including both the largest animal in existence today, theblue whale, and the tiny, short-lived Arctic shrew.

The birds of Spring Creek Ranchare an important part of humansubsistence, culture, art and,more recently, recreation such asbird watching and photography.

Many plants depend on birds forpollination and seed dispersal.Specialized interactions betweenhummingbirds and floweringplants, for example, illustrate thevital role of birds in our environ-ment. Hawks, owls and otherbirds of prey that live in andaround Spring Creek Ranch,play a significant role in regulat-ing populations of insects,rodents, and other animals, someof which are serious human pests.

REPTILES

Although many people may fearthe sight of a snake crossing theirpath, in reality the presence ofthe snake displays the signs of ahealthy and properly functioningecosystem.

The Western Terrestrial GarterSnake, Spring Creek Ranch’sonly reptile representative, is astrict carnivore feeding oninsects, slugs, worms, and occa-sionally small birds or mice.While these snakes are efficientpredators, in many instances thepredator becomes the prey.Garter snake predators includeraptors, such as hawks, kestrels,and harriers.

Skunks, raccoons, and mink alsoprey on garter snakes. Housecats, too, are a threat to gartersnakes.

Garter snakes are not poisonousbut can become aggressive whenpicked up and bite in self-defense. When first captured,garter snakes discharge musk,which has an unpleasant, sweet-ish odor, from glands at the baseof the tail. The garter snakeindeed plays an important role inthe Spring Creek ecosystem andshould not be disturbed.


ANIMALS

animals

AMPHIBIANS

Amphibians play a pivotal role inthe Spring Creek Ranch ecosys-tem as nutrient cyclers and pestcontrollers. Nearly all adultamphibians are carnivorous, cap-turing a wide variety of movingprey, such as insects, spiders,crustaceans, worms, small rep-tiles, and sometimes, smalleramphibians.

Because of their importance inan ecosystem, decline or extinc-tion of their population has sig-nificant impact on other organ-isms in Spring Creek Ranch.From the scientific perspective,amphibians are regarded as “eco-logical indicators.”

Due to a high degree of sensitivi-ty, either during tadpole stage oras adults, amphibians respond tovery slight changes in their envi-ronment. Such responses havebeen used to indicate degradedhabitat, ecosystem stress, and

impact of pesticides and otherharmful chemicals.

Most likely due to the degradedstate of Spring Creek Ranch, theonly amphibian that has beenobserved is the secretive ChorusFrog. Chorus Frogs are nocturnal(active at night) and rarely seenin the day. Chorus Frogs can beidentified by their smooth green-ish-grey to brown skin.

They also have three dark stripesdown the back and a white stripealong the upper lip. Their call iseasily mistaken for that of a larg-er frog, with a rasping, rising trilllasting one to two seconds.Chorus frogs may be heard call-ing on warm nights in earlyspring even before all the ice hasdisappeared from the water. Atthe slightest threat they disappearbeneath the surface.


ANIMALS

Macroinvertebrates are animals that do nothave backbones and can be seen with thenaked eye. Macroinvertebrates, or "bugs", live

mainly among the debris on the stream bot-tom. Although most bottom dwellers are insects,

they can also be aquatic worms, crustaceans(shrimp, crabs, crayfish), snails, clams, or arachnids (spiders, etc).Certain “bugs” have little or no tolerance for pollution, while oth-ers can withstand more. The presence or absence of different“bugs” can indicate a stream's relative health. In Spring Creekthere is an absence of macroinvertebrates intolerant to pollutionand an abundance of those that are tolerant.

Macroinvertebrates

HOW MANY CATS ARE THERE IN

THE UNITED STATES?The estimated number of petcats in urban and rural regions ofthe United States has grownfrom 30 million in 1970 to 60million in 1990. The combinedtotal of pets and free-ranging catsin the U.S. is probably morethan 100 million. The laws thatrelate to domestic cats vary bylocal government. In most areas,the person who provides care fora cat is legally responsible for itswelfare and control. SpringCreek Ranch has an ongoingpolicy to capture stray cats orother stray animals. If captured,they will be taken to the localanimal shelter.

WHAT AFFECTS DO DOMESTIC

CATS HAVE ON WILDLIFE?Although rural free-ranging catshave greater access to wild ani-mals and take the greatest toll,urban house pets take live preywhen allowed outside.

Observation of domestic catsshows that some can kill over1,000 wild animals per year,although smaller numbers aremore typical. Some of the dataon kills suggest that free-rangingcats living in small towns kill anaverage of 14 wild animals eachper year. Nationwide, rural catsprobably kill over a billion smallmammals and hundreds of mil-lions of birds each year. Some ofthese kills are house mice, ratsand other species consideredpests, but many are native song-birds and mammals whose popu-lations are already stressed byother factors, such as habitatdestruction and pesticide pollu-tion.

Despite the difficulties in show-ing the effect most predatorshave on their prey, cats areknown to have serious impactson small mammals and birds.Worldwide, cats may have beeninvolved in the extinction of


DOMESTIC ANIMALS

Domestic animals or pets can have a drastic impact on the wildlifeof Spring Creek Ranch, with cats being the biggest concern.Domestic cats first arrived in North America with Europeancolonists several hundred years ago. Since that time, cats have multi-plied and thrived as cherished pets, unwanted strays, and semi-wildpredators. Although often overlooked as a problem, free-rangingcats affect other animals, often far from the homes and farms theyshare with people. Because we brought the domestic cat to NorthAmerica, we have a responsibility to both the cats and to the wildanimals they may affect.

Domestic animalsor pets and Spring Creek


DOMESTIC ANIMALS

more bird species than any othercause, except habitat destruction.Cats are contributing to theendangerment of populations ofbirds such as Least Terns, PipingPlovers and Loggerhead Shrikes.Free-ranging cats are abundantand widespread predators. Theyoften exist at much higher densi-ties than native predators. Theyprey on large numbers of wildanimals, some of which are rareor endangered. They compete

with native predators, and theyharbor a variety of diseases. Yet,cats are popular pets. In order tohave and care for our pets--andstill protect our native wildlife--wemust make an effort to limit in ahumane manner the adverseeffects free-ranging cats can haveon wildlife.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Keep only as many pet cats andother outside pets as you can carefor.

• Control your pet’s reproduc-tion and give away unwantedpets to keep populations fromgrowing beyond the size that canbe cared for.

• If at all possible, for the sake ofyour cat and local wildlife, keepyour cat indoors. Confinementwill eliminate unwanted repro-duction, predation on wild ani-mals, and the spread of disease.The two most common causes ofdeath for rural cats are diseaseand being struck by automobiles.If cats must be allowed outdoors,consider using a fenced enclosure.

• Neuter your cats or preventthem from breeding, andencourage others to do so. Forinformation on local licensingand neutering laws, contact yourlocal health department at 801-851-8600 or humane society at801-261-2919.

• Place bird feeders in sites that

do not provide cover for cats towait in ambush for birds. Catsare a significant source of mor-tality among birds that come tofeeders. To prevent cats fromclimbing to bird nests, put ani-mal guards around any trees inyour yard that may have nestingbirds.

• Don't feed stray cats. Feedingstrays maintains high densities ofcats that kill and compete withnative wildlife. Cat colonies willform around sources of food andgrow to the limits of the foodsupply, which can include dozensof animal. The cats sufferbecause of disease and physicalinjury; native wildlife suffersfrom predation and competition,and colonies can be a source ofdisease for animals and humans.Those concerned with the wel-fare of animals can improve thelives of the many native speciesby protecting and improving thehabitats they require.

WHY IS WATER QUALITY

IMPORTANT?Our water resources are of majorenvironmental, social and eco-nomic value, and if water qualitybecomes degraded this resourcewill lose its value. Water qualityis important not only to protectpublic health, it also providesecosystem habitats, is used forfarming, fishing and mining, andcontributes to recreation andtourism. If water quality is notmaintained, it is not just theenvironment that will suffer; thecommercial and recreationalvalue of our water resources willalso diminish.

WHAT AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF

OUR WATER?Water quality is closely linked tothe surrounding environmentand land use. Other than in itsvapor form, water is never pureand is affected by communityuses such as agriculture, urbanand industrial use, and recreation.

Modification of natural streamflows by dams, and weather canhave a major impact on waterquality, particularly in a dry arealike Utah. Storm water with alltypes of pollutants picked upfrom roads and lawns finds itsway into our rivers. Rivers andstreams frequently act as con-duits for pollutants by collectingand carrying wastewater fromcatchments and, ultimately, dis-charging it into surroundinglakes.

HOW IS WATER QUALITY

MEASURED?The presence of contaminantsand the characteristics of waterare used to indicate the qualityof water. Water quality indicatorssuch as water clarity, salinity,acidity, and oxygen content weretested for in Spring Creek andfound to be poor. Measurementsof these indicators can be used todetermine and monitor changesin water quality, and determine


WATER QUALITY

Water is essential to human life and to the health of the environ-ment. As a valuable natural resource, it comprises marine, estu-arine, freshwater (river and lakes) and groundwater environ-ments, across coastal and inland areas. Water has two dimen-sions that are closely linked - quantity and quality. Water quali-ty is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological andaesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics.A healthy environment is one in which thewater quality supports a rich and variedcommunity of organisms and protects pub-lic health. Water quality in a body of waterinfluences the way in which communitiesuse the water.

maintaining water quality andare a valuable indicator of waterquality and the suitability of thewater for other uses. And finally,Aquatic ecosystems are also avaluable resource, providing foodand recreation opportunities.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE

WATER QUALITY?Storm water pollution and urbanrunoff can become a negativecontributor to the quality ofwater in Spring Creek and sur-rounding wetlands. Learn aboutalternative pest control measures,such as beneficial insects, croprotation, residue destruction,varietal resistance, proper plant-ing dates, and companion crop-ping systems that may be goodalternatives for your pest man-agement problem.

An attractive lawn, vigorouslygrowing shrubs and flowers thatshow off the house, and a pro-ductive garden are the pride and

joy of many homeowners.Fertilizer nutrients, especiallynitrogen, phosphorus, and potas-sium, contribute to the healthand beauty of these plants.Nitrogen and phosphorus, how-ever, must be managed carefullyto ensure that excessive amountsdo not degrade water quality.Too much nitrogen and phos-phorus along with carbon in sur-face water cause eutrophication(death from excessive algaegrowth) in rivers, lakes, ponds,and wetlands. High nitrogen lev-els in groundwater and surfacewater can lead to the ingestion ofnitrogen in its nitrate (NO3)form, which can cause healthproblems in humans and animals.

Phosphorus accumulates in lakesand ponds primarily from inflowof sediment that has phosphorusattached to it. Preventing erosiongreatly reduces the likelihood ofphosphorus being a threat towater quality.


WATER QUALITY

whether the quality of the wateris suitable for the health of thenatural environment and theuses for which the water isrequired. This water qualityinformation can be used todevelop management programsand action plans to ensure thatwater quality in and aroundSpring Creek is protected.

HOW DOES WATER QUALITY

AFFECT AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS?An ecosystem is a community of

organisms - plants, animals,fungi and bacteria - interactingwith one another and with theenvironment in which they live.Protecting aquatic ecosystems isin many ways as important asmaintaining water quality, formany reasons. First, Aquaticecosystems are an integral part ofour environment. They need tobe maintained if the environ-ment is to continue to supportpeople. Second, Aquatic ecosys-tems play an important role in


Nitrogen, whether from compostor fertilizer, may filter past plantroots and accumulate in ground-water or eventually move out tosurface impoundments (such asdams or other enclosures) if notused completely by grass, shrubs,or garden crops. Fortunately,you do not have to choosebetween having an attractive

lawn or garden and protectingwater quality. The key to achiev-ing both goals is to use chemicalsonly when needed and then use them judiciously. Reduce soilerosion by keeping soil coveredwith mulches, matting, and ditchliners. Manage the application ofnutrients to keep phosphorusand nitrogen out of the water.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE

WATER QUALITY?1. Use pesticides and herbicides sparingly. Follow the directions. Pull

weeds by hand or use nontoxic alternatives wherever possible.

2. Don't overuse fertilizers, especially near the water's edge. Rain andirrigation washes the excess into ponds, canals and drainage systems.This encourages the growth of plants and can impede water flow.

3. Dispose of lawn clippings properly. Never put them in a stormdrain, swale or canal. When clippings decay, they become a source ofwater quality problems.

4. Plant don't pave--but make sure you're not planting in an area thatcan impede water flow when it's raining. The gentle contoursaround driveways and between homes are meant to move or storewater during the rainy season.

5. Take charge of your runoff. Redirect the runoff from your roof,patio or other areas to the grassy areas of your yard. There, it canrecharge the aquifer--the source of our drinking water. Runoff thatgoes directly to waterways carries leaves, fertilizers, pesticides andwhatever else it picks up along the way.

6. Think of ways to make a difference. Wash your car on your yard,use biodegradable detergents and use a broom not the hose forcleaning the driveway.

WATER QUALITY


WATER QUALITY7. Never pour products or put waste into a storm drain--it's toxic to

wildlife and extremely harmful to water quality.

8. Plant smart. Some plants are effective filters for pollutants. Knowwhen and what to plant to help the environment.

9. Save your swales. Swales are the subtle contours in your yard, besideyour driveway or pool or near the street. Swales capture storm watergiving it a chance to filter through the ground and recharge theaquifer. Don't fill in the swale and level the ground. Save the swales--they are part of the system that protects our homes from flooding.

10. Cooperate and communicate. Community storm water ponds,swales in the yard and water quality protection are a cooperativeeffort. Work with neighbors and property managers to ensure thatyou are a working part of the water management system.

11. Join Spring Creek Conservation Groups.

Improvingthe water

qualityat Spring Creek

A GUIDE TO PROPER USE


PARKS

Parksand trails

The parks, trails and sitting areas are for the enjoyment ofeveryone. You are invited to use these facilities regularly butthere are some important rules that must be followed toensure safety and protection of the facilities.

• Park Use. Parks and trails areavailable for use from dawn untildusk. This includes the use ofthe tennis courts.

• Lighting. There are no lightswithin the parks or on the trailsso the times of use must bestrictly adhered to.

• Supervision. All children underthe age of 8 years of age musthave adult supervision. Do notleave children unattended.

• Emergencies. In the event of anemergency seek help immediate-ly, and call 911.

• Trails. Stay on all trails or side-walks except in park areas.

• Spring Creek. Spring Creekand wetland areas are not playareas. They can be dangerous.They are for quiet passive enjoy-

ment. Do not enter the streamunder any circumstance otherthan emergencies.

• Right of way. Pedestrians havethe right of way on all trails andsidewalks. Pedestrians shouldalways keep to the right to allowbicycles to pass. No motorizedvehicles are allowed in the parksor on the trails.

• Motorized vehicles. No ATV’s,motorcycles, motor scooters orany similar device may be usedin the parks or on the trails.

• Damage. Damage caused byimproper use of equipment or anarea will be an expense to thehomeowner. Parents are respon-sible for their children’s actions.

• Littering. There is a $25 finefor anyone caught littering in theparks or on the trails. Future


PARKS• Strangers. If someone looks likethey don’t belong, find out whothey are. If they act suspicious,call the police or 911. It is yourneighborhood, so please helpwatch it.

• No Drugs or Alcohol. SpringCreek Ranch has a zero–toler-ance policy for the use of drugsor alcohol in the parks, trails orcommon areas.

• Wildlife. Animals, plants andbirds are for you enjoyment. Donot feed the wild animals in theparks or the trails and pleasedon’t pick the flowers.

• Restpect. Please be respectful ofothers while in the parks or onthe trails. People enjoy manydifferent activities, so please becourteous. Remember that yourHomeowners Association main-tains the parks and trails. Use ofthe parks and trails is a privilege,not a right. Residents who

continuously abuse these ruleswill lose their privileges. SpringCreek Ranch is a communitythat needs nurturing and care. Ifyou cause damage to Associationproperty you are causing damageto your neighbor. Please stay outof neighboring farms.

• Pets. All domestic animals mustbe kept on a leash while in theparks or on the trails. Residentsmust clean up after their ani-mals. If a domestic animal isfound loose on the property, ani-mal control will be called andthe owner will be fined $25.Future offenses may result in theloss of common area privileges.

offenses could result in suspen-sion of park privileges.

• Conservation areas. These areenvironmentally sensitive areasintended to be a buffer betweenthe development and wildthings. Until advised, you muststay out of these areas.

• Signs. Please read all warningsand follow sign directions,

They are there for your benefitand safety.

• No Hunting (no guns) orFishing. The police will be calledon anyone carrying or discharg-ing a weapon of any kind,including BB guns or slingshotsin the parks, trails or conserva-tion areas.

A Field Guide to Western Birds (Peterson Field Guides)by Roger Tory Peterson

A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (Peterson FieldGuide Series) by Robert C. Stebbins (Illustrator), Roger Tory Peterson (Series Editor)

A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs : Northeastern and North-centralUnited States and southeastern and South-central Canada (ThePeterson Field Guide Series) by George A. Petrides (Illustrator), Roger ToryPeterson (Illustrator)

A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (Peterson FieldGuide Series) by Robert C. Stebbins (Illustrator), Roger Tory Peterson (Series Editor)

A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes : North America North of Mexico(Peterson Field Guides) by Brooks M. Burr, et al

Soils in Our Environment by Raymond Miller, Duane T. Gardiner

Nature and Other Writings by Ralph Waldo Emerson

WEBSITES

Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife, www.beaversww.org

Wetlands International, www.wetlands.org

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wetlands www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/

BOOKS

Living with Wildlife: How to Enjoy, Cope with, and Protect NorthAmerica's Wild Creatures Around Your Home and Theirs by DianaLandau, et al

Conserving Living Natural Resources : In the Context of a ChangingWorld by Bertie Josephson Weddell

Amphibian Conservation by Raymond D. Semlitsch

What Are Wetlands? (Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman, AmandaBishop

Wetlands by William J. Mitsch, James G. Gosselink

Walking the Wetlands: A Hiker's Guide to Common Plants andAnimals of Marshes, Bogs, and Swamps (Wiley Nature Editions)by Janet Lyons, et al

A Field Guide to Mammals : North America north of Mexico (PetersonField Guide Series) by William H. Burt, et al

RESOURCES FOR LEARNING MORE ABOUTTHE WILDLIFE OF SPRING CREEK


RESOURCES

A B C D E F G H I JIntroduction History Spring Creek Guidelines Respecting Nature Learning Plants Animals Water Resources

RESOURCESORGANIZATIONS

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.One Waterfowl WayMemphis, Tennessee, USA 381201-800-45DUCKS or 901-758-3825www.ducks.org

The Nature ConservancyUtah Field Office559 E. South TempleSalt Lake City, UT 84102(801) 531-0999http://nature.org/

Utah Department of NaturalResources Wildlife(801) 538-4700http://www.nr.utah.gov/

Utah Environmental Congress1817 So Main Street, Suite 10Salt Lake City, UT 84115 http://www.uec-utah.org/

Utah Division of WildlifeResourcesP.O. Box 146301Salt Lake City, UT 84114(801) 538-4700http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/

The Wilderness Society350 N. 9th St., Suite 302Boise, ID 83702(208) 343-8153www.wilderness.org

Natural ResourcesConservation ServiceWallace F. Bennett FederalBuilding, Room 4402125 South State StreetSalt Lake City, UT 84138Phone: (801) 524-4550www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov

Utah Ornithological Societyhttp://utahbirds.org/uos/Utah Bird Hotline: (801) 538-4730

Utah Wilderness Coalition PO Box 520974Salt Lake City, UT 84152WILDUTAH@XMISSION

Recycle Utah1951 Woodbine WayPark City, UT(435) 649-9698www.recycleutah.org

The Green Building Center1952 E. 2700 S.Salt Lake City, UT 84152(801) 484-6278

Hawk Watch International(801) 484-6808

Great Salt Lake Audubonwww.greatsaltlakeaudubon.org/

Tracy Aviarywww.tracyaviary.org

Spring Creek

Ranch

For more information, call

801-766-5152Fax 801-766-0129

Offices:1113 East 3200 North

Lehi, Utah 84043

Mailing:P.O. Box 811

Lehi, Utah 84043

Spring Creek is developed by Shoreline Properties, LLC.

a conservation guide · conservation and why we must all work together to pre-serve, protect and...

Documents