Water
- Importance
Good stream and riparian management is important to producers and
landowners for several reasons. Riparian
areas are among the most productive parts of any ranch. They are,
in fact, prime examples of "renewable resources," because
water and nutrients make them especially resilient.
On many ranches,
the streams that flow through riparian areas are the major source
of livestock water; the better the condition of the riparian area,
the more and better the water that will flow through it. In addition,
riparian
areas, including woody draws, can provide essential shelter and
food for livestock and wildlife.
Streamside vegetation
provides habitat and shelter for a variety of wildlife species including
insects, which are important in the riparian food chain. Riparian
habitat is critical for fish, and the importance of the cover provided
by the trees, brush, shrubs, and forbs that border the stream influences
water temperature, bank stability, and water quality.
Riparian management
is an essential part of good land stewardship because healthy riparian
areas are critical to healthy landscapes. As important as riparian
areas are, however, they are not a separate, isolated part of any
livestock operation. They should not be managed apart from, or to
the neglect of, the rest of your ranch or allotment. Implicit in
this whole tutorial is the principle that managing your riparian
areas can only be effective if it's done within the context of your
entire operation.
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