Stable Access Points

Providing stable access points to water can significantly reduce streambank trampling. There is evidence livestock prefer stable footing and clean water and will travel a considerable distance to reach them. For example, the large-gravel approachways in Figure 3-11 resulted in a marked improvement in stability of a sedge-dominated meadow streambank which previously had suffered considerable bank deterioration.

Proven designs are now available which reduce the impact of concentrating livestock at a few locations. These include "side bars" of logs or rock (as illustrated in Figure 3-12) and web matting, as well as the gravel itself. One ranch has even built a simple bridge to provide livestock access on both sides of a stream in Silver Bow County. The result has been much better livestock distribution and use of very productive riparian vegetation. At the same time, degraded streambanks are revegetating and healing.