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Grazing
Management - Techniques for Reducing
Intensity of Use by Influencing Distribution
Summary
There is no
single approach to grazing riparian areas. To be effective, each
operation must consider a host of variables, including type and
condition of the stream, current and potential vegetation communities,
type of grazing animals, topography, climate and desired objectives.
There are, however, general ideas and specific techniques which
can be applied.
Active involvement
on the part of the manager is essential to an effective riparian
grazing approach. This involvement must include the ability to identify
baseline conditions of the riparian area, selection of specific
riparian objectives, ability to determine the impact of one's actions,
and willingness to adjust according to these impacts.
One of the most
effective means of influencing livestock activities in riparian
areas is selecting proper seasons of use and rest. Because each
season offers possible advantages and disadvantages, which are most
likely to work for you will depend on your specific site conditions
as well as your objectives.
There are numerous
techniques in addition to season of use which might encourage livestock
to move out of the riparian area. The best way to determine which
might apply to your situation is to conduct an inventory of your
riparian areas and of the resources you might have available.
Riparian grazing
approaches are most likely to be effective if they are based on
a well-thought-out management plan. This plan should include the
objectives you wish to achieve, the resources and limitations which
might affect your attaining these objectives, the specific actions
you intend to implement, and a way to evaluate the success of these
actions--that is, their ability to move you toward your goals.
In the next
lesson we'll deal with how to plan a riparian grazing program. At
that point, you'll be ready for the most interesting and challenging
part: implementing your plan with definite goals for your riparian
areas.
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