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Grazing
Riparian Areas - Determining Season(s)
of Use
Late
Season (Fall) Grazing
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Figure
3-7
Woody communities can provide critical protection for
livestock, but animals should be fed in other parts
of the pasture whenever possible. |
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Best
situation. Deferring grazing until fall may offer
distinct benefits to maintaining the health of a riparian area under
the following conditions:
- When riparian
plant communities consist of herbaceous rather than tree or shrub
species;
- When cool
season grasses stimulated by timely precipitation provide palatable
forage in the uplands;
- Where offstream
water near forage sources is available or other conditions (for
example, cold air pockets streamside or the absence of hot upland
temperatures) draw stock out of the riparian area.
Advantages.
The possible benefits of late season grazing include:
- Drier soil
conditions reduce the probability of compaction and streambank
shearing;
- Most herbaceous
plants have completed their growth cycle and will be less affected
by grazing;
- Generally,
there is less impact on wildlife.
Disadvantages.
Detrimental
effects of late season use may include:
- Regrowth
usually will not occur after livestock are removed due to reduced
soil moisture and declining temperatures;
- When there
are no incentives to induce livestock to move out of the riparian
area;
- When woody
species maintenance or regeneration are objectives, since such
plants are most susceptible to injury at this time.
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