|
Grazing
Riparian Areas - Determining Season(s)
of Use
Winter
Use
Best
Situation. Winter use can be an especially useful
management approach in the following situations:
- When
the pasture is large enough to provide feed for livestock or supplemental
feeding areas are well away from the stream;
- When
drainages are colder than surrounding uplands or open south-facing
slopes, which will reduce use of the riparian area;
- Where
frozen soil makes compaction and susceptibility to streambank
damage less likely.
Advantages.
Advantages of winter use may include:
- Minimal
soil compaction and limited streambank damage;
- Use
of herbaceous plants will not affect plant development, provided
adequate stubble remains;
- Livestock
distribution can be influenced relatively easily through location
of watering facilities and feeding areas.
Disadvantages.
Detrimental effects of winter grazing may include:
- Severely
grazing and trampling dead standing material can reduce streambank
protection capabilities and reduce the ability to trap sediment
in the spring;
- Browsing
and physical damage of shrubs and small trees can be a problem.
Maintaining
or enhancing riparian areas in a sustainable manner will require
careful consideration of the season of use for grazing. Simply selecting
an appropriate season, however, does not constitute a complete approach.
The time livestock spend in the riparian area itself must also be
considered. The more time livestock spend there, the greater the
potential for damage. Therefore, managers must look for ways to
reduce the amount of time animals spend in the riparian area while
optimizing the use of the resource.
.
|