Riparian grazing guidelines for the Intermountain region
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Authors: W. P. Clary, and B. F. Webster
Date: 1990
Journal: Rangelands
Volume: 12
Number: 4
Pages: 209-212
Summary of Methods: This is a scientific opinion based on 11 scientific sources in addition to the authors own experience, and was developed to be a guidance document for establishment of grazing protocols on National Forests in the Intermountain west.
Article Summary / Main Points: Few guidelines are available on the allowable use of riparian plant communities to maintain ecosystem integrity. A minimum residual stubble height of 4-6 inches is recommended for all streamside vegetation at the end of the growing season. Depending on soil type, current vegetative conditions, and season of grazing, utilization rates will vary from 65% for spring to 30% in the fall. Limiting cattle to spring grazing allows riparian species to recover before high-flow events the following spring. A secondary option is fall grazing after soils dry, if adequate plant residue is left to maintain stability during winter/spring high flow events. Mid-summer and season long grazing should be approached very cautiously.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Watersheds Grazing
Article Review Type: Peer Reviewed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: grazing, riparian ecosystems, riparian grazing guidelines, western united states, management, utilization, stubble heights
Annotation: Article primarily utilizes technical reports from research stations to provide recommendations for initial management decisions for riparian ecosystems. A more detailed scientific synthesis on cattle/riparian interactions can be found in Clary and Leininger 2000. An annotation of this reference is contained in this database.
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