Successful range management in the McCoy Gulch riparian demonstration area
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Authors: T. Grette
Date: 1990
Journal: Rangelands
Volume: 12
Number: 6
Pages: 305-307
Summary of Methods: The outcome of an integrated management approach that used livestock grazing to assist in recovery of a degraded riparian ecosystem located in McCoy Gulch, outside of Canon, Colorado was examined. Grazing management of a pasture was shifted from winter grazing to spring grazing in 1984 at the request of the permittee. Riparian area was fenced in 1986 to allow greater management control of willow utilization. Cattle willow utilization standards were set and cattle supplementation locations were moved to the most degraded areas. Ground cover, canopy cover, basal cover of live vegetation, and species composition of uplands were monitored as well as photo points of riparian areas.
Article Summary / Main Points: Woody species cover began increasing with the shift from winter to spring grazing, and continued to increase after the erection of the riparian fence. Improvement of riparian area is evident in photo points along the creek bottom. Vigor of blue grama and sand dropseed has increased in upland areas where supplemental feeding has occurred. After two years, uplands experienced a decrease of liter and frequency of annual grass. There was an increase in bare ground, basal cover, canopy cover and the frequency of perennial forbs. Increase in bare ground can be associated with the decrease in annual grass and the return of a bunchgrass community type.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 48A Southern Rocky Mountains
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Grazing
Article Review Type: Peer Reviewed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: woody vegetation, willows, cheatgrass, supplement feeding, utilization objective, animal impact
Annotation: While photo points and frequency data show a drastic improvement in riparian and upland ecosystems, further monitoring should be conducted to see how the ecosystem continues to recover. The applicability of these results is limited to the location of the study. The ecological principals and outcome from this demonstration study are important to share.
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