Channel changes over 12 years on grazed and ungrazed reaches of Wickiup Creek in eastern Oregon
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Authors: G. N. Nagle, and C. F. Clifton
Date: 2003
Journal: Physical Geography
Volume: 24
Number: 1
Pages: 77-95
Summary of Methods: This study re-evaluated the changes of stream channel cross sections since the 1986 study on Wickiup Creek. This site included an exclosure that has excluded cattle for 60 years, which has been used to comparatively show the impacts of cattle grazing on riparian areas. Cross sections were re-recorded for areas located approximately where original locations were, as they were not marked for future use. Forty-nine cross sections of data were collected within 4 reaches of the stream, three grazed and one in the exclosure. The study showed that the grazed channels were significantly different than the channel in the exclosure. The stream characteristics of mean width, mean depth and the width:depth ratio was significantly smaller in the exclosure. The grazed channel has improved since the first data was recorded, however it is still not as healthy as the areas within the exclosure.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: riparian grazing, monitoring, exclosure, channel changes, stream morphology, pool/riffle ratio
Annotation: The grazing system in this study area has changed numerously since the original data was collected. It is currently being used under a deferred grazing rotation.
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