BE^EHTS of A HEAlihy RipARiAN 

 Area 



A healthy riparian area: 



• Produces much more forage per unit 

 area than uplands, often resulting in 

 higher livestock weaning weights. 



• Provides shelter for livestock during 

 weather extremes. 



• Stabilizes streamhanks with dense 

 plants, reducing damage from animal 

 trampling, ice scouring, and erosion 

 due to floods. 



• Increases late-summer stream flows for 

 irrigation, stockwater, and fisheries by 

 recharging groundwater stores 



and providing bank 

 water storage. 



• Filters sedi- 

 ment, protect- 

 ing water 

 quality, pro- 

 longing irriga- 

 tion pump life, 

 and reduc- 

 ing siltation 

 ot ponds 

 and irriga- 

 tion 

 ditches. 



MANAqiNq foR HERbACEOus PIants JN RipARiAN Areas 



• In addition to the usual management considerations, the grazing schedule and target grazing 

 use levels in riparian areas must also reflect the amount of greenlme vegetation needed to 

 protect streambanks and filter sediments to maintain water quality conditions. The greenline is 

 the first perennial vegetation above the base summer flow of a stream. Allow for a sufficient 

 stubble height remaining on greenline herbaceous plants at the end of the growing season to 

 provide streambank stability, protect streambanks from high runoff, and trap and filter sedi- 

 ment. Some sites may require more stubble 

 height for other beneficial uses. Grazing units 

 scheduled for heavy use may not be able to 

 meet this standard every year, so schedule rest 

 periods into the grazing rotation. 



• Livestock are drawn to small riparian areas 

 on larger upland units, so it may be difficult 

 to keep riparian use within target levels and 

 still make sufficient use of upland areas. To 

 remedy this, supply upland water sources, 

 place supplemental feed and minerals in 

 upland areas, and make sure that riparian 

 areas are rested after heavier grazing. Also, 

 alternating the season ot use each year allows 

 plants to recover. 



MANAqii\q foR Woody PIants iN 

 RipARiAN Areas 



In addition to the usual maiuzgcnuni i (iiis(iiorutio»us, the 

 grazing -schedule and target grazing use levels in riparian 

 areas must also reflect the amount of greenline vegetation 

 needed to protect streambanks and filter sediments to 

 Tnunituni ivater quality condition.s. 



Encourage the growth of woody plants to 



protect streambanks from damage and erosion. Dense stands of willow, alder, anil other trees 



and shrubs along the stream channel will limit animal access, protect banks from trampling, 



and provide shelter and cover from weather extremes. Wiiody species also ha\'e large root 



systems that help hold the banks together during periods ot high runoff. 



Avoid hot summer use and maintain higher stubble heights on grass/grasslike plants to pre\ent 



a grazing use change from herbaceous plants to browse species. 



Work with local and state wildlife biologists to document wildlife use and coordinate wildlife 



management on the grazing unit. 



19 



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