Why Use GRAziNq BMPs? 



The grazing BMPs in this hcxik can help 

 protect and enhance the health and 

 productivity ot rangeland. As part of a 

 grazing management plan, these BMPs 

 can help correct resource problems or 

 prevent them before they occur. Use the 

 BMPs to: 



• Promote health and vigor of selected 

 plants and maintain a stable and 

 desired plant community. 



• Improve and maintain the health and 

 productivity of livestock and wildlife 

 by providing sufficient food, water, 

 shelter, and cover. 



• Maintain or improve the 

 quality and quantity ot 

 streams, lakes, and 

 groundwater for benefi- 

 cial uses and to 

 support a viable 

 water cycle, in 

 accordance with 

 state water quality 

 standards. 



• Maintain or improve 

 soil condition in 

 both upland and 

 riparian/wetland plant 

 communities. 



• Promote economic 

 stability based on the 

 sustainable use of grazing 

 resources. 



WhAT Are Best 



MANAqEMENT PrACtIcES? 



Best Management Practices (BMPs) are 

 strategies for managing the use of a resource 

 (such as grazing land) in a manner that 

 protects the resource and promotes ecological 

 and economic sustainability. They are tools 

 to help achieve grazing management objec- 

 tives. They include practical ideas like placing 

 salt blocks in strategic sites to distribute 

 livestock away from sensitive areas, and 

 encouraging the growth of willow, alder, and 

 other shrubs along stream channels to protect 

 banks from animal trampling. Using the 

 BMPs in this book can help promote livestock 

 health and productivity while protecting the 

 water, soils, plants, and other vital range 

 resources. One of the more important man- 

 agement objectives is to protect water quality 

 and to remedy water quality problems some- 

 times caused by livestock. These BMPs can be 

 used on upland rangelands, riparian pasture, 

 and forested rangelands — anywhere grazing or 

 browsing animals use these resources. 



The BMPs in this book are based on the 



concept of prescribed grazing, which is the 



controlled harvest of plants by grazing or 



browsing animals managed to achieve specific 



objectives. Prescribed grazing was developed 



on the premise that grazing and browsing are integral parts of ecosystem processes on grazing lands 



Mt)ntana's range plants have evolved with use from wildlife and domestic livestcick. These plants 



are generally healthier when used, if they are used properly and not overgrazed. Prescribed grazing 



shoukl be applied with this in uunil. 



i«i»-ii*=.'-i^' 



Hest Managcnuiit i'nu iices fBMPsJ are stratef^ifs ;<tt managing 

 the use of a re.soHrcc (.such as grazing land) in a manner that 

 protects the resource and promotes ecological and economic 

 sustainability. 



>e/ft rW^A^fc+v-*^ riA<^A.cci. (^r/r-j^) /<>i. Cf/uvvC^ 



