PRESCRibEd GRAZJNq 

 SlANclARd 



The grazing Best Management Practices 

 (BMPs) in this hook were developed 

 through the hard-work and cooperation ot 

 a diverse group of people and organiza- 

 tions. Representatives from MSU College 

 ot Agriculture, Society of American Fisher- 

 ies, Montana Stockgrowers Association, 

 Montana Woolgrowers Association, USDl 

 Bureau ot Land Management, USDA 

 Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources 

 Conservation Service, Montana Farm 

 Bureau, and Montana Department of 

 NatLiral Resources and Conservation 

 formed the grazing practices work group to 

 develop the Prescribed Grazing Standard 

 from which the BMPs for grazing in Mon- 

 tana were derived. 



iNTRoduCliON 



Montana's rangelands provide scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, open space, minerals, recreational 

 opportunities, clean water, grazing forage, thousands of jobs, and a way of life for many Montan- 

 ans. This book is dedicated to the stewardship of these qualities — particularly clean water. It 

 describes Best Management Practices (BMPs) for livestock grazing designed to protect and en- 

 hance water quality, soils, plant communities, and other rangeland resources. 



Statement of Intent 



The Prescribed Grazing Standard (see 

 sidebar at left) represents a process to 

 be used when planning a grazing 

 system. The work group's intention is 

 that this practice be voluntary and be 

 used as a tool by land managers to 

 achieve their management objectives 

 and meet the provisions ot the Mon- 

 tana Water Quality Act and other state 

 and federal laws as they relate to 



livestock grazing. Mimtunu's nmnclands prmidi m i mr Ih-uiiIv, uiMli), huluuii. ..( . n 



space, minerals, recreational oppurtunitics, claat uatci. ,yiu^ni,i; linage, 

 r>, . t r 1. thousatuis of jobs, and away of life for many Montaiian,s. 



Uue to a wide range or resource condi- 

 tions, management goals, and economic circumstances in Montana, there is no single approach 

 that will work for all situations. The BMPs are not intended to be viewed as the only way to 

 develop a grazing management system. References to the numeric levels or elements identified in 

 the planning considerations should not be interpreted as dictating absolute standards for grazing. 



It is important to understand the context in which BMPs and the term BMPs have been and will 

 be used. This is a brief description of how BMPs fit into Montana's water quality laws. Montana 

 law uses the term, "reasonable land, soil, and water conservation practices" when discussing the 

 use of BMPs to address water quality concerns. "Reasonable land, soil, and water conservation 

 practices" are defined as "...methods, measures, or practices that protect present and reasonable 

 anticipated beneficial uses. These practices include but are not limited to structural and non- 



^cft rW^i^efi^efvt PiA^Ulcti (KrlP-i) lc\ QiA^-lhX 



