Riparian-fisheries habitat responses to late spring cattle grazing

Abstract

A grazing study was conducted on a cold, mountain meadow riparian system in central Idaho in response to cattle grazing-salmonid fisheries conflicts. Six pastures were established along a 3rd order, 2 to 3 m wide stream to study the effects on fisheries habitat of no grazing, light grazing (20 to 25% use), and medium grazing (35 to 50%) during late June. Most measurements of streamside variables moved closer to those beneficial for salmonid fisheries when pastures were grazed to a 10 cm stubble height; virtually all measurements improved when pastures were grazed to 14 cm stubble height, or when pastures were ungrazed. Many improvements were similar under all 3 treatments indicating that these riparian habitats are compatible with light to medium spring use by cattle (Clary 1999).

Parent Publication

• Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ

Citation

Clary, Warren P.; Kinney, John W. 2000. Riparian-fisheries habitat responses to late spring cattle grazing. In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; Baker Jr., Malchus B.; Edminster, Carleton B.; Dillon, Madelyn C.; Mora, Karen L., tech. coords. Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proc. RMRS-P-13. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 296-299.