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Monitoring Riparian Grazing Use. Why Do We Monitor?. To provide accountability for our actions. To provide feed back on results. To aid in our decision making. What Should We Monitor?. Goals and Objectives. Types of Monitoring. Annual: Actual use. Grazing intensity. Plant recovery.
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Why Do We Monitor? • To provide accountability for our actions. • To provide feed back on results. • To aid in our decision making What Should We Monitor? Goals and Objectives
Types of Monitoring • Annual: • Actual use. • Grazing intensity. • Plant recovery. • Short-term (3-5 years): • Point-bars. • Channel width. • Over-hanging vegetation. • Changes in plant vigor. • Long-term : • Channel and bank conditions. • Plant community changes.
Annual Monitoring • Examples of Annual Grazing Use that should be observed and recorded.
Are livestock in the pasture when planned? Are the correct numbers present?
Leave a 4” stubble height on large sedges Observe stubble height-4”
Side (edge) browsing - Booth willow
Short Term Monitoring • The following are examples of typical responses that can be used as indicators of progress towards desired conditions. • These are often useful for short term (2-5 years) monitoring following implementation of improved grazing practices.
Brookgrass acts as a temporary filter.
Long Term Monitoring • Document streambank stability and channel improvement • Measure and document plant community changes • Greenline Composition • Vegetation Cross-Section Composition • Woody species Regeneration
Mixed roots, sedge/coyote willow
West Muddy Creek, Mule Park, Gunnison NF 1949 2000
Mule Park West Muddy Creek 7/8/1954Allotment grazed season-long by 219 cow/calf pairs from June 24 to October 15. Precip. – 60%
Mule Park West Muddy Creek 7/28/1998 (84%). Allotment managed using a 4-pasture grazing strategy by 700 yearlings from July 5 to October 5.