Cattle grazing has varying impacts on stream-channel erosion in oak woodlands

George, Melvin R.; Larsen, Royce E.; McDougald, Neil K.; Tate, Kenneth W.; Gerlach, John D.; Fulgham, Kenneth O.

doi:10.3733/ca.v058n03p138

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…While the lack of fresh water is resolved by runoff harvesting in human-made impoundments (Magliano et al 2015b), the availability of forage here as well as elsewhere depends on the redistribution of surface water via runoff/runon to vegetation patches (Ludwig et al 2005, Urgeghe et al 2010. Both issues are highly dependent on horizontal water redistribution at the patch to landscape scales (Breshears et al 1997, Davenport et al 1998, and can be affected intentionally or non-intentionally by the management of livestock grazing and associated trampling and soil compaction (George et al 2004). Recent research on water redistribution processes has focused on the effects of canopy architecture, spatial distribution of vegetation, ecosystem connectivity, and soil infiltration rate (Newman et al 2010, Ravi et al 2010, Villegas et al 2010, Urgeghe and Bautista 2014, Okin et al 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rainfall intensity switches ecohydrological runoff/runon redistribution patterns in dryland vegetation patches

Magliano

Breshears

Fernández

et al. 2015

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Effectively managing net primary productivity in drylands for grazing and other uses depends on understanding how limited rainfall input is redistributed by runoff and runon among vegetation patches, particularly for patches that contrast between lesser and greater amounts of vegetation cover. Due in part to data limitations, ecohydrologists generally have focused on rainfall event size to characterize water redistribution processes. Here we use soil moisture data from a semiarid woodland to highlight how, when event size is controlled and runoff and interception are negligible at the stand scale, rainfall intensity drives the relationship between water redistribution and canopy and soil patch attributes. Horizontal water redistribution variability increased with rainfall intensity and differed between patches with contrasting vegetation cover. Sparsely vegetated patches gained relatively more water during lower intensity events, whereas densely vegetated ones gained relatively more water during higher intensity events. Consequently, range managers need to account for the distribution of rainfall event intensity, as well as event size, to assess the consequences of climate variability and change on net primary productivity. More generally, our results suggest that rainfall intensity needs to be considered in addition to event size to understand vegetation patch dynamics in drylands.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rainfall intensity switches ecohydrological runoff/runon redistribution patterns in dryland vegetation patches

Magliano

Breshears

Fernández

et al. 2015

Ecological Applications

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“…In California, George et al (2004) found cattle concentrated along stream banks during the dry season (July to October) and increased bare ground but did not contribute to higher stream bank erosion compared to other grazing seasons. Impacts of grazing in riparian areas vary depending on interactions of animal management, geomorphic, edaphic, and hydroclimatological features of the grazed landscape (Trimble and Mendel 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Timing of cattle grazing alters impacts on stream banks in an Oregon mountain watershed

McInnis¹,

McIver²

2009

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

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How does season of use by cattle grazing riparian areas influence stream banks?Riparian areas are critical components of western rangelands. Although comprising less than 8% of the land area of the western United States (USDI 1995;Ehrhart and Hansen 1997), riparian ecosystems function to store water, recharge aquifers, moderate flood intensity, maintain water quality by filtering chemical and organic wastes, trap sediments, and provide primary biotic proAbstract: Timing of grazing by cattle may be a critical consideration to minimize impacts on stream banks. Damage to stream banks may be less when cattle preferentially graze uplands. We tested the hypothesis that early summer grazing (28 days; mid-June to mid-July) would have less impact on stream bank cover and stability compared to late summer grazing (28 days; mid-August to mid-September). The two-year study was conducted at the Eastern Oregon Agriculture Research Center in northeastern Oregon. Three replications each of three grazing treatments were examined: (1) nongrazed, (2) early summer grazing, and (3) late summer grazing. Each grazed pasture (approximately 11.5 ha [28.4 ac]) was stocked with cow-calf pairs for a mean stocking rate of 0.7 ha per animal unit month (AUM -1 ) (1.7 ac AUM -1 ) (range 0.5 to 9.0 ha AUM -1 [1.2 to 22.2 ac AUM -1 ]) to achieve moderate grazing intensity of 35% to 50% utilization. Estimates of stream bank cover ("covered" or "uncovered") and stability ("stable" or "unstable") were taken before and after each grazing period by examining plots approximately 0.5 × 0.3 m (19.7 × 11.8 in) placed on the greenline (the first vegetation at water's edge). Additionally, frequency of cattle hoof prints (plots with hoof prints ÷ total number of plots within the treatment pasture) was measured as an indicator of cattle presence. Treatments were compared using multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA). Stream bank effects were consistent with observations of cattle distribution, with 53% (standard error [SE] ± 11%) of the greenline in early summer pastures showing cattle presence (hoof prints), versus 90% (SE ± 1%) for late summer pastures. In early summer, cattle spent more time in the uplands, resulting in the development of just 3% (SE ± 2%) uncovered stream banks, compared to 8% (SE ± 2%) late season. Similarly, early summer grazing resulted in 13% (SE ± 2%) unstable stream banks compared to 31% (SE ± 2%) in late summer. The primary cause of instability was sloughing of the bank into the stream channel. An "erosion index" indicated potential erosion was 1.62 times greater during late summer compared to early summer grazing. Our study suggests that grazing riparian areas when adjacent uplands are attractive to cattle may help reduce deleterious impacts on stream banks. Land managers should consider impacts of timing of grazing on individual streams when developing best management practices to meet grazing objectives in riparian areas.

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“…The establishment of tracks by cattle whilst moving between pastures and into riparian areas is well documented. For example, several cattle tracks are common in the steep terrain foothill rangelands, resulting in many track crossings of stream channels and damage to stream banks (Trimble and Mendel 1995;George et al, 2004). We are unaware of any studies that have documented track creation by native vertebrates, including wombats, in Australia.…”

Section: Tracks As a Source Of Local Sedimentmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…6A) would have concentrated overland flow and led to deep scouring and further loss of soil. We suspect that these hydrological effects would have had a greater influence on total soil displacement than any direct dislodgement of particles by the animals themselves (George et al 2004). …”

Section: Tracks As a Source Of Local Sedimentmentioning

confidence: 98%

The geomorphic signature of bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) and cattle (Bos taurus) in an agricultural riparian ecosystem

Borchard

Eldridge

2011

Geomorphology

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Cattle grazing has varying impacts on stream-channel erosion in oak woodlands

Cited by 14 publications

References 5 publications

Rainfall intensity switches ecohydrological runoff/runon redistribution patterns in dryland vegetation patches

Rainfall intensity switches ecohydrological runoff/runon redistribution patterns in dryland vegetation patches

Timing of cattle grazing alters impacts on stream banks in an Oregon mountain watershed

The geomorphic signature of bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) and cattle (Bos taurus) in an agricultural riparian ecosystem

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