Cattle grazing has varying impacts on stream-channel erosion in oak woodlands
We conducted a 5-year study on the impact of grazing on stream-channel bare ground and erosion, and a 3-year study of cattle-trail erosion on intermittent stream channels draining grazed oak-woodland watersheds. While the concentration of cattle along stream banks during t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2004-07-01
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| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v058n03p138 |
| Summary: | We conducted a 5-year study on the impact of grazing on stream-channel bare ground
and erosion, and a 3-year study of cattle-trail erosion on intermittent stream channels
draining grazed oak-woodland watersheds. While the concentration of cattle along stream
banks during the dry season resulted in a significant increase in bare ground, we
were unable to detect stream-bank erosion resulting from any of the grazing treatments
applied. However, we did find that cattle trails are an important mode of sediment
transport into stream channels. While cattle trails are common on grazed rangeland,
excessive trailing often indicates that stock watering points are too far apart. |
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| ISSN: | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |