THE ECONOMICS OF RIPARIAN MANAGEMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The potential for impact by grazing livestock on unprotected watercourses may vary with climate, landscape level factors (including the landform within which the pasture is located), biophysical characteristics of the watercourse itself, and with pasture and grazing management practices. Policies seeking to implement cost-effective measures to protect downstream water quality need to acknowledge large-scale as well as 8 small-scale processes which can moderate or exacerbate potential sources of pollution. Evidence suggests that unrestricted livestock access accounts for a relatively modest share of watercourse pollution in humid temperate regions. This is compared with such watershed-specific factors as leaking septic tanks and confinement feeding systems. A wide variety of evidence suggests that the degree of compatibility of grazing livestock with a healthy riparian ecosystem should be viewed as a hypothesis that is testable on a site-specific basis. Greater understanding of the factors causal to livestock behavior in, and impact on, watercourses may help to better focus prevention and remediation efforts by both producers and policymakers. Crouse, M.R. and R.R. Kindschy. 1984. A method for predicting riparian vegetation potential of semiarid rangelands. Range watersheds, riparian zones, and economics: interrelationships in management and use: Proceedings, 1984 Pacific Northwest Range Management Short Course, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. 18-24. Dickard, M. 1998. Management Strategies for Improved Cattle Distribution and Subsequent Riparian Health. M.S. Thesis. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. summary: This was a Masters thesis in two chapters. The first chapter outlined riparian ecosystems. It included discussions of grazing distribution and behaviour. The author discussed the roles of habitat type, water, and shade. Dickard then discussed management strategies and opportunities. These included off-stream water and salt placement. The second chapter outlined a research project by the author, which involved assessing off-stream water and salt as management strategies, for improved cattle distribution and subsequent riparian health. Sixty cow/calf pairs were allotted to three pastures, with three grazing strategies: 1) stream access, with access to off-stream water and salt, 2) stream access, with no access to off-stream water and salt, and 3) ungrazed control. Overall, the author found that cattle distribution was affected by the presence of off-stream water and salt. However, no changes were noted for grazing activity, travel distances, forage utilization, or water quality (in any of the three treatments). Elmore, W. and P. Cuplin. 1984. Use of color infrared photography in stream habitat inventories. Range watersheds, riparian zones, and economics: interrelationships in management and use: Proceedings, 1984 Pacific Northwest Range Management Short Course, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. 6-12. Findley, J. 1984. Riparian monitoring using large scale color infra-red aerial photography in Southeastern Oregon. Range watersheds, riparian zones, and economics: interrelationships in management and use: Proceedings, 1984 Pacific Northwest Range Management Short Course, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. 13-17. Fitch, L. and B.W. Adams 1998. Can cows and fish co-exist? Effects of agriculture on the riparian ecosystem. Proceedings of a symposium held at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, 1996, Canadian Journal of Plant Science 78 (2): 191-198. abstract: An ecological perspective on the interrelationship between livestock grazing and An ecological perspective on the interrelationship between livestock grazing and 9 riparian areas was provided in a review of topical literature. The Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Project (also known as "Cows and Fish") was described. Three decades of riparian investigation quantified the effect that unmanaged livestock grazing can have on range productivity and watershed function. It was considered that suitable grazing strategies for riparian areas would be developed, by understanding the function of riparian systems. Then, range management principles could be applied to develop riparian grazing strategies. It was concluded that unmanaged grazing results in overuse and degradation of riparian areas. Strategies suitable for riparian areas in Southern Alberta, which should maintain ecological function and sustained use, were described. These included control of animal distribution and access to water, control of grazing intensity, control of grazing frequency and rest periods, and control of grazing dates. Kauffman, J.B. and W.C. Krueger. 1984. Livestock impacts on riparian ecosystems and streamside management implications...a review. Journal of Range Management 37 (5): 430-438. summary: State of the knowledge up to 1984, review of bio-physical interactions between cattle and the environment in riparian zones. Kindschy, R.R. 1984. A line-intercept method for monitoring riparian vegetation trend. Range watersheds, riparian zones, and economics: interrelationships in management and use: Proceedings, 1984 Pacific Northwest Range Management Short Course, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. 25-30. Konynenbelt, R. D. 1993. A stream restoration project along the North Raven River,” in Tellman, B. et al, Riparian Management: common threads and shared interests: A western regional conference on river management strategies. Feb 4 6, 1993, Albuquerque, New Mexico. General Technical Report RM-226, USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. 294-304. summary: This was a good description of an actual project. It included a background summary of the initial situation, remediation work carried out, and a brief benefit/cost analysis of the project. Lambert, D.K. 1984. The economics of range investments: public and private perspectives. Range watersheds, riparian zones, and economics: interrelationships in management and use: Proceedings, 1984 Pacific Northwest Range Management Short Course, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. 86-98. Larsen, R.E. et al. 1997. Livestock Influences on Riparian Zones and Fish Habitat: A Bibliography. EM 8660, Oregon State University Extension Service, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. abstract: This bibliography contained 1521 entries. Very few of them related to the economics of riparian management. The authors found that many of the cited papers had inadequate sample size, and lacked statistical reliability. As well, citations included both This bibliography contained 1521 entries. Very few of them related to the economics of riparian management. The authors found that many of the cited papers had inadequate sample size, and lacked statistical reliability. As well, citations included both 10 non-refereed and refereed journal articles. The authors were able to make only broad generalizations pertaining to riparian management. Larsen, R.E. et al. 1998. Livestock influences on riparian zones and fish habitat: literature classification. Journal of Range Management 51 (6): 661-664. abstract: A key was used to classify articles about livestock influences on riparian zones and fish habitat into 3 classes: papers that contained original data, those that were commentary, and reports about methodology such as classification systems, policies, and monitoring criteria. Four hundred and twenty-eight of the total articles were directly related to grazing impacts on riparian zones and fish habitat. Only 89 of these grazing impact articles were classified as experimental, where treatments were replicated and results were statistically valid. This analysis revealed several limitations of riparian grazing studies that included: (1) inadequate description of grazing management practices or treatments, (2) weak study designs, and (3) lack of pre-treatment data. More long-term, replicated treatment studies are needed in the future. A key was used to classify articles about livestock influences on riparian zones and fish habitat into 3 classes: papers that contained original data, those that were commentary, and reports about methodology such as classification systems, policies, and monitoring criteria. Four hundred and twenty-eight of the total articles were directly related to grazing impacts on riparian zones and fish habitat. Only 89 of these grazing impact articles were classified as experimental, where treatments were replicated and results were statistically valid. This analysis revealed several limitations of riparian grazing studies that included: (1) inadequate description of grazing management practices or treatments, (2) weak study designs, and (3) lack of pre-treatment data. More long-term, replicated treatment studies are needed in the future. Lowrance, R. 2000. REMM: The Riparian Ecosystem Management Model. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. First Quarter: 27-34. Masters, L., Swanson, S., and Burkhardt, W. 1996. Riparian grazing management that worked: