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New Video's 03/13/2012
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Fencing can make livestock producers good neighbors for riparia
Kansas Sheep and goats can do more harm than cattle when browsing next to streams, rivers and lakes. The reason isn't their rubbing or sharp hooves. Rather, it's that sheep and goats actually like woody plants--even when more tender greenery also is available for grazing, said Deborah Goard, watershed forester with the Kansas Forest Service. But, any livestock's unrestricted grazing will soon damage water resources, Goard said. Runoff rates, soil erosion and water pollution will increase. Bank instability and soil compaction may result, too. "A good, healthy mix of trees, shrubs and grasses is an essential component of riparian areas that protect both land and water," she said. "Trees are the major component that stabilize banks. "If livestock do little more than destroy the ground cover, however, the shoreline won't be able to trap and filter out sediments, nutrients, chemicals and bacteria. It won't do much to slow down runoff or flooding, either, or to recharge the local aquifer." This doesn't mean livestock producers must not use riparian areas for grazing or watering. "Landowners just need to develop pasture management systems that take riparian areas into account," the forester said. "Fencing is just one of the ways they can limit the damage to riparian plants and soils by controlling where and when livestock graze, drink and cross streams." Goard's recently completed publication named "Fencing" is part of a new series: "Riparian Forest Buffer Best Management Practices." It is available on the Kansas Forest Service website at www.kansasforests.org/riparian/best_managment.shtml and at any county or district Kansas State University Research and Extension office. Date: 7/5/07
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