Activity 2.3.1 Ranchers, Anglers, and Beavers

Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet

1. Exploratory  

●      Cattle grazing switched from repeated summer-long “hot season” use to “cool season” grazing in spring and fall with periods of rest and rotation

●      Minimizing time spent of cattle grazing in riparian zones

●      Conservation-oriented grazing as a pre-condition for beaver colonization

●      Streamside vegetation can be 10-40% more productive where conservation-oriented grazing approaches are applied and beavers are at work

●      Beaver dams store water and re-wet plains

●      Riparian vegetation is accustomed to periods of waterlogged soil and thrive after dams relocate water that previously ran downstream

●      Comparable gains in vegetation at sites without conservative-oriented grazing and beaver dams would need an elevation of 800ft higher or increase annual precipitation by 10in                         

2. Diagnostic                                    

The Bureau of Land Management is working to combat drought and wildfire impacts on riparian ecosystems in the face of climate variability and change by helping streams “bounce back” and naturally maintain biodiversity over long periods of time. By changing historical grazing patterns to improve vegetation, the BLM is then able to assist wildlife in returning to their natural habitat while further improving the land and water quality. The BLM has been safeguarding Nevada’s heritage by building partnerships for conservation that will last through the years.

3. Cause and Effect  

●      Increased streamside vegetation will produce more tender forage and bugs for sage-grouse and more browse for deer and elk

●      Shade from trees keep streams cold for trout

●      Dams provide increased availability of water and forage for cattle

●      Conservation-oriented grazing results in less cost and lower effort for the state

●      More vegetation results in less erosion and less polluted streams

●      Lower pollution in streams and an increase in organisms results in richer biodiversity

4. Priority       

The most important issue at hand is the need to apply conservation-oriented grazing and beaver involvement techniques to more watersheds that suffer from drought and overgrazing. By implementing new grazing techniques and reestablishing wildlife that naturally benefit an ecosystem, we can slowly rebuild riparian vegetation and biodiversity in areas that are currently barren and lifeless. It’s necessary for us to repair the ecosystems that have suffered from human interaction.                                    

5. Application                                   

South Fork Salmon Falls Creek and Susie Creek are prime examples of the power of the natural recovery process over time. By taking these techniques and applying them to watersheds that are still suffering from a lack of vegetation, drought, and wildfires, we can continue to see how nature repairs itself with the patience and cooperation of humans. It requires flexibility and willingness to let go of old practices and try something new that will benefit the ecosystem in the long run, but with patience and trust in the Earth’s ability to rebound, we can continue to see new areas flourish simply by our realization and regulation of our impact. 

6. Critical                                          

This was interesting to read because it reinforces the idea that we don’t need to think of modern solutions to old problems. The best way to fix an ecosystem is not by man-made technology and over-regulation, but rather by helping an area improve by restoring it to its pre-human-interaction state. This is proof that we can make huge impacts on our surrounding ecosystems by realizing how our actions have changed the land and improving the way we work in order to make compromises that will actually benefit us in the long-run. Changing cattle-grazing patterns at first may have been frustrating for ranchers, but in the end there was actually more forage for cattle to eat, and better accessibility to a quality stream of water.

Reference:

Fesenmyer, K. (2016). Restoring streamside vegetation using grazing and beavers. Trout Unlimited. Retrieved from https://www.tu.org/blog-posts/restoring-streamside-vegetation-using-grazing-and-beavers?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=informz