Understanding Livestock Grazing and Fish on Federal Lands

Managing livestock disturbance in riparian zones in a manner that protects streams and fish while promoting economic returns for ranchers has long been a goal of federal land managers.  Over the long-term there has been a significant reduction in the number of domestic ungulates on federal lands.  This reduction has improved conditions of public lands but put the ecological integrity of private lands at greater risk.  While numbers of domestic ungulates on public lands have been reduced, their potential impact may still exceed the role wild ungulates played in shaping historic riparian and stream conditions in the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest.  Many improvements in aquatic conditions could be made by simply holding poorly performing permittees accountable to meet existing standards.  Data suggests allotments with streams in drier areas with lower stream power are at greater risk from livestock disturbance than wetter, higher energy streams.  While existing livestock disturbance and utilization standards are a good starting point, they may need to be altered in areas with greater risks such as the presence of Endangered Species Act listed species or in susceptible landscapes.   This suggests no matter how livestock disturbance is measured that the overall objective heathy aquatic ecosystems and economically viable ranches.