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Short grasslands represent a very important ecosystem for cattle and wildlife in northern Mexico but few efforts had been conducted to restore productivity on these environments. This study was conducted at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico to monitor vegetation changes following contour furrowing. Furrows were constructed with a large disk furrower mounted on a bulldozer during the summer of 2013. Furrows were 1.0 meter tall and 3.0 meters wide. Vegetation changes were monitored on triplicate 20 by 20 m plots with and without contour furrowing (untreated check). Main species present were: blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), purple grama (Bouteloua chondriosoides), green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia), wolfstail (Licurus phleoides) and threeawn (Aristida sp.). Plant density, basal cover, and plant height were monitored during the summers of 2013 y 2014 on three permanent 1 m2 quadrats per plot. Forage production was estimated by clipping on ten 1 m2 quadrats per plot. A Randomized complete block design was used and data were analyzed by ANOVA (P?0.05). Precipitation was close to long term mean and averaged 395 and 429 mm in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Means of all variables were greater (P?0.05) on contour furrowing plots as compared with the checks. Plant density averaged 9.6 plants/m2 in the untreated checks and increased by 65% two summers following contour furrowing. Basal cover and plant height increased by 37.5 and 46.8% after two summer growing seasons on treated plots. Total forage production averaged 724.5 kg D.M/ha on untreated checks and 1243.5 kg D.M/ha on treated plots. Total biomass was increased by 71.6% two years following contour furrowing. We conclude that water harvesting by contour furrowing is an effective tool to restore productivity. Reducing water runoff increase grass density, height and forage production in short grass prairies.