Get reliable science

Nevada�s meadows provide juvenile sage-grouse with protein-rich forbs, especially during low precipitation years. Livestock and wild horses favor meadows over uplands during hot summer months for water, forage, and thermoregulation. Proper functioning condition of meadows ensures ground water availability to forbs and erosion resistance/resilience under grazing and high flow events. Improper grazing often leads to decreased meadow functioning condition. Well managed grazing can improve habitat conditions for sage-grouse, promoting young nutrient-rich growth. Successful grazing management in riparian areas often applies tools that allow recovery after grazing. There are many tools in the livestock management toolbox. There are currently no effective tools for managing wild horses. This study examines effects of wild horse and livestock grazing on vegetation and hydrologic response variables with regard to prevailing guidelines for sage-grouse late-brood rearing habitat in meadows. The goal is to identify grazing patterns leading to resilient or degraded lentic riparian habitats. Draft Inventory and Monitoring in combination with Designated Monitoring Area Methods for Lentic Wetland Areas (Dickard et al.) were modified and applied. Sage-grouse habitat indicators were assessed using methods established in the Sage-grouse Habitat Assessment Framework (Stiver et al.2015). Wild horse and livestock grazing activity captured from March to November by automatic cameras documented actual use.� Such data and analyses are offered to move the wild horse management conversation beyond its current impasse and develop management concepts for livestock and wild horse use leading to successful management of lentic riparian resource values and habitat conditions for sage-grouse. To date, no systematic study of this type or issue has occurred across Nevada�s riparian meadows. Keywords: Management tools, proper functioning condition, lentic methods, sage-grouse, late brood habitat.