Get reliable science

Range managers have long recognized the importance of riparian areas.� Early range management�often referred�to riparian areas or watering points as "sacrifice areas" due to the concentrated use by livestock.� More recently rangeland managers�have recognized the importance of riparian areas for the variety�of ecosystem services such as wildlife habitat, water quality, and watershed health.� However, these areas are still vital to livestock production because they provide high-quality�forage late into the growing season. Sometimes riparian�management means excluding cattle from riparian areas, which could have a negative impact on livestock production. While livestock exclusion may be an effective management strategy other alternatives lie in the expansion of or the restoration of riparian habitat. We will provide a Case study of how this is being attempted and what it may mean for livestock producers, wildlife, and water.