Cattle were excluded along a section of the riparian area from 2001 to 2007 within Watershed Evaluation of BMPs project on Lower Little Bow River in Alberta, Canada (112°37’ 30†N, 50°00’ 00†W) to evaluate the effectiveness of excluding cattle grazing along riparian areas. Barbed wire fence was constructed along both side of an 800 m reach of the Lower Little Bow R with one cattle crossing installed. Off-stream watering system was installed on south side of river in 2001 and on north side in 2005. Rainfall simulators were conducted at 40-50 m intervals on a transect to create runoff for measurement of turbidity, pH, EC, and N and P analyses. Vegetation properties were measured after rainfall simulations. In 2007, a Rangeland Health Assessment was conducted by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development in grazed and cattle-excluded pastures, to observe ecological status, community structure, litter, site stability, and noxious weeds. Precipitation data was also used in the study, and statistical analyses of runoff variables and site properties were conducted.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.