Over a two year period at three sites in northeastern California, early summer grazing, late summer grazing, and site environmental factors were evaluated for their effects on planted willow cuttings' survival and growth. The study did not find a significant effect by cattle grazing on the survival or growth of planted willows, even though the willow cuttings were defoliated 3.5 to 5 times more in the grazed pastures compared to the ungrazed pastures. The overall grazing intensity of the study was apparently light enough to avoid harming the willow cuttings, leaving enough standing forage in the paddocks to prevent heavier use of the willow cuttings during the late season. The study also showed no difference in cattle use of the willow cuttings between early and late season grazing, and cited Skovlin (1984) as reporting that the intensity of use may be more important to riparian vegetation maintenance than season of use. Site environmental factors such as stream channel location, water table depth, soil moisture, and cover class were observed to have a more significant effect than grazing on willow planting survival and growth.
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