Unterschultz et al. simulated a cow/calf operation in southwestern Alberta to determine the economic viability of cattle grazing on riparian pastures and various improvements associated with increasing the health of those areas. The cost of implementing riparian improvement strategies on ranches with small riparian areas (<3% of rangeland) are too high, relative to the long-run economic benefit. Moderate cost strategies will provide a positive economic return for riparian areas with a moderate grazing capacity. On riparian areas that are expected to recover slowly, that start with a low grazing capacity, moderate cost strategies would not be expected to provide a net economic benefit to the ranch.
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