Summarizes a management plan for a degraded riparian area in the McCoy Gulch Riparian Demonstration Area, Colorado. The main change to the management of grazing was to only allow grazing of willows once during the season to promote branching, and decrease willow mortality. Grazing season was shifted from winter to spring, which encouraged the cattle to graze grass instead of the willows. After the changes were made to the management system, canopy cover increased, cheatgrass decreased, and perennial forbs increased. Results show that riparian woody species (willow) health can improve under proper grazing management, taking into consideration the length and time of the grazing event.
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.