Get reliable rangeland science

A collaborative project is being conducted in North Dakota to develop six riparian ecological site descriptions within four watersheds. The goals of this project is to improve and strengthen the ability of resource managers and landowners to restore and/or properly manage riparian ecosystems through the development of ecological site descriptions (ESDs) and state-and-transition models (STMs) for riparian ecosystems. To develop a riparian ESD an interdisciplinary team identifies existing states, transitions, and stream succession scenario being carried out along streams. The current state of natural streams is determined using Rosgen's classification of natural streams to classify channels (potential states). The soils, vegetation, and wildlife associated with each geomorphic feature associated with the stream are inventoried. The development of riparian ESDs and STMs will provide guidance to land managers by explaining how a particular stream is expected to respond to various disturbance and management strategies, specifically grazing management strategies that will enhance stability and resilience within a particular riparian system.  Riparian ESDs allow landowners and/or land managers to 1) identify, 2) assess, 3) predict change, 4) manage, 5) restore, 6) and monitor riparian ecosystems under their management.