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Development of wells, reservoirs, springs, and seeps has been a primary focus of range improvement since the inception of range management as a profession.  Establishment of water developments at strategic locations has helped control livestock distribution and provided managers a tool to control season and intensity of use.  If properly planned and constructed, water developments such as troughs, tanks, and ponds can disperse livestock and reduce occupancy on vulnerable sites or stream banks.   Quantification of the relative effectiveness of water developments is difficult.  We initiated a 5 year study in 2008 to evaluate the relative use of water developments on 3 study sites in northeastern Oregon and the influence of off-stream watering sites on cattle use of riparian zones along permanent streams.   The 3 study sites cover 43,972 ha within a region 120 km by 50 km.  Ten randomly selected cows from herds grazing each site were fitted with GPS collars that recorded position, date, and time at 5 minute intervals throughout the grazing season.  Approximately 3.75 million cow positions were collected.   The relative occupancy of cattle in 60m buffers along perennial streams and 60 m buffers around water developments were determined on an annual and monthly basis by site.  The relative use of water developments contrasted with riparian zones varied substantially from site-to-site, month-to-month, and year- to-year.  In some months use was exclusively of water developments and in others nearly exclusively from streams/riparian areas.  Results of this analysis suggest managerial strategies that can be used to improve stock distribution.