Quantifying the Effects of Weather and Grazing Management on Riparian and Upland Condition Using Remote Sensing and Large-Scale Case Studies
Rick Danvir1
1Western Landowners Alliance
Well managed ranches can benefit both rural communities and watersheds. Despite the complex nature of biophysical systems, land managers need to understand and assess the effects of weather and management on ecological condition. We used Open Range Consulting’s (ORC) remote sensing technology to quantitatively assess whether four New Mexico mid-grass prairie ranches, experienced in holistic planning and strategic grazing management (SGM), had less upland bare ground and more riparian vegetation than neighboring lands which did not use SGM. Remote sensing technology was used to compare riparian and upland cover on adjacent pairs of ecologically similar sites. Riparian vegetation averaged 19% greater on SGM than on paired continuously stocked (CS) stream reaches. However, changes in annual riparian vegetative cover was primarily driven by precipitation. Bare ground averaged 13% less on SGM ranches than on adjacent paired sites. SGM sites had less bare ground than either CS sites or sites rested > 3 years. ORC observed similar differences in riparian and upland condition on paired SGM and CS watersheds in Northern Utah sagebrush steppe, suggesting strategic management principles and practices are broadly applicable. Ecological and economic conditions improved on strategically managed ranches in both of these case studies.