The focus on protecting our surface water has shifted to controlling nonpoint pollution. Livestock grazing riparian areas have been identified as a source of nonpoint pollution. Riparian areas are the green vegetated areas adjacent to a creek, stream, or river.

The impacts of livestock grazing riparian areas include manure and urine deposited directly into or near surface waters where leaching and runoff can transport nutrients and pathogens into the water. Unmanaged grazing may accelerate erosion and sedimentation into surface water, change stream flow, and destroy aquatic habitats. Improper grazing can reduce the capacity of riparian areas to filter contaminates, shade aquatic habitats, and stabilize streambanks.

Faced with the negative impacts, many recommend the total, permanent exclusion of livestock from riparian areas. Although this is one option, because of its cost-prohibitive nature, its adoption has not been widespread.

The negative impacts of livestock grazing riparian areas can be prevented, minimized, or improved by controlling when, where, how long, and with what intensity livestock graze the forages in the riparian area.

So far in this series of fact sheets we have looked at the issues around livestock grazing riparian areas. This fact sheet looks at what producers can do to protect our surface water resources

Due to the threat of contamination of drinking water by pathogenic microorganisms, livestock manure in streams is an important human health concern (Strand and Merritt, 1999). Pathogens include bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and helminthes (worms) that have the potential to cause human illness.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that agriculture has a greater impact on stream and river contamination than any other nonpoint source. Grazing, particularly improper grazing of riparian areas may contribute to nonpoint source pollution.

This series of fact sheets looks at the issues of livestock and streams and what livestock producers can do to protect this precious resource. In any discussion about managing grazing livestock to decrease nonpoint pollution, it would be helpful to review what is known about the management of grazing in riparian areas.

Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Rotationally grazing cattle on a well-managed pasture is a good best management practice compared to continuous grazing.

Although the original grazers were bison, moose, and deer rather than cattle, horses, sheep, and goats; most native riparian plants species re-grow following a period of grazing (Mosley, et al. 1998; Ohmart, 1996).

When farmers displaced these occasional roaming grazers with continuously grazing livestock, riparian areas suffered. Provided with limited grazing areas and little stimulus to move from one area to another, continuously grazing livestock trample streambanks, congregate in the shade and cool breezes next to streams, and overgraze the lush vegetation in these fertile areas (Bellows, 2003).

Document anglais pour comprendre les bandes riveraines. 
Surface water, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes are some of our most precious natural resources. They provide clean water for a variety of human uses, as well as habitat for wildlife and aquatic life. Today, emphasis on water quality and protecting surface water has shifted to nonpoint source pollution. Management of riparian areas on farms has been a major focus of nonpoint pollution control efforts. Livestock grazing riparian areas can cause problems with nonpoint source pollution.