Riparian Fence
Willow Creek Sub-District
|
Characteristics
|
Benefits
|
Project Overview
This producer runs a mixed grain and cattle operation, with around 60 head, in Meleb. They have participated in many projects over the years with EIWD including many cover crops, adding legumes to crop rotation, dual inhibitors, soil testing and rotational grazing.
Historically, this 30 acre piece was utilized for hay production, and features a creek running through the property. Over time the land has been developed to include their homestead and cattle yard. When converting the land to pasture, the landowner approached EIWD to explore funding opportunities to fence the property. Through discussion with EIWD it was recommended that an exclusion fence should be implemented to enhance the management of the riparian area. While creating the exclusion fence, the producer decided to divide the pasture in half, to better utilize the land through rotational grazing.
Fencing the cattle out of this waterway provided a multitude of environmental benefits such as increasing wildlife habitat and continuity, increasing biodiversity, improved surface water quality, greater landscape resilience, natural revegetation, and stabilization of the stream bank. All of these factors allowing the riparian to function as a buffer to filter nutrients that may runoff from the pasture. Benefits to the producer include reducing the spread of pathogens, and ensuring a safe watering source for cattle, overall allowing for improved herd health and productivity.
This producer runs a mixed grain and cattle operation, with around 60 head, in Meleb. They have participated in many projects over the years with EIWD including many cover crops, adding legumes to crop rotation, dual inhibitors, soil testing and rotational grazing.
Historically, this 30 acre piece was utilized for hay production, and features a creek running through the property. Over time the land has been developed to include their homestead and cattle yard. When converting the land to pasture, the landowner approached EIWD to explore funding opportunities to fence the property. Through discussion with EIWD it was recommended that an exclusion fence should be implemented to enhance the management of the riparian area. While creating the exclusion fence, the producer decided to divide the pasture in half, to better utilize the land through rotational grazing.
Fencing the cattle out of this waterway provided a multitude of environmental benefits such as increasing wildlife habitat and continuity, increasing biodiversity, improved surface water quality, greater landscape resilience, natural revegetation, and stabilization of the stream bank. All of these factors allowing the riparian to function as a buffer to filter nutrients that may runoff from the pasture. Benefits to the producer include reducing the spread of pathogens, and ensuring a safe watering source for cattle, overall allowing for improved herd health and productivity.
