May 2006 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust
2
Volume 5, Number 9 The Insider May 2006 Why Grazing May be a Good Conservation Tool on California Coastal Prairies There has been much debate on livestock and grazing over the past years. The issues regarding gr azing vary widely and sol utions to these concerns are equally diverse. Using grazing as a conserva- tion tool on the north coast of San Luis Obispo County is the focus of this article. California coastal prairie grasslands are a unique ecosys- tem occupying a narrow st rip of land on the Cali fornia coast. When not under conservation protection many of these grasslands are being converted to other uses that are typically development oriented. On the North Coast of Sa n Luis Obispo County we are fortunate to have protected some of these prairies but setting these grasslands aside from development pressures is only part of the solution in protecting these unique areas. These grasslands require active land management to stimu- late native grasses and to deter loss of native grasses from invasive species and from conversion to shrubs and other woody species. When grasslands are not grazed or managed in other ways, residual dry matter (RDM) accumulates over time. RDM is a measure of graz- ing intensity that involves measuring the amount of residual biomass on the ground at the end of t he season. The amount of RDM can skyrocket to thousands of pounds per acre. For example, at least 500 lbs/acre is thought to be needed for soil protection, but that, in some California grasslands, very high levels of biomass have been associ- ated with undesired changes in plant communitie s. (The amount of RDM per acre can easily be determined by cutting and weighing the matter within standardized protocols and multiplying by 100). From the perspective of this article two conditions are triggered without ma naging the RDM. The first is the l oss of native bunch grasses and the second is fuel loads. a fuel management option. Knowing the correct time to place livestock on grasslands and for what duration of time is critical when considering reproduction regimes of native grasses and with introduced grasses. Rotating livestock on and off grasslands is key to enhancing and reducing certain grass es. The desired result, of course, is the correct amount of RDM in managed areas. This managed effort is additionally advantageous to native grasses. The critical timing of pla cing livestock on grassland is afte r native seed has dispersed and before invasive grass seed has dispersed. Many times this e vent overlaps so balancin g the two often involves close monitoring. T aking livestock off the landscape is equally as important . Reducing the vegetation can st imulate native grass growth and affect the amount and quality of forage in ensuing years. Livestock waste is yet another part of the puzz le. Any seed that is not digested, whether native or invasive, can pass through and germinate beginning the cycle of unwanted grasses but conversely seeding wanted grass es. W aste from livestock can ac t as a fertilizer but also can cause issues with higher then wanted nutrient loads that find their way int o waterways. While grazing can be a tool to achieve some desired outcomes, it also can cause some problems that should be taken into consideration. The benefits of grazing are clear to us with coastal prairies. With proper monitoring and livestock rotation native grasses can be increased and unwanted gras ses can be minimized. While waste from animals can be beneficial it can have detrimental effects if not monitored properly . This is a function of how many animals a given area can sustain based on the qua lity of the grazing area. There are some research and some experience and common sense knowledge that determine all these aspects of grazing but to successfully graze a conservation landscape monitoring and measuring is the key to keeping native grasses thriving, reducing unwanted grasses and reducing fire danger. Conservation property abut- ting urban areas require active vegetation fuel management. Protect- ing the managed resource from fire beginning on adjacent property and spreading to conservation property is part of land management strategy. Conversely , protecting adjacent properties from fire origi- nating elsewhere is equally important. With the absence of fire as a tool to manage fuels land managers and conservationists have stud- ied the effects of controlled cattle grazing as
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Transcript of May 2006 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust
8/3/2019 May 2006 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/may-2006-greenspace-insider-cambria-land-trust 1/2
Volume 5, Number 9
The Insider
May 2006
Why Grazing May be a Good Conservation Tool on California Coastal Prairies
There has been much debate on livestock and grazing over the past
years. The issues regarding grazing vary widely and solutions to
these concerns are equally diverse. Using grazing as a conserva-
tion tool on the north coast of San Luis Obispo County is the focus
of this article.
California coastal prairie grasslands are a unique ecosys-
tem occupying a narrow strip of land on the California coast. When
not under conservation protection many of these grasslands are
being converted to other uses that are typically development
oriented. On the North Coast of San Luis Obispo County we are
fortunate to have protected some of these prairies but setting these
grasslands aside from development pressures is only part of the
solution in protecting these unique areas.
These grasslands require active land management to stimu-
late native grasses and to deter loss of native grasses from invasive
species and from conversion to shrubs and other woody species.
When grasslands are not grazed or managed in other ways, residual
dry matter (RDM) accumulates over time. RDM is a measure of graz-
ing intensity that involves measuring the amount of residual biomass
on the ground at the end of the season. The amount of RDM can
skyrocket to thousands of pounds per acre. For example, at least 500
lbs/acre is thought to be needed for soil protection, but that, in someCalifornia grasslands, very high levels of biomass have been associ-
ated with undesired changes in plant communities. (The amount of
RDM per acre can easily be determined by cutting and weighing the
matter within standardized protocols and multiplying by 100).
From the perspective of this article two conditions are
triggered without managing the RDM. The first is the loss of native
bunch grasses and the second is fuel loads.
a fuel management option.
Knowing the correct time to place
livestock on grasslands and for
what duration of time is critical
when considering reproduction
regimes of native grasses and
with introduced grasses.
Rotating livestock on and off
grasslands is key to enhancing
and reducing certain grasses. The desired result, of course, is the
correct amount of RDM in managed areas.
This managed effort is additionally advantageous to nativ
grasses. The critical timing of placing livestock on grassland is af
native seed has dispersed and before invasive grass seed has
dispersed. Many times this event overlaps so balancing the two
often involves close monitoring. Taking livestock off the landscap
is equally as important. Reducing the vegetation can stimulate
native grass growth and affect the amount and quality of forage in
ensuing years.
Livestock waste is yet another part of the puzzle. Any se
that is not digested, whether native or invasive, can pass through
and germinate beginning the cycle of unwanted grasses butconversely seeding wanted grasses. Waste from livestock can act
as a fertilizer but also can cause issues with higher then wanted
nutrient loads that find their way into waterways. While grazing c
be a tool to achieve some
desired outcomes, it also can
cause some problems that
should be taken into
consideration.
The benefits of grazing are
clear to us with coastal
prairies. With proper
monitoring and livestock rotation native grasses can
be increased and unwanted grasses can be minimized. While wast
from animals can be beneficial it can have detrimental effects if not
monitored properly. This is a function of how many animals a give
area can sustain based on the quality of the grazing area. There ar
some research and some experience and common sense knowledge
that determine all these aspects of grazing but to successfully graz
a conservation landscape monitoring and measuring is the key to
keeping native grasses thriving, reducing unwanted grasses and
reducing fire danger.
Conservation property abut-
ting urban areas require active vegetation fuel management. Protect-
ing the managed resource from fire beginning on adjacent property
and spreading to conservation property is part of land management
strategy. Conversely, protecting adjacent properties from fire origi-
nating elsewhere is equally important. With the absence of fire as a
tool to manage fuels land managers and conservationists have stud-
ied the effects of controlled cattle grazing as
8/3/2019 May 2006 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/may-2006-greenspace-insider-cambria-land-trust 2/2
Post Office Box 1505
Cambria, California 93428
(805) 927-2866 - Phone(805) 927-5220 - Fax
e-mail: [email protected]
Non-Profit Organiz
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit #37
Cambria, CA 934
90% post-consumer waste process
chlorine free
10% hemp/flax totally chlorine free
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE
GREENSPACE
6TH ANNUAL CAMBRIA WALK IN THE WOODS
DATES: MAY 6 & 7MAY 13 & 14MAY 20 & 21MAY 27 & 28
THIS EDUCATIONAL WALK WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE COVELL RANAND THE WILLIAMS RANCH AND WILL LAST APPROX. 2 1/2 HOURSTHE TERRAIN IS GENTLE WITH ONE MINOR INCLINE. SURPRISE
SPEAKERS ON MANY OF THE WALKS. THE WILLIAMS RANCH IS
OWNED BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND MANAGED BYGREENSPACE. THE COVELL RANCH IS UNDER A CONSERVATION
EASEMENT HELD AND MANAGED BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
EACH WALK IS LIMITED TO TWENTY PEOPLE SO PLEASE RSVP. CALL 805-927-2866 FOR MORE INFORMAT
