Effects of grazing on runoff and sediment yield from desert rangeland at Badger Wash in western Colorado, 1953-73

Abstract

in the area at the beginning of the study. Complete grazing exclusion resulted in a reduction in runoff of about 20 percent during the period 1953-65 and an additional 20 percent during 1966-73. During the same periods sediment yield was reduced by 35 and 28 percent, respectively, for a total of 63 percent. A change in grazing use from cattle and sheep, November 15-May 15 each year, to sheep only at approximately the same utilization rate, November 15-February 15 each year, was accompanied by a reduction in runoff and sediment yield of about 29 percent. The same change in use, except that grazing was allowed every other year during the sheep grazing period, resulted in a reduction in runoff and sediment yield of about 20 percent. Recurrence intervals of annual runoff occurring on three soil types at Badger Wash are pro-' vided. These data may be applied to similar soils in areas of like climate and physiography shown on accompanying maps.

Influence of Streambank Fencing on the Environmental Quality of Cattle‐Excluded Pastures

“…Lower runoff for the cattle‐excluded pasture than for the grazed pasture in 2 of 3 yr in our study (Table 3) was evidence that the fenced pasture may be acting as a buffer or filter strip, reducing runoff into the adjacent river. Lower runoff was also found from cattle‐excluded pastures compared with grazed pastures in previous runoff studies (Sartz and Tolsted, 1974; Lusby, 1979; Mapfumo et al, 2002; Chanasyk et al, 2003). Greater infiltration rates have also been reported under cattle exclusion, which indicates a reduced runoff potential (Naeth et al, 1990; Bari et al, 1993; Cooper et al, 1995; Trimble and Mendel, 1995).…”

Erosion, storage, and transport of sediment in two subbasins of the Rio Puerco, New Mexico

“…Arroyo Chavez had seven times the livestock stocking density of Volcano Hill Wash. Several studies in the American Southwest have reported increases in erosion rates and sediment yield due to grazing (Lusby et al, 1971;Blackburn et al, 1982;Owens et al, 1996;Pimentel and Kounang, 1998). In the Badger Wash Basin, Colorado, which drains Mancos Shale, sediment yield from grazed basins averaged 151% of ungrazed basins (Lusby et al, 1971). Dirt roads and a gas pipeline that runs through the Arroyo Chavez basin may also be accelerating erosion.…”

Sedimentation Engineering

“…Leopold, et al (1966) and Lusby (1963) believe that sheet-rill erosion on these rangelands is generally more dominant than channelized erosion. In one study of paired watersheds (Lusby, 1963), with one set of watersheds located on steep shaly terrain and the other set having gentle slopes and sandy soil, runoff rates were similar because frost action at these high altitudes kept the shalederived soils as permeable as the sandy surface. But erosion rates as evidenced by measured sediment yields from shale areas were much greater.…”