Reading Time: < 1 minute Managed grazing in riparian areas pays dividends, says Cows and Fish, which has released results of an assessment of ranches along two headwater streams of the Bow and Oldman rivers. The sites had already been assessed twice over the last two decades. Not only had the riparian health improved but is now above the provincial […] Read more
Grazing benefits riparian health
Protect the unsung heroes of your grazing lands — riparian areas
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for riparian health, but there are some basic principles you can apply
Reading Time: 4 minutes They’re the green places amidst the brown in the heat of a dry August — those spaces between the land and water where life grows abundantly, where roots drive down deep, where animals graze and birds nest. Those small but mighty riparian areas don’t get the credit — or the care — that they deserve. […] Read more
‘Eco-buffer’ boosts pasture productivity for Alberta producer
Letting nature do its job got Don Ruzicka off a treadmill of clearing trees, draining wetlands, and poor returns
Reading Time: 4 minutes Some people look for signs — other people just find them. For producer Don Ruzicka of Killam, the motivation behind the past three decades of land management on his farm was quite literally a sign. Before he purchased his grandparents’ farm in 1983, Ruzicka worked in the logging industry. “The first day I flew into […] Read more
Invader blasts its way into wet areas
Reading Time: < 1 minute Himalayan balsam can be spotted in a number of municipalities across Alberta, and is especially common in flower beds. Before it was listed as a prohibited noxious weed, Himalayan balsam was a very popular ornamental. It was even readily available in greenhouses. Himalayan balsam is incredibly invasive in wet areas — mature seed capsules explode […] Read more
Study finds riparian areas can restore themselves
A study in Oregon wildlife refuge finds ‘passive restoration’ can have a dramatic impact after cattle removed
Reading Time: 2 minutes Simply removing cattle may be all that is required to restore many degraded riverside areas. An Oregon State University study found removal of cattle from Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in eastern Oregon helped to rehabilitate the natural environment. Riparian, or riverside, vegetation is particularly susceptible to the effects of grazing because cattle tend to […] Read more
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