Survey of livestock influences on stream and riparian ecosystems in the western United States

This paper summarizes the major effects of livestock grazing on stream and riparian ecosystems in the arid West. The study focused primarily on results from peer-reviewed experimental studies, and secondarily on comparative studies of grazed versus naturally or historically protected areas. Results were summarized in tabular form. Livestock grazing was found to negatively affect water quality and seasonal quantity, stream channel morphology, hydrology, riparian zone soils, instream and streambank vegetation, and aquatic and riparian wildlife. No positive environmental impacts were found. Livestock also were found to cause negative impacts at the landscape and regional levels. Although it is sometimes difficult to draw generalizations from the many studies, due in part to differences in methodology and environmental variability among study sites, most recent scientific studies document that livestock grazing continues to be detrimental to stream and riparian ecosystems in the West.