Assessment

A Grazing and Rangeland Strategy

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Historic Grazing Impacts Historic unregulated grazing, which ended in the early 1900s, created widespread, profound, and, in some places, irreversible ecological impacts. Foothill habitats have suffered physical and biological damage of many riparian systems and virtual replacement of the native perennial flora by Eurasian annuals.

Current Grazing Effects Current livestock grazing practices continue to exert reduced but significant impacts on the biodiversity and ecological processes of many middle- to high-elevation rangelands even though properly managed grazing (appropriate timing, intensity, duration of use, control of cowbirds, and exclusion from wetlands) can be compatible with sustainable ecological functions.

Restoration of Upland Rangelands Increases in native perennial grasses are occurring on some east-side sagebrush-steppe rangelands, but the continuing cheatgrass invasion of these habitats indicates that complete restoration of native plant communities is highly unlikely.

Restoration of Meadows and Riparian Systems Easily damaged by improper grazing, montane meadows and riparian systems are resilient relative to restoration of plant cover, but restoration of stream channel shape, system function, and biodiversity may take decades.

Conversion of Hardwood Rangelands Human settlement patterns represent the largest threat to continued sustainability of ecological functions on hardwood rangelands.

Oak Woodland Resiliency Oak woodlands (particularly blue oak) are much more stable than previously thought; concerns about regeneration are not well founded.