Uncontrolled access by domestic stock to riparian land can lead to excessive run-off, bank erosion, loss of productive land, decline in important wildlife habitat, reduced water quality and damage to in-stream ecosystems. Unfortunately, domestic stock, particularly cattle, favour riparian frontages and, if not managed carefully, will spend much of their time along streambanks and in the water. The result is usually over grazing that erodes bank soils allowing weed invasion, and develops stock tracks that erode during heavy rain. This results in increased sediment and nutrients being washed into the stream. Inputs of animal dung and urine are important factors in reduced water quality for downstream users.
It is often not necessary to permanently exclude animals from riparian lands, but it is important to control their movement and to manage grazing pressure. This takes a bit of planning and effort, but many landholders are discovering that in the long-run, significant payoffs can be gained through increased production, improved water quality, stable streambanks and healthy riparian vegetation.
Uncontrolled stock access results in impacts on
riparian lands and degraded water quality.
The full fact sheet is available in Adobe Acrobat format:
Fact Sheet 6 - Managing stock (facts06.pdf, 458Kb)
Topics covered
- The impact of stock on water quality
- The impact of stock on riparian vegetation
- Streambank erosion
- Loss of native plant species
- Soil compaction
- Weed invasion
- Managing stock access and grazing pressure
- Fencing
- Watering points
- Managing grazing pressure
- Reducing costs
- For futher information
This Fact Sheet is the sixth in a series dealing with the management of riparian land.
