Managing livestock access to streams
- Joe Christner: SWCD
- May 11, 2025
- 87
Ohio streams are a precious natural resource, providing clean water for a variety of human uses and habitat for wildlife and aquatics life — and they deserve to be protected from degradation. Streams can be damaged by many things including industrial discharge, recreational overuse and abuse, yard/garden chemical and agriculture runoff, and livestock overuse and abuse.
While livestock are not the only cause of stream damage, they can cause problems. Problems are caused by livestock when these conditions occur: overgrazing near streams, poor watering access, poor stream crossing, overstocking of pasture and streamside feedlots. What can be done? The first and easy answer, of course, is to fence them all out. But there are alternatives. These situations can be solved with good planning, management and a well-placed exclusion fence.
Preferred crossing/access areas
Cattle don’t like soft creek bottoms. They prefer solid footing. When good rock bottom crossings are constructed, cattle not only use the constructed rock bottom crossings, but also rarely stray from them. When No. 2 stone is used on these areas, it is large enough to be uncomfortable underfoot. Then livestock are not tempted to stand around in the water but will use the crossing or access site. Solid bottom access areas should ideally be used for limited periods such as four to seven days every 30-45 days.
Alternative water sources
When livestock are provided with alternative sources of good-quality water, visits to streams are greatly reduced. The distance traveled to water also makes a difference. When the travel distance is under 800 feet and an alternative water source is supplied, the streams are rarely used. Clean water also is important to cattle growth. A five-year study in Alberta found cattle tend to perform up to 20% better when they drink clean water.
Bacteria in stream flow
High concentrations of bacteria were found at cattle access points where actual disturbance of stream bed material had occurred. Concentrations decreased rapidly after the disturbance had stopped. Sites with solid or rocky bottoms had significantly lower bacteria concentrations. Coliforms? The origin of coliforms found in streambed sediment needs to be correctly identified. Livestock may stir it up but not be the source.
Streamside prescribed grazing
Proper grazing is a good solution. Flash grazing of stream sides (one to two days maximum), proper stocking rate of livestock, adequate rest periods between grazing, proper time period for grazing, drinking water close to grazing livestock and minimum stubble heights maintained on forage all contribute to proper management of livestock along streams. The benefits are water quality, potential for lower fencing costs, reduced stream bank damage, improved livestock health, and possible improved wildlife and aquatic habitat.
If you have pastured livestock with access to a stream, you may want to check into the Muskingum Watershed Livestock Exclusion and Stream Protection Program. This program is a joint project funded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife (75%) through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (25%).
Technical and administrative support is provided by the Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Soil and Water Conservation. Cost share will be paid at a rate of 100% of the actual cost, not to exceed 1.5 times the individual practice rates listed in the current fiscal year NRCS Practice Scenario. The total cost share amount received shall not exceed $15,000 per person.
The funds can be used for stream bank exclusion fencing, stream crossings and watering facilities if needed. A buffer area must be maintained between the installed fence and the edge of the bank for a minimum of 10 years. During these 10 years, the buffer area must be managed to sufficiently buffer sediment and nutrient runoff. Flash grazing may be allowed, and mowing may be completed one time per year after July 15.
Why not call Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District to get more information and make an appointment for a site visit to complete an application? Call 330-674-2811 ext. 3 and ask for Karen, Darby or Joe.