Grazing on public lands is a controversial issue in California and across the western United States, particularly in regards to conservation of riparian ecosystem services. Meadows and other riparian areas on public lands provision summer forage for local ranches—at a time when low-elevation annual grasslands have entered summer drought and have low forage nutritive quality. In this project we initiated a collaborative monitoring program to advance the science of riparian conservation grazing and inform management and policy decision-makers.
David Lile, dflile@ucanr.edu
CE Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension