1 Management and Restoration of California's Coastal Prairie - PDF document

Management and Restoration of California's Coastal Prairie Project Objectives • To Study the Effects of Rangeland Management Practices on Water Quality and Grassland Diversity, Health, and Productivity. Impacts of Livestock Management Practices on Water Quality and Grasslands in the Morro Bay Watershed Study Area Chumash & Walters Creeks 1993 • Similar Attributes • Adjacent – Size • Similar Land – Slope Management Activities – Elevation – Rangeland Used for Cattle – Soils Grazing – Climate – Vegetation Paired Watershed Design Rangeland Practices Installation Incrementally Installed (Fall 1995-Fall 1997) • Cross Fencing • Road Improvements • Riparian Fencing • Bank & Channel Improvements • Rest-rotation Grazing • Alternative Water Supplies Coastal Training Program March 10, 2004 1

Management and Restoration of California's Coastal Prairie Findings Monitoring Project Findings Introduction Findings were developed as a guide to • Stream Response interpret statistical results and trends in – Event-based & Even- the data. These findings address both Interval Water Quality Samples water quality and vegetation: – Streamflow • Stream Flow • Grassland Response • Sediment and Turbidity – Transects • Vegetation Species Composition – Residual Dry Matter • Surface Cover – Photo Documentation • Vegetation Type • Calibration Period • Vegetation Life Cycle/Duration • Treatment Period • Specific Species • Residual Dry Matter Stream Turbidity & Findings – Water Quality Findings – Water Quality Flow Sediment Turbidity and Suspended Sediment Were Reduced as a Chumash Peak Storm Flow Lagged Behind Walters Result of BMP Implementation in Chumash Especially in Fall/Early Winter 1 dlogsed 0 -1 0 1000 2000 Due to Increase in day Vegetation dlogsed=differences between log sediment means for Chumash and Walters Overall Species Findings Water Quality Findings – Vegetation Findings Composition • Chumash was more resilient to high Composition of Ecologically Desirable and Undesirable Vegetation Chumash and Walters Subwatersheds rainfall, producing a later response to Undesirables 300 45 significant events. Decreased in Both 40 250 • Temperature was decreased in Chumash. 35 Desirable Chumash Precipitation in Inches Desirable Walters 200 30 • Rangeland practices decreased sediment Undesirable Chumash Total Count Undesirable Walters 25 Precipitation load and turbidity. 150 Linear (Undesirable Walters) 20 Linear (Undesirable Chumash) Linear (Desirable Chumash) 100 15 Linear (Desirable Walters) 10 50 5 Desirables Increased at a Faster Rate in 0 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Chumash Year Coastal Training Program March 10, 2004 2

Management and Restoration of California's Coastal Prairie Surface Surface Findings - Vegetation Findings – Vegetation Cover Cover Another Way to Look at Bare Ground Surface Cover Chumash and Walters Subwatersheds 25 300 45 Bare Ground Increased In Walters % Bare ground, Walters 40 250 20 % Bare ground, Chumash 35 Precipitation in Inches Bare Ground Chumsh Bare Ground Walters 200 30 15 Total Count Vegetation Chumash Vegetation Walters 25 Precipitation 150 10 Linear (Bare Ground Chumsh) 20 Linear (Bare Ground Walters) Linear (Vegetation Chumash) 100 15 5 Linear (Vegetation Walters) 10 50 Bare Ground Trends 5 0 Have Remained 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 0 0 Relatively Steady for 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Spring Chumash Year Surface Surface Findings – Vegetation Findings – Vegetation Cover Cover Pasture in Walters Riparian Pasture in Chumash Following Installation Vegetation Life Findings – Vegetation Findings – Vegetation Type Cycle/Duration Life Cycle Vegetation Types Growth Habit of Vegetation Perennials Chumash and Walters Subwatersheds Chumash and Walters Subwatersheds Increased at a Forbs Increased 300 45 300 45 Faster Rate in at a Faster Rate Chumash 40 40 in Chumash 250 250 35 35 Annual Chumash Precipitation in Inches Forb Chumash Precipitation in Inches Annual Walters Forb Walters 200 30 200 30 Perennial Chumash Grass Chumash Total Count Total Count Perennial Walters Grass Walters 25 25 Precipitation Precipitation 150 150 Linear (Perennial Chumash) Linear (Grass Walters) 20 20 Linear (Perennial Walters) Linear (Grass Chumash) Linear (Annual Chumash) Linear (Forb Walters) 100 15 100 15 Linear (Annual Walters) Linear (Forb Chumash) 10 10 50 50 Annual Grasses 5 5 Decreased at a Annuals Decreased 0 0 0 0 Faster Rate in 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 for Both 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Chumash Year Year Coastal Training Program March 10, 2004 3

Management and Restoration of California's Coastal Prairie Specific Residual Dry Findings – Vegetation Findings – Vegetation Species Matter Italian Rye Grass Cover Residual Dry Matter Chumash and Walters Subwatersheds Chumash and Walters Subwatersheds Italian Rye Grass 4000 45 160 45 Increased in Walters 40 40 3500 140 Residual Dry Matter Chumash 35 35 3000 Precipitation in Inches 120 Precipitation in Inches Annual Italian Rye Grass Chumash Resudual Dry Matter Walters 30 30 Annual Italian Rye Grass Walters 2500 Total Count 100 Lbs/ Acre Precipitation 25 25 Precipitation 2000 Linear (Precipitation) 80 20 20 Linear (Annual Italian Rye Grass Linear (Residual Dry Matter Walters) 1500 60 Chumash) Linear (Annual Italian Rye Grass 15 15 Linear (Resudual Dry Matter Chumash) 1000 Walters) 40 10 10 500 20 5 5 Italian Rye Grass Residual Dry Matter 0 0 0 0 Decreased at a Faster Decreased in Chumash 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Rate in Walters Year Year Overall Findings – Vegetation Riparian Zone Findings Walters Chumash Walters Desirable Species Increased Slight Increase Bare Ground Slight Decrease Increased Species Diversity Increased Slight Increase Chumash Grasses Dominate Dominate Perennial Species Increase Slight Increase Annual Species Slight Decrease Decreased Rye Grass Decreased Increased Residual Dry Matter Slight Decrease Decreased Conclusion Questions? This System of Rangeland Management Practices Improved Water Quality and Enhanced Grassland Health, Diversity, and Productivity. Rest-rotation Grazing Road Improvements Cross Fencing Riparian Pastures Alternative Water Supplies Bank & Channel Improvements Coastal Training Program March 10, 2004 4