Avoiding the Loss of Riparian Wetlands and Their Water Supplies

If riparian wetlands and riparian habitats are to function as they should, Public Agency managers, and allotment permittees, must learn to follow practices that maximize stream flows for an entire year (not during precipitation events only). This may require extended rest periods of three to more than five years for more abused riparian wetlands. Appropriate practices may also require management of uplands so upland stubble heights are increased, downslope runoff is slowed, and entrapment of snow is increased in areas that depend on snowfall for precipitation. Practices must definitely change from those designed to provide maximum cattle forage, to those that provide maximum quantities and quality of water from riparian wetlands and riparian areas.

Only if adequate supplies of water are available will cattle be able to use Public Lands during times of drought, and times of plenty, while still protecting public land and water values.

High cold desert riparian wetlands of the Sweetwater Drainage apparently are not considered "impoundments" in the North Platte River Wyoming-Nebraska Interstate Compact (NPRWNIC). Nevertheless, if any riparian wetlands are lost or reduced substantially in water reservoir capacities, it could still be a violation of the NPRWNIC. At the least, partial or total loss of these riparian wetlands adversely affect State waters. However, systematic degradation and destruction of local riparian wetlands have mainly occurred because of grazing practices followed by the Bureau of Land Management. Most riparian wetlands are functioning at greatly reduced reservoir capacities of the "humic sponges," or with "humic sponges" eliminated. Without a doubt, flows of local streams have lessened, and stream flows of the Sweetwater River have been reduced. Reduced flows mean state water supplies have also been decreased.

Down stream users of water, and the residents of Wyoming as a whole, have been the major losers to date. A continuing drought period will quickly make cattle grazers major losers as well, since wells or transportation of water will be required to fill their needs if cattle are allowed to graze at all.

No short term remedies for returning riparian wetlands to what they were like fifty or more years ago are available. Replenishment of lost organic matter cannot take place in a short time span. The first step towards remedial action, since most of the Sweetwater River Drainage is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, would be for the BLM to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS should address the plight of riparian wetlands, water, and water quality, in the Sweetwater Drainage.

Any developed EIS should set forth what is fully needed to protect and restore local riparian wetlands. Information collected and provided should include survey information concerning the full extent of badly damaged riparian wetlands. Any surveys should also include identification of riparian wetlands susceptible to major damage in the future. Appropriate emergency measures should be drafted and the extent of funding measures and personnel needed for conducting remedial efforts should be covered.

A discussion and evaluation of to what degree cattle must be initially reduced in numbers, eliminated, or shifted to other than hot season grazing, should also be provided in the EIS. Additionally, a long term plan for strict cattle management should be outlined, which assures no further riparian wetland abuses will occur. Frequent field checks should form a part of any master plan as an assurance recommended management actions are being followed. The field checks should provide for rapid management adjustments, if speedy recovery of riparian wetlands is not being accomplished. Both additional monies and personnel will be needed for field checks and for carrying out on the ground management plans.. "Stating intent to remedy conditions,"will lead to disaster without a subsequent provision for personnel and materials.

Past management measures already proven impractical for preventing riparian wetland damages in the Sweetwater Drainage include the full range of pasture rotation methods and cattle herding. Probably the most important function of an EIS would be outlining new management plans, free from dependence on management practices that have led to riparian wetland damage. New plans must consider the fate and welfare of riparian wetlands and riparian habitat first. Secondly, the needs of all who are dependent upon riparian wetlands and riparian habitat for their welfare and enjoyment must be considered (both animal and human). Then, and only then, consideration should be given to the numbers of cattle that can be grazed without damage to more important resources.

Consideration should be given in the EIS to replacing the many years old use of Animal Unit Months (AUMs), with a system of allocation other than one based on total forage availability. A more effective measurement system would be one that is based on how many wildlife and cattle can graze uplands, riparian and riparian wetland habitats, and springs and seeps, without adversely affecting water quality and quantity. A switch from allotting grazing based on Animal Unit Months (AUMs), to allotting grazing based on Water Unit Months (WUMs), as described above, is proposed.

The riparian and riparian wetland habitats, and springs and seeps, are the most fragile, the most precious, and possess the smallest acreages of available habitat (if they are not in good condition, water will eventually disappear from the allotments). They are also the first to show signs of over grazing and use. Therefore, it is only logical to develop criteria which fully protects the most critical habitats (all affecting either water quality or quantity) and to use the adopted criteria as the basis for making monthly water unit allocations (WUMs). Based on the new "yardstick," WUMs, allocations should first be to meet wildlife and wild horse needs, other multiple uses, and then and only then to meet cattle forage needs.

Previous mention was made that most riparian wetlands of the high cold desert region of Wyoming (including Sweetwater River drainage) probably originated in the early to mid Holocene Period. It was also mentioned that it took centuries to build up the humus and humic matter content of the riparian wetlands.

Accumulations of humus and humic matter in riparian wetlands are essential for the development of humus and humic sponges that store and release water. Wetland "sponges" underlying riparian wetlands serve as major water storage reservoirs and reduce water losses through evaporation. They accept water when water is available, storing significant amounts of excess inflow when it is provided, and releasing water continuously downstream during both wet and dry periods.

The significance of the changeover from predominantly sheep grazing to cattle grazing was discussed. Sheep gave way to cattle on public lands of the cold desert area of Wyoming. The changeover took place in the late 1950's and early 1960's. It was at this time that both water quantity and quality began to suffer extensively. The same situation repeated itself on other public lands.

Cattle impact riparian wetlands in many ways. First, overgrazing of riparian wetlands prevents replenishment of dead organic matter formerly supplied by sedges, grasses, and other vegetation. Replenishment of dead organic matter is essential for the life of the riparian wetland. A constant source of dead organic matter is what maintains the humic and humus materials comprising wetland "sponges." Complete breakdowns of the materials’ takes many years, so any missing years of replenishment lead directly to "sponge" reduction, thus, reducing the reservoir effect of wetland "sponges."

Wherever snowfall is important for renewing water supplies of riparian wetlands, overgrazing adversely affects snow retention capabilities of riparian wetlands. Sedges, grasses, and other vegetation on riparian wetlands during the winter with heights of at least 14 inches were shown to be up to 72 times more effective in retaining snowfall on a riparian wetland, compared with vegetation heights of only two inches. As over grazing continues, and as water retention capabilities of the humic matter lessens, cattle trampling speeds up the process of lessened water retention. Trampling first compacts the organic "sponges" of riparian wetlands. Then, through abrasion and erosion, cattle form trails through the dewatered riparian wetlands, and as drying and erosion progresses hummocks form. Hummocks comprise the remains of former riparian wetland sponges. It is during stages of drying that a few years of cattle trampling can remove centuries old accumulations of organic matter.

During any decline in riparian wetland water retention capacities, the downstream passage of water also declines. Eventually, water is no longer available when drought conditions prevail. However, the loss of water is not restricted to the riparian wetlands and the streams immediately below the riparian wetlands. Water losses also have adverse impacts on main streams that may be hundreds of miles away.

Past cattle grazing practices were discussed and shown to be inadequate for protecting riparian wetlands. The need for development of an Environmental Impact Statement for the entire Sweetwater Drainage was discussed. The need for changing the grazing approach from concentrating on forage production, to concentrating on protecting water quality and quantity was covered. A switch from allotting grazing based on Animal Unit Months (AUMs), to allotting grazing based on Water Unit Months (WUMs) was recommended as a part of EIS development. Thus, emphasis would be placed first on protecting riparian habitats, riparian wetlands, springs and seeps. It was also emphasized that the best EIS possible is of no value without the allotment of monies and personnel to carry out EIS plans. Actions on the ground are the only thing that can help halt, and heal, the abuse of riparian wetlands in the Sweetwater Drainage.

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