Influence of intensive rotational grazing on bank erosion, fish habitat quality, and fish communities in southwestern Wisconsin trout streams

ABSTRACT:

Riparian buffer strips can improve streams damaged by continuous livestock grazing, but they involve farmer costs that limit their application. We evaluated riparian intensive rotational grazing (IRG) as an alternative stream rehabilitation practice. We compared bank erosion, fish habitat characteristics, trout abundance, and a fish-based index of biotic integrity (IBI) among stations with either riparian continuous grazing, IRG, grassy buffers, or woody buffers along 23 trout stream reaches in southwestern Wisconsin during 1996 and 1997. After statistically factoring out watershed effects, stations with IRG or grassy buffers had the least bank erosion and fine substrate in the channel. Continuous grazing stations had significantly more erosion and, with woody buffers, more fine substrate. Station riparian land use had no significant effect on width/depth ratio, cover, percent pools, habitat quality index, trout abundance, or IBI score, but overall watershed conditions influenced these parameters. Buffers and IRG appear similarly effective for rehabilitating Wisconsin streams.