Integrating riparian habitat-management objectives with livestock grazing on national forest system lands

Riparian zones of small streams in the western United States are highly productive environments which are important for many uses. The USDA Forest Service (FS) manages a large proportion of these resources. Overgrazing of these areas by livestock has become an important issue among FS managers, livestock graziers and the public who use these lands. Proper management of livestock grazing is basic to achieving management objectives which improve the ecological condition of riparian zones.

This study examined three cases on FS rangelands where project managers have achieved management objectives for riparian habitat compatible with livestock grazing. This was done in order to describe planning techniques used to achieve these successes so that other managers can use them. Factors addressed in these cases included ecological and physical conditions, participants, change factors, resistance factors, adaptations, economic concerns, adequacy of planning, and multiple-use management. Data was obtained by making site visits, reviewing project documents and conducting personal interviews with project managers.

The case analyses revealed that FS project managers relied on communication skills such as: dialogue, negotiation, and formal decision-making techniques to ensure project success. The findings also show that techniques that enhance managers' abilities to formulate problems and conceptualize solutions were important to the projects' success. The techniques that these managers used reflected the complexity of the planning environments.

FS project managers achieved riparian-habitat objectives by obtaining a commitment to a solution with permittees, and by designing grazing systems that control livestock access to riparian habitats. These managers used techniques not commonly used by their professions or agencies.

The planning strategy developed by this study emphasizes application of communication and decision-making techniques to planning for riparian habitat-management projects. A basis for further development of this concept is found in natural resource conflict management.