Bulletin E3066
Acceptable Practices for Managing Livestock along Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands

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November 9, 2015 - Author: Natalie Rector

Acceptable Practices for Managing Livestock Along Lakes, Streams and Wetlands

Michigan’s streams, lakes and wetlands are critically important resources. Although you have a right to use water resources within your pasture lands for livestock, you also have a responsibility to protect the quality of that water.

Mismanaged pastures along waterways negatively affect your community and its water resources. Manure runoff and bank erosion may cause fish kills, beach closures, increased public health concerns, increased drain maintenance and other negative impacts.

Good grazing practices are needed to prevent erosion and protect water quality. Developing and maintaining appropriate management practices will help prevent pollution and avoid environmental complaints against your farm.

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Figure 1. Good pasture management

Acceptable Management Practices

Surface waters have always provided a convenient and economical source of water. However, property rights also need to be balanced with the responsibility to protect our natural resources.

Fencing

Keeping livestock out of waterways is the preferred management practice to prevent manure and stream bank erosion from affecting the water resource. A convenient method to accomplish this is fencing.

Placement decisions should include slope, animal species, and animal and vegetation density. Fence lines should be designed so that livestock trails do not border on or include a stream bank or lakeshore. In addition, fencing should adequately restrain the livestock. It may be as simple as a single strand of high tensile, electrified wire or as robust as woven wire fencing. Materials should be selected on the basis of livestock needs and management goals.

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Figure 2. Good fence

Alternative Watering and Shade Source

Given a choice, cattle will drink from the most convenient source available, which may be a stream or lake. Unfortunately, sediment, bacteria and nutrients are deposited in waters when livestock are in or next to the water to drink or cool off.

An alternative watering source should be provided. Keeping livestock out of the stream or lake will help maintain healthy, diverse aquatic and wildlife species, and improve habitat.

Other practices, such as supplemental feeding and shade sources away from surface waters, will further reduce livestock impact.

Filter/Buffer Strips

Filter and buffer strips are strips of densely vegetated land situated between the surface water and the pasture. They help protect water quality by reducing polluted runoff of nutrients, bacteria, sediment and other contaminants to surface water.

Filter strips are sections of land, with specific types of maintained vegetation, which help to reduce manure runoff and soil erosion. Flash grazing may be used for vegetation management if NRCS Prescribed Grazing Technical Standard (528) is followed. It also replaces the need for mowing and provides additional feed for livestock.

Buffer strips are sections of land that contain a variety of vegetation, including trees and shrubs, that helps protect the water resource, benefit wildlife and provide needed shade for surface waters. Trout, which require much colder water than other types of fish, benefit significantly from buffer strips.

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Figure 3. Acceptable water source

Pasture Management

Pasture systems require good management to achieve optimal productivity of forages utilized by grazing livestock. Controlled grazing is a strategy to manage the pasture vegetation and the livestock for the greatest productivity of both. Correctly managed, controlled grazing maintains the vegetation in good condition to supply ample feed and reduce erosion.

Rotational grazing is a system that includes rotating livestock from pasture to pasture, keeping the vegetation controlled according to a specific management strategy.

Controlled Access

Stream crossings, if necessary for effective management, provide livestock access to pasture on the other side of a stream but with limited access through the stream. A firm and stable crossing will also help maintain or improve water quality and provides solid footing for livestock.

Watering access sites provide controlled access to drinking water. A well-managed access site will help reduce soil erosion. Providing an alternative water source is preferred.

Avoiding Complaints

Like all states, Michigan has water quality laws designed to ensure that everyone does his/her part in keeping our waters safe. Instituting and maintaining pollution prevention measures and following the Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMPs) will help achieve those standards and maintain the water quality standards in all of Michigan’s surface and groundwater.

Most agricultural complaints are initially handled by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) under the Right-to-Farm Act. Inspections are conducted in a voluntary manner with the farm producer, with MDA staff guided by GAAMPs in determining Right-to-Farm protections from nuisance law-suits. For information, contact MDA at 1-877-632-1783 or michigan.gov/gaamps.

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Figure 4. Inappropriate management

What if there are Water Quality Problems?

If farm conditions cause pollution, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) may investigate to determine if the farm operation is in compliance with water resource protection laws and take action as appropriate. For information, call the MDEQ, Environmental Assistance Center, at 1-800-662-9278.

Need Technical Assistance?

If you have questions or need technical assistance, contact your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Conservation District or Michigan State University Extension office.

Construcition of a crossing or access requires a MDEQ permit from Land and Water Management.

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