INFLUENCE OF INTENSIVE ROTATIONAL GRAZING ON BANK EROSION, FISH HABITAT QUALITY, AND FISH COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN TROUT STREAMS

摘要: 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. compared bank erosion, fish habitat characteristics, trout abundance, and a fish-based index of biotic integrity (IBI) among stations with either IRG, grassy buffers, or woody buffers along 23 reaches in southwestern Wisconsin during 1996 1997. After statistically factoring out watershed effects, IRG had the least erosion fine substrate channel. Continuous significantly more and, substrate. Station land use no significant effect on width/depth ratio, cover, percent pools, quality index, IBI score, overall conditions influenced these parameters. Buffers appear similarly effective for rehabilitating streams.