The mission of this project was to compare the biological, economical, and sociological effects of grazing systems to conventional farming systems 1 . A part of this project was to study four streams that were rotationally grazed. Conclusions Cattle, grass, and streams can exist together as a sustainable ecosystem with proper management. Farmers must observe and walk their land to be successful managers. They can reduce the amount of sediment entering a stream by using controlled grazing.
Controlled grazing affects riparian areas in two ways.
A stream degraded by overgrazing will gradually recover as it flows through a rotationally grazed area. Plant diversity will increase with proper grazing. It must be noted that these conclusions are based on what we see happening on certain streams in southeastern Minnesota. It is not suggested that all streams will respond the same to well-managed grazing. Managing narrow riparian areas along streams is only a partial solution.