Often, traditional methods of excluding livestock from streams and providing livestock water supply are not cost-effective or practical. However, promising fencing systems and water supply alternatives are available. To facilitate the acceptance of new management practices, four demonstration farms were located in the watershed. Documentation of changes in water quality and habitat resulting from the use of BMPs is needed. One year of stream data was collected for each of four demonstration farm sites before installation of BMPs, and two years of post-BMP data are to be collected.
Monitoring is conducted at upstream and downstream stations at each site.
Pre-BMP monitoring has been conducted at each of the four demonstration farm sites. Seasonal variations in flow and temperature were documented. Data collected thus far indicate variability among locations monitored and among months tested. However, variability between upstream and downstream testing at each location was generally minimal for most parameters tested. A solar powered livestock watering system has been installed on one monitored site in Woodford County.