The impact of grazing cattle on water quality is of considerable importance to water planning agencies.
Many people are concerned over health implications of grazing cattle along western U.S. streams.
As use of rangeland streams increases, the possibility of contracting a bacterial disease from water increases, the possibility of contracting a bacterial disease from water increases. Bacteria from animal manures can be transferred to humans from natural waters. Bacteria in fecal matter deposited on rangeland may remain viable for at least one grazing season. In order for water to be part of the transmission process, however, the fecal matter must reach the stream. Most fecal contamination in water courses occurs as a result of an animal defecating directly into the flowing water.