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Riparian Areas of South Dakota

Riparian Areas, Uplands and Associated Watersheds

A watershed is the land area serving as a collecting basin for snowmelt and rainfall. It provides water flow for streams and rivers. Watersheds are separated from one another by topographical features such as ridges or mountains. A watershed functions to catch and store precipitation, slowly releasing this water into the stream channel throughout the year. Healthy watershed vegetation influences the timing, quality and quantity of water release, thereby affecting the condition of riparian areas.

Management of Riparian Areas and Their Uplands

Land use Impacts Riparian Areas
There are many different land uses in a watershed, such as, cropland, grazing land, recreation land, farmsteads and towns or cities. In South Dakota, the major land uses that impact the riparian zones are cropland, grazing land and urban lands. All land must be managed to keep our resources healthy and vibrant.

Cropland Management
Cropland occurs in the upland portion of the watershed and produces the food and fiber we need to exist. Runoff must be managed to minimize soil erosion and ensure that nutrients or pesticides applied for weed control and crop production do not enter the streamflow.

Grazing Management
The best and most productive management of livestock grazing in riparian areas requires the understanding that:

• Grazing practices and techniques used to improve or maintain forage production and quality in the uplands may not be the same practices used to manage a healthy riparian area.
• Continuous or season long grazing is not an option to improve a deteriorated riparian area or to maintain a riparian area in a healthy condition.

Key factors to Consider

• Utilization level - Leave at least a 1/2 of stubble height at the end of the growing season
• Season of use - early season grazing after banks have firmed up is least destructive
• Length of grazing period - plants should only be grazed once before moving livestock
• Frequency of grazing - allowing key forage plants to fully recover before regrazing
• Critical times - move livestock out of riparian areas during critical periods such as:
  Excessive wet seasons
  Early and late season growth periods
  August and September when woody vegetation is very palatable to livestock

Opportunities for Success

If You
Protect vegetation during vulnerable stages

• protect banks from trampling when fragile,
• protect brush species during periods of dormancy,
• maintain productive forage species.

You Get
Productive vegetation

• rest and regrowth produce vigorous, productive riparian plants,
• energy stored in roots will sustain healthy riparian growth,
• healthy plants build strong stream banks,
• plant species diversity adds forage and shelter values.

Protective vegetation during high flows

• dissipates stream horsepower,
• traps sediments/build banks,
• builds ground water reserves,
• maintains stream channel shape.