IRON SPRINGS, Alta. – A small portion of the Lower Little Bow River watershed looks unremarkable to passers-by on Highway 845 north of Iron Springs.
Yet is it the site of a study of five beneficial management practices (BMP) designed to minimize environmental impact.
“We’ve been trying to study this from many different angles,” said Jim Miller, project manager for this portion of the national Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices (WEBs) program.
There are similar projects in every province except Newfoundland and Labrador.
Read Also
Hogs’ transport stress called costly
Poor trailer design and transportation stress are killing pigs and costing the pork industry millions of dollars in penalties, meat quality downgrades and failed welfare audits, according to research by a federal scientist.
The southern Alberta project is a 6,300 acre stretch exemplified in a quiet pasture that meanders through a cleft in the river coulees.
Miller told a recent County of Lethbridge agricultural tour that the project is assessing five BMPs:
• off-stream watering with fencing
• off-stream watering without fencing
• buffer strip.
• conversion of cropland to forages
• manure management
Part of the Lower Little Bow was fenced to keep cattle away from an 800 metre stretch of water. Researchers then monitored the river, soil and vegetation to gauge the effects.
Miller said biodiversity of fish species increased after the fencing. It is assumed the increase in foliage growing along the riverbanks increased insect populations and furnished more food for fish and other aquatic species.
However, a survey of insects revealed ups and downs in numbers but no overall increase.
A series of pins placed in the banks measured stream bank erosion and as expected, significantly less erosion was seen in the fenced area.
Riparian health increased dramatically in the first four years that the river was fenced but then deteriorated after the ninth year, Miller said. Thistle growth and failure of willows to establish contributed to the decline.
A rangeland health assessment done a few years ago showed improvements in that category, which Miller attributed to increased soil litter.
Though fencing improved the riparian area, Miller acknowledged that it is expensive and can reduce cattle producers’ cash flow. On the flip side, off-site watering brought better cattle weight gains, according to the study.
Researchers did not see the same improvements to the riparian area in a site with off-site watering but no fence along the river, he said.
Researchers are still evaluating results from buffer strips and manure management.
