Watershed Research and Education
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Watershed 11

Area: 188 ac (76 ha)
Elevation: 6,410 to 6,785 ft (1,955 to 2,069 m)
Vegetation: Ponderosa Pine
Parent Material: Basalt
Years: 1958 - 1982
Treatment: Clearcut and grazing
Year Treated: 1958 and 1963, respectively

Controlled cattle grazing
Controlled cattle grazing
Objective: To determine how a cattle grazing treatment of a watershed converted from ponderosa pine to grass affects streamflow, erosion and sedimentation, vegetation, and wildlife. Prior to the grazing treatment, streamflow from the clearcut WS 11 was calibrated against streamflow from the designated control WS 10.
Treatment: Clearcut in 1958, calibrated, and a grazing treatment was applied from 1964 - 1972 (see Watershed Treatments and Responses). The first treatment of a pine watershed was to clear all woody vegetation from Watershed 11 in 1958. Slash, the residue plant debris left after harvesting, was piled and burned, and grass was planted. Because a pretreatment calibration had not been performed prior to clearing the watershed, it was decided that calibration of the cleared watershed would be made and then a grazing treatment would be applied to determined the influence of grazing on water yield. Between 1967 and 1972, cattle grazing was permitted during the spring and fall. Grazing stimulated water production by 8 % - not enough to be meaningful and the amount of sediment carried by runoff from the watershed was not significantly affected.
Response: No significant changes occurred in grass production during the experiment, but deer and elk use declined. Range and wildlife scientists believed that competition for the forage with the cattle was responsible for the decline in deer and elk use. This was the only treatment that appeared to have a negative effect on use by these animals.
References: Brown, H.E., M.B. Baker, Jr., J.J. Rogers, W.P. Clary, J.L. Kovner, F.R. Larson, C.C. Avery, and R.E. Campbell. 1974. Opportunities for increasing water yields and other multiple use values on ponderosa pine forest lands. USDA Forest Service, Research Paper RM-129.
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