WWRC 84-24
Stream Water Quality as Influenced by Beaver within Grazing Systems in Wyoming
Abstract
Stream water flowing from watersheds subjected to continuous
and deferred rotation grazing by livestock was sampled to enumerate
bacteria for detecting differences between grazing treatments
and streams. Fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, total counts at
20° C, and bacteria capable of fluorescing under long wave radiation
were selected as indicators of pollution. The study was conducted
two summers, 1979 and 1980, on mountain rangeland near Laramie, Wyo.
Bacteria counts for different indicator groups varied in their
ability to detect change between grazing treatments as well as between
streams. Fluorescing bacteria and total counts were of little value in
explaining nonpoint source pollution whereas fecal coliform and
streptococci were. Variation in counts of fecal coliform and
streptococci could not be fully accounted for by differences in grazing
management but is partially explained by beaver damming of stream flow.
Given that beaver impoundment of selected stream reaches is equal,
variation in nonpoint pollution may be caused by differences in grazing
treatments.
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