Ecological restoration of Alder Creek, Colorado, USA

Abstract

Partial ecological restoration of important attributes of Alder Creek, Gunnison County, CO, U.S.A., has been successful since the area has continued in its restored condition for over a decade. However, due to cattle grazing, the system is not self maintaining and, thus, requires continual management to remain in its present ecologically improved condition. Since the present holders of the Bureau of Land Management grazing permit will not request a renewal, the continuation of the current management practices by the next holder of the allotment is uncertain. Since this story has been an ecological success, demonstrating that cattle grazing need not destroy riparian habitat, the present practices should continue. Key words: ecological restoration, cattle grazing, riparian recovery, ecological management, multiple use. __________________________ 1 Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, U.S.A. 2 Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO 81224, U.S.A. 3 Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, U.S.A. 4 Address correspondence to Barbara A. Frase, baf@bumail.bradley.edu and John Cairns, Jr., jcairns@vt.edu 1