Water Resource Management

Water Resource Management refers to the planning, development and distribution of water resources in grassland ecosystems to equitably allocate fresh water to sustain the natural environment, enable economic development and support recreational activities.

Water resource management practices provide strategies to reduce flooding, prevent erosion, protect water quality and quantity, and reduce the impacts of drought while protecting a variety of ecosystem services, such as filtering nutrients and pathogens from surface runoff to protect streams and lakes.

A combination of poor water resource management and livestock grazing near aquatic areas has resulted in degraded water quantity and quality, especially those areas located near streams and rivers. By implementing beneficial water management practices, ranchers and land managers can minimize or eliminate the negative effects of livestock grazing in riparian areas.

As one Saskatchewan rancher put it, “Water is your gold. Without it you have nothing .” Water resource management is key to attaining a sustainable livestock operation while maintaining water quality and productive aquatic ecosystems.

Rancho El Gorguz

Janos, Chihuahua

The purpose of the adoption of sound management practices at Rancho El Gorguz was to strengthen ranch infrastructure to improve the grazing system and grassland conditions, thereby enriching the habitat for fauna.
Rancho La Gacha

Piedras Negras, Coahuila

Rancho La Gacha, located in Piedras Negras in Mexico, is a unique ranching operation dedicated to sustainable practices. The ranch employs a grazing system that utilizes short periods of grazing in a multi-paddock system.
Rancho La Jococa

Pánuco, Zacatecas

Rancho la Jococa, located in Pánuco, Zacatecas has demonstrated a sound commitment to using sustainable ranching practices. Because it is located in a semi-arid region of Mexico, it is vital for the ranch to maintain sufficient moisture levels on the property.
Rancho Lujo Barato

Ascensión, Chihuahua

The purpose of adopting sound management practices at Rancho Lujo Barato was to strengthen ranch infrastructure to improve the grazing system and grassland conditions, thereby enriching the fauna habitat. After touring the ranch, it was decided to carry out the project at the El Sapo pasture, as it is very visible from the highway and easily accessed.
Rancho Plan de Álamos

Villa Ahumada and Chihuahua, Chihuahua

Rancho Plan de Álamos is located in the priority land region known as the Flores Magón and Sierra del Nido Grasslands in the central valley region of Chihuahua, where the state’s last uncultivated valleys are located. As part of the grassland conservation collaboration initiative launched by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and IMC Vida Silvestre…
Rancho San Blas

Ascensión, Chihuahua

The implementation of sound management practices at Rancho San Blas was intended to improve the grazing plan and the grassland conditions to benefit the habitat for area fauna. Prior to the project, the ranch had 10 paddocks, although their size, as well as the lack of water in some of them, made adequate cattle rotation difficult.
Ranchos Salinillas

Ranchos Salinillas, Nuevo Leon

Salinillas Ranch, located in Nuevo Leon State in Mexico, is committed to enhancing the health, productivity and profitability of their land. Grazing management strategies are central to the ranch’s success and the ranch considers grazing as an important contributor to maximum grassland health.
Rangeland Management Before, During, and After Drought

University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Arizona

The University of Arizona’s School of Renewable Natural Resources created this document to help land manager prepare and respond to drought events in North American grasslands.
Rangeland Management Strategies

Sustainable Agriculture Network, USA

This bulletin from the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SARE) recommends strategies that may help to integrate range management techniques that have long-term benefits for people, their land and their communities.
Sharing the Land with Pinyon-Juniper Birds

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Colorado

The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory created this document to educate land managers about beneficial practices that can enhance pinyon-juniper bird habitat on their land. It was developed with funding primarily provided by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sharing Your Land with Prairie Wildlife

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Colorado

The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) created this document to educate land managers about grassland management practices to help enhance bird and wildlife habitat in short grass prairies.
Silver Hills Ranch

Lumby, British Columbia

At Silver Hills Ranch located in Lumby, British Columbia, productivity has increased by using grazing and water management practices. Livestock rotation has been employed to reduce grassland overexploitation and increase manure spreading over the property.