It’s not uncommon for Arkansas cattle farms to have streams and rivulets bisecting pastures. Unfortunately, neither is streambank erosion.

“Those streams can cause loss of fertile soil through bank erosion,” said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor-forages for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “That means a loss of nutrients through runoff from pastures and loss of nutrients in cattle.”

Cattle like to linger in streams, which can destabilize streambanks and pollute waters through urine and feces.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello formed an interdisciplinary team to address the issue.

A couple of years ago, the group began strategizing potential solutions and seeking expert advice from the National Resources Conservation Service and soil conservation districts, among others. The team, comprised of agriculture economists, foresters, water quality specialists, agronomists and soil scientists, developed a site as a model to educate landowners on solutions for keeping pastures intact while sacrificing little.

Ultimately, the best solution for preventing streambank erosion is to carefully manage how much of it is exposed to cattle. But farmers are wary of cutting off resources.

“Landowners are sensitive to fencing streams, so the team came up with different strategies, each featuring a unique setup and flexibility of what to implement,” said Philipp.

Each setup has its own requirements and benefits:

Fencing, one side of a stream

Fencing, both sides of a stream

Tree buffer zone

One area was left untreated to compare the various options, and the site continues to be maintained by researchers and undergraduates. For 2011-2012, the team received a grant from the Arkansas Water Resources Center to monitor the effects of these treatments.

“It’s already evident that streambanks can be protected with cost-effective measures such as one- and two-sided fencing,” said Philipp. “Streambanks can re-establish vegetation all by themselves.”

Protecting streambanks can go a long way towards connecting regional habitats, establishing wildlife corridors along streams that benefit other people, including hunters.

The Monticello team anticipates developing the streambank protection project into a one-stop location in southeastern Arkansas, said Philipp. “There are multiple alternatives for streambank protection and riparian zone management while keeping cattle production feasible.”

For more information on livestock, visit www.uaex.edu or contact your local county agent.