Erosion Control - Pitchstone Waters

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Erosion Control

A collection of 148 posts

Diversity of Life at a Beaver Pond

Diversity of Life at a Beaver Pond

Beavers are a keystone species, because they alter their natural environment in such a way that the overall ecoysytem builds upon that change.

Holistic Management vs Conventional Management: A Stark Look

Holistic Management vs Conventional Management: A Stark Look

The footage serves as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of Holistic Management.

klamath river after dam removals

California Dam Demolitions a Victory for Some, Devastation for Others

"When people and their livelihoods are given equal weight with environmental outcomes, are dam removals good or bad?"

With Dams Removed, Salmon Will Have the Run of a Western River

With Dams Removed, Salmon Will Have the Run of a Western River

The nation’s largest dam removal project is nearly complete after a lengthy campaign by Native tribes to restore the river at the California-Oregon border.

Examples of Grassland Restoration - Excerpt from Talk by Allan Savory at Tufts University

Examples of Grassland Restoration - Excerpt from Talk by Allan Savory at Tufts University

Excerpted from Allan Savory's presentation on January 25, 2013 at Tufts University's Fletcher School

Can Sheep Save the Planet?

"Invasion Biology"

Can Sheep Save the Planet?

Desertification is a fancy word for land that is turning to desert,” states Allan Savory in his quiet but inspirational form.

King Charles: How Cattle Can Restore Habitat and Wildlife

habitat restoration

King Charles: How Cattle Can Restore Habitat and Wildlife

Prince Charles comments on Allan Savory and his integrated approach to ranching and farming, and the role ruminants for the health of grasslands.

SAWS Wins Battle to Control Wastewater It Releases Into San Antonio River

SAWS Wins Battle to Control Wastewater It Releases Into San Antonio River

This is a huge and positive development for water quality in the lower Guadalupe River, its bays, estuaries, wildlife, and fisheries.

Soil for Water

Tina Weldon and her partner Orion are among a growing network of farmers, ranchers, and land managers are taking steps to catch and hold more water in the soil.

beavers in West texas

"Invasion Biology"

Can Beavers Restore Far-West Texas?

Two so-called invasive species, cattle and beavers, have the power to restore desert habitats.

Diversity of Life at a Beaver Pond

Diversity of Life at a Beaver Pond

Posted to Vimeo by Susanna Kamon, who writes, “A compilation video of some of the wildlife that visited a beaver pond in New Hampshire over a six-month period. The series shows beavers, river otters, bear mother and cubs, mink, fox, coyotes, bobcat, deer, and a variety of birds. Beavers are

Allan Savory and the Science of Tracking

"Invasion Biology"

Allan Savory and the Science of Tracking

How the world’s oldest scientific method has changed everything from grazing livestock to snaring poachers

Farming Sustainably with Regenerative Agriculture | Restoring Paradise

Farming Sustainably with Regenerative Agriculture | Restoring Paradise

Regenerative agriculture offers a future for sustainable farming of meat in line with nature’s needs, by using holistic management and organic/biodynamic practices and even sequestering carbon in the soil – so important in our response to our climate crisis. At Mangarara, in New Zealand’s beautiful Hawke’s Bay,

Why Us Ranchers Are Becoming Beaver Believers

Why US Ranchers Are Becoming Beaver Believers

As described in the article blow, the US is bringing back nature’s best firefighters: beavers. NOTE: this article was originally published to BBC Futures Apple News channel on January 11, 2024. It was written by Lucy Sherriff. For decades, beavers were considered pests – trapped and shot on sight. Now

circle_ranch_drough_busters

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters 101 : A 21-Minute Video on Desert Grassland Restoration

“Drought Busters” is an inexpensive, quick, physiologically and economically sustainable method of habitat and wildlife restoration. We call it Drought Busters because it increases effective rainfall by rebuilding soil fertility and the soil’s ability to absorb and store water. This 21-minute video explains Drought Busters, and our experience on

Plug and Spread Made Easy

Plug and Spread Made Easy

This is a 4-1/2 minute video about the “Plug-and-Spread” method of harvesting water from gullies. Water harvesting including Plug and Spread, in combination with Keyline sub-soiling, wild animal impact and planned grazing of cattle are the cheapest, easiest and quickest way to restore water function to degraded desert grasslands.

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts

"Invasion Biology"

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts

Healing the Land with One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts” is an inspirational short film that discusses regenerative agricultural practices on a Georgia farm. This dying farm was regenerated using multi-species grazing in which all the animals were moved according to a plan that got them to the right place…at

The Science of Holistic Planned Grazing

The Science of Holistic Planned Grazing

Those who believe that Holistic Planned Grazing is not supported by science should watch this presentation by Dr. Richard Teaque, formerly of Texas A&M. About Savory Institute: Grasslands represent 1/3 of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, but their steady decline has led to a loss of food,

This Place Wanted to Be a Wetland’: How a Farmer Turned His Fields Into a Wildlife Sanctuary

This Place Wanted to Be a Wetland’: How a Farmer Turned His Fields Into a Wildlife Sanctuary

Farmers creating wetlands… NOTE: this article was originally published to The Guardian’s Apple News channel on October 22, 2023. It was written by Gabriel Canon. Once, Karl Wenner’s Oregon land leaked pollution into a nearby lake. Now, 70 acres are home to waterfowl, turtles and endangered fish Birdsong

circle_ranch_drough_busters

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters: Restoring Desertified Desert Grasslands

We call the combination of wild animals, planned grazing, water harvesting, and Keyline subsoiling “Drought Busters”. Drought Busters is cheap, fast, poisons no plants, kills no animals, and increases the numbers and diversity of both. Drought Busters can’t make it rain, but it will make actual rain more and

Britain is Restoring Ancient Farmland ‘Ghost Ponds’. Here’s How They’re Recovering Its Dwindling Biodiversity

Britain is Restoring Ancient Farmland 'Ghost Ponds'. Here's How They're Recovering Its Dwindling Biodiversity

As reported below, in England the number of once-common farm ponds has dropped by half over the last few decades. Like beaver ponds, farm ponds are biodiversity “powerhouses”. Awareness of their ecological importance is growing, and private owners are leading restoration efforts. NOTE: this article was originally published to BBC’

Keyline Desert Ranch

Keyline Desert Ranch

This video is about Keyline soil restoration on a desert ranch in Northern Mexico. Keyline “flood-flow” channels are combined with Keyline contour ripping between “flood-flow” channels. Both channels and rip patterns are on contours established by drone survey and laser transit. Disturbed soil has been seeded. Regrowth following 6-inches (150

The Role of Ruminants in Environmental Health

"Invasion Biology"

The Role of Ruminants in Environmental Health

An excellent video from the Savory Center for Holistic Management, in Zimbabwe. The thinking described is largely missing from the management of our public ranges, forests, and national parks, even though ALL the physiological elements described apply within every environment.

‘Rewilding’ Horses Aims to Mitigate Wildfires, Reduce Insured Losses

'Rewilding’ Horses Aims to Mitigate Wildfires, Reduce Insured Losses

Wild Horse Fire Brigade’s Natural Wildfire Abatement and Forest Protection Plan is designed to relocate wild horses from Bureau of Land Management facilities into the wilderness, an effort designed to reduce the size and intensity of wildfires.

5,000 Years Later, Beavers Return to the High Plains of West Texas

5,000 Years Later, Beavers Return to the High Plains of West Texas

As discussed below. “Beavers were later trapped and exterminated nearly to extinction during the North American fur trade, which … contributed to the destruction of critical wetlands that moisturized dehydrated landscapes, supported biodiversity, and lowered temperatures all over the United States.” NOTE: this article was originally published to Texas Monthly’s