Erosion Control

A collection of 148 posts

Bio-Diversity

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #9: Harvesting Water in Steep Canyons

Restoring the Southwest’s desert grasslands takes water. Most ranches treat eroding gulleys and roads – and their stormwater runoffs – as liabilities. In fact these are potential water assets on every ranch. This little diversion dam harvests water from a steep desert canyon and returns it to water-starved meadows, restoring upstream

"Invasion Biology"

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #5: Upper Pennel Canyon at Circle Ranch

Using a mountain gulley for erosion control and desert grassland restoration at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas.   NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on August 14, 2017.        This little dam took 45-minutes to build.

Bio-Diversity

Using an Eroded Gulley to Recreate a Wet Meadow

This video, #8, is a companion piece to #3 in the series. It shows how Fred’s Dam works during a rain, how the redirected water has created a seasonal wet meadow, what is happening to the water as it exits the wet meadow, and how that water might be

beaver restoration

Beaver Reintroduction in the Washington Cascades

For the past 3 years, Cascade Forest Conservancy has been engaged in a large-scale beaver reintroduction project in Washington’s South Cascades. In 2019 we reintroduced 21 beavers and there are many more to come!

Bio-Diversity

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #4: Los Cuates Canyon at Circle Ranch

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #4: Los Cuates Canyon discusses specific gulley problems and treatments in a mountain canyon at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. It is one of a series that demonstrates how to remedy eroded roadbeds and gulleys: returning water to grasslands and plants, using natural rainfall to irrigate

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters 101

“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 video explains Drought Busters, and our experience on how

Bio-Diversity

Gulleys for Grassland Restoration #3

Eroded galleys can be used to restore desertifying grasslands – alongside creosote bush –  without chemicals. Third in a series filmed at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas.   NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on July 24, 2017.

Keyline 101: Desert Grassland Restoration

This 18-minute video explains how we use P.A. Yeomans’ Keyline concepts to improve water function at our family’s 32,000-acre Circle Ranch in the Chihuahuan high-desert grasslands of far-West Texas. The Keyline explanation is followed by a discussion of water harvesting and the role of drones.   NOTE: this

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Sonoran Desert Grasslands with Cattle

The recognition of the useful role of large grazers in desert ecology grows daily.   NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on July 10, 2017

Conservation

Turning the Tide of Our Water Crises with Regenerative Agriculture

Presented below are some very interesting ideas on regenerative agriculture.   NOTE: this article was originally published to the Weekly Regeneration Works newsletter on October 15, 2021. It was written by Keith Silverman.     Science: Industrial agriculture is the leading water pollutant on the planet. The world is facing a water crisis

Bio-Diversity

Bright Future For Texas Oysters

Quoting the very interesting article below, “The future of oysters in Texas looks pretty bright. From thriving oyster restoration to new oyster mariculture opportunities, it will be exciting to see how things continue to evolve for our coastal oyster reefs, both wild and farmed.”   NOTE: this article was originally published

"Invasion Biology"

The Resistance to Holistic Wildlife Management

Across the West as well as in Texas, agencies, universities, governmental and conservation organizations resist holistic wildlife and agricultural management practices. Most Western public grazing rules make holistic grazing very difficult if not impossible  In this 5-minute video, range scientist Allan Savory discusses why this is so, and how this

Conservation

New Numbers Show Conservation Soil-Tilling Method as Profitable as Conventional Ways

Conservation soil tillage is a proven farming practice that would work great around Pitchstone Waters in Idaho’s Teton Valley. As the authors describe, conservation tillage involves less work and produces more profit for farmers. In the process, it builds rich soil, reduces erosion and improves wildlife—all of which

Bio-Diversity

Rancher Focuses On Keeping His Land Healthy

Plants and animals evolved together over many millions of years. In so doing, they grew to need each other. As a result, plants need animals as much as animals need plants. This is the basic insight to regenerative grazing, by whatever name it is called.   The practices described by this

Bio-Diversity

The Elwha’s Living Laboratory: Lessons From the World’s Largest Dam-removal Project

“Quoting the article below: “A river can be restored. They are resilient and we know what they need.”   NOTE: this article was originally published to The Revelator on October 1, 2018. It was written by Tara Lohan.   Two dams removed from Washington’s Elwha River were branded as salmon-restoration projects,

"Invasion Biology"

Lessons From the Prairie

A Land-Management Legend Offers 50 Years of Soil-Nourishing Wisdom.   NOTE: this article originally appeared in the September edition of Acres magazine. It was written by Tracy Frisch.

Animas River

Colorado Wildfire Killed 80 Percent of River's Fish Population

The forest agencies maintain their regulations curtailing grazing and logging help fisheries, habitat, wildlife and the public. As this article shows, the opposite is true. An unintended consequence of curtailing active management  is catastrophic wildfire. This devastates not just fish but also plants, animals, and birds.   The article fails to

"Invasion Biology"

The War On Nature

Quoting the authors below, “In reality, the problem is not herbicide resistant weeds; it is the perception that they are an enemy that must be destroyed at all costs. Military imagery – especially words like “war” and “battle “- is very common in the literature on weed control. But there is

carbon

Carbon Emissions Get a Fix on the Farm

“Regenerative agriculture offers inexpensive ways to address global warming. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on January 13, 2019. It was written by Karen Weintraub.   ‘Regenerative growing practices’ sequester in the soil carbon released from burning fossil fuels.   AINSWORTH, Iowa—What if there was a way to

"Invasion Biology"

6 Reasons Why The Practice of Silvopasture Will Help Save Modern Farming

Silvopasture (in Latin, silva means forest) is the practice of combining woodland (trees) and the grazing of domesticated animals in a mutually beneficial way. Specific silvopasture benefits are discussed below. NOTE: this article was originally published to GreenBiz.com on August 4, 2018, 2019. It was written by Steve Gabriel.

California’s Camp Fire

Trapped in Paradise

Decades of neglect have turned much of America’s forests into fire traps. Many need immediate attention to reduce brush, dead trees and overcrowding.

Beaver

Beavers in Utah

Utah’s population of beaver has recovered since the days when they were trapped by mountain men, but some people wonder if moving beaver to traditional habitat may help deal with drought. Beaver were found across Texas, including far-West Texas. Their restoration would be cheap and transformative.

Conservation

A Permit Runs Through It

Often, the biggest impediments to conservation are the conservation agencies. NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.org on December 6, 2018. It was written by Martin Doyle. Oregon ranchers who set out to restore streams in Silvies Valley find regulatory purgatory Colby Marshall has given up on calling

Beaver

To Restore Salmon, Think Like a Beaver

When Europeans arrived in North America about 500 years ago, it is estimated there were 300 million beavers and 50 million acres of beaver ponds. Within 200 years, 98 percent of this was destroyed, profoundly harming the hydrology of what is now the United States.   In much of the United

"Invasion Biology"

Guadalupe County Begins Feral Hog Bounty Program

Feral pigs would be valuable assets for landowners if we went back to the rules that applied until 30 years ago, which allowed feral pigs to be sold into the commercial food chain. Imagine getting $100 – $300 apiece and creating an additional annual revenue stream for the ranch while helping