Erosion Control - Pitchstone Waters (Page 6)

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Erosion Control

A collection of 148 posts

circle_ranch_thistle_keyline-yeoman

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: Thistle and the Yeomans Keyline Plow

Thistle, also known as the “Tumbling Tumbleweed” is an iconic Western plant. Even though it is despised by many as an “invasive” “exotic”, it is probably the single best rescue plant for our declining desert grasslands. Better still, its seeds are provided for free by Mother Nature. Here is an

The Role of Aoudad in Restoration of High-Desert Mountain Wildlife and Habitat

"Invasion Biology"

The Role of Aoudad in Restoration of High-Desert Mountain Wildlife and Habitat

At Circle Ranch we understand that biodiversity is good, not bad, and act accordingly. In that context, here is common sense on aoudad. The Ammotragus Advantage …by Brandt Buchanan To begin, I would like to declare that the following theories have not been proven by any specific study pertaining to

Cows and Keyline: Restoring Desert Grasslands

"Invasion Biology"

Cows and Keyline: Restoring Desert Grasslands

This 17-minute video, “Cows and Keyline” discusses the use of cattle and the Yeomans Keyline plow as the quickest, cheapest, and safest way to restore desert grasslands. It also documents a project to repair a gully formed by an old road. Aerial photography provides graphic comparisons of the result of

circle-ranch-keyline-plow-feature

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: Yeomans Keyline Subsoiling Results at the Circle Ranch, August 2014

Here is a cheap, fast, environmentally-friendly alternative to range poisoning with herbicides. When combined with holistic planned grazing of cattle, and a diverse population of wild animals, this practice leads to rapid conversion of subsoil to topsoil, increases soil fertility, improves and restores water function, and, is sustainable. Beginning in

Restoring Desert Grasslands with Livestock

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands with Livestock

Last week we posted a brief explanation of Keyline theory. This week, we share a concise explanation of holistic planned grazing, which uses animal impact to restore grasslands. By Carol Dreibelbis In this series, we interview inspiring people that our readers have nominated. These individuals are working on the front

Keyline Design Restoring Grasslands in High Deserts of Far-West Texas

Keyline Design Restoring Grasslands in High Deserts of Far-West Texas

This concise explanation of Keyline theory and practice was intended for California ranchers and farmers. We have copied it, and illustrated it with photos of Keyline practices that have been used at the Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. NOTE: Originally Published at AGWaterStewards.com Our thanks to its authors, and

Planned Grazing Restoring Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands in Mexico

"Invasion Biology"

Planned Grazing Restoring Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands in Mexico

As you travel south from far West Texas, crossing the Rio Grande, you encounter the huge grasslands of the Northern Mexico area of the Great Chihuahuan Desert. This country is very similar to the Circle Ranch, and has experienced the same degradation from human impact that we see across the

Restoring Water Function: What is Keyline Contouring?

Erosion Control

Restoring Water Function: What is Keyline Contouring?

We are currently completing 1,000-acres of subsoiling in one of our northern pastures at the Circle Ranch. This is a very effective tool for us, when used in conjunction with planned grazing. Many people ask: * What is Yeomans Keyline? * What is Keyline Contouring? Here is how its inventor, the

Aoudad, The Bogus Boogeyman

"Invasion Biology"

Aoudad, The Bogus Boogeyman

Eradication Science or Eradication Snake Oil? This piece asks common sense questions about the increasing use of wild animal eradication as a primary conservation tool, and about the foundations on which these practices rest: Why have eradications become so prevalent? Do eradications advance conservation? Are eradications based on science or

tom_sidwell_restored_grasslands

Healing the Carbon Cycle with Cattle

Rancher Tom Sidwell on the JX’s restored grasslands. © Courtney White JX Ranch, Tucumcari, New Mexico In 2004, Tom and Mimi Sidwell bought the 7,000-acre JX Ranch, south of Tucumcari, New Mexico, and set about doing what they know best: earning a profit by restoring the land to health

Creosote Bush: An Unassuming But Ancient Form of Life All Around Us

"Invasion Biology"

Creosote Bush: An Unassuming But Ancient Form of Life All Around Us

Though sometimes regarded as a nuisance by residents of the arid Southwest, the creosote bush is a complex and fascinating plant – and creosote colonies constitute some of the oldest organisms known to inhabit the planet. The shrub-like plant’s scientific name is Larrea tridentata, and it is known by many

Creating A Flerd on the Circle Ranch

Creating A Flerd on the Circle Ranch

“Cowboy Bob” Kinford is working with us to combine all of our domestic longhorn, alpaca, llamas, horses and burros into a mixed flock/herd “flerd” as is done elsewhere around the world. These animals will then be run as a group according to a grazing plan. Bob, a master of

"Drought Busters" at Circle Ranch

"Drought Busters" at Circle Ranch

These are pictures of areas that were holistic-planned grazed and sub-soiled on contour with a Yeomans Plow earlier this year. All of our subsoiled areas were first grazed then plowed on contour, using Keyline techniques and a Yeomans Plow. Most treated areas remain full of creosote and tarbush. We don’

circle-ranch-texas-cattle-feature

Animal Development

Cows and Plows: Transformation Solutions

Commercial Farm Projects, Courses/Workshops, Land, Livestock, Rehabilitation, Soil Conservation, Water Harvesting — by Owen Hablutzel May 3, 2013 Though too often vilified, both ‘cows’ and ‘plows’ have proven to be among our most effective and available tools for restoring healthy ecological and eco-agricultural systems in our landscapes. Bucking the trend

Circle Ranch - Pasture Cropping

Erosion Control

Pasture Cropping: A Regenerative Solution from Down Under

This essay was originally published in Acres magazine. It also appeared onTheSolutionsJournal.com. For more of Courtney White’s writing on conservation and agriculture see: www.awestthatworks.com.> Author: Courtney White Since the late 1990s, Australian farmer Colin Seis has been successfully planting a cereal crop into perennial pasture

Circle Ranch - Holistic Herding

Holistic Herding at Erosion Source

Often I have been told by planned-grazing skeptics that what we do at Circle with cows is only possible because of unique terrain features, expensive fence and water systems not available to others, and even that Circle Ranch gets more rain than next-door-neighbor ranches! Planned grazing is succesful anywhere it

Circle Ranch - Sacaton

Sacaton, Cows and Fire

A characteristic of high-desert Southwestern grasslands are draws filled with Giant Sacaton (Sporoblus wrightii). These majestic grass plants cover millions of acres in far-West Texas and New Mexico. At Circle we have several sacaton draws. They encompass thousands of acres. “Circle Ranch is in Hudspeth County, Texas in the high-desert

Circe Ranch - Grazing Giant Sacaton by "Cowboy Bob" Kinford

Grazing Giant Sacaton at Circle Ranch by "Cowboy Bob" Kinford

Normally sacaton grass is burned off and grazed early in the year as cattle “refuse” to eat it when it gets taller. Just out of curiosity, I placed roughly half of the 420 cows into a sacaton draw. The results are pretty dramatic and show that cattle really like this

Roads and Erosion: #3 of 3: Results of Treatments of Substandard Ranch Roads

Roads and Erosion: #3 of 3: Results of Treatments of Substandard Ranch Roads

Most old roadbeds are simply abandoned after they become impassible. S.O.P. is to move over a vehicle-width, and start a new path. When that wears out, do it again, and so forth. Near Santa Fe, there are places where the old Camino Real has thirty-five abandoned beds, side-by-side.

Roads and Erosion #2 of 3: Addressing The Destructive Erosion of Substandard Ranch Roads

Roads and Erosion #2 of 3: Addressing The Destructive Erosion of Substandard Ranch Roads

In the summer of 2007, Circle Ranch together with the Dixon Water Foundation, sponsored a road seminar at Circle Ranch. Attendees came from as far as the Navaho Nation in Arizona. Bill Zeedyk, noted erosion expert from Albuquerque taught our class. Above – he is showing different road-drainage profiles. Here we

Roads and Erosion: #1 of 3

Roads and Erosion: #1 of 3

Pictured here is a typical gully. It was caused by a road which triggered an upward-moving headset. How can you tell an active gully? Whenever the sides of a gully are vertical, the gully is unstable. These drain pastures and ‘bleed’ moisure out of the water table on both sides.

Flash Flood in 17 Draw, August 31, 2006

Erosion Control

Flash Flood in 17 Draw, August 31, 2006

In the old West Texas joke, a visitor asks the old cowboy, “How much rain do you get a year?” To which the old boy replies, “Only 11 inches, but you ought to be here on the day it comes!”

Old Roadbeds Cause Erosion

Erosion Control

Old Roadbeds Cause Erosion

When the original settlers came, they took their teams and wagons up the valley bottoms.