Range Stewardship and Fostering Drought Recovery

August 13, 2004

(The following release is based on information provided by Dr. Roy Roath, Extension Range Specialist, Colorado State University, and by on-the-ground observations by USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service field personnel.)

Recent developments have started to mitigate the drought in Colorado. Many, if not most, areas of Colorado have received some rain. Also, Congress, under the tutelage of Representative Scott McInnis, is working on a bill to defer taxes on drought-caused livestock reduction and/or dispersals for four or more years, depending on the on-going drought circumstances.

In Eastern Colorado, many areas have received good rains. This will help plant growth and recovery following several years of extreme drought. Most areas have lost substantial quantities of perennial plants. Rangeland in Eastern Colorado has years of recovery ahead to reach pre-drought conditions. Management decisions will have profound impacts on recovery rates of perennial grasslands.

Most rangeland is quite weedy now. Most of the weeds present are annual weeds like cheatgrass, kochia, Russian thistle, and annual sunflowers. Limited grazing use can be quite beneficial in reducing the competitiveness of the weeds, but only if the grazing is done when the weeds are immature and if there is still moisture in the soil after grazing is over to allow the perennial plants to recover. This is commonly described as flash grazing. Rangeland that is stocked season-long and where the stocking rate is increased too quickly will have too much pressure on the perennial palatable plants causing the weedy grasses to take over.

The status of West Slope rangeland communities is more mixed than Eastern Colorado. The foothills and mountains have been dry with little stock water available. This has created concentration areas of heavy use stressing plant communities around existing water sites. Noxious weeds can invade these areas if rapid steps are not taken to foster recovery of the perennial grasses and forbs. The key here is to keep stocking rates of livestock at a realistic level that can be handled by the recovering perennial grass community.

The sagebrush areas throughout Western Colorado are showing many signs of plant mortality. Most areas in the sagebrush have been invaded by undesirables, such as cheatgrass, bulbous bluegrass, annual mustards, and others during the drought years. Flash grazing is very applicable on the West Slope also. However, continuing drought conditions limit the re-growth and recovery window to very short time frames.

The semi-desert communities have perhaps been the most damaged by the drought. The salt desert shrub communities have experienced major losses of schrubs including winterfat, saltbushes, bud sage, and others. Additionally, the desirable perennial grasses have experienced heavy losses. The semi-desert is likely to be the type that is most difficult to manage for recovery. Much of this rangeland is badly deteriorated and will require one or more years of rest. Where extensive areas of seeded grasses have perished, reseeding may be required. Other areas may have been so devastated; they may require spot seeding also.

The pinon and juniper types have also been extraordinarily impacted by drought. These types, because of their woody over-story, are quite droughty in normal circumstances. The drought has worsened these conditions. Plant recovery is extremely slow because of the poor moisture relationships. The only choices appear to be light and short duration use while managing for re-growth recovery of the perennial plants.

Recovery of rangeland communities will require planning and commitment. Those processes that are critical now are: 1) increasing water availability for plants by increasing plant cover and litter; 2) managing recovery by creating more vigorous, competitive desirable perennial plants in our rangeland communities and reducing weedy plants; and 3) managing nutrient availability to our plants by increasing root mass and creating the capability for the desirable plants to compete with undesirable plants for nutrients and water.

The common link between all of these system processes is maintaining stocking rates at levels that allow for plants to accumulate leaf material and store energy. All rangeland now requires seasonal opportunity to re-grow and recover. This can be accomplished best with a planned livestock rotation.