Final Report, September 1998 Vegetative Cover Monitoring, Public Perception Survey, and Public Outreach Programs for Chino Winds Demonstration Project (Phases I and II): Use of BMPs on Arizona Rangelands to Minimize NPS Discharges from Grazing Activities

PROJECT PURPOSE AND JUSTIFICATION

The overall purpose of the Chino Winds Demonstration Project is to display the implementation and results of a set of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and associated Guidance Practices (GPs) for livestock grazing management to maintain or improve water quality. The demonstration project is included as a part of a coordinated resource management plan for the Yavapai Ranch. The project emphasizes the construction and utilization of structural range improvements (water development and fencing) to control the location, timing, and intensity of livestock grazing to enhance or maintain water quality and other multiple use values of the rangeland resource. Commercial fuelwood cutting also is included as a practice to improve vegetative cover on the soil surface and reduce sediment in water runoff. The coordinated resource management planning and vegetative cover monitoring were completed with interdisciplinary technical input and public participation.

Prior to 1992, the Yavapai Ranch was operated in a very traditional manner. Well over two-thirds of the ranch was unfenced and poorly watered. Cattle roamed yearlong over this portion of the ranch. Although forage was abundant, much of this portion of the ranch was unused or lightly used, and areas favored by livestock, especially near dependable water sources in dry periods, were heavily utilized by livestock. The poor livestock distribution and yearlong grazing on the Yavapai Ranch prior to 1992 provides a management opportunity where time controlled grazing is expected to provide vegetative cover improvement on historically heavy use areas of the ranch and still maintain a viable livestock operation.