Range Practices

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Best Management Practices on Crown Range in Community Watersheds

Best Management Practices on Crown Range in Community Watersheds explains the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations’ approach and considerations in managing livestock grazing on Crown range in Community Watersheds.  The Forest and Range Practices Act has an expectation that tenure holders will practice due diligence when using Crown resources.  Best Management Practices (BMP) fit within the due diligence context.

This BMP document builds on information from our Rangeland Health series of publications and on the collaborative work of Range program staff, range tenures holders, water purveyors, Water Stewardship staff, and Interior Health staff in the Okanagan-Shuswap Forest District.  It provides some context to livestock grazing in community watersheds, explains the principles of range management, summarizes the science of range management and water quality, and outlines the management practices that are feasible.  It is my expectation that these BMPs will be adopted wherever livestock graze on Crown range in Community Watersheds. 

David Borth

Director, Range Branch

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

Full Publication: Best Management Practices on Crown Range in Community Watersheds [pdf, 3.2 Mb]

Rangeland Health Information

Water quality and livestock grazing on Crown rangeland in British Columbia

Abstract: Livestock grazing has a long history in British Columbia dating back to the 1860s. On Crown range, grazing is authorized under the Range Act and regulated by the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). In much of British Columbia, livestock are everywhere on the landscape and have a legal right to be there. British Columbia is unique in the relatively small percentage of land that is privately owned. This means that access to provincial Crown land is necessary for both the beef cattle and forest industries and also for recreationists.

Full Publication: Water quality and livestock grazing on Crown rangeland in British Columbia [pdf, 372 kb]

Determining Range Readiness and Growing Degree-Days (GDDs)

Abstract: Researchers in North Dakota have correlated leaf-stage development with growing degree-days (GDDs) in several native and introduced grass species. Their findings allow range managers with large districts to supplement field observations with mean daily temperature data from local weather stations to determine when various spring "turnout" pastures will be ready for grazing in a given year. In this document this process has been modified for British Columbia.

Full Publication: Determining Range Readiness and Growing Degree-Days (GDDs) [pdf, 3.3Mb]

Related Data: Interactive Growing Degree Day Excel Spreadsheet [Excel, 49Kb]

The Ecology of the Alpine Zones

Abstract: The alpine occurs at high elevations throughout British Columbia and has the harshest climate of any of the biogeoclimatic zones in British Columbia. Temperatures are cold for most of the year, with much wind and snow. Temperatures remain low even during the growing season, which has an exceptionally short frost-free period. Mean annual temperatures range from 0° to 4°C, and the average monthly temperature stays below 0°C from 7 to 11 months of the year. The mean temperature of the warmest month is less than 10°C. A great deal of precipitation falls in this zone, mostly as snow.

Full Publication: The Ecology of the Alpine Zones, [pdf, 3.6Mb]

Range Resources Assessment Procedures

Abstract: This document gives instructions on how to assess the health of upland and riparian areas.

The overall objectives for range management are:

• to maintain healthy functioning riparian and upland systems
• to restore and maintain desired plant communities through proper management
• to ensure that there will be no net loss of native species
• to allow safe levels of use

The range use plan identifies how range will be managed to achieve goals related to production, biodiversity, and integrated resource management. The initial range use plan and management prescription is developed from an interpretation of baseline information and records of historic use. Follow-up monitoring is required to evaluate the effectiveness of the management prescription and tenure holder compliance.

Full Publication: Range Resources Assessment Procedures [pdf, 1.4Mb]

Assessing Upland & Riparian Areas

Publication Excerpt: "Uplands often comprise more than 99% of the watershed’s area, with the floodplain and stream channel making up the rest. Uplands are associated with lowlands through the flow of water, either overland or through the soil. Vegetation slows the flow of water in the uplands so that it infiltrates the soil."

Full Publication: Assessing Upland & Riparian Areas [pdf, 836Kb]

Arriving at Remedial Measures

Publication Excerpt: "Managers and field personnel need meaningful and readily accessible information to address problems on upland and riparian ranges. They may also find a decision-making model to be of special merit in choosing among the many tools available for rehabilitating rangeland. The Ministry of Forests has provided this brochure as an educational resource for technicians, agrologists, and range officers, as well as related administrative staff."

Full Publication: Arriving at Remedial Measures [pdf, 495Kb]

Understanding Ecosystem Processes

Publication Excerpt: "As the Forest Practices Code is implemented, the range resources of the province are being assessed and managed to achieve broad land use goals. One of these goals is to assure that Crown range is utilized properly to maintain or improve all resource values. This brochure will help you gain an understanding of ecosystem processes and how they operate in upland and riparian range at Properly Functioning Condition (PFC)."

Full Publication: Understanding Ecosystem Processes [pdf, 474Kb]

Considering Tools for Remediation

Publication Excerpt: "This brochure reviews tools available to the resource manager for upland and riparian remediation. Their nature, applicability, general usefulness, and limitations will be briefly discussed."

Full Publication: Considering Tools for Remediation [pdf, 555Kb]

Using Range Readiness Criteria

Publication Excerpt: "Range use plans (RUPs), required for all Range Act agreements on Crown range, were changed substantially in 2003. Many plans will now have references to range readiness criteria, average stubble heights, and browse utilization. This brochure discusses the concept of range readiness and the use of criteria to indicate appropriate grazing times. Assessing the leaf development of common grasses is recommended as the most useful indicator of range readiness."

Full Publication: Using Range Readiness Criteria [pdf, 766Kb]

Applying Best Stubble Height on Rangelands

Publication Excerpt: "Key areas may be selected to monitor use levels (stubble height and browse utilization) to help determine when livestock should be moved to a new pasture to prevent over-use. This is especially applicable in riparian areas, where livestock use is often heavier than in adjacent uplands, or on forested cutblocks, where proper use levels and distribution are necessary to prevent damage to young conifer seedlings."

Full Publication: Applying Best Stubble Height on Rangelands [pdf, 1.4Mb]

Determining Available Forage

Publication Excerpt: "The following is a simple procedure to determine available forage without the need to oven-dry forage samples."

Full Publication: Determining Available Forage [pdf, 513Kb]

Factors Influencing Livestock Behaviour and Performance

Publication Excerpt: "Grazing animals are selective in their eating, and this dietary selection is modified by plant morphology (thorns, thick cuticle, etc.), the presence of secondary compounds, and past experiences. Palatability, preference, and species differences play a role in determining which forages are selected preferentially, secondarily, or not at all."

Full Publication: Factors Influencing Livestock Behaviour and Performance [pdf, 1.3Mb]