Jan 22, 2016
What is Cows and Fish?We are about:
• being a catalyst for action
• technical assistance
• another approach to resolve landscape issues
• maintenance and restoration of biodiversity
• people, partnerships, and communities
• a process
What is Cows and Fish?We are about:• ecological literacy• sustainable livestock management• landscapes and watersheds
• building stewardship:
literacy attitude shift changes in action
Mission
Cows and Fish Process Elements
Awareness
CommunityBased Action
Tool Building
Team Building
Monitoring
Cows and Fish Process Elements
Mission
Awareness
Management Committee
Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Program
“Cows and Fish” Partners
AAFRD
AENV
CCA
ACC
TUC
PFRA
DFO
ProducersMDs
Counties
ACA
Cows and Fish Process Elements
Mission
AwarenessTeam Building
Cows and Fish Process Elements
Mission
Awareness
Tool Building
Team Building
2.7
7.3
2.9
0
2
4
6
8
lb/acre (thousands
Upland(Loamy-
Excellent)
Floodplain(Sb-Good)
Floodplain(Sb-
Poor++)
Waldron Ranch Riparian Pasture
Cows and Fish Process Elements
Mission
Awareness
CommunityBased Action
Tool Building
Team Building
Cows and Fish Process Elements
Mission
Awareness
CommunityBased Action
Tool Building
Team Building
Monitoring
Riparian Health Assessment
putting all the pieces of the puzzle together
Stream Riparian Health
05
101520253035404550
Percent
Healthy Healthy atRisk
Unhealthy
AlbertaMontanaIdaho
Alberta: based on ~300 sites in southern and central areasMontana: based on ~2,000 miles of streamIdaho: based on ~800 miles of stream
Alberta Riparian Health
Healthy at Risk49%
Healthy 11%
Unhealthy40%
Data for up to 2002; based on ~900 sites
“The future isn’t what it used to be”
Working with Communities: Sharing our experience
Lesson 1
• Producers, local communities and/or watershed groups must drive riparian management planning decisions.
Working with Communities: Sharing our experience
Lesson 2
• Create a team effort.
Working with Communities: Sharing our experience
Lesson 3
• Ownership of riparian grazing and other issues lies with the landowners.
Working with Communities: Sharing our experience
Lesson 4
• Get out and talk to producers and their communities.
Working with Communities: Sharing our experience
Lesson 5
• Learn from landowners!
Working with Communities: Sharing our experience
Lesson 6
• Send a positive message to the general public.