Thriving vegetation serves to stabilize soils along the stream-banks. When livestock eat the vegetation and trample the banks, there is no protection from erosion as the swift snow run-off rushes down the stream.

A "head cut" can begin where livestock have impacted a stream - this "cutting" will go deeper and deeper until it has reached bedrock - it also moves up the stream as soils are washed away.

The channel straightens - the meander -- 'S'-shape/sinuosity - is lost. Straight stream hold less water and run much faster than streams with healthy "s" shape - exacerbating the loss of soil and 'cut'.

Native fishes cannot survive these conditions - they need cool pools of slow moving water - shaded by grass and other riparian vegetation.

The water of the stream goes lower and lower - out of reach of willows, and other riparian and wet meadow vegetation that birds and most wildlife depend on for habitat.

Eventually, this once vibrant and moist stream desertifies - it dries up.

This is your stream - it's on public land - but livestock are allowed in abusive numbers on this stream.

you can help - visit Western Watersheds Project, join us, and explain to a friend or family member how the 'cutting' of a stream channel deprives our public landscapes of the wildlife and fishes next time you're out recreating, fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, or otherwise enjoying our public lands.