The effects of flooding on pastureland can be costly in terms of time, money and production. There are tips, though, to protecting your land from streambank erosion, as well as remedying current erosion problems.
Prevention is the top solution to the erosion problem, and really the only factor a person can control. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The chief protective measure to preventing streambank erosion is to maintain a zone of trees, or a riparian zone, along the streambank. Riparian areas are a best management practice (BMP), reduce nutrient and sediment runoff, provide a wildlife habitat and maintain streambank integrity.
Roots of trees, shrubs, briars and river cane along the streambank act as glue to hold soil together and prevent erosion during flooding. Erosion threat increases when deep roots aren’t present around a steambank. Some farmers worry about losing farm production by implementing or maintaining a riparian zone, but production can be lost as well if streambanks are left unprotected and erosion repeatedly occurs. For example, if a quarter mile of stream-front pasture was unprotected by riparian area then you could easily lose 10 feet of pasture along that quarter mile stretch in one flood event which would equate to the loss of one-third acre. Three floods later and that would be an acre of land completely gone that would never reappear. If the unprotected streamside pasture was a half-mile in length the loss of pasture could be 2 acres and if it was a mile long stretch the loss could easily be 4 acres.
An additional BMP that can help prevent streambank erosion is to reduce or eliminate livestock stream access. In many cases it will be more economical for cattle access to streams to be reduced instead of eliminated, but this will differ from farm to farm. If cattle stream access is to be reduced or eliminated then stream or exclusion fencing should be used accordingly to obtain the desired effect of streambank protection.
If pasture acreage is continually lost due to flooding then consider taking steps to prevent erosion. Other techniques available to prevent erosion include cutting and sloping the bank or anchoring structures in place alongside the bank. It’s important to determine which technique will work best on a case by case basis as each one works well in a specific setting.
Prevention is the best way to eliminate streambank erosion, but the situation can be remedied if the proper steps are taken.
John Pennington is the University of Arkansas Washington County Extension Agent specializing in Agriculture and Water Quality.
