 |
| Extreme erosion in Mill Creek, Navarro County |
AgriLife Extension has released a new publication, "Riparian Restoration on Farms and Ranches in Texas," with the hope of informing farmers and ranchers about the value of these areas to their land operation. Riparian areas are basically the areas along creeks and rivers that get flooded on a regular basis and possess trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs that can tolerate water more than upland species.
This publication describes restoration techniques with general recommendations for plant species, planting techniques, width of the buffer, and monitoring activities to ensure proper management over time. The publications also explains how farmers and ranchers can continue to maintain, and in some cases even improve agricultural productivity in these areas.
Properly managing riparian areas will also lead to other benefits, including improved water quality and a reduction in erosion that in many cases is leading to less space in lakes to hold water due to sediment being deposited. This is the case in the photo above as extreme erosion in Mill Creek in Navarro County is leading to large amounts of sediment in the Richland-Chambers Reservoir, a critical water supply for 1.6 million people in Fort Worth and surrounding communities!
A hard copy of the publication can be ordered for $3 from the AgriLife Bookstore or can be viewed and downloaded below. Enjoy and share with your friends and family!