LONG-TERM AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION - MAHOGANY-CREEK, NEVADA, AS A CASE-STUDY

We compared the recovery from abusive grazing of aquatic habitat due t o different range management on two geomorphically similar rangeland s treams in northwest Nevada. Managers excluded livestock from the Mahog any Creek watershed from 1976 to 1990 while allowing rotation of rest grazing on its tributary Summer Camp Creek. Bank stability, defined as the lack of apparent bank erosion or deposition, improved through the study period on both streams, but periodic grazing and flooding decre ased stability more on Summer Camp Creek than flooding alone on Mahoga ny Creek. Pool quantity and quality on each stream decreased because o f coarse woody debris removal and sediment deposition during a drought . Fine stream bottom sediments decreased five gears after the removal of livestock, but sedimentation increased during low flows in both str eams below road crossings. Tree cover increased 35 percent at both str eams. Thus, recovery of stability and cover and decreased sedimentatio n are compatible with rotation of rest grazing on Summer Camp Creek. W idth/depth ratio and gravel/cobble percent did not change because they are inherently stable in this stream type. Management activities such as coarse woody debris removal limited pool recovery, and road crossi ngs increased sedimentation.