Relationships between livestock management and the ecological condition ofriparian habitats along an Australian floodplain river

1. Grazing by introduced ungulate livestock is a major form of land use ove r large parts of Australia. Due to the tendency of stock to concentrate aro und water, riparian zones and wetlands are heavily impacted by grazing. How ever, little is known about how effects on riparian habitats vary spatially and with management regimes. We investigated how livestock affected ripari an habitats on the Murrumbidgee River in south-eastern Australia. 2. A rapid appraisal index of the ecological condition of floodplain ripari an habitats was developed. This measured habitat continuity and extent, veg etation cover, bank stability, soil structure, quantity of fallen debris, d ominance of natives vs. exotics, and the presence of indicative species. Th e method could be readily adapted for use on other floodplain rivers with e xtensive riparian habitats. 3. Riparian condition was scored at 138 sites along 620 km of the Murrumbid gee River on private properties (n = 77), in State Forests (n = 27) and on Crown Land (n = 34). Riparian condition declined significantly with increas ing grazing intensity and also with distance upstream in the upper half of the floodplain. 4. Stocking rate, distance upstream, relative periods of paddock rest and g razing, proportion of bank accessible to stock, and the presence of off-riv er water in the paddock, accounted for 76% of the variance in riparian cond ition. 5. Most riparian habitats on the Murrumbidgee River and other rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin are privately owned. Thus exclusion of the grazing in dustry from the riparian zone is not practical. However, lowered stocking r ates, particularly in the upper parts of the catchment, resting of paddocks to allow recovery from grazing, and the provision of off-river watering po ints could all be used to improve riparian habitats. 6. Exotic plants are ubiquitous, occurring even where grazing has been excl uded for many years. Thus restoration of riparian habitats will require wee d removal even in areas not used by livestock.