"This document is a sequel and companion piece to its predecessor, [Livestock Grazing on Western Riparian Areas, 1990]. Together they are designed to foster broader understanding of how improved grazing management on western riparian areas can enhance water quality and overall productivity of rangelands watersheds"--Page 3.

The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that wetlands be protected from degradation because of their important ecological functions including maintenance of high water quality and provision of fish and wildlife habitat. However, this protection generally does not encompass riparian areasâ€"the lands bordering rivers and lakesâ€"even though they often provide the same functions as wetlands. Growing recognition of the similarities in wetland and riparian area functioning and the differences in their legal protection led the NRC in 1999 to undertake a study of riparian areas, which has culminated in Riparian Areas: Functioning and Strategies for Management. The report is intended to heighten awareness of riparian areas commensurate with their ecological and societal values. The primary conclusion is that, because riparian areas perform a disproportionate number of biological and physical functions on a unit area basis, restoration of riparian functions along America's waterbodies should be a national goal.

The livestock producers viewpoint; Riparian habitat - the cattlemen's veiwpoint; Riparian and stream ecosystems, livestock grazing, and multiple-use management; Management and policy on federal lands; BLM management and policy for riparian/stream ecosystems; Controlling water pollution from grazing activities; Management and policy for grazing riparian ecosystems on national forest system lands; Managing grazing to benefit wildlife; Riparian zones in managed rangelands - their importance to wildlife; The mahogany creek watershed - with and without grazing; Evaluation the impacts of cattle grazing on riparian habitats; Livestock management approaches and the fisheries resource; Livestock grazing and riparian/stream ecosystems - an overview; Fish habitat changes in summit creek, idaho after fencing; Effects of livestock grazing upon rainbow trout in otter creek; Livestock/streamside management programs in eastern Oregon; Public users; The BLM and the NEPA process; Resources-use, abuse, and management; Public input in decision-making; Economics of improved livestock management approaches; Public user's perspective of the grazing issue; Welcome to second-day sessions; Summarization of sessions; Public forum; Closing remarks; Exhibits; Riparian habitat recovery on big creek, rich county, Utah; A methods for analyzing livestock impacts on stream and riparian habitats.