CountyWidePlan - AG Comment on CWP @GB 4-1-04%SC-CWP -AGAtt…

“Agricultural Atachment” to Sierra Club-Marin Group commentson CWP’04Uses allowed by the proposed Countywide Plan (CWP) in the StreamConservation Areas (SCAs) include that noted on page 2-29: “Agricultural uses that do not require the removal of woody riparian vegetation and do not involve animalconfinement within the SCA.” The Sierra Club–Marin Group wishes to begin ourcomment on this section of the CWP with a quote regarding grazing impact to riparianareas from RIPARIAN AREAS: Functions and Strategies for Management © 2002 bythe National Academy of Sciences, pages 168-169:Primary grazing effects include the removal of vegetation, trampling of vegetation,destruction of biological soil crusts, compaction of underlying soils, redistribution ofnutrients, and dispersal of exotic plants species and pathogens. Secondary effectsinclude altered disturbance regimes associated with hydrology (runoff and infiltrationrates and water holding capacity) and fires (frequency and severity), acceleratederosion, altered competitive relationships among organisms, and changes in plant andanimal reproductive success and/or establishment of plants. The disproportionateimpact of livestock on riparian areas is a product of both management and animalbehavior….catle in particular congregate in riparian areas and other wet areas because of the water, shade, and more succulent forage, spending from 5 to 30 moretimes in these cool, productive zones than would be predicted from ...