If you manage them properly, riparian areas can be a savings account that you can tap into during a dry year. There are plenty of good reasons for fencing off and protecting bodies of water on your land, like giving biodiversity a boost or keeping water clean for livestock. Not to mention how handy that strip of greenery adjacent to a wetland can be when your pasture isn’t growing or recovering the way you need it to.

In this episode, we’re joined by Duane Movald of Movald Ranches, to learn more about managing and stewarding riparian areas.

Highlights:

• 2:18 – Duane shares information about his ranch.
• 6:07 – What are the riparian areas like on Duane’s land?
• 7:09 – How does Duane manage the riparian areas on his farm?
• 8:45 – Duane explains why he values his riparian areas.
• 10:07 – What is the best fencing to use when protecting your riparian areas from cattle?
• 11:22 – Duane describes why it’s good for the farm to protect riparian areas.
• 12:30 – How have beavers impacted Duane’s riparian areas?
• 14:09 – Did Duane use the wet riparian area (during a drought) to water the cattle?
• 15:37 – How does Duane manage the riparian area versus a regular paddock?
• 18:19 – What can the government and communities do to protect riparian areas and wetlands?
• 20:43 – Duane provides final advice on what to do next time you’re faced with a drought.

Useful Links:

• Movald Farm Makes An Impact
• West-Central Forage Association
• ALUS Canada
• Young Agrarians

Want to learn more?

Listen to the following episodes to learn more about riparian areas, drought management and water conservation:

• Episode 3 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 1)
• Episode 4 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 2)
• Episode 5 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 3)

Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.