View Point: Heavy Seasonal Grazing on Central Arizona Piñon–Juniper Rangeland: Risky Business?

Abstract

On the Ground • This piñon–juniper rangeland in central Arizona experienced heavy seasonal (late-spring/earlysummer) grazing, but with above average, welltimed and evenly distributed precipitation for the time of year; both cool- and warm-season native grasses recovered. • If this study had been conducted on rangeland that was typically more heavily grazed, and more susceptible to erosion, and done later in the growing season, the risk of exceeding targeted end-of-season grazing utilization would have been greater. • Planning for, or reacting to, grazing utilization that exceeds targeted levels should take site-specific risk factors into consideration.