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Management and Maintenance <br />Preserve or initiate management that will keep, maintain, and improve the planting and other riparian <br />vegetation. Proper management is necessary to maintain healthy, competitive plants that function for the <br />intended objectives. This is as important as the planting itself to ensure long- term rehabilitation of the <br />riparian area. Some maintenance will be needed on site for several years after planting. Vegetation should <br />be evaluated and monitored annually. Some replanting will be needed in succeeding years. If you don't <br />replant the first or second year, your continuous barrier could be jeopardized. Once water gets behind the <br />protected line you have planted, it is extremely difficult to repair the damage. <br />Monitoring thesu e is necessary so any in -stream organic material-(i.e: oold-logs, deadroot mas s, <br />branches, etc.) can be removed before stream flow is deflected or gravel bars form. It is much easier to <br />prevent this kind of damage than it is to repair it. As the planting ages and plants start to develop their <br />growth form, some may need to be trimmed or cut to stimulate smaller and denser growth. Trimming <br />should be done in the dormant season so willow growth is not slowed during the growing season. During <br />the establishment period, leave standing dead branches in the clump plantings to reduce stream flow <br />velocities, thus protecting the establishing clumps. <br />If livestock use the area, a prescribed grazing plan should be developed. Little to no grazing should occur <br />during the establishment period. This can take 2-5 years depending on growing conditions. Larger <br />planting stock may be more resistant to grazing pressure, but should be monitored closely to avoid serious <br />damage. <br />Temporary fencing may be necessary to control livestock and wildlife use of the planting during the <br />establishment period. Permanent fencing is an option to prevent grazing by livestock and/or wildlife. <br />Consideration should be given to the creation of "riparian pastures", i.e. grazing units that include riparian <br />zones and floodplains as a majority of the pasture. These riparian pastures increase management <br />18 <br />