Addressing Oregon's winter mud involves protecting water quality by keeping livestock out of streams and managing runoff, while improving animal health by creating dry, stable areas to prevent hoof diseases, using strategies like sacrifice areas with gravel, buffer strips, pasture rotation, and good drainage. 

In order to protect water quality, fence off waterways in order to keep livestock out of creeks, wetlands, and streams to prevent nutrient and sediment runoff.

Another great way to protect water quality is by creating vegetated buffers.  This can be accomplished by establishing a wide strip of grass around heavy-use areas and along streams and other waterways to filter runoff.

Managing runoff by installing gutters and downspouts on buildings to divert rainwater away from pastures and high-traffic zones makes a huge impact for improving water quality.

Plan ahead for nutrient applications.  Avoid spreading manure on saturated soils or fields with thin vegetation to prevent runoff and overapplications.

Install sacrifice areas, also called heavy use areas.  These areas provide livestock with a designated, well-drained area (using gravel, sand, or woodchips) for livestock during wet periods to protect pastures.  The most common type of heavy use area is one that has been graded, then a layer of geotextile fabric is placed on top of the graded area, and then the area is covered with compacted gravel. 

Allow pastures to rest and recover during the winter, and when pastures are dry enough for grazing, rotate livestock through the pastures using cross fencing.  This prevents overgrazing and allows vegetation to recover, keeping pastures healthier.

Provide off-stream water to livestock using livestock watering tanks, preferably installed upon a heavy use area.  This reduces animal stress and livestock use less energy accessing water when they aren’t fighting mud.  Livestock enjoy cool, clean water that is easy to get to. 

Umpqua Soil and Water Conservation District has programs for technical and financial assistance to help with agricultural water quality projects.  Contact our Conservation Planner for planning, design, and grant resources at (541) 662-1341.