A million acres and growing. State ranch conservation program could become a national model

The Big Sandy Creek wends its way across the Chauvet Ranch, providing a quenching source of water for the Black Angus herd on hot summer days.

The problem is cattle are tough on fragile riparian areas along the creek’s banks.

The solution — strategically placed tanks that give thirsty cows another way to get water.

Water tanks are just one aspect of a new grazing plan put together by the Undaunted Stewardship plan adopted by the Chauvet Ranch. The ranch is among 19 recently certified by the program, which is jointly managed by Montana State University-Bozeman, the Bureau of Land Management and the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

"We put in a pipeline to move water and are using a better grazing distribution," said Shane Chauvet, who ranches with his parents, Darrell and Betty Jo Chauvet. "It’s a plan to try to help us operate in ways that are more environmentally friendly."

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

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