Grazing has hydrologic impacts on Canadian foothills fescue grasslands through alteration of plant species
composition, plant density, ground cover and litter. Livestock trample vegetation and may compact the soil, reduce infiltration, increase runoff and alter soil water regime. Johnston (1962) found runoff and sediment yield from rainfall simulations increased with increased grazing intensity and reduced ground cover.
The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of short duration and continuous (throughout the growing season) grazing systems on runoff and sediment yield from sloped areas of the foothills fescue grasslands of Alberta. There has been relatively little hydrologic research conducted on these or similar grasslands, particularly under snowmelt and natural precipitation conditions.