The Collaborative Balancing Act of Riparian Restoration

This week, I had the privilege of meeting and speaking with Carol Evans and Dr. Sherman Swanson to discuss the intricate relationship between riparian areas, ranching, and ecosystem restoration. You might be surprised to hear how we arrived at this discussion!

Join us as we discuss the challenges and successes in managing these vital ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of open communication and collaboration among all stakeholders, including landowners, ranchers, biologists, and riparian experts – and many more.

This was so much fun for me. Thank you Carol and Sherm! I look forward to continuing to learn more on this topic with you both.

Until next time,

PS – Please take a moment to check out Carol Evans’ photographs documenting the improvements on Dixie Creek! I’ve also included video links to the Dixie Creek documentary, amongst two others, produced by Little Wild, in partnership with several public and private partners, and Idaho’s Beaver Parachute story mentioned in the early part of this episode.

Photos comparing Dixie Creek in the Elko District, Nevada from 1989 to 2025

(images courtesy of Carol Evans and Elko District, Bureau of Land Management)

Dixie Creek, S-16, t-2, up: 10-30-89 (Elko District, Bureau of Land Management) – 1989 shows conditions under decades of annual summer-long grazing by cattle. 
Dixie Creek, S-16, t-2, up: 7-21-94 (Elko District, Bureau of Land Management) – 1994 shows early riparian recovery approximately 3 to 4 years after the change in livestock grazing management. 
Dixie Creek, S-16, t-2, up: 10-22-25 (Carol Evans)
2025 shows riparian and stream habitat recovery approximately 35 years after the change in livestock grazing management. Although beavers were undoubtedly here historically, Carol first documented their return in 2017, approximately 27 years after the change in grazing practices.

This week’s guests:

Carol Evans is a biologist who has dedicated her life to conservation, with a career primarily rooted in Nevada. Her work has focused on collaborating with ranchers and other partners to improve stream and riparian habitats in the state’s northeastern corner through the management of livestock grazing. Now retired – after a 28-year career with the Bureau of Land Management, Carol continues to promote the stewardship of Nevada’s riparian resources. Part of this work includes her partnership with the Reno-based film production company, Little Wild, and others to create YouTube videos that showcase the potential of collaboration and managed grazing for restoring western landscapes.

Dr. Sherman R. Swanson is Rangeland & Riparian Ecology & Management Professor Emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno. He was an Extension rangeland and riparian specialist, teaching rangeland management courses and advising graduate students conducting research on hydrology, riparian, and rangeland issues in Nevada and the West since 1983. He led an interagency and stakeholder consensus-based process for revising the Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook in both the 2006 and 2018 editions. He continues leading the Nevada Creeks and Communities Team in teaching riparian proper functioning condition assessment, integrated riparian management and riparian grazing management classes, representing the general public on the Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Council, serving on a Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council, and leading in the Coalition for Healthy Nevada Lands, Wildlife, and Free-Roaming Horses.

Videos Mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

The Story Continues

Below are two more videos, also produced by Little Wild, that help further develop the riparian story:
1) Changing a Landscape to a Lifescape: the Humboldt Ranch Story, and
2) First Came Collaboration: Ranching for Riparia