Are Goats the Answer to Your Maintenance Needs?
By Karen Ray
Goats work the face of North Dona Ana Dam.
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22 | IRRIGATION LEADER
merely knock down and reseed problem vegetation. Goatscaping overgrown areas can also provide vital protection against fire. California has used goats across the state to aid in brush control. Other states are taking notice of this alternative method for controlling problematic vegetation in a wide variety of areas. New Mexican farmers recall that, historically, goat and sheep herds worked not only in the annual cleanings of acequias (community ditches) but also took part in canal and drain maintenance throughout the growing season. Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID), which is over 100 years old, is quite familiar with the constant task of staying on top of weed and brush control. Zack Libbin, EBID’s district engineer, explains, “Maintaining our 600 miles of canals, laterals, and drains is an ongoing issue. It’s very challenging. We’re trying to find more environmentally friendly, green ways to accomplish this. Going back to the old method will hopefully be a good solution.” EBID began a two-part pilot project during summer and fall 2019 in two areas with vegetation problems. EBID Manager Gary Esslinger’s theory is that utilizing these voracious temporary employees to maintain district sites will reduce equipment and employee costs while improving infrastructure efficiency. “Their hooves working the ground can also help improve soil health and reduce erosion, creating a sustainable management environment,” adds Mr. Libbin.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EBID.
he term goatscaping often elicits a quizzical look and a half smile, followed by the question, “What?” While the word isn’t in the dictionary and has nothing to do with scapegoats, it’s well known among land managers. Goatscaping is the centuries-old technique of using goats to maintain property. The four-legged critters are hardy, notorious for eating everything, and can be easy to work with as long as you remember their streak of curiosity. They’re experiencing a revival of sorts, showing up as exercise buddies, pets, and urban farm stars. Worldwide, they work in a wide variety of settings, controlling and maintaining vegetation in parks, forests, and industrial locations. As they chew their way through overgrown, hard-to-access areas, they provide multiple benefits. Goats’ strengths lie in their ability to completely digest weeds, brush, trees and their seeds. They eat younger trees, grinding up everything above ground and then digging up the roots. They eat woody plants and weeds that cattle and sheep eschew and can even eat some poisonous plants. Their grinding consumption and unique digestive system destroy the germination ability of nuisance trees like Chinese elm. Anything bigger than small grass seed has a tough time traversing their systems, ensuring that the animals’ manure helps to both reseed and fertilize beneficial plants in the enriched ground. This is a great advantage over mechanical weed removal devices like mowers and weed eaters that
