Goats to Graze Along Arroyo Mocho

Here's an announcement via the :

To help manage vegetation growth and prevent fire danger, the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District again will have goats grazing along the Arroyo Mocho at Robertson Park.

Used successfully in June 2009 and July 2010, the grazing goats offer a land-friendly approach to the park and its inhabitants. The goats will arrive on or around Thursday, and will be contained in fenced areas that will be relocated around various spots of the arroyo for maximum productivity during about a two-week period. The low-voltage wire fence is powered by automotive batteries and does not pose a hazard to children or pets.

Grazing is a tried-and-true method for effective fire prevention and does not involve human or mechanical intervention in the environmentally sensitive arroyo. Grazing is a lower-cost technique of land management and helps prevent fires that can be caused by sparks from powered tools.

In addition to fire protection, the grazing helps remove non-native invasive species of vegetation. The LARPD takes measures to protect certain trees and other plant life that are to remain in the arroyo. Goats were selected for the grazing instead of sheep or cattle because they do not cause as much damage to the banks around the arroyo.

Park maintenance staff members routinely remove debris from the arroyo for fire prevention efforts and to help maintain the habitat for animals. In addition, community work groups have helped park staff remove debris on volunteer work days. The arroyo is home to a variety of amphibians and reptiles such as western pond turtles; small- to medium-sized mammals such as foxes and raccoons; birds, including quail and hawks; and other aquatic life and insects.