By and large, the bottoms of the canyon lowlands, which were mostly private land, suffered the most from
early, uncontrolled, season-long livestock grazing. Today, because of stocking reductions, fencing, and other
management practices, private bottomlands are probably not degenerating but have improved or remain
static. Federally managed canyonlands have improved in the past 30 years but still show some effects of
early grazing, logging, and reading abuses.
Based on aquatic or wetland habitat standards, many riparian zones in the canyons are in poor condition, a
problem that has begun to be addressed only since the 1970s. White-tailed deer, which were nearly extirpated
in these habitats, have now recolonized their old ranges. •
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