Can off-river water and shade provision reduce cattle intrusion into drinking water catchment riparian zones?

•Cattle grazing 1.5 and 20ha pastures were monitored for 24weeks using GPS tracking.•Off-stream water and shade reduced riparian interactions marginally at best.•Findings and literature suggested that paddock size explained this lack of benefit.•GPS inaccuracy prevented us separating stream impacts from riparian interaction.•To better quantify impacts in future we recommend expanded use of video monitoring.