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Guardians of the ranGe
Dedicated to the Multiple Use of Public Lands & the American Way of Life
Newsletter No. 146 October 2016
WWW.GUARDIANSOFTHERANGE.ORG
PO Box 612Crowheart, WY 82512
Executive DirectorBen [email protected]
Board of DirectorsDana Kerns - President
307.655.9539Bill Greer - Vice President
469.2352Barb Lee - Secretary
469.2445Dave Fraley - Treasurer
217.0517Clay Gibbons...............388.4145Rick Magstadt.............765.2089Gil McEndree..............347.3215Rob Orchard................366.2450Scott Rogers................684.1547
BLM/FS Advisory BoardProducer CommitteeJack Baird - Chairperson
307.864.2069John Baird...................388.2145Matt Brown.................867.2422Stan Flitner..................765.2905Rob Orchard................366.2450Dan Rice......................366.2571Gary Rice.....................366.2273
Resource CommitteeProject/Allotment ImprovementsBen Rux..............................450.3100Dave Slover.................868.2465WebmasterCraig Mead..........402.415.6790Newsletter EditorLiz Lauck..............307.331.3113
[email protected] PrinterSerlkay Printing, Worland
Guardians Members, I hope this newsletter finds you
wrapping up your fall work. Fall is my favorite time of year. The fall gather is typically the highlight for me. This year we had the pleasure of working with neighboring permittees to gather, sort and load out for the season. Working together, we accomplished a lot in a couple of days, all without any major issues or wrecks.
We have probably all seen the benefits of working together toward a common goal. One of the founding principles behind the Guardians is the idea of providing a common voice and working together to ensure that public land grazing continues and the viability
of operations utilizing public lands is ensured. In the past this has been accomplished through participating in various forums, serving on committees and providing a voice for grazing interests on one hand and providing assistance and on the other hand, doing some of the legwork with agencies for on the ground projects. In some instances, working with Guardians members and agency officials to resolve problems that have surfaced has ensured continuity of grazing privileges.
However, the Guardians can only be of assistance if we are aware of an issue. Some issues are obvious, and have a broad impact, others may be specific to your situation, but please do not hesitate to contact me if we can be of assistance.
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT REFORMS Operating in North West Wyoming means that following certain guidelines in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a reality, particularly concerning the grizzly bear and the wolf, but regardless of where you operate, it is likely that the ESA is on your radar as a concern. Calls for ESA reform have been made for years for good reason, as ambiguity in the current act has been successfully used by litigious environmental groups to block delisting of many species that have clearly reached the population levels that warrant delisting. It is simple to argue that the result of this is that successful recovery efforts are not recognized as such. Wyoming Stock Growers Association President and Public Land Council Secretary/Treasurer Niels Hansen provides a
The Benefits of Working Together
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Photo Credit: Wendy McGarvin/Wyoming BLM Facebook page.
PAGE 2 GUARDIANS OF THE RANGE OCTOBER 2016
• • • JOIN • • • Guardians of the RangeLivestock Operators$100 Up to 50 Head of Cattle$2/Head 51-1500 Head of Cattle$.40 / Head of Sheep
Businesses, Individuals& Associations without federal grazing permits$25 - $100 Wrangler$250 Range Rider$500 Top Hand$1,000 Guardian of the Range
Checks Payable to:Guardians of the Range
Mail Checks to:Guardians of the RangeP. O. Box 521Buffalo, WY 82834
Or Join Online:www.GuardiansOfTheRange.org
compelling argument: http://publiclandscouncil.org/2016/10/04/advocates-of-esa-abuse-continue-to-stifle-reform/.
The warranted delisting of the Greater Yellowstone Area Grizzly bear has its share of opposition. A common theme among many oppositionists is that conflicts and removals associated with livestock depredation are a major threat to the GYA Grizzly population. However, since 2002, according to the GYA Grizzly Bear delisting proposed rules, only 45 of the 311 human attributed bear causalities can be attributed to livestock related conflicts. Additionally, sheep grazing on public lands in the Primary Conservation Area (PCA) has all but been eliminated as a consequence and permits have been discontinued, voluntarily or otherwise.
The proposed rule also states: “The mandatory restriction on creating new livestock allotments and the voluntary phasing out of livestock allotments with recurring conflicts further ensure that the PCA will continue to function as source habitat. Because there will continue to be no net increase in cattle or sheep allotments allowed on public lands inside the PCA, we do not expect that livestock allotments inside the PCA will constitute a threat to the GYE grizzly bear DPS now, or in the future”.
That said, the question then becomes how much pain can be tolerated before voluntary relinquishment of a permit looks appealing. It is certainly concerning that some members of Congress, as mentioned in Mr. Hansen’s article are pushing for additional stipulations be added to the proposed rule that would create more challenges for all users of the federal lands.
On the subject of stipulations, one only has to look at the Bureau of Land Management’s Recommended Management Plans for the Sage Grouse to see the restrictions that will likely create issues for livestock interests. One specific concern is the requirement of a specific stubble height. I recently saw an example of how this might be used by Western Watersheds Project to protest the BLM’s decision to issue a grazing permit in the Worland area.
The WWP argument described the BLM utilization levels as excessive and in violation of the Worland Approved RMP. WWP bolstered their argument with evidence pulled out of context from BLM publications and a popular Range Management textbook. Fortunately, BLM officials saw through this and dispelled the protest arguments, issuing a final decision to permit grazing as described in the original BLM decision. One of the significant points of the BLM’s response was to point out that levels of utilization are dependent on specific sites and the potential of those sites determined by soil type and precipitation regimes at that site. Anyway, when challenged by anti-grazing interests, it is important to realize that the merit of their arguments has to stand against what is scientifically accurate. Hats off to the Worland BLM range staff for deflecting this challenge, the first of many to come associated with the RMPs.
Finally, we certainly face some challenges from anti-grazing interests and evolving regulations. It can become burdensome if we let it and we may wonder at times if it is worth it. I honestly asked myself this question a time or two this past summer. I found my answer as we worked with neighbors on the fall gather and I watched my kids help sort pairs out of the bunch, a sight that you might find anywhere in Wyoming and throughout the West. It is worth it.
Until Next Time,Ben Rux
307.450.3100 | [email protected]
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
PAGE 3 GUARDIANS OF THE RANGE OCTOBER 2016
By Maggie Mullen | Wyoming Public Radio A study requested by the Wyoming Legislature has found that transferring management of public lands
from the federal government to the state would not be revenue positive. Those who support state manage-ment of public lands have argued it would increase revenue for the state by encouraging resource develop-ment.
The state paid the Jackson-based Y-2 Consultants $75,000 to examine land management practices, costs and revenues. Almost half of Wyoming is federal land and resource development and recreation on that land is critical to Wyoming’s economy.
But the report says transferring management of public lands to the state, without major changes in federal law, would not substantially increase revenue for Wyoming. The report added if the legislature does decide to pursue management of federal lands, the negotiations would be complicated and the process would be “exceptionally drawn out and contentious.”
The Wyoming Legislature’s Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee will discuss the study during its meeting November 9 in Riverton. •
State Management of Federal Lands study released
By the Numbers
Share these and other facts about public lands ranching with your friends and neighbors!
Craig ThomasGuardians of the Range
Endowment
Supporting this endowment is a wonderful, tax-exempt
way to show your support for the Guardians’ effort, or to honor a family member or friend. We want to have a
sustainable financial resource base to achieve our goals and
objectives.
Contribute Today! For details, contact a board
member or Ben Rux at 307.450.3100. Learn more at:
www.GuardiansOfTheRange.org
