For the week of April 9 - 15, 2003

White Cloud grazing
to be trimmed

Forest Service cites environmental,
recreation concerns

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

In response to growing concerns about the impacts of cattle grazing on streams, wetlands, sensitive plant and animal species and on recreation, the U.S. Forest Service is proposing to reduce the size and scope of grazing allotments on the east slope of the White Cloud Mountains by roughly half.

The action could adversely affect five ranchers who graze cattle on the Upper and Lower East Fork allotments, which are located on the Sawtooth and Challis national forests in the East Fork of the Salmon River drainage. The allotments are within the borders of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which spans the Boise, Sawtooth and Salmon-Challis national forests.

"Analysis of the current condition of the two allotments has found that the SNRA primary values are being impacted," according to a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Upper and Lower East Fork grazing allotments. "Impacts from livestock to fisheries, wildlife and vegetation, and conflicts with recreationists are occurring, indicating a need for change in current livestock management practices."

SNRA Area Ranger Debora Cooper was careful to point out that many of the grazing impacts in the East Fork valley are because of limitations posed by steep, rocky, high elevation terrain. She also pointed out that ranchers in the area are grazing roughly half the number of cattle each season than their permits specify.

"Our inability to achieve desired conditions under current management by both the Forest Service and permitees is not about finding and placing blame, but it is about conditions that are inherent to the terrain," Cooper said. "The majority of the land involved with these two allotments is very steep, rocky, covered with timber and exceedingly difficult to manage."

Cooper said that, of the 131,317 acres in the two allotments, approximately 20 to 30 percent of the land produces abundant forage, is close to water and is not too steep to graze livestock.

"Historically, these allotments were managed for sheep grazing," Cooper said. "Back in the 1960s, these sheep allotments were converted to cattle allotments. So far we have been unable to achieve desired conditions across all acres of each allotment—conditions that meet the Forest Plan standards and mandates from Congress."

The draft EIS was prepared to identify social and environmental issues and to study possible management actions and the effects they might have. The document outlines three alternatives: no change from current management, reduced numbers of livestock along with smaller grazing allotments or a ban on public lands grazing in the area.

The Forest Service’s preferred alternative--an approximately 66 percent reduction in grazing on the Upper East Fork and a 57 percent reduction in grazing on the Lower East Fork--may be unpopular in Custer County, where agriculture and mining have long been significant economic engines.

"Agriculture and related activities provide the major economic base for Custer County," according to the draft EIS. "Specific agricultural activities associated with ranching and farming are considered by many of the local people as the economic mainstay of the county."

According to Forest Service documents, agriculture and agriculture related services comprised approximately 190 of the 1,220 jobs in Challis in 2000. Mining ranked first with 217 jobs in 2000.

Ranchers in the East Fork area did not return the Mountain Express’ phone calls, and Idaho Cattle Association officials were not available to comment early this week.

Cooper stressed that, though the Forest Service has cited a proposed alternative, she has not yet come to a decision. She said she sincerely wants to hear from the public regarding all of the alternatives.

"The decision that I am facing is not an easy one, nor is it simple," she said. "We will continue to listen carefully to all interests. We do this because we not only have legislated mandates to properly manage these natural resources, but we care deeply about the effect our decisions have on the lifestyles and economic well-being of all who use and depend on our national forests."

The area in question is very special to a lot of people, she added.

"We cannot continue with the current management. Changes must take place if the Forest Service is to meet their responsibilities under the law as well as providing the opportunity for the permittees to maintain a viable grazing operation."

According to the Forest Service, a number of changes have occurred since grazing allotment management plans were finalized for the east slope of the White Clouds in the 1970s. Most of the changes have prompted increased scrutiny.

They include new standards in the 1987 Sawtooth National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, a number of fish and wildlife species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, increased recreation and associated conflicts with livestock and the conversion of allotments from sheep to cattle.

"Every allotment has its challenges, but I don’t think there’s any allotment on the SNRA that’s as difficult to manage as these two," Cooper said.

 

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