The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has determined four grazing allotments south of Bridgeport, CA, in the Sierra Nevada mountains will not be open to cattle grazing. The decision came after the idea was proposed to open up about 16,500 acres of allotments that historically had been dedicated to sheep but were retired after the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep was put on the endangered species list in 2000.
Since domestic sheep can pose health risks to bighorn sheep, domestic sheep grazing permits on the four allotments were not reauthorized or were canceled in the early 2000s. The allotments have not been grazed by livestock since 2009. In 2014, a permittee who had grazed their sheep on the allotments filed a suit against the Bridgeport Ranger District for their permits being canceled.
In 2015, a settlement agreement between the permittee and USFS gave the permittee preference for cattle grazing permits on three allotments if a USFS environmental assessment (EA) supported conversion of the allotments from domestic sheep to cattle. The agreement also included a provision granting the permittee the right to submit a new application for domestic sheep permits if the allotments became available in the future.
In an April 2022 report, the USFS announced its decision to move forward with a no grazing alternative on the four allotments. David Risley, acting district ranger, wrote in the report, “EA and site-specific analysis has highlighted the importance of the various resources and ecosystem services provided by the lands in the project area,” and he determined the project area was not suitable for livestock grazing.
“In short, the wildlife and fish habitat and watershed protection provided by the lands in the project area is of far greater relative value than what would be realized through the addition of livestock grazing,” Risley said.
He noted the allotments include 10,068 acres of bistate sage grouse habitat, and he said not having livestock grazing in some areas for nearly 20 years helped improve the habitat.
Risley also wrote only 44 percent of the project area is capable of supporting cattle grazing, as “steep slopes, lack of water and lack of forage production at high elevations” limit the viable grazing area.
“The land within this project area is providing clean water, wildlife habitat and unique recreation opportunities. The improved conditions across this project area that occurred over the last 10-20 years and the potential for continued improvement outweighs the benefit that would arise from authorizing cattle to graze on the relatively small remaining portion of the allotment,” Risley concluded.
In response, conservation groups applauded the decision. “I am very pleased that the Forest Service made the best decision for sage grouse, bighorn sheep and the many other rare species that call this eastern Sierra landscape home,” said Laura Cunningham, Western Watersheds Project California director. “The breathtaking scenery here deserves better than to be used for commercial livestock production.”
Center for Biological Diversity senior attorney Lisa Belenky added, “This is the right move by the Forest Service; it will allow habitat recovery to continue, protect rare riparian areas and cultural values.”
Background
The USFS conducted a public scoping period from May-June 2018 and published a proposed action plan in July 2019. The public was then again able to comment on the plan through August 2019. In December 2021, the USFS provided a second commenting period. Throughout the commenting process, many wilderness organization members submitted comments against the plan. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
