The Trout Creek Mountain Working Group

Item Type text; Article

Authors Hatfield, Doc; Hatfield, Connie

Citation Hatfield, D. & Hatfield, H. (1991). The Trout Creek Mountain Working Group. Rangelands, 13(3), 112-115.

Publisher Society for Range Management

Journal Rangelands

Download date 27/09/2021 00:31:02

Item License http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Version Final published version

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/638798 112 RANGELANDS13(3), June 1991

The Trout Creek Mountain Working Group Doc and Connie Hattleid

History and Background BLM'sprimary role during the 1940's, 50's, and 60's was to Evolutionof the Trout CreekMountain Working Group license and administer grazingpermits. It was not until began in June of 1988. The authors of this article and the 1970's that the importance of the environmental Wayne Elmore were invited by the Oregon BLM Vale affects of grazing were clearly spelled out through envi- District to give atalk to ranchers in theTrout Creek Moun- ronmental lawsuitsand legislation. However, during the tain areaof southeastern Oregon.The purpose of the talk 80's, political appointees in the Interior Department sym- was to give examples of how ranchers in the Prineville pathetic to the Sagebrush Rebellion frequently issued BLM District are able to work cooperatively with the BLM policies that were in direct opposition to the intent of the to make ecological improvement on the land reality. environmentallegislation. The BLM was caught in the Many of the readers of this journal have heard of the middle, attemptingto respondto a series of verycon flict- Prineville, Oregon area as it is well publicized by Wayne ing signals. Elmore who has shown his talk and slides all over the Backto the scene being played in the small bordertown country and become"Mr. Riparian",a well deserved title. of McDermitt, Nevada, that June of 1988. Wayne Elmore Wayne has stayed in the same area for 16 years. The gave his 45-minute riparian talk in 2 hours. Angry discus- dramatic results he shows on the BearCreek watershed sion accompaniedeach slide, and the day endedwith a were possiblebecause: number of talks, including Doc Hatfield's, not being 1) Prinevilledistrict and area managers have been wil- given.There was no time to see how positive resultshad ling to take substantialmanagerial risks to createeco- been accomplished cooperativelyonly 250 miles away. logical improvement. The mood of the room was such that the message would 2) The BLM rancher grazing advisory board has pro- not have gotten through anyway. vided financial and positive peer pressure support. The next day a tour was conducted on the mountain, 3) A range con (Earl McKinney) stayed in place and which rises from 4,000 feet to over 8,000 feet in elevation. builttrust and credibility with ranchers. With that trust The riparian areas had few willow and aspen. Those that and credibility he has been able to negotiate and were present wereold. The history was one of 130years of implementvery non-traditionalflexible grazingstrate- continual livestockgrazing from June to October each one the gies which have resulted in watershed and riparian year. Even though of objectives of the massive Valerange improvement projectof the 60'swas to provide improvement. to Back to the sensitive and TroutCreek Mountain management alternatives benefit the mountain, these fragile alternatives had never been used. area and the June1988 Picturethe settingof one meeting. At the end of the ConnieHatfield could stand it no very angry manager of the Whitehorse Ranch, 5 other day, frustrated and several BLM folks longer.As a "Public Citizen"she expressed her right totry unbelievably ranchers, made that the area conservationists, a and get some changes could benefit the land. including manager, range With substantial from Bob President of the wildlife and a Add in a past history help Skinner, biologist, hydrologist. association,and some friends in the of paperand process orientedBLM management coupled Oregon Cattlem?n's with a new con on the few with environmental community, the authors were able to put range ground every years month never time to build trust and a true rela- togethera meetingone laterat the 14th floor offi- enough working ces of the BLM state director in Portland. tionship with the rancherpermittees. Present at that first of what would become the Also picture that for 21 years concern over riparian meeting conditions and the fate of the resident Lahontian cut- Trout Creek WorkingGroup were 2 representatives ofthe WhiteHorse Ranch, 2 of the lzaak Walton throat trout had been voiced by environmental organiza- representatives League, 1 representative of Oregon Trout, 4 representa- tions including the lzaak Walton League, Audubon, the National Wildlife Environmental Coun- tives of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, the Vale Federation, Oregon District and Area the State Chief of NaturalResources Trout Unlimited, managers, Director, cil, Oregon Council, and the head ofthe statewide. Oregon Trout etc....21 years of environmental concern Resources, Range Program and frustratedranchers with no on the The tension, energy, fear, care, and concern in that significant change roomfor4 hourswas Atthe of the it land for a number of exclosures which inspiring. end day was except study obvious that had be or was showed the of the area. changes to made, everyone potential riparian to lose aftera battle in court. of Viewed with a historical perspective, it is understanda- going big long Regardless ble no hadoccurred in the decision made by District Manager Bill Calkins, why change grazing management. someonewas to it with a lawsuit. And Cattle had been summergrazed on the mountainsince going challenge while a lawsuit is in process, management reverts to his- the late 1800's, establishingan accepted tradition. The EditorsNote. Doc and Connie Hatfield are ranchersin theBrothers, Oregon area. RANGELANDS13(3), June 1991 113 torical precedent which would have meantno change on specificallydesigned forthe benefitof the watershed and the ground. the fish which depends on that watershedfor its exist- Formation and Action of the Trout Creek Mountain ence. It is important to understand that the mountain received two years of voluntary rest before the grazing Working Group decision was issued. Results on the land are there for Folksfrom this meetingin Portlandwith the addition of a member from the Environmental Council and everyone to see today. And the prospect of the land Oregon a much healthierwatershed inthe future is a lot two ranch couplesfrom theTrout Creek area became the becoming more than some dream on "Trout Creek Mountain Working Group". The group's just paper. purposewas to see that change in management occurred immediately that would "make a difference"on the land. The Trout Creek group, working closely with the Vale BLM and full support of the state director, was able to build enough understandingbetween everyone involved that the ranchers involved voluntarilyremoved their cattle for a 3-yearperiod of rest. The Whitehorseand OregonCanyon watersheds ofthe Trout Creek Mountain located in the Vale BLM district completedtheir secondyear of rest thefall of 1990. This will eventuallybe afull 3 years of restfor over 100 miles of critical trouthabitat. A lot of credit forthis action needs to go to the Whitehorse management, who recognizedthat the past130 years ofcontinuous grazing wasnot going to be acceptable in the future.

Unfortunately,the season-long summer grazing program on the Trout Creek Mountainsthat was in place 2 years ago is not that unusual in the West today. Most areas have not had as much public interest as the Trout Creeks. But the sad truth is too much ecologically unsoundgrazing continues to be licensed year after year The Whitehorse ranch made a financial commit- with no changes. big for our current ment to the of thewatershed by leasinganother There are several reasons predicament recovery in theWest. Land laws and bureau- ranch for 3 years and drastically changing their grazing management through on the lower reaches of the watershed. Four cracy is not very effective. The BLM is a politically program has since other ranchersalso made immediate management chan- directedentity which basicallybeen paralyzed from the receives on a that involved considerablewater hauling and 100- 1974 conflicting messages it regu- ges lar basis from and various lawsuits. poundreductions in weaningweights to resttheir areasof Washington,D.C., This can be overcome a consensus use on the mountain. This change was all accomplished paralysis through such as the Trout Creek When voluntarilyeven though it caused extreme financialstress group Working Group. to the ranchers involved. understanding exists between ranchers, environmental- state BLM decisions that benefitthe The District from Value has issued a grazing ists, local and folks, Manager land and can be without in decision from the Whitehorse Butte Allotment which people implemented years court. became effective in late 1990. The grazing strategy is 114 RANGELANDS 13(3), June 1991

Factors which Allowedthe Trout Creek Groupto Exist aspen, trout, wildlife, etc., throughout a watershed and Function covered by a thick stand of vigorous perennial grass. 1) Trustand respectexisted betweena number ofranchers b) Baby, junior, intermediate, andolder ranchers and and environmentalistsin Oregonprior to formation ofthe their livestockoperating in an economicallyand eco- Trout Creek Working Group. logicallysound manner. 2) The problemon the ground was recognizedby both There was considerable relief in the room when the the ranch communityand the environmental community ranchers had no problem working to achieve point (a), who together askedthe BLM to participate in a unique and theenvironmentalists had nodifficulty with point (b). process to find solutions. Descriptionsfor how the land needs to lookthroughout 3) Strong support existedat all BLM managerial levels the watershed in the future were visualized by including thoughout the process. statements such as: How McDermittcreek looks now at 4) Chad Bacon, State Range Conservationist, was the upper access, and how the upper watershed looks detailedby theState Directorto maintain communication now at the head of Oregon Canyon. between the ranch community, the environmental com- 6) At theclose of each meeting, realisticcommitments munity, and the ValeBLM both at the management and on for accomplishingcertain tasks and clearances are made the ground level. Chad's credibility and ability to com- by the ranchers, environmentalists, and BLM folks. The municate with both the ranch and environmental com- ranchers and environmentalistsnetwork with their peers munity has been an important key to success. to build understanding on what is occurring.The BLM's Trust, respect, credibility, and communicationare four commitmentprioritizes their work toward tasks that will simple words to write. They are incredibly difficult items make a differenceon the ground. The BLM is presently to build and maintain. But for lasting success on the land, buried under paperwork requirements without the staff they must exist. or funding to accomplish those demands. It requires some sort of outside consensus pressure plus State The Process at Group Meetings Which Makes Con- Director support to accomplish meaningful change on sensus and Action Possible the ground. 1) Ranch wives are specifically and personallyinvited The Trout CreekWorking Group is a story of building to participate.Ranch men frequentlyare bound by tradi- trust and understanding among people who view the tion tothe way it always has been whichmakes opportuni- same area from avastly different perspective. A small but ties for changedifficult to see. Women in general tend to significant example of what can be done when that trust be more right-brained and betterable to understand the and understandingis developed occurred in Februaryof feelings ofenvironmental folks who are viewingthe situa- 1991. tion from a different perspective. Everyone's feelings.. Eastern Oregon is in a 5-year drought. Wild horse .ranchers, environmentalists and BLM folks. ..have numbers are ata problem level. Places they can water are to be acknowledged before true consensus for change limited. Richard Ytturiondebatia,a rancher on theNevada can occur. border, recognized a very real potential problem. Three 2) Everyonesits in a circle and speaks in turn. A ques- years ago, Richard would have viewed all environmental- tion starts each meetingsuch as..."How do you feel about ists as enemies. However, considerabletrust and respect being here and whatwould you like to help make happen has been built up over the past two and a half years. today"? According to conflict resolution consultantBob Richard felt comfortablein a call over his static- no making Chadwick, one is at a meetinguntil their voice enters ridden ranch radio phone to Monty Montgomery500 the room. By having to think about how you feel (most miles away in Portland, Orego,to talk about the problem. folks feelanxious and frightened, whichmay beexpressed Monty is the chairmanof Oregon'sPublic Land Restora- as anger), the right brain is activated. The right brain is tion Task Force, a division of the lzaak Walton League. where our creativity is located. Answeringthe question, Monty and Richard, visiting jointly with BLM areaman- "What would you like to help make happen today?" ager Dave Atkins, caused a solution to be developed affirms that something is going to happen and you are which is acceptableto all concerns, It is a real break- to be an going important part of it. through when a rancherfeels comfortableabout talking 3) Aftereveryone's voice entersthe room,2 or 3 signif- toan environmentalistabout a problem on the land. When icant problems are discussed. This is in the circle as a togetherthey can talk with three-way mutual respect to a whole, or in smaller breakout groups, but always with BLM manager, resultswill occur. each persongiven the opportunity to speak in turn. The comfort level now exists both ways. The Trout 4) During the meetings of the working group, BLM Creek Mountain meetings have been facilitated by ran- representatives participate in turn as people with con- chers, environmentalists, and the BLM. Mary Hanson cerns and cares, not just as BLM employees doing their from the OregonEnvironmental Council served as facilit- job. ator for the January 91 Trout Creek Meetingin McDer- 5) Efforts of the group are goal oriented. The group's mitt, Nevada. Later she told us she felt morecomfortable future "Big Picture" includes.... about getting straightanswers about what was going on a) Baby,junior, intermediate and older aged willows, fromranchers in theTrout Creek Groupthan shedid anyother RANGELANDS13(3), June 1991 115 source available. That reality interested her since they land. But the time is right for more people-to-people were potential adversaries. alliances where land owners, environmentalists and fed- It takes peopleto improveland. We already have more eral agency folks work cooperatively to produce action laws and technical informationthan we need. Time is not on the ground. Plain folks can make a difference, and we on ourside in the struggleto solve problemson the public need to do it now.

Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland, Livestock Grazing, and Sustainability Jerry L. Holechek

Livestock grazing on public lands has becomeone of Table 1. Average forage and poisonous plant production (lbs/ac) the most controversial natural resource issues in the (1988 & 1989) on good condition—moderately grazed and faIr western USA. Some environmental are advocat- condItion—heavily grazed Chlhuahuan desert rangelands near groups Las Cruces,New Mexico'. ing completeelimination of livestockgrazing on federal lands. Ranchers contendthat grazing is a long-standing traditional use of these lands necessary to maintain the Good Fair health of local economies. In condition- condition- some cases, both groups moderately heavily have taken extreme positions that avoid the real issue, grazed grazed which has to do with degree. There is substantialhistori- pastures2 pastures3 cal and present day evidence that shows unmanaged Grasses livestockgrazing is very destructiveof soil, plant, water, Blackgrama 271 28 and wildlife resources. excellent Mesadropseed 120 6 However, many long Threeawn 110 13 term studiesare also available that show controlled live- Other grasses 39 108 stock grazing usingsound range management principles Total 540 155 will sustain and in many cases improve these same Palatableforbs resources. Failure to distinguishproperly controlledfrom Croton 20 5 poorly controlledlivestock grazing is the major reason for Buckwheat 5 6 the conflict between ranchers and Globemallow 3 5 environmental groups. Other forbs 4 3 It is important to recognizethat practically any land use, Total 32 19 when leads to resource destruction. This unmanaged, Poisonous 94 189 wildlife and plants appliesto mining, logging, farming, grazing, Redroot pigweed 0 1 recreation as well as livestockgrazing. Silverleaf nightshade 1 2 White margin euphorbia 1 1 Importance of Stocking Rate Other poisonous plants 2 24 Total 98 217 Control of rate is the main tool for stocking making 'Source: Tembo 1990. livestockgrazing sustainable. Properstocking rate refers 2Grazed to remove about 30% of perennial grass production. to the numberof animalsthat can graze a pieceof range- 3Grazed to remove about 50% of perennialgrass production. land over time without the soil and degrading vegetation fordesert As an resource, and will improve poor condition areas. The much slower comparedto humid ranges. in the of northeastern New most controversial issue in setting stocking rates has example, shortgrass country which receives 12—16 inches annual been the degreeof use which the major forageplants can Mexico, average from severe isalmost withstand. For many years, ranges throughout the USA rainfall,vegetation recovery overgrazing have been on the basis of take half always reversible and requires less than 10 years. How- commonly managed in desert areas of southern New and leave half. This guideline works fine for the higher ever, the Chihuahuan rainfall and southern This criter- Mexicowhich receive 8-11 inches annual average precip- prairie pine range types. of after severe ion has proven disastrous for the arid, desert rangelands itation, recovery forage species degrada- tion has been almost nonexistent even after 20 or more of the IntermountainWest. Precipitationdrives plant re- after Due to lower and amount years of complete rest. A much more conservative live- covery grazing. frequency is to sustain the south- of precipitation, plants in desert areas produce less total stock grazing strategy required western than forthose in the northeastern of tissue, and regenerationof leaves after grazing is much ranges part slowerthan in the humid areas. This necessitates a lower the state. from the Ranch and the utilization level for the desert areas. Long-term studies College Jornada located near Las Cruces Though generally not recognized, vegetationdegrada- Experimental Ranges tion by overgrazingoccurs more quickly and recoveryis show that livestockgrazing is sustainable in the Chihua- huan desert, provided thatthe stocking rates used remove, Author is with the Departmentof Animal and RangeSciences, Box 30003, one third of the New Mexico State University,Las Cruces,New Mexico 88003. on the average, about perennial grass