Appendix D Risk Assessment for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep; Sheep Driveway for the Causeway and Coal Creek Allotments

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1 Appendix D Risk Assessment for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep; Sheep Driveway for the Causeway and Coal Creek Allotments A risk assessment may be conducted for the analysis area if deemed necessary, including routes and stock driveways that are used to access the analysis area by permitted domestic sheep and goats (DS). The purpose of the risk assessment is to provide land managers with a tool (based on the best available science and information) that will portray the predicted risk of contact between DS, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (BHS). The function of the risk assessment is to provide land managers with information that will be applied to the management of the DS to minimize the potential risk of physical contact occurring between DS and BHS. The risk assessment will be updated and risk re-evaluated periodically in communication with permittees and CDOW at least once every five to eight years, more often if risk factors or the management and/or management environment changes. This will be done to specifically identify where and to what extent the most likely BHS/DS interface is located and to monitor changes in risk along that interface at which time management of the DS will be adjusted accordingly. The risk assessment will provide three ratings displaying the predicted risk of physical contact (high risk, moderate risk and low risk). Project design criteria will be applicable in all risk areas where domestic sheep and goats are authorized. High Risk Permitted domestic sheep and goat grazing will not be authorized. In most instances, domestic sheep may still be authorized within the allotment but management will ensure routing and other design criteria to avoid the high risk areas. Once an area is identified as high risk, several adjustments to DS management will be made (through the project-level decision and subsequent implementation actions such as the term grazing permit, allotment management plan, and annual operating instructions). First, the area of high risk will be extended to the next logical topographical barrier, man-made barrier or break in the BHS habitat and /or break in the use area of the BHS. Risk assessment factors will be used in making this determination along with coordination between the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the local Rangeland and Wildlife managers within the US Forest Service and the permittees. Data and logic will be the basis; consensus is not required. The area authorized and currently available for domestic sheep grazing within that allotment will be adjusted, based on the high risk area and logical break-off point as described above. DS management will be adjusted within the remaining suitable grazing area within the allotment. This will often take the form of adjustment of routing schedules, timing, and so forth. Moderate Risk Permitted domestic sheep and goat grazing may be authorized. However, design criteria will still be implemented to strive to reduce the potential for contact even farther. Low Risk Permitted domestic sheep and goat grazing may be authorized. Permitted domestic sheep grazing will be focused towards these areas. However, design criteria should still be implemented to strive to reduce the potential for contact even further. Stock Driveway use and the Risk Assessment 1

2 High Risk Permitted domestic sheep and goat trailing will not be authorized in high risk areas, except as follows: Trailing through high risk areas can occur under the following conditions: Permittee will notify the Forest Service of the exact time they wish to trail through the area (at least one week prior notice). The Forest Service will give approval based on the results of a site check. If approval is given, the permittees must trail through the area within 48 hrs of notice. While trailing through the high risk area, at least one person will be required to be in the lead, one in the middle, and two in the rear (to prevent strays). Sheep must be trailed through high risk areas at a steady pace and will not be allowed to linger in these areas. Overnight camping while trailing will not normally be allowed; however if camping cannot be avoided due to unforeseen circumstances, camping will only be allowed in an area specified by the Forest Service and will only be authorized on a site specific basis. If BHS are in the area, entry across the high risk area will not be allowed during that time and a different method of entry into the allotment will be arranged if possible. Moderate Risk Permitted domestic sheep and goat trailing may be authorized for use on all portions of the stock driveway in areas rated at moderate risk. Camping sites on the stock driveway will be proposed by the permittee and agreed to by the Forest Service in advance of use of the stock driveway. When trailing domestic sheep on stock driveways in moderate risk areas and on major pasture or allotment moves, at least two persons will be required to be present. Low Risk Permitted domestic sheep and goat trailing may be authorized for use on all portions of the stock driveway in areas rated at low risk. Camping sites on the stock driveway will be proposed by the permittee and agreed to by the Forest Service in advance of use of the stock driveway. When trailing domestic sheep on stock driveways in low risk areas and on major pasture or allotment moves, at least two persons will be required to be present. Crossing Permits and the Risk Assessment Any commercial livestock (sheep and goats) movement across National Forest System lands other than permitted livestock operating within the permitted area must be done under a crossing permit. The crossing permit will not be issued if the route will cross high potential risk areas. Areas identified as moderate potential risk may be authorized under design criteria identified above. This PDC will also apply to Alternative 1 (No permitted livestock grazing). Protocol for confirmed contact or threat of impending contact between permitted DS and BHS Follow the response protocol for confirmed contact or threat of impending contact between permitted DS and BHS: Permittee The permittee or their agent will contact the Yampa Ranger District range personnel immediately if BHS come into contact or there is a threat of impending contact with DS. Contact information as well as phone numbers will be included in the Annual Operating 2

3 Instructions. As an immediate response, the permittee and/or the herders will be authorized to haze BHS that are threatening to make contact with DS. The permittee or their agent will be required to notify the CDOW immediately following the hazing of BHS. Forest Service When informed about potential BHS/DS contact, the Forest Service will contact the permittee immediately notifying them of the situation. At this point, the Forest Service and the permittee will implement other design criteria if needed to prevent or reduce the threat of impending contact. At this time an alternate plan of grazing for the remainder of the season, flexible management may be implemented to strive to prevent contact from occurring. Concurrently, as contact or the threat of contact is made known, the Forest Service will contact the CDOW (contact information will be provided to the Forest Service and the permittee prior to the grazing season). Actions that the CDOW will take are at their discretion concerning wildlife health intervention and management of the BHS. The CDOW is committed to addressing these issues. CDOW will inform the Forest Service if the situation is rectified and discussion/planning will occur with the permittee to implement an alternate management strategy if needed. The CDOW may implement post contact monitoring. The Forest Service will make the particular DS band (and the area) a high priority for monitoring to determine if there is BHS activity in the area or if the risk analysis should be revisited. Herder presence At least one herder is required to be with the sheep. The main flock will never be left unattended, except at night, and short periods when the herder is accomplishing other tasks in the immediate area. A herder must remain in the camp during the night. Sick or diseased domestic sheep and goats post turnout Injured, sick or diseased livestock will not be left behind but will be removed or terminated and disposed of according to the Disposal of Dead Livestock requirements below and in accordance with State Statute. Sick or diseased animals will be removed or otherwise eliminated when identified. Sick or diseased domestic sheep and goats pre turnout It is imperative that permittees maintain a high certainty of domestic animal health in their permitted stock. Permittees/Herders will take appropriate measures to prevent turnout of sick or diseased domestic sheep and goats on grazing allotments, on trailing routes, or in weed control or pack-stock situations. It should also be recognized that healthy-appearing domestic sheep and goats may still carry pathogens (harmless to them) that can be transmitted to BHS. Sick or diseased bighorn sheep Sick bighorn sheep or carcasses must be reported as soon as possible to the Yampa Ranger District range personnel. Forest Service personnel will then notify the CDOW as soon as possible. Salting Every effort should be made to deny BHS access and consequent attraction to the domestic sheep salting activities. Leaving available salt or excess salt residue in the soil or on rocks or tubs 3

4 presents a salt source that may attract BHS and may even train BHS to follow the DS bands in search of salt. Blocks of salt will be allowed and, if used, will be kept with the DS at all times. Salt will not be left behind when the DS are moved. Salt or supplement will be placed only in portable tubs on rocky knolls, well-drained sites or in timber where excessive trampling will not destroy plant growth. Salt or supplement will not be placed closer than ¼ mile to streams, springs, water developments, or other wetlands without prior approval of the Forest Officer. Salt or supplement will not be placed near trailheads, on open roads, in natural travel routes, passes, parks, meadows, in areas of concentrated public use, or in other areas where such placement is liable to result in conflicts with other Forest users. Salt or supplement will not be placed within tree regeneration areas where the smallest trees are less than three feet tall. Avoid salting in areas where soil health issues exist, in riparian areas and eroded areas. Herder education It is of utmost importance that the permittees spend as much time as necessary teaching the herders the requirements attached to the grazing permit, annual operating instructions and all the applicable Project Design Criteria included here. Following procedures to avoid contact and prompt accurate reporting of BHS/DS contact or impending contact is essential. Herders are crucial to ensuring proper management and in maintaining compliance to an exacting standard. Ultimately the responsibility rests upon the permittees to ensure compliance is being achieved. Recreational Pack Goats Outreach/education will be implemented by the Forest Service in the form of notices posted at trailheads, informing users and potential users of pack goats of the risks to BHS from contact with DS. Notices will encourage recreational users keep their pack goats from coming into contact with BHS. Recreational users will be encouraged to keep goats in close control, picketed or nightpenned to prevent strays. Prompt reporting of potential or observed interaction between BHS and domestic sheep and goats will be encouraged. Application for commercial use of pack goats will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Authorization will not occur in any predicted high or moderate risk areas. If authorization is granted, project design criteria will be required to ensure separation between domestic goats and BHS. Protocol for management, retrieval, and disposition of non-permitted errant domestic sheep, goats and exotic breeds Follow the response protocol for management, retrieval, and disposition of non-permitted errant (e.g. feral, abandoned) domestic sheep, goats and exotic breeds (e.g., aoudad, Iranian red sheep, urial, argali) for which an owner can be determined and /or no owner can be determined and which threaten to come in contact with wild sheep occurring on Forest Service lands on the Yampa Ranger District and borders with other Forest Service unit jurisdictions and other agencies federal and state. This is applicable to all areas, not just areas that are authorized for grazing of DS. The protocols are: Permittee The permittee will contact the Yampa Ranger District range personnel immediately if BHS come into contact or there is a threat of impending contact with DS or exotic breeds that are not in their ownership. Contact information as well as phone numbers will be included in the Annual Operating Instructions. Permittees will require herders to report any instances of DS and/or 4

5 exotic breeds not in their ownership that have made contact or situations where impending contact with BHS may occur. Forest Service When contact or the threat of contact is made known, the Forest Service will contact the CDOW (contact information will be provided to the Forest Service and the permittee prior to the grazing season). Actions that the CDOW will take is at their discretion concerning wildlife health intervention and management of the BHS. CDOW will inform the Forest Service if the situation is rectified and discussion/planning will occur to implement the flexible management with the permittee if needed. The CDOW may implement post-contact monitoring. Forest Service law enforcement will be notified if appropriate to the situation. The Forest Service will take timely action in accordance with applicable laws to locate and eliminate the non-permitted animals. The Forest Service will make the particular area a high priority for monitoring to determine if there are other non-permitted and/or exotic breeds in the area or BHS activity in the area. General wildlife sighting reporting Permittees will be required to report wildlife sightings on the annual actual use form that must be turned in each fall to the Forest Service; however BHS sightings in the proximity of the DS band must be reported immediately. If BHS are seen near or on any Forest Service sheep and goat allotment, follow protocol above. Planned domestic sheep estrus cycle The planned breeding season for the DS operation will not occur during the permitted grazing season on the National Forest. This is to lessen the attraction of BHS rams to domestic sheep ewes in estrus. Permitted domestic sheep stray management Accountability of DS Extensive efforts will be made by the permittee to remove every authorized domestic sheep from the Analysis Area following the grazing season. All sheep must be accounted for (dead or alive) as they enter and exit each allotment, and as they exit the Analysis Area at the end of the season. Special attention should be given to accounting for sheep at all times. If sheep are unaccounted for, diligent efforts should be made to locate them as quickly as possible. If the Forest Service feels that appropriate efforts are not being implemented, a count-on/count-off inventory will be required as a condition of operation. Response to report of stray DS Permittees will be required to respond to reports of stray domestic sheep within 24 hours of notice by the Forest Service. A follow-up report (verbal or written) will be provided to the Forest Service on time, date and action taken to resolve the matter; within four days from the notice given by the Forest Service. Trailing 5

6 Random on-site compliance monitoring to minimize strays will be conducted by the Forest Service. Trucking of domestic sheep and goats is preferred to trailing except in situations where risk of contact is possible (i.e., trucking drop off points in subpopulation areas). In most cases trucking reduces the chance of stray DS, and lessens the chance of opportunistic contact by wandering wild sheep. Domestic sheep will be kept in a tight group during trailing. Domestic sheep identification Permittees will be required to freshly mark (sheep paint) their sheep before they enter onto the National Forest. The Forest Service will coordinate with the permittees annually with specific information regarding color of paint used in marking their sheep, brands used, ear tags used and colors, earmarks, and other distinguishing marks or characteristics that may be used in identifying their sheep. In the event, a permittee does not wish to paint brand their sheep due to conflicts with marketing dye-free wool, that permittee will be assigned a region that they will be responsible for responding to all reports of stray domestic sheep (even if it is not their sheep ). 6