Climate variation, range management mechanisms, limitations and opportunities on public lands: a land Management agency s perspective

Transcription

1 Climate variation, range management mechanisms, limitations and opportunities on public lands: a land Management agency s perspective Kathryn Dyer BLM Nevada State Range Program Lead

2 Fundamentals of Range Health Code of Federal Regulations Rules of the game NEPA Multiple approaches possible Built in adaptation for climate variation Other management potentials Limitations Opportunities

3 43 CFR 4180 Fundamentals of Rangeland Health and Standards and Guidelines for Grazing Administration The authorized officer shall take appropriate action under subparts 4110, 4120, 4130, and 4160 of this part as soon as practicable but not later than the start of the next grazing year upon determining that existing grazing management needs to be modified to ensure that the following conditions exist.

4 4 Fundamentals of Rangeland Health (a) Watersheds (b) Ecological (c) Water quality (d) Habitats

5 CFR Definitions To establish a common understand of applicable terms.

6 CFR Definitions Annual Rangelands means those designated areas in which livestock forage production is primarily attributable to annual plants and varies greatly from year to year. Ephemeral Rangelands means areas of the Hot Desert Biome (Region) that do not consistently produce enough forage to sustain a livestock operation but may briefly produce unusual volumes of forage to accommodate livestock grazing.

7 Perennial system vs. annual system. Perennial More reliable forage base Potential to become intact system Higher habitat quality values Annual Unreliable forage base Requires different permitting Lacks ecological functionality Not a priority for restoration dollars

8 CFR Definitions cont. Activity Plan means a plan for managing a resource use or value to achieve specific objectives. For example, an allotment management plan is an activity plan for managing livestock grazing use to improve or maintain rangeland conditions.

9 43 CFR (a) Specifying permitted use Permitted use is granted to holders of grazing preference and shall be specified in all grazing permits or leases. Permitted use shall encompass all authorized use including livestock use, any suspended use, and conservation use, except for permits and leases for designated ephemeral rangelands where livestock use is authorized based upon forage availability, or designated annual rangelands. Permitted livestock use shall be based upon the amount of forage available for livestock grazing as established in the land use plan, activity plan or decision of the authorized officer under , except in the case of designated ephemeral or annual rangelands, a land use plan or activity plan may alternatively prescribe vegetation standards to be met in the use of such rangelands.

10 43 CFR Nonrenewable grazing permits and leases Nonrenewable grazing permits or leases may be issued on an annual basis to qualified applicants when forage is temporarily available, provided this use is consistent with multiple-use objectives and does not interfere with existing livestock operations on the public lands. The authorized officer shall consult, cooperate and coordinate with affected permittees or leasees, the State having lands or responsible for managing resources within the area, and the interested public prior to the issuance of nonrenewable grazing permits or leases.

11 43 CFR (c) Authorizations to use, and directions for placement of supplemental feed, including salt, for improved livestock and rangeland management on the public lands;

12 How Does NEPA fit in? There are 3 general ways to use NEPA in the range program to utilize annually available forage. NEPA can also be used for Fuels Reduction.

13 NEPA TNR EA These NEPA documents are rarely done. Longer to complete the document & decision than the grazing window allows Could be done in conjunction with the permit renewal EA Define criteria for extra use Define monitoring requirements

14 NEPA Permit Renewal EA- These documents could include identification of conditions warranting management changes, and analysis of said management changes. This approach requires monitoring and documentation. Sometimes fairly large yearly modifications to the operation could be found to be environmentally appropriate.

15 IF THEN Monitoring shows that upland key specie utilization is light (under 40%) and riparian stubble height is 6 inches or greater. Following year of scheduled pasture use, increase cattle use by 100 AUMs (200 cattle for 2 weeks). Monitoring shows that upland key specie utilization is moderate (40-60%) and riparian stubble height is greater than 4 inches. Following year of scheduled pasture use, maintain current use levels (No change in cattle numbers or AUMs is necessary). Monitoring shows that upland key specie utilization is heavy (over 60%) or riparian stubble height is less than 4 inches. Following year of scheduled pasture use, decrease cattle use by 100 AUMs (200 cattle for 2 weeks).

16 NEPA District wide Weather Variation EA s Same vein as Drought EAs Would establish overarching guidelines for when utilization of an annual surplus of forage is available. Monitoring would be built in and necessary (pre and post use)

17 Prescribed/Targeted Grazing Large time and monetary inputs Electric fencing, frequent livestock moves, water hauling, etc. Very specific locations and vegetation results May not be available in many locations, due to the specificity involved. Stewardship contracting could be the best avenue for this to be accomplished.

18 Fire/Fuels management Contracts for fuels reduction, fire breaks On C Hill west of Carson Secretarial Order 3336 (January 5, 2015) Protection of sage-grouse habitat

19 Wrap Up Regulatory Fundamentals of Rangeland Health that BLM is committed to attain/maintain. Fundamentals are implemented through locally informed RAC Standards Nevada soil and climate supports perennial ecological systems other than the southern portion (Hot Desert Biome). Perennial systems offer the most certainty for long term livestock operation sustainability, and conversion to annual grasses is not desirable for either ecological or economical sustainability. BLM cannot manage towards/for annuals and meet RAC Standards. There are several NEPA options to authorize use of temporarily available forage. BLM is interested in input and collaboration to guide the use of temporarily available forage.