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Forest Update |
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Friday, 18 January 2008 |
Forest Service to revisit Mono Basin sage-grouse habitat grazing plan; Hilton Hotel is area's largest permittee
The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has upheld an appeal by conservation groups and reversed a recent decision by the Bridgeport Ranger District to implement a new grazing plan described in the Great Basin South Rangeland Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Western Watersheds Project and the Sagebrush Sea Campaign appealed the district’s decision in November 2007.
The Forest’s stated reason for reversing the district’s decision is that the new grazing plan failed to address the effects of grazing management on yellow warbler, a sensitive migratory bird species; however, the proposed plan would also result in reduced vegetation, soil erosion, and weed invasion, and affect a wealth of values important to the public.
“The yellow warbler is the tip of the iceberg. This EIS failed to address the serious environmental harm caused by grazing to the very dry and depleted sagebrush habitats on the Bridgeport Ranger District,” said Katie Fite, Biodiversity Director for Western Watersheds Project.
The 410,000 acre (641 square mile) planning area includes portions of Nevada and California in Mineral, Lyon and Mono counties, and is important habitat for mule deer and Mono Basin area sage-grouse. The area was also historic range for the imperiled pygmy rabbit.
Mono Basin sage-grouse are a genetically unique sub-population of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) that occur on the border of California and Nevada. Conservation and faith organizations petitioned to list the Mono Basin grouse as “threatened” or “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act in 2005.
Livestock grazing negatively affects sage-grouse by removing and disturbing vegetation that the grouse use for nesting, feeding, shelter, raising broods and hiding from predators. A survey conducted in the planning area in 2005 found that only 3 chicks recorded per 100 hens.
The Mono Basin area sage-grouse has been reduced to perilously low levels,” said Mark Salvo, Sagebrush Sea Campaign Director for Forest Guardians. “Livestock grazing must be significantly reduced or eliminated if the sage-grouse are to survive.”
The Great Basin South EIS would have imposed an uncertain “adaptive management” scheme on grazing operations, reopened closed areas to grazing, and perpetuated the high permitted numbers of cattle that have already greatly depleted native vegetation in the area.
“These ‘anything goes’ adaptive management plans are a hallmark of the Bush Administration, a scheme intended to free the livestock industry from accountability on public lands,” said Fite. The Hilton Family Trust, which lists Barron and Marilyn June Hilton as beneficiaries, is the major permittee in the area. The Hiltons, like every other permittee, pay $1.35 per animal per month to graze public lands, the minimum fee that can be charged under federal law.
As the impacts of global warming intensify on Nevada’s wildlands, the scenically spectacular Humboldt-Toiyabe Forest—the largest national forest in the lower 48 states—will become increasingly important for the survival of sagebrush species. Conservationists hope that when the district revisits the Great Basin South decision, it will act to better protect public lands and natural resources in the planning area. “This EIS illustrates a systemic problem in the Intermountain Region, where federal agency policies for sagebrush are mired in 1950s range science. Sagebrush habitats are still being treated as sacrifice zones to graze privately owned livestock. This management paradigm is particularly outrageous in Nevada, the driest state in the nation, where foreign-owned gold mines, the Las Vegas Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and other water exporters, and rich hobby ranchers like Hilton hold permits to graze vast swaths of our public land,” remarked Fite. -WWP
Yosemite opens of public scoping for Vogelsang Backcountry Utilities Improvement project
The Vogelsang Backcountry Utility Improvement project is designed to address public health and safety issues and utility deficiencies at the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (VHSC) and the Backpacker's Camp. The deficiencies exist for a variety of reasons including new state and federal regulatory requirements, age and deterioration of existing facilities. The camp's water supply comes from an underground spring which has been used since the camp opened in 1923. The current water supply system was built in 1963 and the wastewater system was replaced in 1987. The composting toilet at the Backpacker's Camp was constructed in 1984 as an experiment and has been closed since 2004 due to extensive damage caused by marmots.
Water supply and wastewater system upgrades would incorporate measures to comply with state and National Park Service regulations. The water supply component may involve adding filtration and disinfection to the water supply and repairing or replacing the water storage tank. The wastewater component may involve addressing grease build-up in the septic tank, fixing or replacing the dosing tank, and repairing the mound system or switching to chlorination and a spray field, and would explore grading and revegetation of the mound. The project may also involve replacing or removing the Backpacker's Camp composting toilet, removing facilities no longer in use, adding stock hitching poles to the backcountry utilities staging area, and restoring social trails.
The public scoping process for this project opened Tuesday, Jan. 15, and will be open until Feb. 13. A link to project information will be posted on the park's Web site at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/vogelsang.htm. A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 1-5 p.m. during the monthly Open House in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium.
Written scoping comments should be postmarked no later than Feb. 15. A draft document will be available for public review this coming summer. To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the EA and to submit written comments:
Mail: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Vogelsang Backcountry Utilities Improvement Project
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Fax: (209) 379-1294
E-mail:
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Web: http://parkplanning.nps.gov
Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks present history speakers series
Learn about the history and unique resources of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks during the parks' upcoming history speaker series. Meet every second and fourth Saturday of the next three months at Three Rivers Union School. These one-hour programs, which are free and open to the public, begin at 6 p.m. For more information. call the Foothills Visitor Center at (559) 565-4212; open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 26: “Shifting Attitudes in Fire Management: A 40th Anniversary” This year marks the 40th anniversary of prescribed and managed lightning fires in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Join Fire Education Specialist Deb Schweizer in an exploration of fire-management history since the parks’ designation. Discover why fire policy and management shifted in 1968 and what factors will influence it in the future.
Saturday, Feb. 9: “Buffalo Soldiers in Sequoia National Park” In the summer of 1903, under the command of Capt. Charles Young, troops I & M of the Ninth Cavalry traveled from the Presidio of San Francisco to Three Rivers. Assigned to protect the park and improve access to the Giant Forest, Capt. Young and his command built a key link in the park road, blazed a trail to the top of Mount Whitney and secured options on the sale of private lands within the park's boundaries. Join Tom Burge, Archeologist for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, to learn more about the historic role the African-American "Buffalo Soldiers" played in the parks’ early days.
Saturday, Feb. 23: “Inside Newly Discovered Ursa Minor Cave” Recently featured in National Geographic, this cavern has captured the interests of scientists and visitors alike. Take a photographic tour of Sequoia’s most recent underground discovery, Ursa Minor, and see its many spectacular formations, old bones, and other interesting features. Hear about ongoing cave research and future management plans from Cave Specialist Joel Despain.
Saturday, March 8: “Everyday Threats to Wildlife” Explore how common things in our environment can have big impacts on our animal neighbors. Wildlife Ecologist Harold Werner discusses the effects of human food, introduction of non-native organisms, changes in land use practices, pesticides, climate change, fire exclusion and human disturbance on wildlife.
Saturday, March 22: “Climate-Friendly Parks: What’s in store for Sequoia and Kings Canyon?” The parks are working towards achieving a special “Climate-Friendly” designation. Join Air Resources Specialist Annie Esperanza to hear about plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and associated air pollutants in daily park operations. What better place than a national park to exemplify preservation of the environment for present and future generations?
-NPS
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 January 2008 )
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