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Journal North: Home | Sports | Opinion | Obits | Entertainment
Friday, May 01, 2009
Group Says Caldera Protection Its Goal
By Raam Wong
Journal Staff Writer
At first blush, WildEarth Guardian's latest initiative may seem startling.
Long critical of cattle grazing on public lands, the group has submitted a $50,000 bid to operate the livestock operation on the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
But the Santa Fe-based group has no intention of saddling up. Its proposal calls for a herd of just “three to five” cows on the 89,000-acre Jemez Mountain property. That would be a big change from the 2,000 head of cattle that munched their way across the preserve's pastures during the grazing season last summer.
WildEarth, the successor to Forest Guardians, says its bid would serve the dual goals of protecting the preserve and making money.
The Valles Caldera Trust has until 2015 to become financially self-sufficient under a congressionally imposed deadline.
“Dollar for dollar, our offer is the best taxpayers can ask for,” said Bryan Bird, the group's public lands director. “Water and wildlife are the highest value the preserve can offer and we want to protect those priceless resources for all New Mexicans. We're willing to pay for that.”
Trust spokesman Terry McDermott said the grazing recommendations are made by the preserve's science and education director. “His recommendations are based on sound scientific research and evaluation,” McDermott said. “We would not be grazing if it was harmful to the Preserve.”
WildEarth also submitted a $35,000 bid last year “for the privilege not to graze the preserve” and instead focus on maximizing fish populations and protecting wildlife. The group's offer was the third highest, with the contract ultimately going to a Las Vegas, N.M., rancher who bid $56,000.
But WildEarth may have also faced some skepticism from preserve managers because the Valless Caldera is required to maintain a “working ranch.”
“We figured in years past they have rejected our bid solely on the fact that we were not going to graze any cows,” said Bird, explaining the group's latest proposal to graze a few cows.
WildEarth came up with the figure “three to five” cows because the request for proposals asked that bidders provide a “range” for the number of cattle they'd be grazing.
However, the Trust says it won't consider proposals with fewer than 500 “animal units” of livestock. An animal unit is equivalent to one mature, lactating cow with a calf at her side, or one mature bull. Yearlings, steers and heifers have a value of 0.7 animal units. WildEarth contends the Trust doesn't have the authority to mandate a minimum number.
The group says cattle gather around streams, damaging banks and pushing sediment into stream beds.
As a result, the preserve's prized trout waters could become wider, shallower and warmer, to the detriment of the fish. The group also says cattle damage natives species and compete for space and forage with elk and other wildlife.
The bid comes as the Trust is considering a number of money-making ideas that might put it in on the path to self-sustainability. The options range from van tours to a luxury lodge.
To date, the preserve's grazing program and limited hunting, fishing and other recreational opportunities have fallen far short of what's needed to pay the bills.
“The Trust is in a bind,” Bird said. “On the one hand, it is required to reach financial self sufficiency, on the other it must protect the area's natural resources and recreation opportunities.”
WildEarth and the group Caldera Action are calling on Congress to replace management of the trust with the National Park Service, allowing a range of low-impact activities without the pressure of turning a profit.
The Trust's McDermott responded: “It is the responsibility of Congress and the electorate to decide any change in the law. We have to follow the law that's on the books.”
Preserve managers believe there's enough forage to support about 540 animal units from about May 30 through around Sept. 30.
The capacity estimate and grazing dates could change depending on the condition of the range as summer approaches.
Of the forage available on suitable land, 60 percent is set aside for conservation, 20 percent is allocated for the resident elk herd, while the remainder is available for grazing and other extractive uses.
The livestock program operates in and around a series of open “valles” totaling about 27,000 acres divided into 18 pastures.
WildEarth says its plan would require no new fences, motorized vehicles or dogs, and limited, if any, use of range riders. The group would monitor vegetation, soils and riparian zones, setting a baseline for future studies if the preserve remains virtually cattle-free.
Before it became WildEarth, Forest Guardians pioneered the strategy of leasing state trust lands for the purpose of conservation.
In 1996, the group leased what would become 2,000 acres of state land on the Rio Puerco south of Cuba and today cottonwoods and willows are flourishing where cows once grazed.
The group says it would like to do similar restoration on the Valles Caldera with the approval of the trust.
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