Despite less than perfect rangeland conditions on Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, cattle grazing is still a legitimate use if managed carefully, monument officials say.
The hardscrabble monument in Southwest Colorado is more known for having the most dense concentration of Native American cultural sites in the U.S. than for cattle grazing.
But during a recent public tour of the monument’s controversial Flodine allotment, the pros and cons of cattle grazing were debated between environmentalists who argue it is inappropriate in a fragile desert with ruins, and local ranchers who depend on it for their livelihood.
An overarching legal document for the monument is its Proclamation, which specifically allows for grazing, said monument manager Marietta Eaton.
“As long as it does not compromise the other values such as cultural resources, it states clearly that grazing can continue,” she said. “We’re here to listen to all concerns, and work towards a balanced solution with a new analysis.”
Flodine and Yellow Jacket
These two allotments have become ground zero for the debate about how much grazing should occur on the monument. They have not been grazed since 2005, but due to pressure from Montezuma County and local ranchers, they were poised to be re-issued last month by the BLM at reduced stocking levels.
However, citing pressure from environmental groups and the need for an updated rangeland study, monument officials in October suddenly held off on issuing the permits until a new Environmental Assessment can be done, expected to take one year.
Rangeland assessments will be conducted in May to determine vegetation and soil health, location of sensitive cultural sites, and potential stocking capacity, said Mike Jensen, a BLM range specialist.
“We’re starting over with a clean slate, and will do a full evaluation then come out with a range of alternatives, including a no-grazing alternative,” he said. “The last range assessment was in 2001.”
Jensen defended the earlier decision to re-issue the permits, noting that stocking levels for the allotments were reduced by 60 percent or more from 2005. Flodine dropped from 143 head of cattle to 57 head of cattle. Yellow Jacket was reduced from 250 head to 86 head. Also, one in every three years, the allotment was not to be grazed in spring.
Poor rangeland health
But despite the dramatic cutbacks, a coalition of local and national environmental groups protested re-issuing the permits citing outdated range studies and poor rangeland health.
BLM officials admitted that most of the 23 grazing allotments on the monument do not meet the rangeland health standards set by the National Land Conservation Service. One cause was overgrazing, which led to the significant reductions in stocking. Trespass cattle are also a problem for allotments as well as trespass horses along the Utah border.
Representatives of the Grand Canyon Trust and Durango-based Great Old Broads for Wilderness are pushing for a no-grazing alternative on Flodine and Yellow Jacket that includes active range restoration.
“Even after ten years of rest, the range condition still appears poor to me,” said Rose Chilcoat, of Great Old Broads. “Because it’s a monument, is grazing looked at differently to protect the cultural and other natural values that are supposed to be protected?”
BLM range specialist Garth Nelson said grazing permits fall under a tougher standard in the monument, but are still a legitimate use.
“We are treating it as a little more special than other BLM lands, with more public input such as this tour,” he said. “The cultural clearances will be much more robust.”
Eaton added that standing walls and rock-art sites are especially protected from cattle, and will be fenced off where possible. Corals, fences and watering holes where cattle congregate are placed to avoid damaging ruins.
“I can tell you that some pastures will be closed to protect cultural sites,” Eaton said.
