Local ranchers featured at Range Management Meeting in November

By Maxine Deeter
Contributing Writer
For the second year in a row, La Sal Livestock Company (LLC) of La Sal, owned and operated by Lowry and Justis Redd,  was featured in a panel discussion at the annual Utah Section for Range Management (SRM) meeting held in November.
Last year, along with the BLT Cattle Company also of La Sal, operated by Lowry’s sister and husband and the Ivins brothers operators of Broken I Ranch headquartered in Blanding presented an overview of the success they’ve had with virtual fencing.
This year, the Redds and many others participated in a panel discussion regarding the development of the La Sal Sustainable Collaborative (LLSC).
Things began when a hiker who was associated with Grand Canyon Trust (GCT), was hiking in Lacky Basin on the south side of the La Sals.  He came to  an undeveloped spring  at the end of the canyon. 
The spring was used by both wildlife and livestock.  The area was very wet and while trying to avoid a quagmire by staying on the grass, he fell into a wet area and sank up to his knees.  He was not happy! 
He contributed the damage around the spring to livestock use.  Lacky Canyon was part of a U S Forest Service (FS) grazing allotment utilized by  LLC. 
He took his complaints to FS Supervisor Mike Diem.  Another member of the GCT had worked with the State of Utah, Grazing Improvement Program (GIP) and suggested getting them involved.
In addition, LLC’s term grazing permits were up for renewal.  The usual process for these renewals is an in-depth study by the permitting government agency of all the issues involved in a certain area. 
This scope is beyond just cattle grazing but takes a look at all issues:  plants and animals native to the area, human concerns and the health of the land among others. 
The end product of this study is an Environmental Assessment (EA) which is then used to produce the stipulations and plans for the grazing permit. 
This process  takes a long time and is often frustrating to the proponent.    Once the document is drafted it is put out for public review and comment.  This usually results in hundreds of  comments, many in opposition. 
The majority of these comments are opinions.  Only substantive comments are addressed at the end of the EA after the comment period is over. An example of a substantive comment could be that a threated and endangered species known to be in the area was not addressed in the EA.  Comments are not votes.
The term grazing permit renewals are almost always appealed by environmental groups or other interested parties.  The renewal then makes its way through the court system.  This can take years. 
Until a final decision, the old permit is still the directing force.  Ranchers know this and are willing to allow this process to play out.  This is what Lowry wanted to do in this case.
Diem had a different idea.  He wanted for “front load” the EA.  That is, bring anticipated issues into the EA at the beginning of the process not at the end.  It took some persuading on his part but Lowry finally agreed.  Thus was born the LLSC development.
Interested organizations were invited to the table for the process.  This included Federal agencies, not only the FS but Bureau of Land Management and Natural Resources Conservation Service. 
Several arms of State Government were also involved particularly the GIP headed by Troy Forrest.  He was very valuable in the formation of this agreement. 
It didn’t hurt that he was a local having been born and raised in Monticello.   Working under him was Slate Stewart who was also an immense help in developing this product.
Environmental and other interested groups were also invited to the table to discuss their issues and concerns. 
One litigious group who did not participate but were notorious for appealing every permit renewal had their issues researched and considered. 
The group met twice a year at the Museum in Green River to work through the issues.  It was not an easy task. 
A paid facilitator was brought on board to help the process along in a cordial manner and to assure all parties were heard.  The group also participated in many field trips to see things on the ground.  
Another issue that precipitated collaboration was the discovery by Trout Unlimited of what was supposed to be a rare fish in Chicken Creek which runs through the allotment. 
Brigham Young University scientists were brought in to research the fish.  The area was further impacted by the Pack Creek fire which occurred in the grazing area.  Another purpose of the EA and renewal was a division of the permit with a portion going to BLT. 
There were many issues and concerns to be considered.  It was not going to be an easy process.  The facilitator helped the group set ground rules which included developing a level of trust between all parties involved. 
She assured that the group had the right set of interests and that all parties understood the other’s issues and concerns.  Being on the ground together helped the participants humanize, getting to know each other by more than just diverse concerns. 
The group also met virtually and by phone during the year.  If a party disagreed on an issue, they had to also come to the table with a solution.  Lowry was open to constructive criticism.  The bottom line and common denominator was everyone’s interest in and love of the land.
The group was no longer able to afford the facilitator.  At this point Jan Rinhart of GIP stepped in and served in that role.  It was not an easy process, but finally a document was produced and ready for signature by the involved parties. 
One group agreed to the document but  would  not sign.  An earlier participant had dropped out of the process.  The exercise behind this collaboration is still ongoing. 
The document is forward thinking, put in place to ensure the health of the land not just for the present but for future generations. 
Other government agencies have taken notice of the final document and plan to or are using it in similar situations.  One concern was how to get this idea out to other land managers. 
Lowry ended the discussion at the SRM meeting with something his father Hardy told him, quoting Alan Savory, a pioneer in holistic grazing.  “The best fertilizer for a piece of ground is the operator’s footprint”.