Appendix K
 Livestock Grazing 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

BLM NEVADA 

FT MCDERMITT 00003 1,553 12,843 5 

JORDAN MEADOWS 00004 11,720 106,495 5 

U C 00005 12,902 45,248 5 

CROWLEY CREEK 00006 3,303 49,984 5 

POLE CREEK 00008 2,988 34,348 5 

DOUBLE H 00010 1,687 47,276 5 

CHIMNEY CREEK 00021 460 3,091 5 

PARADISE HILL 00022 2,191 21,712 5 

ABEL CREEK 00023 1,956 11,607 5 

SINGUS 00024 350 2,774 5 

HANSON CREEK 00025 151 1,664 5 

FORT SCOTT 00026 361 2,702 5 

GRANITE 00027 216 1,966 5 

SOLID SILVER 00028 246 1,901 5 

INDIAN CREEK 00029 250 960 5 

MULLINIX 00030 133 1,485 5 

BUTTERMILK 00031 2,525 23,512 5 

BULLHEAD 00033 12,050 142,361 5 

SPRING CREEK 00034 2,488 22,791 5 

WILLIAM STOCK 00035 5,905 63,989 5 

LITTLE OWYHEE 00036 27,800 560,815 5 

IRON POINT 00039 1,240 17,360 5 

APPENDIX K 

LIVESTOCK GRAZING 

SUB-REGION GRAZING DATA 

Table K-1, BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data, provides allotment 

specific data for all grazing allotments within the planning area. 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-1 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

SUGAR LOAF 00045 602 5,567 5 

PUEBLO MOUNTAIN 00046 2,137 33,648 5 

WILDER-QUINN 00047 14,379 188,274 5 

KINGS RIVER 00048 12,192 1,459,993 5 

HORSE CREEK 00049 3,521 38,859 5 

LITTLE HORSE CREEK 00050 524 3,556 5 

ALDER CREEK 00051 5,913 123,363 5 

DYKE HOT 00052 1,636 23,346 5 

COYOTE HILLS 00053 2,633 38,315 5 

PINE FOREST 00054 9,700 136,200 5 

DEER CREEK 00055 754 30,340 5 

HAPPY CREEK 00056 3,724 95,126 5 

PAIUTE MEADOWS 00057 3,549 168,538 5 

JACKSON MOUNTAIN 00058 8,857 364,991 5 

DESERT VALLEY 00059 1,596 56,965 5 

WILLOW RANCH 00062 3,621 63,510 5 

3-BARS 00064 5,840 76,740 5 

KNOTT CREEK 00065 5,936 64,062 5 

BOTTLE CREEK 00066 3,434 132,485 3 

MARTIN CREEK 00068 300 6,160 5 

SAN ANTONE 00072 13,505 442,555 5 

BUTTERFIELD 00073 4,776 122,080 5 

SMOKY 00074 5,593 125,247 2 

FRANCISCO 00075 1,369 16,896 2 

RALSTON 00076 0 368,682 5 

MONITOR 00077 0 92,463 5 

HUNTS CANYON 00078 2,237 93,558 5 

WAGON JOHNNIE 00079 1,219 28,157 5 

WILLOW CREEK 00081 338 12,691 5 

STONE CABIN 00082 13,963 389,499 5 

MOREY 00083 1,304 72,806 5 

HOT CREEK 00084 6,363 154,483 5 

REVEILLE 00085 25,730 657,520 2 

NYALA 00088 13,255 321,274 5 

ROCK CREEK 00101 2,392 23,275 5 

GOSHUTE MTN 00102 465 5,771 3 

MELODY 00103 1,020 4,048 5 

COAL CANYON-POKER 00104 3,144 97,829 5 

GOLDBANKS 00105 2,357 37,526 5 

RED HILLS 00108 2,600 35,489 5 

CLEAR CREEK 00109 2,931 48,370 4 

PLEASANT VALLEY 00110 405 5,113 5 

HUMBOLDT HOUSE 00112 728 22,550 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-2 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

PLEASANT VALLEY 00114 10,553 173,400 5 

PRINCE ROYAL 00115 153 9,961 5 

PUMPERNICKEL 00116 9,417 126,142 5 

STAR PEAK 00118 3,075 83,656 5 

NEGRO CREEK 00120 3,727 31,985 4 

SACRAMENTO PASS 00123 1,945 40,582 5 

BUFFALO HILLS 00127 4,114 440,982 5 

SOLDIER MEADOWS 00128 12,168 331,691 5 

COYOTE 00130 3,051 34,337 5 

RAGGED TOP 00131 0 85,920 5 

COTTONWOOD 00132 2,248 49,975 5 

HAMBLIN VALLEY 00133 8,177 105,831 5 

BLUE WING/7 TROUGHS 00135 17,245 1,192,778 5 

MALLORY SPRINGS 00136 940 12,186 4 

HUMBOLDT VALLEY 00138 2,900 105,190 5 

LEADVILLE 00141 1,291 54,013 5 

SOUTH BUFFALO 00142 122 229,587 5 

DIAMOND S 00144 1,158 19,070 5 

BILK CREEK 00147 3,030 40,999 5 

JERSEY VALLEY 00148 1,173 66,498 5 

PROVO 00149 1,120 9,878 5 

UTAH/NEVADA NORTH 00151 2,115 67,364 3 

WEST BIG SPRINGS 00152 3,651 107,946 3 

CURRANT RANCH 00153 282 10,500 4 

BLUE EAGLE 00156 2,026 45,499 2 

INDIAN CREEK 00401 177 3,167 2 

GOSHUTE BASIN 00402 449 9,397 2 

CHERRY CREEK 00403 6,197 153,107 4 

BECKY CREEK 00404 671 12,904 4 

NORTH STEPTOE 00405 700 12,701 3 

LOVELL PEAK 00406 105 2,360 4 

SCHELLBOURNE 00407 685 16,316 4 

WHITEMAN CREEK 00408 384 5,417 4 

BENNETT CREEK 00409 37 1,473 4 

BIG INDIAN CREEK 00410 99 6,144 4 

MIDDLE STEPTOE 00411 173 2,361 4 

DUCKCREEK FLAT 00412 1,347 32,406 4 

GOLD CANYON 00413 1,068 23,640 4 

STEPTOE 00415 2,836 44,025 2 

HEUSSER MOUNTAIN 00416 1,486 33,956 2 

SECOND CREEK 00417 358 7,776 4 

GALLAGHER GAP 00418 169 3,299 4 

DUCKCREEK BASIN 00419 436 8,301 4 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-3 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

SCHOOLHOUSE SPRING 00420 191 7,033 4 

GOAT RANCH 00421 213 5,524 4 

GEORGETOWN RANCH 00422 1,675 23,688 4 

DUCKCREEK 00423 321 9,531 4 

GILFORD MEADOWS 00424 420 4,666 4 

NO. STEPTOE TRAIL 00426 253 1,181 3 

COPPER FLAT 00427 3,033 40,058 1 

BIG ROCK SEEDING 00428 621 1,862 4 

WEST SCHELL BENCH 00433 1,389 25,915 5 

MEDICINE BUTTE 00501 7,701 287,368 2 

NORTH BUTTE 00502 180 26,467 4 

THIRTY MILE SPRING 00503 8,405 178,716 2 

SOUTH BUTTE 00504 396 26,081 4 

SO. BUTTE SEEDING 00506 245 968 1 

BUTTE SEEDING 00507 275 976 4 

RAILROAD PASS 00601 3,542 27,025 2 

COLD CREEK 00603 5,803 62,103 2 

WARM SPRINGS 00606 7,709 306,971 4 

STRAWBERRY 00607 1,032 21,135 2 

NEWARK 00608 9,709 218,105 2 

DRY MOUNTAIN 00609 1,751 27,552 4 

SIX MILE 00613 1,209 21,335 4 

MONTE CRISTO 00614 1,129 6,138 4 

SOUTH PANCAKE 00615 1,155 31,088 4 

EVANS 00617 0 1,814 5 

RUBY VALLEY 00619 467 20,081 4 

HORSE HAVEN 00620 1,056 25,000 4 

MAVERICK SPRINGS 00621 1,500 42,679 4 

WARM SPRINGS TRL 00622 2,480 16,385 4 

SILVERADO 00623 338 6,284 4 

DUCKWATER 00701 20,844 807,662 1 

MOORMAN RANCH 00802 4,740 123,491 4 

TOM PLAIN 00803 4,439 77,039 1 

INDIAN JAKE 00804 1,970 47,168 2 

MCQUEEN FLAT 00805 495 10,403 1 

PRESTON 00806 190 10,250 4 

SAWMILL BENCH 00807 114 319 2 

ROCK CANYON 00808 432 7,256 5 

DOUGLAS POINT 00810 368 19,318 2 

DOUGLAS CANYON 00811 175 11,422 4 

BIG SIX WELL 00812 140 2,412 5 

SIX MILE RANCH 00814 162 2,232 4 

DEE GEE SPRING 00815 200 4,975 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-4 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

NORTH COVE 00816 1,003 25,446 5 

COVE 00817 1,544 26,538 2 

SORENSEN WELL 00818 193 5,880 5 

WELLS STATION 00819 312 13,926 5 

JAKES UNIT TRAIL 00821 832 15,056 4 

PRESTON LUND TRAIL 00822 1,569 10,856 4 

BADGER SPRING 00823 1,412 24,125 4 

WILLOW SPR SEEDING 00824 63 300 4 

WILLOW SPR ADDITION 00825 103 660 4 

GIROUX WASH 00826 5,326 48,200 1 

DARK PEAK 00827 1,826 19,477 5 

MAYBE SEEDING 00828 300 941 5 

SHEEP TRAIL SEEDING 00829 200 564 4 

EAST WELLS 00830 122 3,542 5 

BROWN KNOLL 00831 161 10,366 3 

SWAMP CEDAR 00832 192 6,333 5 

TAMBERLAINE 00901 0 31,692 5 

WHITE ROCK 00902 5,622 80,513 2 

CATTLE CAMP/CAVE VAL 00903 6,878 75,846 2 

CAVE VALLEY RANCH 00904 2,403 38,524 4 

SHEEP PASS 00905 1,150 26,800 5 

SHINGLE PASS 00906 2,724 74,788 4 

HAGGERTY WASH 00907 194 904 1 

CAVE VALLEY SDG 00908 200 942 5 

COLD SPRING 00909 1,265 10,253 5 

LAKE AREA 00910 2,978 27,556 1 

LITTLE WHITE ROCK 00913 904 13,012 5 

CHIMNEY ROCK 00914 1,233 20,037 5 

CONNORS SUMMIT 00915 2,449 27,316 5 

ANDRAE 01001 4,565 17,102 5 

BUCKET FLAT 01002 188 1,551 5 

TIMBER MOUNTAIN 01004 2,368 43,839 1 

CORNUCOPIA 01006 2,634 15,272 5 

EAGLE ROCK 01008 5,505 27,685 5 

FOREST MOON 01010 2,263 108,273 1 

HADLEY 01011 4,276 27,323 5 

TAYLOR CANYON 01014 2,369 8,672 5 

INDIAN CREEK FFR 01015 626 3,969 5 

LIME MOUNTAIN FIELD 01017 1,769 8,836 5 

LITTLE HUMBOLDT 01018 8,279 68,879 5 

PETAN OWYHEE UNIT 01019 2,094 12,604 5 

MARYS MOUNTAIN 01020 1,408 15,184 5 

PALISADE 01021 1,336 10,635 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-5 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

MORI 01022 2,245 9,753 5 

SPANISH RANCH 01023 22,201 142,173 5 

OWYHEE 01024 23,247 370,300 2 

SQUAW VALLEY 01025 26,796 212,105 5 

SIX MILE 01026 184 849 5 

T LAZY S 01027 11,907 68,797 5 

CRESCENT (N-4) 01028 951 61,502 4 

QUARTER CIRCLE S 01030 5,191 2,286 5 

TUSCARORA 01031 9,166 49,303 5 

25 ALLOTMENT 01032 34,130 309,390 5 

VN POCKET-ALLIED 01033 1,310 8,613 5 

WILSON MOUNTAIN 01035 308 3,168 5 

Y P ALLOTMENT 01037 13,023 97,111 5 

MIDAS 01038 711 3,992 5 

VN POCKET PETAN 01039 983 6,623 5 

N4/N5 01049 825 43,500 1 

PANACA CATTLE 01053 453 16,275 4 

MCCUTCHEON SPRINGS 01054 446 18,276 1 

RABBIT SPRING 01057 884 20,975 5 

RED BLUFF 01059 34 12,125 5 

SHADOW WELLS 01060 577 17,862 1 

ROAD SIDE 01061 32 1,123 1 

CRESCENT (N-5) 01062 1,540 36,689 4 

SAND SPRINGS 01066 10,000 249,685 1 

WARM SPRINGS 01080 74 1,401 1 

PIOCHE 01086 402 13,440 2 

GEYSER RANCH 01101 12,308 237,413 1 

WILSON CREEK 01201 44,587 1,077,994 1 

EVANS FFR 02000 105 1,121 5 

ADOBE HILLS 02101 2,208 23,007 5 

ANNIE CREEK 02102 592 2,404 5 

BEAVER CREEK 02103 14,258 75,139 5 

BLUE BASIN 02104 6,467 37,700 5 

BRUNEAU RIVER 02105 838 3,655 5 

COAL MINE BASIN 02106 1,524 8,749 5 

COTANT SEEDING 02107 720 3,225 5 

EAGLE ROCK 1 02108 1,365 8,345 5 

DOUBLE MOUNTAIN 02109 5,126 38,242 5 

FOX SPRINGS 02111 624 3,259 5 

HALLECK FFR 02112 178 4,037 5 

LONE MOUNTAIN 02113 7,202 32,927 5 

MAHALA CREEK 02114 2,857 19,250 5 

MASON MOUNTAIN 02115 186 839 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-6 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

BOULDER FIELD 02116 838 6,135 5 

MEXICAN FIELD 02117 546 2,979 5 

NORTH FORK GROUP 02118 16,068 116,336 5 

RATTLESNAKE CANYON 02119 2,592 10,393 5 

WHITE FLATS FFR 02120 110 2,519 5 

ROUGH HILLS 02121 887 5,233 5 

STONE FLAT 02123 717 3,117 5 

WHITE ROCK 02124 795 5,318 5 

WILD HORSE GROUP 02125 5,095 29,478 5 

MCKINLEY FFR 02128 727 5,651 5 

ADOBE 02129 526 2,484 5 

STONE FLAT FENCED FR 02130 41 273 5 

LONG FIELD 02133 209 4,892 5 

DORSEY 02134 1,176 6,809 5 

SOUTH FOUR MILE 02135 2,778 1,981 5 

NORTH FOUR MILE 02136 4,372 25,024 5 

STEVEN'S 02137 479 2,095 5 

JACKSTONE 02138 652 7,100 5 

BOARD CORRAL FFR 02139 24 2,013 5 

NORTH BUFFALO 02145 3,447 55,071 5 

ANTELOPE MOUNTAIN 03001 6,362 53,755 3 

BIG CANYON 03004 3,050 14,898 5 

CLAN ALPINE 03009 10,210 367,703 5 

CONSTANTIA SOUTH 03012 642 10,472 1 

COW CANYON 03015 2,390 146,179 5 

DIXIE VALLEY 03018 6,341 282,801 5 

EASTGATE 03020 9,770 306,937 5 

EDWARDS CREEK 03021 3,300 55,730 3 

FLANIGAN 03022 5,015 56,079 1 

FRENCHMAN FLAT 03024 2,001 67,126 5 

HARDSCRABBLE CANYON 03027 1,222 11,575 5 

HOLE IN THE WALL 03030 1,488 84,210 5 

HORSE SPRING 03032 600 14,548 3 

MOUNTAIN WELL-LAPLAT 03039 8,004 137,683 3 

OLINGHOUSE 03041 696 23,162 1 

PAH RAH 03042 184 4,504 5 

PAIUTE CANYON 03043 4,800 71,514 5 

SALT WELLS 03050 1,626 58,611 3 

SPANISH SPR/MUSTANG 03052 1,542 25,521 3 

WHITE CLOUD 03057 1,884 79,663 1 

WHITE HILLS 03058 1,206 25,875 3 

WINNEMUCCA RANCH 03059 3,230 43,457 5 

ANDERSON CREEK 03201 5,559 21,560 3 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-7 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

ANTELOPE 03202 478 3,250 5 

BARTON 03203 810 2,938 5 

BEAR CREEK 03204 240 1,248 5 

BIG BEND 03205 10,207 49,306 5 

BISHOP CREEK 03206 1,136 6,840 5 

BISHOP FLAT 03207 226 1,519 5 

BLACK BUTTE 03208 6,489 28,172 5 

BLUFF CREEK 03209 6,923 51,166 5 

WEST BUCKHORN 03210 2,586 22,017 5 

CEDAR HILL 03212 979 4,644 5 

ANTELOPE BASIN 03213 3,278 16,774 3 

COTTONWOOD 03214 2,144 16,689 2 

DAIRY VALLEY 03215 7,231 51,769 5 

DEETH 03216 20,548 125,397 3 

DEVILS GATE 03217 6,118 49,796 5 

GAMBLE INDIVIDUAL 03218 17,938 209,799 5 

PILOT VALLEY 03219 5,008 43,825 5 

GROUSE CREEK 03220 1,983 16,902 5 

GULLEY 03221 1,633 11,201 5 

HD 03222 22,827 238,165 5 

HOLBORN 03223 2,267 26,598 5 

HOT CREEK 03224 4,066 16,856 3 

HUBBARD VINEYARD 03225 13,031 112,213 2 

JACKPOT 03226 7,006 67,406 5 

LITTLE GOOSE CREEK 03227 6,282 69,447 5 

METROPOLIS 03228 2,510 23,947 5 

METROPOLIS SEEDING 03229 1,126 2,455 1 

MORGAN HILL 03230 1,269 13,652 5 

O'NEIL 03231 9,663 66,099 5 

POLE CREEK 03232 597 5,301 5 

RABBIT CREEK 03233 1,072 5,464 5 

SALMON RIVER 03234 27,304 278,157 3 

SPRATLING 03235 1,013 5,449 5 

STAG MOUNTAIN 03236 8,273 40,000 5 

STORMY 03237 8,836 50,671 3 

TOWN CREEK 03238 1,110 5,507 5 

TROUT CREEK 03239 642 2,129 5 

WELLS 03240 494 2,658 5 

WESTSIDE 03241 1,725 7,232 5 

MUD SPRINGS 03242 196 1,852 5 

RAILROAD FIELD 03243 113 1,550 5 

DALTON 03245 333 1,465 1 

ANTELOPE SPRINGS FFR 03246 5 40 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-8 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

BURNT CREEK 03247 28 394 5 

VALLEY MOUNTAIN 03248 4,532 260,930 3 

JP 03249 485 6,401 5 

CANYON ALLOTMENT 03250 1,713 18,813 5 

CANYON 03497 0 7,629 5 

LEXINGTON 03499 0 3,086 5 

MURPHY WASH 03503 728 54,307 5 

SOAP CREEK 03508 0 1,284 5 

STRAWBERRY CREEK 03786 0 22,133 5 

ANTELOPE VALLEY 04301 5,246 45,950 5 

BADLANDS 04302 1,018 18,022 3 

BENNETT FIELD 04304 180 1,125 1 

BIG MEADOWS 04305 722 13,191 5 

EAST BIG SPRINGS 04306 10,150 252,367 3 

BOONE SPRINGS 04307 2,002 77,888 3 

NORTH BUTTE VALLEY 04308 2,424 30,993 3 

CHASE SPRINGS 04309 2,586 45,711 5 

CLOVER CREEK FFR 04310 2 0 5 

CURRIE 04311 5,504 148,254 3 

CURTIS SPRING 04312 557 36,830 5 

CITY 04313 161 1,477 5 

FERBER FLAT 04314 1,498 21,704 3 

BARGER FFR 04315 23 144 5 

EAST BUCKHORN 04316 4,189 36,083 5 

GORDON CREEK 04317 141 794 5 

HARRISON 04318 620 7,635 5 

HYLTON 04319 839 2,411 3 

UTAH/NEVADA SOUTH 04320 1,690 37,054 3 

LEAD HILLS 04321 3,314 79,936 3 

LEPPY HILLS 04322 2,257 49,013 3 

MAVERICK/RUBY#9 04323 2,774 61,037 3 

MOOR SUMMIT 04325 280 7,190 5 

ODGERS 04328 0 25,304 5 

PILOT 04330 4,430 101,126 3 

RUBY #1 04332 170 395 1 

RUBY #2 04333 236 818 1 

RUBY #3 04334 683 5,151 1 

RUBY #4 04335 257 1,055 1 

RUBY #5 04336 2,058 15,651 1 

RUBY #6 04337 1,563 15,061 5 

RUBY #7 04338 1,405 10,870 1 

RUBY #8 04339 1,963 29,063 1 

SMILEY 04342 409 3,546 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-9 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

SNOW WATER LAKE 04343 1,106 12,599 5 

SPRUCE 04346 10,965 534,447 3 

TOBAR 04348 1,698 16,186 5 

WARM CREEK 04349 118 1,537 5 

WEST CHERRY CREEK 04350 2,674 62,939 5 

WEST WHITE HORSE 04352 465 6,558 3 

WHITE HORSE 04353 2,154 61,335 3 

WOOD HILLS 04354 815 38,466 5 

F.FED. W.GARDNER 04355 59 338 1 

FFR W&C RUBY #9 04359 70 188 1 

ACHURRA SEEDING 05401 757 2,529 5 

BARNES SEEDING 05402 345 3,932 5 

BELLINGER SEEDING 05403 217 2,417 1 

BOTTARI 05404 687 2,368 1 

BRUFFY 05405 1,806 18,399 5 

BULLION ROAD 05406 117 4,128 5 

LEGARZA FFR 05407 4 19 5 

BURNER BASIN 05408 144 1,308 5 

CHIMNEY CREEK 05409 1,551 4,762 5 

CORRAL CANYON 525 2,059 

SEEDING 05410 5 

CUT-OFF 05411 182 2,511 5 

DEVILS GATE 05412 374 3,026 5 

EL JIGGS 05413 5,597 46,716 5 

DIXIE FLATS 05414 1,508 15,266 5 

EAST FORK 05415 1,300 11,153 5 

ELKO HILLS 05416 972 7,099 5 

EMIGRANT SPRING 05417 1,286 13,245 5 

MERKLEY FFR 05419 250 3,414 5 

FOUR MILE CANYON 05420 642 4,948 5 

FROST CREEK 05421 1,976 10,613 4 

GRINDSTONE MOUNTAIN 05422 894 6,486 5 

GEYSER 05423 1,227 48,332 5 

HANSEL 05424 1,553 7,781 5 

HOG TOMMY 05426 211 1,986 1 

INDIAN SPRING 05429 2,669 19,045 5 

IRON BLOSSOM 05430 1,539 7,689 5 

KENNEDY SEEDING 05431 18 54 1 

KING SEEDING 05432 199 614 5 

LDS 05433 128 1,097 5 

LINDSAY CREEK 05434 1,349 9,313 5 

LITTLE PORTER 05435 288 3,595 5 

MERKLEY-ZUNINO 05437 139 1,950 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-10 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

SEEDING 

CRANE SPRINGS 05438 1,281 21,691 5 

MINERAL HILL 05439 1,555 24,907 5 

MITCHELL CREEK 05440 1,301 18,420 5 

OGILVIE - ORBE 05441 1,573 7,987 5 

PALACIO 05443 369 993 5 

PEARL CREEK 05444 659 1,436 5 

PINE CREEK 05445 150 14,771 5 

PINE MOUNTAIN 05446 5,550 30,406 5 

PONY CREEK 05447 1,629 16,176 5 

POTATO PATCH 05448 748 3,337 5 

BROWNE 05450 657 19,172 5 

RED ROCK 05452 7,335 66,323 5 

RIVER 05453 210 4,978 5 

ROBINSON CREEK 05454 2,694 17,263 5 

ROBINSON MOUNTAIN 05455 3,002 18,661 5 

SAFFORD CANYON 05456 1,342 7,972 5 

SANDHILL NORTH 05457 330 1,242 5 

SANDHILL SOUTH 05458 173 615 5 

SHOSHONE 05461 2,888 7,740 5 

SLEEMAN 05462 1,392 5,456 5 

SMIRALDO 05463 747 2,811 5 

SOUTHFORK FFR 05464 47 1,026 5 

SOUTH BUCKHORN 05465 19,094 222,822 5 

TEN MILE CREEK 05466 343 5,636 5 

THOMAS CREEK 05467 1,078 4,857 5 

TONKA 05468 1,614 20,266 5 

TWIN BRIDGES 05469 358 1,668 5 

TWIN CREEK EAST 05470 646 2,608 5 

TWIN CREEK NORTH 05471 747 2,670 5 

TWIN CREEK SOUTH 05472 390 1,274 5 

UNION MOUNTAIN 05473 1,759 20,940 5 

WALTHER 05474 47 198 5 

WILLOW 05475 546 5,238 5 

WILLOW CREEK POCKETS 05477 675 6,684 5 

LITTLE PORTER FFR 05478 24 105 5 

CORTA FFR 05479 92 60 5 

COTTONWOOD SEEDING 

FFR 05480 2 62 5 

THOMAS CREEK FFR 05483 60 130 5 

WILSON FFR 05484 188 1,398 5 

LDS FFR 05485 109 693 5 

ROBINSON MOUNTAIN FFR 05486 36 262 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-11 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

WASHBURN 10001 1,465 32,203 5 

COPPER CANYON 10002 5,023 60,948 5 

CARICO LAKE 10003 24,954 562,352 2 

AUSTIN 10004 14,478 235,100 5 

MANHATTAN MTN. 10005 1,746 63,234 5 

GRASS VALLEY 10006 17,701 282,854 2 

PORTER CANYON 10013 7,241 125,150 3 

GILBERT CREEK 10014 13,071 248,350 5 

O'TOOLE RANCHES 10018 1,006 11,684 5 

HOME ALLOTMENT 10019 901 18,845 5 

MOUNT AIRY 10020 3,651 80,093 5 

BUFFALO VALLEY 10021 5,451 137,211 5 

TIERNEY CREEK 10022 817 17,642 5 

SAN JUAN 10023 9,169 64,988 5 

CLEAR CREEK 10024 551 24,700 5 

ARAMBEL 10031 1,349 45,526 4 

BLACK POINT 10032 4,312 59,430 2 

CORTA 10033 128 1,130 4 

NORTH DIAMOND 10034 3,579 78,892 2 

DIAMOND SPRINGS 10035 3,680 69,679 2 

DRY CREEK 10036 5,702 149,225 5 

FISH CREEK RANCH 10038 4,815 287,984 4 

FLYNN/PARMAN INDIV. 10039 1,357 29,825 5 

JD 10041 7,799 97,740 2 

KINGSTON 10042 2,720 78,881 2 

LUCKY C 10043 3,054 108,666 2 

POTTS 10045 9,262 167,600 5 

ROBERTS MOUNTAIN 10046 9,624 151,060 5 

ROMANO 10047 2,887 76,070 4 

RUBY HILL 10048 1,286 14,659 1 

SANTA FE/FERGUSON 10049 6,410 84,375 5 

SEVEN MILE 10050 5,573 88,420 2 

SHANNON STATION 10051 2,520 32,888 2 

SIMPSON PARK 10052 3,446 97,167 2 

SNOWBALL 10053 991 27,261 2 

SPANISH GULCH 10054 647 5,985 2 

SWEENEY WASH 10055 478 7,220 2 

THREE MILE 10056 850 26,635 2 

TRAIL CANYON 10057 581 24,298 5 

UNDERWOOD 10058 1,462 19,832 5 

WILDCAT CANYON 10060 2,677 65,658 5 

WILLOW RACE TRACK 10061 252 590 5 

HOME STATION GAP 10064 602 10,983 5 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-12 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

NIELSEN INDIVIDUAL 10065 116 647 5 

HICKS STATION 10067 117 24,240 2 

IONE 10071 2,235 189,099 5 

SAND SPRINGS 10086 5,727 203,868 4 

BECKY SPRINGS 10101 3,842 40,621 5 

SONOMA 10102 1,485 20,089 5 

DEEP CREEK 10103 2,934 23,932 5 

CHIN CREEK 10104 12,479 148,017 5 

SAMPSON CREEK 10105 1,327 13,232 5 

TIPPETT 10106 7,092 200,041 5 

THOMAS CREEK 10107 533 11,780 5 

COAL VALLEY LAKE 10108 4,821 115,176 5 

MILL SPRING 10109 341 5,587 4 

MURPHY GAP 10110 1,951 35,210 4 

HARMONY 10111 348 6,786 5 

INDIAN GEORGE 10112 2,860 41,650 5 

MEADOW CREEK 10113 444 8,273 5 

BASSETT CREEK 10114 588 7,328 5 

TAFT CREEK 10116 1,831 28,294 4 

STEPHENS CREEK 10118 318 3,784 5 

CLEVELAND RANCH 10119 1,021 11,656 4 

SOUTH COAL VALLEY 10120 2,205 46,701 4 

BASTIAN CREEK 10121 1,778 13,527 4 

BAKER CREEK 10125 4,319 55,515 5 

MAJORS ALLOTMENT 10126 12,535 99,193 5 

WILLARD CREEK 10127 438 10,246 4 

SCOTTY MEADOWS 10128 1,227 17,322 5 

WILLOW SPRINGS 10129 6,608 46,967 5 

SOUTH SPRING VALLEY 10130 6,329 79,323 5 

CHOKECHERRY 10131 3,327 32,334 5 

MCCOY CREEK 10135 504 5,289 5 

SHOSHONE UNIT TRAIL 10140 483 16,517 5 

FOX MOUNTAIN 11001 6,319 73,412 1 

WHITE RIVER TRAIL 11005 1,505 19,300 4 

IRISH MOUNTAIN 11006 3,141 83,465 4 

PINE CREEK 11012 2,667 34,693 4 

COTTONWOOD 11015 1,177 42,172 1 

NEEDLES 11016 2,679 85,500 4 

BATTERMAN WASH 11018 2,093 39,878 4 

WEST TIMBER MOUNTAIN 11020 735 12,570 4 

WORTHINGTON 

MOUNTAIN 11021 5,641 77,798 4 

HARDY SPRING 11022 3,478 124,008 4 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-13 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

DRY FARM 11024 1,530 32,464 4 

HIGHLAND PEAK 11035 3,704 45,542 4 

ARGENTA 20001 17,202 141,689 5 

SOUTH SMITH CREEK 20010 5,331 149,857 5 

COTTONWOOD 20015 5,649 99,629 5 

TIPPETT PASS 20107 8,177 77,161 5 

MUNCY CREEK 20111 12,384 207,906 5 

SMITH CREEK 20117 5,355 68,072 5 

NORTH CHOKECHERRY 20134 770 8,692 1 

BENNETT SPRING 21006 3,498 48,264 1 

BLACK HILLS 21008 156 3,610 5 

COMET 21018 214 9,146 5 

CONDOR CANYON 21019 676 44,035 1 

SUNNYSIDE 21023 5,402 219,519 4 

DEER LODGE 21026 167 6,880 1 

Total 1,762,997 32,639,834 

BLM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 

SOUTH TABLELANDS 00101 2,462 15,932 3 

NORTH TABLELANDS 00137 3,582 24,202 3 

YANKEE JIM 00138 400 1,400 3 

PINE CREEK FIELD 00148 18 320 3 

CORBIE FIELD 00150 27 173 3 

SILVA FLAT 00218 1,247 14,750 1 

DAISY DEAN SPRING 00237 80 1,025 3 

HENCRAFT FIELD 00248 154 1,222 3 

NORTH ASH VALLEY 00300 2,522 17,465 1 

WING 00301 489 2,161 2 

COLD SPRINGS 00302 3,305 17,661 1 

CRABTREE 00303 15 340 1 

CRAMER 00304 36 645 3 

SOUTH MCDONALD 00305 1,518 11,607 1 

DRY COW 00306 1,103 5,104 1 

CLARKS VALLEY 00309 30 115 3 

TULE MOUNTAIN 00310 5,284 49,376 3 

NELSON CORRAL 00311 2,256 12,849 1 

HALL FIELD 00314 192 1,373 3 

SOUTH ASH VALLEY 00316 1,507 15,467 1 

ANDERSON 00318 90 610 1 

FILLMAN-DIABLO 00319 150 1,490 3 

MCDONALD MOUNTAIN 00320 2,608 14,874 1 

MITCHELL HILL 00321 2,063 7,522 2 

LOWER HIGHWAY 00322 160 3,000 3 

SAID VALLEY 00323 110 826 2 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-14 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

DRY VALLEY 00324 280 1,960 3 

SUMMIT FIELD 00326 35 1,020 3 

WILLIAMS ALLOTMENT 00328 48 1,915 1 

BROCKMAN 00329 130 1,195 3 

COFFIN ALLOTMENT 00330 70 1,457 3 

WALTON 00401 94 920 2 

SAID VALLEY 00402 229 1,483 2 

GRASSHOPPER RIDGE 00403 196 4,165 2 

DRY VALLEY SOUTH 00404 20 398 2 

NEW BAILY CREEK 00405 2,029 17,360 2 

WILLIAMS 00406 522 3,080 4 

RAVE A.M.P. 00407 2,845 29,691 2 

NORTH HORSE LAKE 00408 1,968 24,300 2 

SLATE CREEK 00409 2,061 31,855 2 

HANSEN IND 00411 128 1,120 2 

CREST 00413 154 11,835 2 

SNOWSTORM 00414 3,592 45,480 2 

ERICK 00415 231 2,280 2 

WOOD IND 00416 252 2,499 2 

COTTONWOOD 00417 150 1,680 2 

BARRON 00420 121 4,000 2 

SOUTH HORSE LAKE 00421 3,015 41,720 2 

HUMPHREY 3C 00422 303 2,945 2 

TABLELANDS 00423 1,588 16,052 4 

WILLOW CREEK 00426 233 7,124 3 

SHAFFER 00427 1,612 25,752 2 

TWIN PEAKS 00701 13,465 379,788 2 

WINTER RANGE NV 00702 1,504 45,393 4 

OBSERVATION 00703 6,828 151,639 2 

DEEP CUT 00704 2,400 53,438 1 

SPANISH SPRINGS IND 00708 259 958 2 

TWIN BUTTES 00709 212 2,160 2 

SPANISH SPRINGS AMP 00710 1,111 6,986 2 

SHINN PEAK 00711 270 4,725 2 

SELIC-ALASKA 00800 821 9,641 3 

TULEDAD 00802 9,510 164,020 2 

RED ROCK LAKE 00803 198 2,572 3 

BARE 00900 13,260 201,625 2 

DUCK LAKE 00901 3,284 65,983 1 

DENIO 00902 1,542 24,259 3 

HOME CAMP 00903 9,088 146,048 1 

HIGHWAY 00904 25 2,186 3 

LOWER LAKE 00905 483 19,471 3 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-15 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

WALL CANYON WEST 00906 2,609 37,565 2 

BICONDOA 00907 200 10,733 4 

CORRAL 00908 88 4,675 3 

BOGGS 01001 1,483 18,382 2 

BULL CREEK 01002 2,178 72,512 1 

GOOSE CREEK 01003 10 39 2 

LITTLE BASIN 01004 1,857 25,837 2 

LONG VALLEY 01005 2,660 74,149 2 

BITNER 01006 1,702 28,941 2 

MASSACRE LAKES 01007 3,215 46,945 1 

MASSACRE MOUNTAIN 01008 5,825 149,051 3 

MCCULLEY 01009 28 1,085 2 

NUT MOUNTAIN 01010 4,893 71,333 1 

BUCK MOUNTAIN 01011 18 120 2 

SAND CREEK 01012 3,646 61,977 2 

GRANGER 01013 30 1,309 3 

WALL CANYON EAST 01014 3,215 40,802 1 

UPPER SAND CREEK 01015 42 967 2 

ALKALI LAKE 01017 11 443 3 

CALCUTTA 01100 778 10,248 2 

BALLY MOUNTAIN 01101 198 5,324 2 

BOARD CORRAL 01102 690 15,930 1 

SOUTH LARKSPUR 01103 1,040 18,926 2 

FANDANGO 01105 140 1,461 2 

EAST 01106 510 10,991 2 

CROOKS LAKE 01107 3,085 44,083 2 

LARTIROGOYEN 01108 364 3,621 2 

GRAVELLY 01110 270 3,849 2 

MOSQUITO VALLEY 01111 2,203 20,855 2 

NEVADA COLEMAN 01112 4,477 54,861 2 

NEVADA COWHEAD 01113 2,880 42,439 1 

NORTH COWHEAD 01114 453 5,091 2 

NORTH LARKSPUR 01115 150 7,201 2 

12 MILE 01116 192 1,999 2 

WARNER VALLEY 01117 320 8,317 2 

WEST 01118 173 7,348 2 

EAST BALLY 01119 34 5,016 2 

SCAMMON 01121 57 1,894 2 

NINEMILE 01123 30 2,851 2 

UPPER LAKE 01125 168 1,053 2 

HORSE LAKE 01126 2,118 29,857 3 

WINTER RANGE CA 03737 617 11,388 4 

Total 172,231 2,747,157 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-16 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

FOREST SERVICE 

76 CREEK 00152 1,123 7,404 N/A 

ALLIED C&H 00136 1,866 13,785 N/A 

ANGEL CREEK C&H 00235 143 2,373 N/A 

ARC DOME NORTH 0 36,200 N/A 

ARC DOME SOUTH 0 27,485 N/A 

BADE FLAT C&H 30300 1,527 13,577 N/A 

BADGER CREEK 00150 55 6,328 N/A 

BEADLES CREEK 00126 0 2,973 N/A 

BEAVER CREEK 00142 358 5,920 N/A 

BELMONT C&H 00201 529 2,837 N/A 

BERRY CREEK (COM.USE) 00421 782 18,083 N/A 

BIG CREEK 00412 0 34,261 N/A 

BIRCH CREEK C&H 30301 677 13,343 N/A 

BLACK ROCK 00403 540 68,514 N/A 

BLUE JACKET 00127 1,164 3,536 N/A 

BONEYARD (COM.USE) 00419 767 10,530 N/A 

BOULDER CREEK CU 00241 79 10,042 N/A 

BRENNAN CREEK C&H 00234 37 365 N/A 

BRUNEAU SUMMER 00100 1,542 6,614 N/A 

BUCK CREEK C&H 00302 5,149 15,701 N/A 

BUFFALO 00513 322 20,929 N/A 

BULL RUN 00102 2,988 8,726 N/A 

BUNKER S&G 30323 1,504 27,466 N/A 

BUREAU C&H 00247 154 2,283 N/A 

BURGER CREEK C&H 00242 44 315 N/A 

BUTTERMILK 00501 2,744 27,852 N/A 

CAHILL C&H 30314 1,010 16,885 N/A 

CAMP CREEK S&G 00318 0 12,083 N/A 

CARVILLE CREEK C&H 00211 1,959 12,557 N/A 

CASS HOUSE CU 00296 44 399 N/A 

CAT CREEK 00103 3,947 15,465 N/A 

CAUDLE CREEK C&H 00303 4,652 12,021 N/A 

CAVE CREEK C&H 00203 795 23,132 N/A 

CHERRY CREEK 00413 1,278 38,281 N/A 

CHERRY CREEK C&H 00333 2,023 4,214 N/A 

CHERRY SPRINGS C&H 00204 1,504 6,798 N/A 

CHICKEN CREEK 00104 2,589 8,587 N/A 

CLEAR CREEK C&H 00165 0 2,174 N/A 

CLEVE CREEK 00432 826 33,001 N/A 

CLOVER CREEK C&H 00227 75 729 N/A 

CLOVERDALE WINTER C&H 40400 338 75,435 N/A 

CLOVERDALE-REESE RIVER 40401 326 102,701 N/A 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-17 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

COBB CREEK 00133 370 4,077 N/A 

COLUMBIA BASIN 00134 1,164 5,408 N/A 

COOPER 00417 1,743 46,179 N/A 

COPPER BASIN 00135 14,974 7,123 N/A 

COPPER-COTTONWOOD 00157 0 4,955 N/A 

CORRAL CREEK C&H 00205 1,584 12,679 N/A 

CORTA S&G 00243 5,584 63,403 N/A 

COTTONWOOD C&H 00249 0 6,245 N/A 

COTTONWOOD CREEK 

C&H 00304 557 11,640 N/A 

CURRANT CREEK 00405 1,382 52,833 N/A 

DAVE CREEK C&H 00307 1,628 10,364 N/A 

DEEP CREEK C&H 00166 895 7,866 N/A 

DEER CREEK C&H 00334 1,828 4,560 N/A 

DIAMOND A 00105 1,378 9,922 N/A 

DROWN PEAK C&H 00233 401 8,965 N/A 

DRY CREEK 00106 428 3,049 N/A 

DUCK CREEK (COM.USE) 00420 796 8,961 N/A 

EAST BLUE JACKET 00138 1,164 3,948 N/A 

EAST INDEPENDENCE 00107 1,614 19,840 N/A 

EAST WARD 00406 266 18,237 N/A 

EIGHT MILE 00502 0 9,180 N/A 

ELKHORN C&H 30302 1,076 29,242 N/A 

ELLISON BASIN 00404 1,901 61,289 N/A 

FITZHUGH 00424 920 10,387 N/A 

FOREMAN CREEK 00108 2,986 19,653 N/A 

FRANCISCO C&H 40416 158 2,802 N/A 

GEDNEY CREEK C&H 00208 273 3,283 N/A 

GILBERT CREEK C&H 00209 599 12,527 N/A 

GOAT CREEK CU 00322 232 2,428 N/A 

GOLD PARK C&H 30303 1,300 28,274 N/A 

GRANITE PEAK 00503 3,048 40,756 N/A 

GRAVEL CREEK 00161 1,104 4,664 N/A 

GREYS CREEK C&H 00212 230 3,319 N/A 

GUERRY S&G 00326 4,333 27,604 N/A 

HARRISON PASS C&H 00213 1,043 2,704 N/A 

HAYSTACK MTN 00129 1,914 10,437 N/A 

HERDER CREEK C&H 00200 83 4,078 N/A 

HICKS STATION C&H 40419 211 12,251 N/A 

HOLE IN THE MOUNTAIN 403 5,838 

C&H 00210 N/A 

HOME PLACE C&H 00256 116 546 N/A 

HOOPER CANYON 00411 0 32,219 N/A 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-18 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

HORSE CREEK C&H 00214 998 8,377 N/A 

HORSE HEAVEN C&H 30304 668 40,785 N/A 

HOT CREEK 40420 0 35,051 N/A 

HOT SPRINGS WINTER 

C&H 30305 997 61,747 N/A 

HUMBOLDT PEAK C&H 00236 409 4,908 N/A 

ILLIPAH 00401 895 43,195 N/A 

INDIAN 00504 1,398 18,222 N/A 

INDIAN C&H 00215 0 3,328 N/A 

IRWIN CANYON 00409 0 19,757 N/A 

JACK CREEK 00140 1,089 7,785 N/A 

JERRETT CANYON S&G 00141 0 3,353 N/A 

JERRITT CANYON 00109 377 4,623 N/A 

KELLY CREEK/NORTH 

MONITOR 30306 0 82,080 N/A 

KELLY FIELD PASTURE 00291 26 188 N/A 

KINGSTON 30307 0 19,601 N/A 

KRENKA CREEK C&H 00220 371 1,860 N/A 

LAKE FLAT S&G 30345 210 25,564 N/A 

LAMANCE 00505 1,314 6,449 N/A 

LAMANCE HORSE PASTURE 0 0 N/A 

LAMOILLE CANYON 00262 0 14,285 N/A 

LINDSAY-BROWN C&H 00264 748 11,564 N/A 

LITTLE FISHLAKE C&H 40402 545 41,296 N/A 

LONG CANYON C&H 00238 754 8,269 N/A 

LOWER MARYS RIVER C&H 00308 0 13,434 N/A 

LUTTS CREEK C&H 00216 1,382 13,258 N/A 

MARTIN BASIN 00506 9,685 32,340 N/A 

MARYS RIVER BASIN S&G 00324 793 4,113 N/A 

MARYSVILLE C&H 30308 1,617 19,028 N/A 

MAYHEW C&H 00239 0 5,002 N/A 

MC DONALD CR 00110 1,936 21,917 N/A 

MCCOY 00430 791 11,684 N/A 

MCKINNEY 40404 0 57,712 N/A 

MEADOW CANYON 40422 0 43,997 N/A 

MERRITT CREEK 00112 5,474 14,750 N/A 

MICA C&H 00240 532 11,906 N/A 

MILL CREEK 00113 70 1,094 N/A 

MILLER CREEK 00125 2,794 14,010 N/A 

MONITOR COMPLEX C&H 40403 1,733 118,655 N/A 

MONITOR VALLEY 40417 0 19,795 N/A 

MONITOR WINTER 30309 2,376 49,902 N/A 

MOORES CREEK C&H 40406 371 26,053 N/A 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-19 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

MOREY 40421 0 41,278 N/A 

MOSE CREEK C&H 00217 636 2,560 N/A 

MOUNTAIN CITY 00114 234 13,554 N/A 

MUNCY 00428 1,058 15,777 N/A 

MYERS CREEK C&H 00218 850 5,812 N/A 

NORTH COPPER MTN 00146 0 5,457 N/A 

NORTH FORK 00507 1,282 5,275 N/A 

NORTH HUNTINGTON 

C&H 00207 11 577 N/A 

NORTH MONITOR WINTER 

C&H 30311 198 16,331 N/A 

NORTH MOORES CREEK 

C&H 40407 998 26,898 N/A 

NORTH SHOSHONE C&H 30312 1,848 32,668 N/A 

NORTHUMBERLAND 30313 930 54,697 N/A 

O'NEIL C&H 00309 2,742 4,798 N/A 

OVERLAND C&H 00221 465 6,055 N/A 

PABLO WALL CANYON 

C&H 40408 132 11,260 N/A 

PARADISE 00508 2,235 14,725 N/A 

PIERMONT 00429 1,048 21,029 N/A 

PINE CREEK QUINN 

CANYON 00414 1,376 58,589 N/A 

PIXLEY CREEK 00122 2,090 13,311 N/A 

POLAR STAR C&H 00222 148 6,246 N/A 

POLE CANYON C&H 00251 91 1,690 N/A 

POLE CREEK C&H 00310 2,196 7,771 N/A 

QUEEN SPRINGS (COM.USE) 00425 936 9,686 N/A 

QUINN RIVER 00509 13,886 49,557 N/A 

REBEL CREEK 00510 1,008 16,307 N/A 

REEDS INDIAN CANYON 

C&H 30315 1,832 19,915 N/A 

RIFFE CREEK C&H 00164 1,261 4,562 N/A 

ROAD CANYON C&H 00244 455 4,561 N/A 

ROBINSON HOLE C&H 00335 363 3,864 N/A 

ROCKWALL C&H 00245 269 3,175 N/A 

ROUND MOUNTAIN C&H 40410 141 20,797 N/A 

ROUND MOUNTAIN 

WINTER C&H 40415 315 56,499 N/A 

RUBY C&H 00206 2,188 18,504 N/A 

RUBY GUARD C&H 00202 631 2,966 N/A 

RUBY MATTIER 00427 722 11,092 N/A 

RYE GRASS 00433 1,684 43,312 N/A 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-20 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

SAULSBURY C&H 40411 227 68,409 N/A 

SCHMITT CREEK 00116 225 6,127 N/A 

SCHOOL CREEK C&H 00223 822 3,274 N/A 

SECOND CREEK 00423 1,014 8,273 N/A 

SEGUNDA C&H 00237 219 3,683 N/A 

SEIGEL (COM.USE) 00426 874 10,924 N/A 

SEITZ C&H 00274 253 6,359 N/A 

SHERMAN CREEK C&H 00224 1,496 6,917 N/A 

SILVER CREEK 00434 758 126,625 N/A 

SLAUGHTERHOUSE 00130 557 1,136 N/A 

SMITH CREEK C&H 00276 539 9,457 N/A 

SNOW CANYON 00147 1,337 12,438 N/A 

SOLDIER CREEK C&H 00278 0 3,769 N/A 

SOUTH CLOVER C&H 00225 86 1,373 N/A 

SOUTH COPPER MTN 00145 0 3,347 N/A 

SOUTH FORK C&H 00226 523 16,168 N/A 

SOUTH KINGSTON S&G 30325 1,504 10,745 N/A 

SOUTH MONITOR 30316 0 99,622 N/A 

SOUTH SHOSHONE C&H 30317 2,377 179,813 N/A 

SPRING CREEK C&H 00311 3,078 7,125 N/A 

STEPTOE 00418 566 15,566 N/A 

STONE CABIN C&H 40412 197 60,071 N/A 

STONEBERGER C&H 30318 1,098 67,333 N/A 

SUN CREEK S&G 00327 417 5,316 N/A 

SUNFLOWER FLAT 00117 4,495 18,787 N/A 

TABLE MOUNTAIN 40413 0 35,317 N/A 

TAFT 00431 499 14,174 N/A 

TELEPHONE C&H 00169 1,500 17,467 N/A 

TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN 

S&G 00170 2,707 9,563 N/A 

TENT MOUNTAIN C&H 00228 159 7,147 N/A 

TERRACE 00408 378 3,284 N/A 

THORPE CREEK 00272 1,129 21,404 N/A 

TIERNEY CREEK C&H 30319 1,415 12,955 N/A 

TIMBER CREEK 00422 1,936 34,173 N/A 

TIMBER GULCH 00118 502 2,580 N/A 

TOM PLAIN 00402 2,647 53,314 N/A 

TOYN CREEK C&H 00231 1,134 4,563 N/A 

TREASURE HILL 00400 2,198 63,159 N/A 

TROUT CREEK C&H 00229 519 4,400 N/A 

TROY MOUNTAIN 00410 0 34,707 N/A 

TWIN RIVERS 40414 0 23,218 N/A 

UPPER MARYS RIVER S&G 00328 793 6,432 N/A 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-21 
 

 

Table K-1
 

BLM and Forest Service Grazing Allotment Data
 

Permitted Rangeland Allotment Allotment Allotment Name Active Health Number Acres AUMs Category 

VAN DUZER 00162 3,124 6,595 N/A 

WAGON JOHNNY C&H 40418 6,091 103,617 N/A 

WASHINGTON C&H 30320 2,356 33,888 N/A 

WEST BRUNEAU RIVER 00148 4,443 21,406 N/A 

WEST MARYS RIVER S&G 00329 661 11,595 N/A 

WEST SIDE FLAT CREEK 00511 1,720 16,818 N/A 

WEST WARD 00407 641 10,633 N/A 

WHITE ELEPHANT C&H 00313 985 5,001 N/A 

WHITE ROCK C&H 00121 6,275 17,774 N/A 

WHITEROCK 30321 0 19,181 N/A 

WHITEROCK S&G 00155 1,164 4,203 N/A 

WICKIUP 00156 1,610 7,259 N/A 

WILD BILL 00512 3,159 11,512 N/A 

WILDCAT C&H 00314 3,780 5,094 N/A 

WILDHORSE C&H 20226 0 14,259 N/A 

WILDHORSE S&G 00151 0 4,467 N/A 

WILLOW CREEK C&H 00315 0 11,030 N/A 

WILSON CREEK C&H 00316 1,688 6,024 N/A 

WILSON CREEK PASTURE 

C&H 00317 1,426 6,288 N/A 

WINES CREEK C&H 00230 647 4,625 N/A 

WISEMAN C&H 00292 166 3,415 N/A 

WOOD GULCH 00163 1,639 6,467 N/A 

YANKEE BILL 00123 1,737 6,286 N/A 

Total 275,248 4,395,681 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

K-22 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

BLM NEVADA RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 

Mojave-Southern Great Basin Standards and Guidelines 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-23 
 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

This page intentionally left blank. 

K-24 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
BLM

Nevada

Standards and Guidelines 

for Nevada’s 

Mojave-Southern Great Basin Area
 September 2006 

PREAMBLE - GRAZING 

The Standards and Guidelines for grazing 

administration on Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) lands in southern Nevada apply to livestock 

grazing. The Mojave-Southern Great Basin 

Resource Advisory Council (RAC) intends that the 

Standards and Guidelines will result in a balance 

of sustainable development and multiple use along 

with progress, over time, toward attaining desired 

rangeland conditions. Standards are expressions 

of physical and biological conditions required for 

sustaining rangelands for multiple uses. Guidelines 

point to management actions related to livestock 

grazing for achieving the Standards. Guidelines are 

options that move rangeland conditions toward the 

multiple use Standards. Guidelines are based on 

science, best rangeland management practices, and 

public input. Thus Guidelines indicate the types 

of grazing methods and practices for achieving 

the Standards for multiple use, are developed for 

functional watersheds and implemented at the 

allotment level. 

The Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource 

Advisory Council recognizes that it will sometimes 

be a long-term process to restore rangelands to 

proper functioning condition. In some areas, it may 

take many years to achieve healthy rangelands. 

The Resource Advisory Council may be requested 

by any party to assist reaching agreement in 

resolving disputes. 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 

STANDARD . SOILS: 

Watershed soils and stream banks should have 

adequate stability to resist accelerated erosion, 

maintain soil productivity, and sustain the 

hydrologic cycle. 

Soil indicators: 

- Ground cover (vegetation, litter, rock, bare 

ground); 

- Surfaces (e.g., biological crusts, pavement); 

and 

- Compaction/infiltration. 

Riparian soil indicators: 

- Stream bank stability. 

All of the above indicators are appropriate to the 

potential of the ecological site. 

GUIDELINES: 

. Upland management practices should maintain 

or promote adequate vegetative ground cover to 

achieve the standard. 

.2 Riparian-wetland management practices should 

maintain or promote sufficient residual vegetation 

to maintain, improve, or restore functions such as 

stream flow energy dissipation, sediment capture, 


 

groundwater recharge, and streambank stability. 

.3 When proper grazing practices alone are not 

likely to restore areas, land management practices 

may be designed and implemented where 

appropriate. 

.4 Rangeland management practices should 

address improvement beyond this standard, 

significant progress toward achieving standards, 

time necessary for recovery, and time necessary 

for predicting trends. 

STANDARD 2. ECOSYSTEM 

COMPONENTS: 

Watersheds should possess the necessary 

ecological components to achieve state water 

quality criteria, maintain ecological processes, and 

sustain appropriate uses. 

Riparian and wetlands vegetation should have 

structural and species diversity characteristic of 

the stage of stream channel succession in order 

to provide forage and cover, capture sediment, 

and capture, retain, and safely release water 

(watershed function). 

Upland Indicators: 

- Canopy and ground cover, including litter, live 

vegetation, biological crust, and rock appropriate 

to the potential of the ecological site. 

- Ecological processes are adequate for the 

vegetative communities. 

Riparian Indicators: 

- Stream side riparian areas are functioning 

properly when adequate vegetation, large woody 

debris, or rock is present to dissipate stream 

energy associated with high water flows. 

- Elements indicating proper functioning condition 

such as avoiding accelerating erosion, capturing 

sediment, and providing for groundwater 

recharge and release are determined by the 

following measurements as appropriate to the site 

characteristics: 

- Width/Depth ratio; 

- Channel roughness; 

- Sinuosity of stream channel; 

- Bank stability; 

- Vegetative cover (amount, spacing, life form); and 

- Other cover (large woody debris, rock). 

- Natural springs, seeps, and marsh areas are 

functioning properly when adequate vegetation is 

present to facilitate water retention, filtering, and 

release as indicated by plant species and cover 

appropriate to the site characteristics. 

Water Quality Indicators: 

- Chemical, physical and biological constituents do 

not exceed the state water quality standards. 

The above indicators shall be applied to the potential 

of the ecological site. 

GUIDELINES: 

2. Management practices should maintain or 

promote appropriate stream channel morphology and 

structure consistent with the watershed. 

2.2 Watershed management practices should 

maintain, restore or enhance water quality and flow 

rate to support desired ecological conditions. 

2.3 Management practices should maintain or 

promote the physical and biological conditions 

necessary for achieving surface characteristics and 

desired natural plant community. 

2.4 Grazing management practices will consider 

both economic and physical environment, and will 

address all multiple uses including, but not limited 

to, (i) recreation, (ii) minerals, (iii) cultural resources 

and values, and (iv) designated wilderness and 

wilderness study areas. 

2.5 New livestock facilities will be located away 

from riparian and wetland areas if they conflict 

with achieving or maintaining riparian and 

wetland functions. Existing facilities will be used 

in a way that does not conflict with achieving or 

maintaining riparian and wetland functions, or they 

will be relocated or modified when necessary to 

mitigate adverse impacts on riparian and wetland 

functions. The location, relocation, design and use of 

livestock facilities will consider economic feasibility 

and benefits to be gained for management of lands 

outside the riparian area along with the effects on 

riparian functions. 

2 
 

 

2.6 Subject to all valid existing rights, the design 

of spring and seep developments shall include 

provisions to protect ecological functions and 

processes. 

2.7 When proper grazing practices alone are 

not likely to restore areas of low infiltration or 

permeability, land management practices may be 

designed and implemented where appropriate. 

Grazing on designated ephemeral rangeland 

watersheds should be allowed only if (i) reliable 

estimates of production have been made, (ii) an 

identified level of annual growth or residue to 

remain on site at the end of the grazing season 

has been established, and (iii) adverse effects on 

perennial species and ecosystem processes are 

avoided. 

2.8 Rangeland management practices should 

address improvement beyond these standards, 

significant progress toward achieving standards, 

time necessary for recovery, and time necessary for 

predicting trends. 

STANDARD 3. HABITAT AND BIOTA: 

Habitats and watersheds should sustain a 

level of biodiversity appropriate for the area and 

conducive to appropriate uses. Habitats of special 

status species should be able to sustain viable 

populations of those species. 

Habitat Indicators: 

- Vegetation composition (relative abundance of 

species);
 

- Vegetation structure (life forms, cover, height, 

and age classes);
 

- Vegetation distribution (patchiness, corridors); 

- Vegetation productivity; and 

- Vegetation nutritional value. 

Wildlife Indicators: 

- Escape terrain; 

- Relative abundance; 

- Composition; 

- Distribution; 

- Nutritional value; and 

- Edge-patch snags. 

The above indicators shall be applied to the 

potential of the ecological site. 

GUIDELINES: 

3. Mosaics of plant and animal communities that 

foster diverse and productive ecosystems should be 

maintained or achieved. 

3.2 Management practices should emphasize native 

species except when others would serve better for 

attaining desired communities. 

3.3 Intensity, frequency, season of use and 

distribution of grazing use should provide for 

growth, reproduction, and when environmental 

conditions permit, seedling establishment of those 

plant species needed to reach long-term land 

use plan objectives. Measurements of ecological 

condition, trend, and utilization will be in 

accordance with techniques identified in the Nevada 

Rangeland Handbook. 

3.4 Grazing management practices should be 

planned and implemented to provide for integrated 

use by domestic livestock and wildlife, as well as 

wild horses and burros inside Herd Management 

Areas (HMAs). 

3.5 Management practices will promote the 

conservation, restoration and maintenance of habitat 

for special status species. 

3.6 Livestock grazing practices will be designed to 

protect fragile ecosystems of limited distribution 

and size that support unique sensitive/endemic 

species or communities. Where these practices are 

not successful, grazing will be excluded from these 

areas. 

3.7 Where grazing practices alone are not likely 

to achieve habitat objectives, land management 

practices may be designed and implemented as 

appropriate. 

3.8 Vegetation manipulation treatments may 

be implemented to improve native plant 

communities, consistent with appropriate land 

use plans, in areas where identified standards 

cannot be achieved through proper grazing 

management practices alone. Fire is the 

preferred vegetation manipulation practice on 

B. () The combined aerial parts of plants and 

3 
cannot be achieved through proper grazing 

management practices alone. Fire is the preferred 

vegetation manipulation practice on areas 

historically adapted to fire; treatment of native 

vegetation with herbicides or through mechanical 

means will be used only when other management 

techniques are not effective. 

3.9 Rangeland management practices should address 

improvement beyond this standard, significant 

progress toward achieving standards, time necessary 

for recovery, and time necessary for predicting 

trends. 

GLOSSARY
 

Definitions are taken from “A Glossary of Terms 

Used in Range Management” developed through 

the Society for Range Management or Bureau of 

Land Management Technical Reference or from the 

Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics except where noted. Other definitions are from 

Grazing Administration Regulations Code of Federal 

Regulations, Chapter 43 Sec. 4100.0.5. Definitions 

also include meanings that were developed by the 

Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory 

Council to understand their intent in the Standards 

and Guidelines. 

-AAnnual Growth. The amount of production of new 

above ground plant biomass for a given site during a 

given year. 

-BBiodiversity. The diversity of organisms in a region; 

made up of species diversity in individual community-types and the turnover of species across different 

community-types. 

Biological (Cryptogamic) Crust. Community of 

non-vascular primary producers that occur as a 

“crust” on the surface of soils; made up of a mixture of algae, lichens, mosses, and cyanobacteria 

(bluegreen algae). 

Biotic. Refers to living components of an ecosystem, 

e.g., plants and animals and micro-organisms. 

-CCanopy. () The vertical projection downward of 

the aerial portion of vegetation, usually expressed as 

a percent of the ground so occupied; (2) The aerial 

portion of the overstory vegetation. 

Canopy Cover. The percentage of ground covered 

by a vertical projection of the outermost perimeter of 

the natural spread of foliage of plants. Small openings within the canopy are included. (BLM Technical Reference 4400-7) 

Climate. The average or prevailing weather conditions of a place over a period of years. (BLM Technical Reference 4400-7) 

Conservation. The planned management of natural 

resources; the retention of natural balance, diversity 

and evolutionary change in the environment. 

The use and management of natural resources according to principles that assure their sustained 

economic and/or social benefits without impairment 

of environmental quality. 

Cover. a. () The plants or plant parts, living or 

dead, on the surface of the ground. Vegetative cover 

or herbage cover is composed of living plants and 

litter cover of dead parts of plants; (2) The area of 

ground cover by plants of one or more species. 

b. () The combined aerial parts of plants and mulch, 

and (2) Shelter and protection for animals and birds. 

(BLM Manual 4400) 

c. () Plant material, living (vegetative cover) and 

dead (litter cover) on the soil surface; (2) The area 

of ground covered by the canopy projections of a 

particular plant species, expressed as a scale or as a 

percentage of total ground surface area. 

Cultural Resources. A broad, general term meaning any cultural property and any traditional lifeway 

value. (BLM Manual 800) 

Cultural property. A definite location of past human activity, occupation, or use identifiable through 

field inventory (survey), historical documentation, or 

oral evidence. (Manual 800) 

-DDesert Pavement. A cemented, hydrophobic layer 

of rocks or small pebbles that occurs over time on 

desert soil surfaces; prevents water infiltration into 

soils and wind/water erosion of the soil; often covered with a chemical varnish layer. 

Desired Natural Plant Community. The type of 

plant community which is desired for a particular 

ecological site. This could include native and nonnative species depending on the desired land use, 

but as a natural plant community it must have native 

species adapted to the climate and soil type as dominants or co-dominants in the community. 

Desired Plant Community. Of the several plant 

communities that may occupy a site, the one that has 

been identified through a management plan to best 

4 
meet the plan’s objectives for the site. It must protect 

the site as a minimum. 

Diversity. () The absolute number of species in a 

community; species richness; (2) A measure of the 

number of species and their relative abundance in a 

community; low diversity refers to few species or 

unequal abundances, high diversity to many species 

or equal abundances. 

-EEcological Processes. Natural functions including 

the hydrologic cycle, the nutrient cycle, and energy 

flow (see also 43 CFR 4180.1(b)). 

Ecological Site. The kind of land with a specific potential natural community and specific physical site 

characteristics, differing from other kinds of land in 

its ability to produce vegetation and to respond to 

management. (BLM Manual 4400) 

Edaphic. Refers to the soil. 

Endemic Species. Native to, and restricted to, a 

particular geographical region, community type, or 

specific habitat. 

Ephemeral Rangelands. Rangelands characterized 

by low, highly seasonal and often episodic rainfall, 

resulting in annual plants comprising a significant 

proportion of annual primary production. 

Erosion. (v.) Detachment and movement of soil or 

rock fragments by the action of water, wind, ice or 

gravity. (n.) The land surface worn away by running 

water, wind, ice, or other geologic agents, including 

such processes as gravitational creep. 

Exotic. An organism or species which is not native 

to the region in which it is found. Synonym nonnative: Not native; alien; a species that has been 

introduced into an area. 

-FForage. The plant material actually consumed by (or 

available to) grazing animals. 

Fragile Ecosystems. Uncommon ecosystems of 

limited distribution and size that support unique sensitive/endemic species or communities; ecosystems 

that have low resilience to environmental stress or to 

disturbance. 

Frequency. The ratio between the number of sample 

units that contain a species and the total number of 

sample units. 

A quantitative expression of the presence of absence 

of individuals of a species in a population. It is defined as the percentage of occurrence of a species in 

a series of samples of uniform size. (BLM Technical 

Reference 4400-4) 

-GGrazing Distribution. Dispersion of livestock grazing within a management unit or area. 

Ground Cover. The percentage of material, other 

than bare ground, covering the land surface. It may 

include live and standing dead vegetation, litter, 

cobble, gravel, stones and bedrock. Ground cover 

plus bare ground would total 00 percent. (BLM 

Technical Reference 4400-4) 

Ground Water. Subsurface water that is in the zone 

of saturation. The top surface of the ground water is 

the “water table.” Source of water for wells, seepage 

and springs. 

-HHabitat. The natural abode of a plant or animal, 

including all biotic, climatic, and edaphic factors 

affecting life. 

Hydrologic Balance. The balance between hydrological inputs (infiltration of incident precipitation, 

run-on) and hydrological outputs (run-off, deep 

drainage) for an ecological site. 

-IInfiltration. The flow of a fluid into a substance 

through pores or small openings. The process by 

which water seeps into a soil, as influenced by soil 

texture, aspect and vegetation cover.
 

Infiltration Rate. Maximum rate at which soil under 

specified conditions can absorb rain or shallow 

impounded water, expressed in quantity of water absorbed by the soil per unit of time, e.g., inches/hour. 

Integrated Use. To merge the use of each type of 

public land use through a series of land management 

practices. 

-LLand Use Plan. Land use plan means a resource 

management plan, developed under the provisions of 

43 CFR part 600, or management framework plan. 

These plans are developed through public participation in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 976 and 

establish management direction for resource uses of 

public lands. (43 CFR 400) 

Litter. The uppermost layer of organic debris on the 

soil surface; essentially the freshly fallen or slightly 

decomposed vegetal material. (BLM Technical Reference 4400-4) 

5 
-MManagement Objective. The objectives for which 

rangeland and rangeland resources are managed 

which includes specified users accompanied by a description of the desired vegetation and the expected 

products and/or values. 

Management Plan. A program of action designed 

to reach a given set of objectives. 

Marsh. Flat, wet, treeless areas usually covered by 

standing water and supporting a native growth of 

grasses and grasslike plants. 

Monitoring. The orderly collection, analysis, and 

interpretation of resource data to evaluate progress 

toward meeting management objectives. (BLM 

Technical Reference 4400-7) 

Monitoring. Monitoring means the periodic observation and orderly collection of data to evaluate: () 

Effects of management actions; and (2) Effectiveness of actions in meeting management objectives. 

(43 CFR 400.0.5) 

Morphology. The form and structure of an organism, with special emphasis on external features. 

Multiple Use. The management of the public lands 

and their various resource values so that they are 

utilized in the combination that will best meet the 

present and future needs of the American people; 

making the most judicious use of the land for some 

or all of these resources or related services over 

areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for 

periodic adjustments in use to conform to changing 

needs and conditions; the use of some land for less 

than uses that takes into account the long-term needs 

of future generations for renewable and nonrenewable resources, including, but not limited to, recreation, range, timber, minerals watershed, wildlife 

and fish, natural scenic, scientific and historical values; and harmonious and coordinated management 

of the various resources without permanent impairment of the productivity of the land and the quality 

of the environment with consideration being given 

to the relative values of the resources and not necessarily to the combination of uses that will give the 

greatest economic return of the greatest unit output. 

(Federal Land Policy and Management Act) 

-NNative Species. A species which is a part of the 

original fauna or flora of the area in question. Indigenous; living naturally within a given area and was 

part of the areas flora or fauna prior to human settlement of the region. 

Naturalized Species. An exotic or introduced species that has become established and exhibits successful reproduction in an ecosystem. 

-PPercolation. The flow of a liquid through a porous 

substance. 

Productivity. The potential rate of incorporation or 

generation of energy or organic matter (biomass) by 

an organism, population or trophic unit per unit time 

per unit area; plant productivity is termed primary 

production, and animal productivity is termed secondary production. 

Proper Functioning Condition. Riparian-wetland 

areas are functioning properly when adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to 

dissipate stream energy associated with high waterflows, thereby reducing erosion and improving water 

quality; filer sediment, capture bedload, and aid 

floodplain development; improve flood-water retention and ground-water recharge; develop root masses 

that stabilize streambank against cutting action; 

develop diverse ponding and channel characteristics 

to provide the habitat and the water depth, duration, 

and temperature necessary for fish production, waterfowl breeding, and other uses; and support greater 

biodiversity. (BLM Technical Reference 737-9) 

-RRange Improvement. Range improvement means 

an authorized physical modification or treatment 

which is designed to improve production of forage; 

change vegetation composition; control patterns of 

use; provide water; stabilize soil and water conditions; restore, protect and improve the condition 

of rangeland ecosystems to benefit livestock, wild 

horses and burros, and fish and wildlife. The term 

includes but is not limited to, structures, treatment 

projects, and use of mechanical devices or modifications achieved through mechanical means. 

Residual Vegetation. Amount, cover, and species 

composition of the vegetation on a site after it has 

been grazed for a period of time. 

Resource. Any component of the environment that 

can be utilized by an organism. 

Riparian. Pertaining to, living or situated on, the 

banks of rivers and streams. ‘Xeroriparian’ refers to 

being situated on dry washes (ephemeral streams). 

-SSeep. Wet areas, normally not flowing, arising from 

an underground water source.
 

Soil. () The unconsolidated mineral and organic 

6 
material on the immediate surface of the earth that 

serves as a natural medium for the growth of land 

plants. (2) The unconsolidated mineral matter on 

the surface of the earth that has been subjected to 

and influenced by genetic and environmental factors 

of parent material, climate (including moisture and 

temperature effects), macro- and micro-organisms, 

and topography, all acting over a period of time 

and producing a product -soil- that differs from the 

material it was derived in many physical, chemical, 

biological, and morphological properties and characteristics. 

Soil Productivity. The organic fertility or capacity 

of a given area or habitat. 

Species. A taxon of the rank species; which is the 

basic unit, and lowest principal category, of biological classification; in the hierarchy of biological 

classification, the category below genus; a group of 

organisms formally recognized as distinct from other 

groups. 

Species Composition. The proportions of various plant species in relation to the total on a given 

area. It may be expressed in terms of cover, density, 

weight, etc. Synonym Vegetative composition. 

Surface Characteristics. The amount of bare 

ground, litter, rock and basal cover of live vegetation, which may include cryptograms. (Nevada 

Rangeland Handbook.) 

Sustained Yield. The achievement and maintenance 

in perpetuity of a high level annual or regular periodic output of the various renewable resources of the 

public lands consistent with multiple use. (FLPMA) 

-TTraditional lifeway values. The quality of being useful in or important to the maintenance of a 

specified social and/or cultural group’s traditional 

systems of (a) religious belief, (b) cultural practice, 

or (c) social interaction, not closely identified with 

definite locations. Another group’s shared values are 

abstract, nonmaterial, ascribed ideas that one cannot know about without being told. (BLM Manual 

800) 

Trend. The direction of change in ecological status 

or resource value rating observed over time. Trend 

in ecological status should be described as toward, 

or away from the potential natural community, or as 

not apparent. (BLM Technical Reference 4400-4) 

-UUpland. Terrestrial ecosystems located away from 

riparian zones, wetlands, springs, seeps and dry 

washes; ecosystems made up of vegetation not in 

contact with groundwater or other permanent water 

sources. 

-VVegetative Life Form. The characteristic structural 

features and method of perennation of a plant species, e.g., annuals, perennial forbs, shrubs, trees and 

succulents. 

-WWatershed. () A total area of land above a given 

point on a waterway that contributes runoff water to 

the flow at that point. (2) A major subdivision of a 

drainage basin. 

Wetlands. Areas characterized by soils that are 

usually saturated or ponded, i.e., hydric soils, that 

support mostly water-loving plants (hydrophytic 

plants). 

In areas of arid low lying land that is submerged or 

inundated periodically by water, and is characterized 

by hydric soils that support mostly water-loving (hydrophytic) plants. 

Cow grazing 

on Nevada 

rangelands. 

7 
 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES IMPLEMENTATION 

PROCESS

It is a requirement that grazing permits and leases stocking levels; and 

shall contain terms and conditions that ensure 

conformance with the approved Standards and 

Guidelines. 

The implementation process for Standards and 

Guidelines will occur under two separate processes 

as described below: 

. During the supervision and/or monitoring of 

an allotment, if it is determined that the existing 

terms and conditions of a grazing permit are not 

in conformance with the approved Standards 

and Guidelines and that livestock grazing was 

determined to be a significant factor in the nonattainment of a standard, then as soon as possible, 

or no later than the start of the next grazing year, 

the terms and conditions of the permit/lease will 

be modified to ensure that the grazing management 

practices or the levels of the grazing use will be in 

conformance with the Standards and/or Guidelines. 

The modification of the terms and conditions of 

the permit/lease will be implemented by agreement 

and/or by decision. 

2. The allotment evaluation process will continue 

to be the process used to determine if existing 

multiple uses for allotments are meeting or making 

progress towards meeting land use plan objectives, 

allotment specific objectives, Rangeland Program 

Summary objectives and land use plan decisions, in 

addition to the Standards and Guidelines for grazing 

administration. 

Additionally, allotment specific objectives may have 

to be developed or amended, objectives in the land 

use plans further quantified at the allotment specific 

level, and terms and conditions of permits changed 

or revised to reflect the Standards and Guidelines. 

Allotment evaluations will continue to be completed 

based on district priorities. 

a. The allotment evaluation consists

 of or involves:
 

) The evaluation of current grazing use 

by all users (livestock, wild horses, 

wildlife) based on monitoring data 

analysis and interpretation; 

2) Recommendations to change or adjust 

grazing systems; 

3) Recommendations to change or adjust 

4) Establishment of stocking levels for 

wild horses. 

b. The allotment evaluation also serves as the 

basis for either issuing multiple use decisions, 

agreements, or a no-change determination. 

Multiple use decisions are prepared subsequent to completion of land use plans and are 

based on the attainment or non-attainment of 

objectives established in the land use plans 

and allotment evaluations. 

During the evaluation process, the existing terms 

and conditions of a permit will be evaluated 

to determine if they are in conformance with 

the approved Standards and Guidelines. If it is 

determined that the existing terms and conditions 

are not in conformance and that livestock grazing was a significant factor in the non-attainment, 

then as soon as possible or no later than the start 

of the next grazing year, the terms and conditions 

of the permit/lease will be modified to ensure that 

the grazing management practices or the levels of 

grazing use will be in conformance. 

At the conclusion of the evaluation process, the 

multiple use decision process will continue to be 

used to establish: 

) The terms and conditions of the 

grazing permits; 

2) The appropriate management level 

for wild horses and burros that occur 

within the allotment; and 

3) Any recommendations for wildlife 

populations or habitat management 

actions required if it is determined that 

 these actions are necessary. 

The preamble to the final regulations contains 

additional information regarding implementation. 

The following preamble language is found on page 

9956 of the Federal Register notice: 

“... The Department intends that failing to comply 

with a standard in an isolated area would not 

necessarily result in corrective action. 

“The Department recognizes that it will sometimes 

be a long-term process to restore rangelands to 

8 
proper functioning condition. The Department 

intends that Standards and Guidelines will result 

in a balance of sustainable development and 

multiple use along with progress towards attaining 

healthy, properly functioning rangelands. For that 

reason, wording has been adopted in the final rule 

that will require the authorized officer to take 

appropriate action upon determining that existing 

grazing management practices are failing to ensure 

appropriate progress toward the fulfillment of 

standards. . . .” 

“In some areas, it may take many years to 

achieve healthy rangelands, as evidenced by 

the fundamentals, established Standards, and 

Guidelines. The Department recognizes, that in 

some cases, trends may be hard to even document 

in the first year. The Department will use a variety 

of data, including monitoring records, assessments, 

and knowledge of the locale to assist in making the 

“significant progress determination.” 

The acceptance of progress toward reaching the 

desired end state is also addressed in the regulatory 

text in 43 CFR 480. Fundamentals of Rangeland 

Sloan Canyon in southeastern 

Nevada. 

Health which includes the “making significant 

progress toward” language in each of the four 

fundamentals. 

The concept of “making progress toward” is a 

specific consideration when determining a course 

of action during implementation. Determining 

whether a standard is being met is a distinctly 

different concept from determining whether progress 

is being made toward or away from the standard. 

Determining a course of action is then dependent on 

a variety of factors, one of which is whether progress 

is being made toward the standard. 

With regard to actions, it is the BLM’s policy and 

intent to work in a collaborative manner to achieve 

or maintain the Standards necessary for healthy, 

productive rangelands. It is not the policy or intent 

of the BLM to arbitrarily and immediately remove 

all livestock from an entire allotment based solely 

on finding a range site that is not meeting a standard. 

As a practical matter, the BLM has neither policy, 

intent, desire nor capability to arbitrarily remove all 

livestock where acceptable progress is being made 

toward meeting the Standards. 

9 
 

 PREAMBLE - WILD HORSE AND BURRO MANAGEMENT 

Nevada is an arid State. The Standards for rangeland 

health and Guidelines for wild horse and burro 

management on BLM-administered lands in southern 

Nevada apply to HMAs. The Mojave-Southern 

Great Basin RAC intends that the Standards and 

Guidelines will result in a balance of sustainable 

development and multiple use. 

The standards for rangeland health will be reached 

and maintained by managing wild horse and 

burro numbers so as not to exceed Appropriate 

Management Levels (AML) for each HMA. 

Controlling wild horse and burro numbers through 

gathers and other control programs is essential. 

Standards are expressions of physical and biological 

conditions required for sustaining rangelands for 

multiple uses. Guidelines point to management 

actions related to HMAs for achieving the Standards. 

Guidelines are options that move rangeland 

conditions toward the multiple use Standards. 

Guidelines are based on science, best rangeland 

management practices, and public input. Guidelines 

indicate the types of management methods and 

practices for achieving the Standards for multiple 

use and are developed for functional watersheds and 

implemented within HMAs. 

The Mojave-Southern Great Basin RAC recognizes 

that it may be a long-term process to achieve proper 

functioning condition(s) on degraded rangelands. 

Healthy rangelands contribute to healthy herds. 

The RAC may be requested by any party to assist 

in addressing issues related to these Standards and 

Guidelines. 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 

STANDARD . SOILS: 

Watershed soils and stream banks should have 

adequate stability to resist accelerated erosion, 

maintain soil productivity, and sustain the hydrologic 

cycle. 

Soil indicators: 

- Ground cover (vegetation, litter, rock, bare ground); 

0 

- Surfaces (e.g., biological crusts, pavement); and 

- Compaction/infiltration. 

Riparian soil indicators: 

- Stream bank stability. 

All of the above indicators are appropriate to the 

potential of the ecological site. 

GUIDELINES: (for Soils Standard) 

. Upland management practices should maintain 

or promote adequate vegetative ground cover to 

achieve the Standards. 

.2 Riparian-wetland management practices should 

maintain or promote sufficient residual vegetation 

to maintain, improve, or restore functions such as 

stream flow energy dissipation, sediment capture, 

groundwater recharge, and streambank stability. 

.3 When wild horse and burro herd management 

practices alone are not likely to restore areas, 

land management practices may be designed and 

implemented where appropriate. 

.4 Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

should address improvement beyond this standard, 

significant progress toward achieving standards, 

time necessary for recovery, and time necessary for 

predicting trends. 

STANDARD 2. ECOSYSTEM 

COMPONENTS: 

Watersheds should possess the necessary ecological 

components to achieve State water quality criteria, 

maintain ecological processes, and sustain 

appropriate uses. 

Riparian and wetlands vegetation should have 

structural and species diversity characteristic of 

the stage of stream channel succession in order to 

provide forage and cover, capture sediment, and 

capture, retain, and safely release water (watershed 

function). 

Upland Indicators: 

- Canopy and ground cover including litter, live 

vegetation, biological crust, and rock appropriate to 
 

the potential of the ecological site. 

- Ecological processes are adequate for the 

vegetative communities. 

Riparian Indicators: 

- Stream side riparian areas are functioning properly 

when adequate vegetation, large woody debris, or 

rock is present to dissipate stream energy associated 

with high water flows. 

- Elements indicating proper functioning condition 

such as avoiding accelerating erosion, capturing 

sediment, and providing for groundwater 

recharge and release are determined by the 

following measurements as appropriate to the site 

characteristics: 

- Width/Depth ratio; 

- Channel roughness; 

- Sinuosity of stream channel; 

- Bank stability; 

- Vegetative cover (amount, spacing, life form); 

and 

- Other cover (large woody debris, rock). 

- Natural springs, seeps, and marsh areas are 

functioning properly when adequate vegetation is 

present to facilitate water retention, filtering, and 

release as indicated by plant species and cover 

appropriate to the site characteristics. 

Water Quality Indicators: 

- Chemical, physical and biological constituents do 

not exceed the State water quality Standards. 

GUIDELINES: (for ECOSYSTEM 

COMPONENTS STANDARD) 

2. Management practices should maintain or 

promote appropriate stream channel morphology and 

structure consistent with the watershed. 

2.2 Watershed management practices should 

maintain, restore or enhance water quality and flow 

rate to support desired ecological conditions. 

2.3 Management practices should maintain or 

promote the physical and biological conditions 

necessary for achieving surface characteristics and 

desired natural plant community. 

2.4 Wild horse and burro herd management 

practices will consider both economic and physical 

environment and will address all multiple uses 

including, but not limited to, (i) recreation, (ii) 

minerals, (iii) cultural resources, (iv) wildlife, (v) 

domestic livestock, (vi) community economics, (vii) 

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, (viii) 

designated wilderness (iv) and wilderness study 

areas (WSAs). 

2.5 New facilities should be located away from 

riparian and wetland areas if existing facilities 

conflict with achieving or maintaining riparian and 

wetland functions. Existing facilities will be used 

in a way that does not conflict with achieving or 

maintaining riparian and wetland functions or they 

will be relocated or modified when necessary to 

mitigate adverse impacts on riparian and wetland 

functions. 

2.6 Subject to all valid existing rights, the design 

of spring and seep developments shall include 

provisions to maintain or promote ecological 

functions and processes. 

2.7 When proper wild horse and burro herd 

management is not likely to restore areas of low 

infiltration or permeability, land management 

practices may be designed and implemented where 

appropriate. When setting herd management levels 

on ephemeral rangeland watersheds, reliable 

estimates of production for drought conditions 

should be used to avoid adverse effects on perennial 

species and ecosystem processes and retain a 

desired minimum level of annual growth or residue 

remaining. 

2.8 Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

should address improvement beyond this standard, 

significant progress toward achieving standards, 

time necessary for recovery, and time necessary for 

predicting trends. 

STANDARD 3. HABITAT AND BIOTA: 

Habitats and watersheds should sustain a level of 

biodiversity appropriate for the area and conducive 

to appropriate uses. Habitats of special status species 

should be able to sustain viable populations of those 

species. 

Habitat Indicators: 

- Vegetation composition (relative abundance of 

species); 


 
 

 

- Vegetation structure (life forms, cover, height, 

and age classes); 

- Vegetation distribution (patchiness, corridors); 

- Vegetation productivity; and 

- Vegetation nutritional value. 

Wildlife Indicators: 

- Escape terrain; 

- Relative abundance; 

- Composition; 

- Distribution; 

- Nutritional value; and 

- Edge-patch snags. 

The above indicators shall be applied to the potential 

of the ecological site. 

GUIDELINES: (for HABITAT AND BIOTA 

STANDARD) 

3. Mosaics of plant and animal communities that 

foster diverse and productive ecosystems should be 

maintained or achieved. 

3.2 Management practices should emphasize native 

species except when others would serve better for 

attaining desired communities. 

3.3 Wild horse and burro herd management should 

provide for growth, reproduction, and seedling 

establishment of those plant species needed to reach 

long-term land use plan objectives. Measurements of 

ecological conditions, trend, and utilization will be in 

accordance with techniques identified in the Nevada 

Rangeland Handbook. 

3.4 Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

should be planned and implemented to provide for 

integrated use by domestic livestock and wildlife. 

3.5 Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

will promote the conservation, restoration and 

maintenance of habitat for special status species. 

3.6 Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

will be designed to protect fragile ecosystems of 

limited distribution and size that support unique 

sensitive/endemic species or communities. Where 

these practices are not successful, herd levels will be 

reduced or eliminated from these areas. 

3.7 When wild horse and burro herd management 

practices alone are not likely to restore areas, 

land management practices may be designed and 

implemented where appropriate. 

3.8 Vegetation manipulation treatments may be 

implemented to improve native plant communities, 

consistent with appropriate land use plans, in areas 

where identified standards cannot be achieved 

through wild horse and burro herd management 

practices alone. Fire is the preferred vegetation 

manipulation practice on areas historically adapted 

to fire; treatment of native vegetation with herbicides 

or through mechanical means will be used only when 

other management techniques are not effective. 

3.9 Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

should address improvement beyond this standard, 

significant progress toward achieving standards, 

time necessary for recovery, and time necessary for 

predicting trends. 

STANDARD 4: WILD HORSES AND 

BURROS 

Wild horses and burros within HMAs should be 

managed for herd viability and sustainability. HMAs 

should be managed to maintain a healthy ecological 

balance among wild horse and/or burro populations, 

wildlife, livestock, and vegetation. 

Herd health indicators.-

- General horse and/or burro appearance: Problems 

are often apparent and can be easily identified by just 

looking at the herd. 

- Crippled or injured horses and/or burros: Excessive 

injuries can indicate problems. 

Herd demographics indicators. 

- Size of bands: A band with one stud or jack, one 

mare or jenny, and one foal indicates a problem. An 

oversized band also indicates there is a problem. 

Band sizes of 5-0 animals with one dominant stud 

per band is a good indicator. 

- Size of Bachelor Bands: Large bachelor bands in 

the immediate vicinity of other bands could indicate 

potential problems. 

Herd viability indicators. 

- Heavy trailing into water sources may indicate a 

2
 
 

 

significant problem with forage availability or water 

distribution. Animals may be traveling considerable 

distances to obtain water or forage. 

- Waiting for water. When available water becomes so 

scarce that a waiting line develops, horses and burros 

are in trouble. 

- Availability of water. Address legal and/or climatic 

considerations. Situations exist where wild horses 

and burros are present only because they currently 

have access to water which they could legally be 

deprived of under Nevada Water Laws. Situations 

exist where existing wild horse and burro populations 

are dependent upon water hauling. If water hauling 

were to cease these animals would die within a matter 

of days. 

- Depleted forage near all available water sources. 

Adequate water and forage adjacent to water sources 

are essential. 

GUIDELINES: (for WILD HORSES AND 

BURROS STANDARD) 

4. Wild horse and burro population levels in HMAs 

should not exceed AML. 

4.2 AMLs should be set to reflect the carrying 

capacity of the land in dry conditions based upon the 

most limiting factor: living space, water or forage. 

Management levels will not conflict with achieving 

or maintaining standards for soils, ecological 

components, or diversity of habitat and biota. 

Wild horses roaming Nevada’s 

rangelands. 

4.3 Interaction with herds should be minimized. 

Intrusive gathers should remove sufficient numbers 

of animals to ensure a period between gathers that 

reflects national wild horse and burro management 

strategies. Non intrusive gathers such as water 

trapping can be done on an “as needed” basis. 

4.4 Herd Management Plans should be made with 

the best predictive information available. When 

emergency actions occur the Herd Management Plan 

should be re-evaluated. 

4.5 Viable sex and age distribution should be a 

long-term goal of any wild horse and burro herd 

management plan. Sex and age distribution of the 

herd should be addressed when (after) AML has 

been reached. 

4.6 When wild horse and burro herd management 

alone is not likely to restore areas, land management 

practices may be designed and implemented where 

appropriate. 

4.7 Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

should address improvement beyond this standard, 

significant progress toward achieving standards, 

time necessary for recovery, and time necessary for 

predicting trends. 

3
 
OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION GUIDELINES FOR 

NEVADA PUBLIC LANDS 

 

 

INTRODUCTION 

The Nevada Northeastern Great Basin RAC, the 

Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin RAC, 

and the Mojave-Southern Great Basin RAC, as 

chartered by the Department of the Interior, have 

developed Guidelines for the administration of 

Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use on public lands 

within the State of Nevada. These guidelines 

are intended to promote cooperation among 

user groups, to share resources, and to minimize 

conflicts in accordance with the Nevada Standards 

for Rangeland Health. While recognizing the 

legitimacy and necessity of OHV use on public 

lands, it has become necessary to define guidelines 

for management of OHVs to ensure the protection 

of land health and the availability of the public 

lands for all multiple users. These guidelines are to 

assist land managers in administrative and planning 

decisions. Administrators may use the guidelines 

for managing for land health and making decisions 

with regard to restricting, or not restricting OHV 

activity. Additionally, administrators may use the 

educational guidelines as tools to provide training 

for land managers and to inform the public on OHV 

use issues and ethics. Planners should use these 

guidelines in developing timely plans for resources 

and recreation use, while addressing the increasing 

demand for OHV use. 

ON-THE-GROUND MANAGEMENT 

GUIDELINES 

• Encourage OHV use on existing or designated 

roads and trails, except in closed areas, prior to 

land use plans being updated and road and trail 

inventories completed. 

•		 Locate and manage OHV use to conserve soil 

functionality, vegetative cover, and watershed 

health. Manage OHV use to minimize the 

impact on the land, while maintaining OHV 

access. 

•		 Manage OHV use by type, season, intensity, 

distribution, and/or duration to minimize 

the impact on plant and animal habitats. If 

seasonal closures become appropriate to 

minimize adverse OHV impact(s) on public 

lands resources, managers will strive to preserve 

public access by designating alternative routes. 

•		 Manage OHV activities to conserve

 watershed and water quality. 

•		 Monitor the impact(s) of OHV 

activities on all public land, water, air 

and other resources and uses. 

•		 Maintain an inventory of existing road

 and trail systems. 

•		 Manage OHV use to preserve cultural,

 historical, archaeological, and

 paleontological resources. 

•		 Engineer, locate, and relocate roads and

 trails to accommodate OHV activities

 while minimizing resource impacts. 

•		 Encourage cooperation in law

 enforcement among all agencies. 

•		 OHV use pursuant to a permitted 

activity shall be governed by the terms 

of the permit. 

PLANNING GUIDELINES 

•		 In land use plans or plan amendments, 

designate areas as open, limited, or closed to 

OHV use. 

•		 Address OHV management including land 

use and/or route designations, monitoring 

and adaptive management strategies, such as 

applying the Limits of Acceptable Change 

process, when developing new land use plans 

or amending existing land use plans. Work 

closely with local, state, tribal, and other 

affected parties and other resource users in 

OHV planning. 

•		 Establish and maintain an inventory of 

existing routes and trails as part of the land use 

planning process. 

•		 Provide for other resources and uses in OHV 

planning. This includes livestock grazing, 

other recreational uses, archaeological sites, 

wildlife, horses and burros, and mineral 

extractions and coordinate with other users of 

public lands. 

•		 Conduct an assessment of current and future 

OHV demand, and plan for and balance the 

demand for this use with other multiple uses/ 

users when developing all land use plans. 

•		 Include in land use plans, social/economic 

effects of OHV use, including special 

4
 
GEOGRAPHIC AREA COVERED BY THE 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 

recreation events. 

•		 Integrate concepts of habitat connectivity 

into OHV planning to minimize habitat 

fragmentation. 

•		 For addressing/resolving local site-specific OHV 

issues/concerns, use collaborative planning 

groups consisting of local representative(s), 

affected/interested group(s) and agency(s). 

•		 Clearly identify route and area designations. 

•		 Where land health permits, develop sustainable 

OHV use areas to meet current and future 

demands, especially for urban interface. 

EDUCATION GUIDELINES 

•		 Cooperatively develop/improve public 

outreach programs to promote trail etiquette, 

environmental ethics, and responsible-use 

stewardship ethic. 

•		 Promote/expand/disseminate materials from 

programs such as, but not limited to, “Tread 

Lightly!” and “Leave No Trace.” 

•		 Provide OHV management education and 

training for managers, staff, partners and 

volunteers. Training should focus on the art 

practices and be tailored to meet local needs. 

Encourage communication between agencies, 

managers, staff, partners and volunteers to share 

expertise and effective techniques. 

•		 Encourage the private sector, as well as the 

public sector, to conduct responsible marketing 

of activities on public lands while avoiding the 

promotion of products, behaviors and services 

that are inconsistent with existing regulations 

and land use plans. 

•		 Develop communication and environmental 

education plan(s). Assess all situations where 

OHV use may require public information and 

education. Develop materials and programs 

appropriate to each situation. 

•		 Utilize high use areas and special events to 

maximize the dissemination of responsible use 

education materials and concepts to the public. 

The three RAC areas in Nevada are based on 

combinations of major land resource areas as 

developed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service for Nevada. This land classification 

system is recognized by the Bureau of Land 

Management, the Forest Service and other agencies as a basis for ecosystem data collection 

and analysis. The soil, vegetal and geophysical 

characteristics of each of the three areas are 

different and the text offered by the three RACs 

incorporates their understanding of the differing 

physical and biological needs of the rangeland 

ecosystems. 

Recognition of these differences is critical to the 

successful protection of rangelands in Nevada. 

As a result of basing the RAC boundaries according to an ecosystem approach as opposed 

to strictly an administrative or jurisdictional 

approach, the RAC’s advice and recommendations are more relevant to the on-the-ground 

management of natural resources. The area 

covered by the Standards and Guidelines is as 

follows. Adjustments will be made for grazing 

allotments that overlap the boundaries between 

the RAC areas. 

The Mojave-Southern Great Basin RAC recommends actions to the BLM Nevada State Director for all or portions of Clark, Nye and White 

Pine counties. This includes all of the Las Vegas 

Field Office and portions of the Battle Mountain 

and Ely Field Offices. 

5
 
 

BLM NEVADA OFFICES 

NEVADA STATE OFFICE 

State Director: Ron Wenker 

Associate State Director: Amy Lueders 

340 Financial Blvd. 

Reno, NV 89502 

775-86-6590 

FAX: 775-86-660 

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm weekdays 

BATTLE MOUNTAIN FIELD OFFICE 

Field Manager: Gerald Smith 

50 Bastian Road 

Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820 

775-635-4000 

FAX: 775-635-4034 

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm weekdays 

Tonopah Field Station 

Field Station Manager: Bill Fisher 

553 South Main St. 

PO Box 9 

Tonopah, Nevada 89049-09 

775-482-7800 

FAX: 775-482-780 

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm weekdays 

ELY FIELD OFFICE 

Field Manager: John Ruhs 

775North Industrial Way 

HC33 Box 33500 

Ely, Nevada 8930-9408 

775-289-800 

FAX: 775-289-90 

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm weekdays

 Caliente Field Station 

Field Station Manager: Ron Clementsen 

U.S. Highway 93, PO Box 237 

Caliente, Nevada 89008-0237 

775-726-800 

FAX: 775-726-8 

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm weekdays 

LAS VEGAS FIELD OFFICE 

Field Manager: Juan Palma 

470 N. Torrey Pines Drive 

Las Vegas, Nevada 8930-230 

702-55-5000 

FAX: 702-55-5023 

Hours: 7:30a.m. – 4:5pm weekdays 

CARSON CITY FIELD OFFICE 

Field Manager: Don Hicks 

5665 Morgan Mill Road 

Carson City, Nevada 8970 

775-885-6000 

FAX: 775-885-647 

Hours: 7:30am - 5:00pm weekdays 

WINNEMUCCA FIELD OFFICE 

Field Manager: Gail Givens 

500 East Winnemucca Boulevard 

Winnemucca, Nevada 89445 

775-623-500 

FAX: 775-623-503 

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm weekdays 

ELKO FIELD OFFICE 

Field Manager: Helen Hankins 

3900 East Idaho Street 

Elko, Nevada 8980 

775-753-0200 

FAX: 775-753-0255 

Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm weekdays 

NAT’L WILD HORSE & BURRO CENTER 

AT PALOMINO VALLEY 

Facility Manager: John Neill 

PO Box 3270 

Sparks, Nevada 89432-3272 

775-475-2222 

FAX: 775-475-2053 

Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm weekdays 

6
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

NORTHEASTERN GREAT BASIN AREA STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR GRAZING AND 

WILD HORSES AND BURROS 

Preamble 

The Nevada Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), as 

chartered by the Department of the Interior to promote healthy rangelands, has 

developed Standards and Guidelines for grazing administration on about 16.2 

million acres of public lands and Standards and Guidelines for maintaining 

healthy wild horse and burro herds on Herd Management Areas (HMA’s) 

administered by the Bureau of Land Management within the designated 

geographic area of the Northeastern Great Basin. 

The RAC in developing these Standards and Guidelines, understands and agrees 

that grazing and wild horses and burros are two of the multiple uses recognized 

under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

1739, 1740). The RAC recognizes the limited management options currently 

available for wild horses and burros. Unlike domestic stock that can be 

husbanded and controlled regularly, or wildlife that can be controlled through 

sport harvest, free-roaming wild horses and burros must be managed by capture 

and adoption or placement in sanctuaries to achieve a sustainable relationship 

with land and resources year-round. 

The RAC in recommending these Standards and Guidelines urges the Bureau to 

aggressively implement the management strategies to expeditiously establish, 

achieve and maintain Appropriate Management Level’s (AML’s) of wild horses 

and burros within HMA’s and remove them from outside HMA’s. These 

recommended Standards and Guidelines reflect the stated goals of improving 

rangeland health while providing for the viability of the livestock industry, all 

wildlife species and wild horses and burros in the Northeastern Great Basin 

Area. 

NE RAC’s Intended Use of Standards and Guidelines 

Standards and Guidelines will be implemented through terms and conditions of 

grazing permits, leases, and other authorizations, grazing-related portions of 

activity plans (including Allotment Management Plans), and through range 

improvement-related activities. 

Standards and Guidelines for wild horses and burros will be implemented 

through control of population levels within established HMA’s, related portions 

of activity plans (including Allotment Management Plans), and through range 

restoration related activities. Wild horse and burro herd management practices 

should consider both economic and physical environment and will address all 

multiple uses including, but not limited to recreation, minerals, cultural 

resources, wildlife, domestic livestock, community economics, Areas of Critical 

Environmental Concern, designated wilderness and wilderness study areas 

(WSAs). 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-41 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

The RAC anticipates that in most cases the Standards and Guidelines 

themselves will not be terms and conditions of various authorizations but that 

the terms and conditions will reflect the Standards and Guidelines. 

The RAC intends that the Standards and Guidelines will result in a balance of 

sustainable development and multiple use along with progress towards attaining 

healthy, properly functioning rangelands and healthy wild horse and burro herds. 

For that reason, wording has been adopted in this final rule that will require the 

authorized officer to take appropriate action upon determining the existing 

management practices are failing to ensure significant progress toward the 

fulfillment of the Standards and towards conformance with the guidelines. 

The RAC intends that assessments and corrective actions will be undertaken in 

priority order as determined by BLM. The BLM will use a variety of data 

including monitoring records, assessments, and knowledge of the locale to assist 

in making the “significant progress” determination. It is anticipated that in many 

cases it will take numerous seasons to determine direction and magnitude of 

trend. However, actions will be taken to establish significant progress toward 

conformance as soon as sufficient data are available to make informed changes 

relative to numbers of wild horses and burros, herd management decisions and 

grazing practices. 

Standards and Guidelines 

Standard 1. Upland Sites: 

Upland soils exhibit infiltration and permeability rates that are appropriate to 

soil type, climate and land form. 

As indicated by: Indicators are canopy and ground cover, including litter, live 

vegetation and rock, appropriate to the potential of the site. 

Guidelines: 

1.1 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro population levels 

are appropriate when in combination with other multiple uses they maintain or 

promote upland vegetation and other organisms and provide for infiltration and 

permeability rates, soil moisture storage, and soil stability appropriate to the 

ecological site within management units. 

1.2 When livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro herd 

management alone are not likely to restore areas of low infiltration or 

permeability, land management treatments should be designed and implemented 

where appropriate. 

1.3 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro herd management 

are adequate when significant progress is being made toward this standard. 

See Appendix C(a) for additional guidelines for vegetation management. 

K-42 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Standard 2. Riparian and Wetland Sites: 

Riparian and wetland areas exhibit a properly functioning condition and achieve 

state water quality criteria. 

As indicated by: 

Stream side riparian areas are functioning properly when adequate vegetation, 

large woody debris, or rock is present to dissipate stream energy associated 

with high water flows. Elements indicating proper functioning condition such as 

avoiding accelerating erosion, capturing sediment, and providing for 

groundwater recharge and release are determined by the following 

measurements as appropriate to the site characteristics: 

•	 Width/Depth ratio; Channel roughness; Sinuosity of stream channel; 

Bank stability; Vegetative cover (amount, spacing, life form); and 

Other cover (large woody debris, rock). 

Natural springs, seeps, and marsh areas are functioning properly when adequate 

vegetation is present to facilitate water retention, filtering, and release as 

indicated by plant species and cover appropriate to the site characteristics. 

Chemical, physical and biological water constituents are not exceeding the state 

water quality standards. 

Guidelines: 

2.1 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro population levels 

will maintain or promote sufficient vegetation cover, large woody debris, or 

rock to achieve proper functioning condition in riparian and wetland areas. 

Supporting the processes of energy dissipation, sediment capture, groundwater 

recharge, and stream bank stability will thus promote stream channel 

morphology (e.g., width/depth ratio, channel roughness, and sinuosity) 

appropriate to climate, landform, gradient, and erosional history. 

2.2 Where livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro herd 

management are not likely to restore riparian and wetland sites, land 

management treatments should be designed and implemented where 

appropriate to the site. 

2.3 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro herd management 

will maintain, restore or enhance water quality and ensure the attainment of 

water quality that meets or exceeds state standards. 

2.4 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro herd management 

are adequate when significant progress is being made toward this standard. 

See Appendix c(a) for additional guidelines for vegetation management. 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS	 K-43 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Standard 3. Habitat: 

Habitats exhibit a healthy, productive, and diverse population of native and/or 

desirable plant species, appropriate to the site characteristics, to provide 

suitable feed, water, cover and living space for animal species and maintain 

ecological processes. Habitat conditions meet the life cycle requirements of 

threatened and endangered species. 

As indicated by: 

• Vegetation composition (relative abundance of species); 

• Vegetation structure (life forms, cover, heights, or age classes) 

• Vegetation distribution (patchiness, corridors); 

• Vegetation productivity; and Vegetation nutritional value. 

Guidelines: 

3.1 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro population levels 

will promote the conservation, restoration and maintenance of habitat for 

threatened and endangered species, and other special status species as may be 

appropriate. 

3.2 Livestock grazing intensity, frequency, season of use and distribution and 

wild horse and burro population levels should provide for growth and 

reproduction of those plant species needed to reach long-term land use plan 

objectives. Measurements of ecological condition and trend/utilization will be in 

accordance with techniques identified in the Nevada Rangeland Monitoring 

Handbook. 

3.3 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro management should 

be planned and implemented to allow for integrated use by domestic livestock, 

wildlife, and wild horses and burros consistent with land use plan objectives. 

3.4 Where livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro herd 

management alone are not likely to achieve habitat objectives, land treatments 

may be designed and implemented as appropriate. 

3.5 When native plant species adapted to the site are available in sufficient 

quantities, and it is economically and biologically feasible to establish or increase 

them to meet management objectives, they will be emphasized over non-native 

species. 

3.6 Livestock grazing management and wild horse and burro herd management 

are adequate when significant progress is being made toward this Standard. 

See Appendix C(a) for additional guidelines for vegetation management. 

K-44 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Standard 4. Cultural Resources: 

Land use plans will recognize cultural resources within the context of multiple 

use. 

Guidelines: 

4.1 Rangeland management plans will consider listings of known sites that are 

National Historic Register eligible or considered to be of cultural significance 

and new eligible sites as they become known. 

4.2 Wild horse and burro herd management will be designed to avoid or 

mitigate damage to significant cultural resources. 

Standard 5. Healthy Wild Horse and Burro Populations: 

Wild horses and burros exhibit characteristics of a healthy, productive, and 

diverse population. Age structure and sex ratios are appropriate to maintain the 

long term viability of the population as a distinct group. Herd management areas 

are able to provide suitable feed, water, cover and living space for wild horses 

and burros and maintain historic patterns of habitat use. 

As indicated by: 

•	 Healthy rangelands that provide sufficient quantities and quality of 

forage and water to sustain the appropriate management level on a 

yearlong basis within a herd management area. 

Wild horses and/or burros managed on a year-long basis for a condition class 

greater than or equal to five to allow them normal chances for survival in the 

winter (See glossary for equine body conditioning definitions). 

Highly adoptable wild horses and burros that are readily available from herd 

management areas. 

Wild horse and burro herds that exhibit appropriate age structure and sex ratio 

for short and long term genetic and reproductive health. 

Guidelines: 

5.1 Implement the objectives outlined in the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and 

Burros Tactical Plan for Nevada (May 1999). 

5.2 Manage for wild horses and/or burros in herd management areas based on 

the capability of the HMA to provide suitable feed, water, cover and living space 

for all multiple uses. 

5.3 Set appropriate Management Levels based on the most limiting habitat factor 

(e. g., available water, suitable forage, living space and cover) in the context of 

multiple use. 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

5.4 Manage herd management area populations to preserve and enhance 

physical and biological characteristics that are of historical significance to the 

herd. 

5.5 Manage wild horse and burro herds for short and long term increases and to 

enhance adoptability by ensuring that wild horses and burros displaying desirable 

traits are preserved in the herd thus providing a reproductive base to increase 

highly adoptable horses and burros for future demands. 

5.6 Identify and preserve historic traits and characteristics within the herd which 

have proven to be highly desirable by the adoption public to increase the long 

term availability of animals bearing these features. 

5.7 Wild horse and burro selective removal criteria are modified on a per herd 

basis to correct deficiencies in population age and sex ratios which threaten 

short and long term genetic diversity and reproductive health. 

Glossary 

Most Definitions are taken from "A Glossary of Terms Used in Range 

Management" developed through the Society for Range Management. If a 

definition has been slightly modified it is marked with an *. Other definitions are 

from Grazing Administration Regulations Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 

43, Sec. 4100.0-5 or Bureau of Land Management Technical Reference. 

Definitions also include meanings that were developed by the Northeastern 

Great Basin Resource Advisory Council to understand their intent in the 

Standards and Guidelines. 

B 

Biotic - Refers to living components of an ecosystem, e.g., plants and animals. 

C 

Canopy - (1) The vertical projection downward of the aerial portion of 

vegetation, usually expressed as a percent of the ground so occupied. (2) The 

aerial portion of the overstory vegetation. 

Canopy Cover - The percentage of ground covered by a vertical projection of 

the outermost perimeter of the natural spread of foliage of plants. Small 

openings within the canopy are included. 

Climate - The average or prevailing weather conditions of a place over a period 

of years. 

D 

*Distribution (Grazing) - Dispersion of grazing animals within a management unit 

or area. 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

E 

Ecological Site - The kind of land with a specific potential natural community and 

specific physical site characteristics, differing from other kinds of land in its 

ability to produce vegetation and to respond to management. 

Edaphic - Refers to the soil. 

Equine body conditioning ­

1.	 Poor. Extremely emaciated; spinal processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae 

and ischii projecting prominently, no fatty tissue can be seen. 

2.	 Very Thin. Emaciated; slight fatty covering over base of spinal processes; 

transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinal 

processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii prominent; withers, 

shoulders, and neck structure faintly discernible. 

3.	 Thin. Fat buildup about halfway on spinal processes; transverse 

processes cannot be felt; slight fat covering over ribs; spinal processes 

and ribs easily discernible; tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae 

cannot be identified visually; tuber coxae appear rounded but easily 

discernible, tuber ischii not distinguishable; withers, shoulders, and neck 

accentuated. 

4.	 Moderately Thin. Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; 

tailhead prominence depends on conformation – fat can be felt around 

it; tuber coxae not discernible; withers, shoulders and neck not 

obviously thin. 

5.	 Moderate. Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually 

distinguishable but easily felt around tailhead and area beginning to feel 

spongy; withers appear rounded over spinal processes; shoulders and 

neck blend smoothly into body. 

6.	 Moderately Fleshy. May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs 

spongy; fat around tailhead soft; fat beginning to be deposited along the 

side of withers, behind shoulders, and along sides of neck. 

7.	 Fleshy. May have crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but 

noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat 

deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along neck. 

8.	 Fat. Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs; fat around tailhead very 

soft; area along withers filled with fat; area behind shoulder filled with 

fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner thighs. 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

9.	 Extremely Fat. Obvious crease down back; patchy fat appearing over 

ribs; bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders, and 

along neck; fat along inner thighs may rub together, flank filled with fat. 

Erosion - (v.) Detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, 

wind, ice or gravity. (n) The land surface worn away by running water, wind, ice, 

or other geologic agents, including such processes as gravitational creep. 

Exotic - An organism or species which is not native to the region in which it is 

found. Synonym non-native. 

G 

*Grazing - For the purposes of this document grazing refers to the removal of 

vegetation by domestic livestock. 

Ground Cover - The percentage of material, other than bare ground, covering 

the land surface. It may include live and standing dead vegetation, litter, cobble, 

gravel, stones and bedrock. Ground cover plus bare ground would total 100 

percent. 

Ground Water - Subsurface water that is in the zone of saturation. The top 

surface of the ground water is the "water table". Source of water for wells, 

seepage, springs. 

Guidelines - Guidelines are livestock management practices (e.g. tools, methods, 

strategies and techniques) designed to achieve healthy public lands as defined by 

Standards and portrayed by Indicators. Guidelines are designed to provide 

direction, yet offer flexibility for local implementation through activity plans and 

grazing permits. Activity plans may add specificity to the Guidelines based on 

local goals and objectives as provided for in adopted manuals, handbooks and 

policy. Not all Guidelines fit all circumstances. Monitoring or site specific 

evaluation will determine if significant progress is being made towards achieving 

the standards, and if the appropriate guidelines are being applied. 

H 

Habitat - The natural abode of a plant or animal, including all biotic, climatic, and 

edaphic factors affecting life. 

Herd Area - means the geographic area identified as having been used by a herd 

as its habitat in 1971. 

Herd Management Area - Herd Area or portion of a Herd Area that has been 

designated through the planning process where horses and/or burros can be 

managed as a component of the public lands. 

I 

Indicators - Indicators are observations or measurements of physical, chemical 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

or biological factors used to evaluate site conditions or trends, appropriate to 

the potential of the site. Indicators will be used to determine whether or not 

Standards are being met. 

Infiltration - The flow of a fluid into a substance through pores or small 

openings. It connotes flow into a substance in contradistinction to the word 

percolation. 

Infiltration Rate - Maximum rate at which soil under specified conditions can 

absorb rain or shallow impounded water, expressed in quantity of water 

absorbed by the soil per unit of time, e.g., inches/hour. 

Intensity (Grazing) - A reference to grazing density per unit of time. 

L 

Land Use Plan - Land use plan means a resource management plan, developed 

under the provisions of 43 CFR part 1600, or management framework plan. 

These plans are developed through public participation in accordance with the 

provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and establish 

management direction for resource uses of public lands. (43 CFR 4100.5) 

Litter - The uppermost layer of organic debris on the soil surface; essentially the 

freshly fallen or slightly decomposed vegetal material. 

M 

Management Objective - The objectives for which rangeland and rangeland 

resources are managed which includes specified uses accompanied by a 

description of the desired vegetation and the expected products and/or values. 

Management Plan - A program of action designed to reach a given set of 

objectives. 

Marsh - Flat, wet, treeless areas usually covered by standing water and 

supporting a native growth of grasses and grasslike plants. 

Monitoring - The orderly collection, analysis, and interpretation of resource 

data to evaluate progress toward meeting management objectives. 

Morphology - The form and structure of an organism, with special emphasis on 

external features. 

N 

*Native Species - A species which is a part of the indigenous fauna or flora of 

the area in question. 

O 

Overstory - The upper canopy or canopies of plants. Usually refers to trees, tall 

shrubs and vines. 

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P 

Percolation - The flow of a liquid through a porous substance. 

Plant Cover - (1) The plants or plant parts, living or dead, on the surface of the 

ground. Vegetative cover or herbage cover is composed of living plants and 

litter cover of dead parts of plants. (2) The area of ground cover by plants of 

one or more species. 

Proper Functioning Condition - Riparian-Wetland areas are functioning properly 

when adequate vegetation, land-form, or large woody debris is present to 

dissipate stream energy associated with high waterflows, thereby reducing 

erosion and improving water quality; filter sediment, capture bedload, and aid 

floodplain development; improve flood-water retention and ground-water 

recharge; develop diverse ponding and channel characteristics to provide the 

habitat and the water depth, duration, and temperature necessary for fish 

production, waterfowl breeding, and other uses; and support greater 

biodiversity. [BLM Technical Reference 1737-9] 

R 

Range Improvement - Range improvement means an authorized physical 

modification or treatment which is designed to improve production of forage; 

change vegetation composition; control patterns of use; provide water; stabilize 

soil and water conditions; restore, protect and improve the condition of 

rangeland ecosystems to benefit livestock, wild horses and burros, and fish and 

wildlife. The term includes but is not limited to, structures, treatment projects, 

and use of mechanical devices or modifications achieved through mechanical 

means. 

Riparian - Referring to or relating to areas adjacent to water or influenced by 

free water associated with streams or rivers on geologic surfaces occupying the 

lowest position of a watershed. 

S 

Seep - Wet areas, normally not flowing, arising from an underground water 

source. 

Soil - (1) The unconsolidated mineral and organic material on the immediate 

surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land 

plants. (2) The unconsolidated mineral matter on the surface of the earth that 

has been subjected to and influenced by genetic and environmental factors of 

parent material, climate (including moisture and temperature effects), macroand micro-organisms, and topography, all acting over a period of time and 

producing a product - soil - that differs from the material it was derived in many 

physical, chemical, biological, and morphological properties and characteristics. 

Species - A taxon or rank species; in the hierarchy or biological classification, 

the category below genus. 

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Species Composition - The proportions of various plant species in relation to 

the total on a given area. It may be expressed in terms of cover, density, weight, 

etc. Synonym Vegetative composition. 

Spring - Flowing water originating from an underground source. 

T 

Trend - The direction of change in ecological status or resource value rating 

observed over time. Trend in ecological status should be described as toward, 

or away from the potential natural community, or as not apparent. Trend in a 

resource value rating for a specific use should be described as up, down or not 

apparent. Trends in resource value ratings for several uses on the same site at a 

given time may be in different directions, and there is no necessary correlation 

between trends in resource value ratings and trend in ecological status. Some 

agencies use trend only in the context of ecological status. Syn. range condition 

trend. 

U 

Utilization - The proportion of current year's forage production that is 

consumed or destroyed by grazing animals. May refer either to a single species 

or to the vegetation as a whole. 

W 

Watershed - (1) A total area of land above a given point on a waterway that 

contributes runoff water to the flow at that point. (2) A major subdivision of a 

drainage basin. 

Wetlands - Areas characterized by soils that are usually saturated or ponded, 

i.e., hydric soils that support mostly water loving plants (hydrophytic plants). 

Reference: 

This information was taken directly from the Northeastern Great Basin RAC 

website for Standards and Guidelines for Grazing and Wild Horses and Burros. 

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/res/resource_advisory/northeastern_great/s_gs/wil 

d_horses.html. 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

RAC STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR RANGELAND HEALTH FOR THE SIERRA FRONTNORTHWESTERN GREAT BASIN AREA 

Preamble Standards for Rangeland Health 

The Standards and Guidelines for livestock grazing on Bureau of Land 

Management lands are written to accomplish the four fundamentals of rangeland 

health, insofar as they are affected by livestock grazing practices. Those 

fundamentals are: 

• Watersheds are properly functioning; 

• Ecological processes are in order; 

• Water quality complies with State Standards; and 

• Habitats of protected species are in order. 

Other uses can affect the health of the land, and Guidelines for these currently 

exist or will be developed as needed. In addition, implementation of livestock 

grazing guidelines must be coordinated with other uses of the land, and 

collectively these uses should not detract from the goal of achieving public land 

health. 

Standards, Indicators and Guidelines will be implemented through Standard 

public land management practices as defined in the Nevada Rangeland 

Monitoring Handbook and the other documents listed in Appendix A [of this 

appendix]. 

Standards: The goal to be achieved. 

Indicators: Indicators are observations or measurements of physical, chemical 

or biological factors that should be used to evaluate site conditions or trends, 

appropriate to the potential of the site. Indicators assist in determining whether 

Standards are met or Guidelines followed. 

Guidelines: Guidelines are livestock management practices (e.g., tools, 

methods, strategies and techniques) designed to achieve healthy public lands as 

defined by Standards and portrayed by Indicators. Guidelines are designed to 

provide direction, yet offer flexibility for local implementation through activity 

plans and grazing permits. Activity plans may add specificity to the Guidelines 

based on local goals and objectives as provided for in adopted manuals, 

handbooks and policy. Not all Guidelines fit all circumstances. Monitoring and 

site specific evaluation will determine if the Standards are being met or the 

trend on a particular site is toward desired objectives, and if the correct 

Guidelines are being applied. The BLM Authorized Officer, in consultation with 

public land users, will identify and document acceptable or unavoidable 

exceptions on a case-by-case basis. 

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Standard 1. Soils: 

Soil processes will be appropriate to soil types, climate and land form. 

As indicated by: 

•	 Surface litter is appropriate to the potential of the site; 

•	 Soil crusting formations in shrub interspaces, and soil compaction 

are minimal or not in evidence, allowing for appropriate infiltration 

of water; 

•	 Hydrologic cycle, nutrient cycle and energy flow are adequate for 

the vegetative communities; 

•	 Plant communities are diverse and vigorous, and there is evidence 

of recruitment; and 

•	 Basal and canopy cover (vegetative) is appropriate for site potential. 

The Standards and Guidelines for livestock grazing on Bureau of Land 

Management lands are written to accomplish the four fundamentals of rangeland 

health, insofar as they are affected by livestock grazing practices. Those 

fundamentals are: 

•	 Watersheds are properly functioning; 

•	 Ecological processes are in order; 

•	 Water quality complies with State Standards; and 

•	 Habitats of protected species are in order. 

Other uses can affect the health of the land, and Guidelines for these currently 

exist or will be developed as needed. In addition, implementation of livestock 

grazing guidelines must be coordinated with other uses of the land, and 

collectively these uses should not detract from the goal of achieving public land 

health. 

Standards, Indicators and Guidelines will be implemented through Standard 

public land management practices as defined in the Nevada Rangeland 

Monitoring Handbook and the other documents listed in Appendix A [of this 

appendix]. 

Standard 2. Riparian/Wetlands: 

Riparian/Wetland systems are in properly functioning condition. 

As indicated by: 

•	 Sinuosity, width/depth ratio and gradient are adequate to dissipate 

streamflow without excessive erosion or deposition; 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

•	 Riparian vegetation is adequate to dissipate high flow energy and 

protect banks from excessive erosion; and 

•	 Plant species diversity is appropriate to riparian-wetland systems. 

Standard 3. Water Quality: 

Water quality criteria in Nevada or California State Law shall be achieved or 

maintained. 

As indicated by: 

•	 Chemical constituents do not exceed the water quality Standards; 

•	 Physical constituents do not exceed the water quality Standards; 

•	 Biological constituents do not exceed the water quality Standards; 

and 

•	 The water quality of all water bodies, including ground water 

located on or influenced by BLM lands will meet or exceed the 

applicable Nevada or California water quality Standards. Water 

quality Standards for surface and ground waters include the 

designated beneficial uses, numeric criteria, narrative criteria, and 

antidegradation requirements set forth under State law, and as 

found in Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act. 

Standard 4. Plant and Animal Habitat: 

Populations and communities of native plant species and habitats for native 

animal species are healthy, productive and diverse. 

As indicated by: 

•	 Good representation of life forms and numbers of species; 

•	 Good diversity of height, size, and distribution of plants; 

•	 Number of wood stalks, seed stalks, and seed production adequate 

for stand maintenance; and 

•	 Vegetative mosaic, vegetative corridors for wildlife, and minimal 

habitat fragmentation. 

Standard 5. Special Status Species Habitat: 

Habitat conditions meet the life cycle requirements of special status species. 

As indicated by: 

•	 Habitat areas are large enough to support viable populations of 

special status species; 

•	 Special status plant and animal numbers and ages appear to ensure 

stable populations; 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

•	 Good diversity of height, size, and distribution of plants; 

•	 Number of wood stalks, seed stalks, and seed production adequate 

for stand maintenance; and 

•	 Vegetative mosaic, vegetative corridors for wildlife, and minimal 

habitat fragmentation. 

Guidelines for Grazing Management: 

1.	 Waters must be free from high temperature, biocides, organisms pathogenic 

to human beings, toxic, corrosive or other deleterious substances 

attributable to domestic or industrial waste or other controllable sources at 

levels or combinations to interfere with any beneficial use of the water. 

Compliance with the provisions of this subsection may be determined in 

accordance with methods of testing prescribed by the State. If used as an 

Indicator, survival of test organisms must not be significantly less in test 

water than in control water. 

2.	 Grazing management practices should be planned and implemented to meet 

water quality provisions in either California State water law or Nevada 

Administrative Code Section 445A.120-121 as applicable. 

3.	 Management practices within allotments will maintain or promote stream 

channel morphology, appropriate soil organisms; adequate amounts of 

ground cover to support infiltration, maintain soil moisture storage, and 

stabilize soils; and the hydrologic cycle, nutrient cycle and energy flow. 

4.	 After a range fire or other natural catastrophic event, vegetation should be 

returned to the native species as rapidly as possible, to afford forage and 

habitat for native animals. If a nurse crop is needed to protect the land from 

erosion, all native nurse crops should be used first. 

5.	 Treated areas will be rested from livestock grazing for two growing seasons 

or until seedlings are established or the vegetative response has achieved 

objective levels. Wild horse and burros removed from Herd Management 

Areas will be restored after rehabilitation objectives have been met. 

6.	 Alternative solutions (e.g., reseeding, funding, labor, equipment use or 

rental) to facilitate fire rehabilitation may be included in cooperative 

agreements involving qualified groups and individuals who want to 

participate. 

7.	 Appropriate livestock grazing treatments will be implemented to control the 

frequency, duration, and level of grazing use. Where livestock grazing is 

authorized, grazing systems will provide within any one grazing year one or 

more of the following treatments: 

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a.	 Rest or deferment from livestock grazing on a specified area as 

appropriate to meet Standards. 

b.	 Systematic rotation of deferred use and/or rest from livestock 

grazing among two or more units. 

c.	 Continuous, season-long use where it has been demonstrated to be 

consistent with achieving identified Standards. Once season long use 

is determined to be unacceptable, an alternative system will be 

developed and implemented before termination of season long use, 

prior to the next grazing season. 

d.	 Excluding further livestock grazing within the affected use area 

through appropriate techniques when utilization objectives are 

reached. 

8.	 Conservation of Federal threatened or endangered, proposed, species of 

concern (formally Category One and Two) and other special status species 

is promoted by the restoration and maintenance of their habitats. 

9.	 Salt and/or supplements will be placed at least 1⁄4 mile from live waters 

(springs/streams) and outside of associated riparian areas, permanent 

livestock watering facilities, wet or dry meadows, and aspen stands. Also salt 

should not be placed in known historic properties. 

10. Night bedding of sheep will be located at least 1⁄4 mile from live waters, 

streams, springs, seeps, associated riparian areas, wet or dry meadows, and 

aspen stands. 

11. Encourage the use of prescribed and natural fires, meeting prescription 

objectives, for the restoration and maintenance of healthy rangelands. 

12. Departure from traditional grazing management practices may be authorized 

by BLM to achieve Standards on a case by case experimental basis for 

rangeland restoration and rehabilitation. 

13. The best available science and technology will be utilized in monitoring and 

assessing the condition of rangelands from the pasture to the BLM District 

level. 

14. Recognizing State Water Law requirements, wildlife and wild horses/burros 

within their Herd Management Areas will have access to surface water they 

customarily use. 

15. Design of water facilities will incorporate features to ensure safe access and 

escape for small animals and birds. 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

16. The development of springs and seeps or other projects affecting water and 

associated resources shall be designed to maintain the associated riparian 

area and assure the attainment of Standards. 

17. Grazing management practices shall be planned and implemented to allow 

for habitat requirements of wildlife and wild horses and burros within Herd 

Management Areas. 

18. Implement aggressive action to reduce the invasion of exotic plant species 

into native plant communities. Control the spread of noxious weeds 

through various methods such as, grazing management, fire management and 

other vegetative management practices. 

19. Riparian structural developments (i.e., gabions, dams, etc.) designed to 

achieve improvement in riparian and wetland conditions shall only be 

implemented in conjunction with changes in existing grazing management 

practices, where grazing is a significant factor contributing to a riparian 

condition needing such attention. Where grazing is not a significant factor 

causing a riparian condition needing attention, structural developments 

designed to achieve improvement in riparian and wetland conditions may be 

implemented independent of changes in existing grazing management 

practices. 

20. The utilization, monitoring and evaluation process will be used as a tool to 

promote healthy rangelands and achieve Standards. 

21. Implement grazing management practices that sustain biological diversity 

across the landscape. 

22. To prevent transmission of disease between domestic and bighorn sheep, 

adopt and implement the "Guidelines for Domestic Sheep Management in 

Bighorn Sheep Habitats" contained in Mountain Sheep Ecosystem Management 

Strategy in the 11 Western States and Alaska. 

23. Rangeland management plans will consider listings of known historic 

properties and new eligible properties as they become known. 

Reference 

This information was taken directly from the Sierra Front – Northwestern 

Great Basin RAC website for Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health. 

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/res/resource_advisory/sierra_frontnorthwestern/standards_and_guideline.html 

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Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

BLM CALIFORNIA RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 

Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada Standards for Rangeland Health and 

Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management
 

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K-60 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
United States Department of the Interior 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

Washington. D.C. 20240 

http://www.blm.gov 4180 (220) 

MEMORANDUM 

To: 

Through: 

From: Director, Bureau of Land Management 

Subject:	 Approval of Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada Standards and 

Guidelines for Livestock Grazing 

In accordance with 43 CFR 4180.2(b), the Acting California State Director is submitting for 

Secretarial approval the attached Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada Standards 

and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing. BLM review finds that they comply with the 

requirements of the regulations. Standard and Guidelines development occurred in consultation 

with the Northeast California and Northwest Nevada Resource Advisory Council and with full 

public participation. BLM analyzed these standards and guidelines in an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS), which was protested. BLM appropriately considered and addressed the issues 

stated in the protests, and used them when it developed the Record of Decision (ROD) following 

the EIS. The ROD also incorporated the Standards and Guidelines into the appropriate land use 

plans. 

I recommend that you approve the Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada Standards 

and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing. 

I concur with (concur/not concur) with your recommendation and (approve/not approve) the 

Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada Standards and Guidelines for Livestock 

Grazing. 

JUL 13 2000 Date: 

Attachment 
Northeastern California 

and 

Northwestern Nevada
 

STANDARDS 

for Rangeland Health 

and 

GUIDELINES 

for Livestock Grazing Management 

Prepared by the Bureau of Land Management
 

California State Office
 

June 1999
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

TABLE of CONTENTS 

1. PREAMBLE ................................................................. 1
 

2. STANDARDS for RANGELAND HEALTH ........................................... 1
 

STANDARD 1: UPLAND SOILS .............................................. 1
 

STANDARD 2: STREAMS .................................................. 2
 

STANDARD 3: WATER QUALITY ............................................ 2
 

STANDARD 4: RIPARIAN and WETLAND SITES ................................. 4
 

STANDARD 5: BIODIVERSITY .............................................. 5
 

3. GUIDELINES FOR LIVESTOCK GRAZING MANAGEMENT ............................. 6
 

Guideline 1: Adequate stubble will be present on all stream-side areas at the end of the
 

growing season ..................................................... 6
 

Guideline 2: Desired seral states will be determined through the allotment management
 

plan ............................................................. 6
 

Guideline 3: Periods of rest from livestock grazing .................................. 6
 

Guideline 4: Plans for grazing on any allotment must consider other uses .................. 6
 

Guideline 5: Intensity, frequency, season-of-use, and distribution of grazing shall provide
 

for growth and reproduction of desired plant species ........................... 6
 

Guideline 6: Grazing permits will include site-specific, measurable terms and conditions ........ 6
 

Guideline 7: Design and work towards implementation of a grazing management strategy ....... 6
 

Guideline 8: Determination of grazing use by livestock must provide for the habitat
 

requirements of fish and wildlife ......................................... 7
 

Guideline 9: Grazing management practices must sustain biological diversity ................ 7
 

Guideline 10: Take aggressive action to reduce the invasion of undesirable exotic plant
 

species ........................................................... 7
 

Guideline 11: Prescribed fire and (natural) prescribed fire will be utilized ................... 7
 

Guideline 12: Grazing and other management practices shall take advantage of
 

transitional opportunities ............................................... 7
 

Guideline 13: Development of springs, seeps, and other water related projects shall be
 

designed to promote rangeland health ...................................... 7
 

Guideline 14: Apply the management practices recognized and approved by the States of
 

California and Nevada as Best Management Practices ........................... 7
 

Guideline 15: Protect, enhance, and restore beneficial uses of water ...................... 7
 

Guideline 16: Utilization Levels to be Applied to those Allotments Not Meeting or Making
 

Significant Progress Toward Meeting the Standards ........................... 7
 

Utilization of key upland herbaceous species ................................. 8
 

Utilization of key upland browse species .................................... 8
 

Utilization of key riparian species ......................................... 8
 

Application of the above utilization levels ................................... 9
 

Implementation of this guideline .......................................... 9
 

If reductions in permitted use are required ................................. 11
 

Guideline 17: Rangeland monitoring ............................................ 11
 

i 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NORTHEASTERN
 

CALIFORNIA and NORTHWESTERN NEVADA
 

1. PREAMBLE 

Healthy rangelands contribute to the social and economic well being of rural communities in Northeastern 

California and Northwestern Nevada, and they provide, over the long-term, the most reliable harvest of 

rangeland resources. The objective of rangeland resource planning is to integrate BLM resources with 

other resources to achieve the mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield management of renewable 

resources in an environmentally sound and cost-effective manner. 

The standards of rangeland health are expressions of physical and biological condition or degree of 

function required for healthy sustainable rangelands. The Standards are applied on a landscape scale. 

Some standards may not apply to all acres. For example, a mosaic of vegetation types and age classes 

may produce the diversity associated with healthy rangelands; however, some individual vegetation 

communities within the mosaic may lack diversity. 

The Standards always relate to the capability or potential of a specific site. The land will not be expected 

to produce vegetation or support habitats not attainable due to climate, soils, or other limiting attributes. 

The Standards are designed to establish the threshold for healthy rangelands. The Standards contain 

exceptions for certain necessary or unavoidable circumstances (see, for example, Standard 4); however, 

the exceptions should be applied under extreme conditions only, and must be fully justified. 

The guidelines for grazing management are the types of grazing management methods and practices 

determined to be appropriate to ensure that standards can be met or that significant progress can be made 

toward meeting the standard. The Guidelines were designed to provide direction, yet offer flexibility for 

implementation through activity plans and terms and conditions for grazing permits. The BLM must 

operate within the constraints of other regulatory requirements that may affect how S&G’s are applied 

for livestock grazing, for example the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act (1971). 

2. STANDARDS for RANGELAND HEALTH 

STANDARD 1: UPLAND SOILS 

Upland soils exhibit infiltration and permeability rates that are appropriate to soil 

type, climate, and landform, and exhibit functional biological, chemical, and 

physical characteristics. 

Meaning that: 

Precipitation is able to enter the soil surface and move through the soil profile at a rate appropriate to soil 

type, climate, and landform; the soil is adequately protected against human-caused wind or water erosion; 

and the soil fertility is maintained at, or improved to, the appropriate level. 

1
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

Criteria to Meet Standard: 

*	 Groundcover (vegetation, litter, and other types of groundcover such as rock fragments) is 

sufficient to protect sites from accelerated erosion. 

*	 Evidence of wind and water erosion, such as rills and gullies, pedestaling, scour or sheet erosion, 

and deposition of dunes is either absent or, if present, does not exceed what is natural for the site. 

*	 Vegetation is vigorous, diverse in species composition and age class, and reflects the potential 

natural vegetation or desired plant community (DPC) for the site. 

STANDARD 2: STREAMS 

Stream channel form and function are characteristic for the soil type, climate, and 

landform. 

Meaning that: 

Channel gradient, pool frequency, width to depth ratio, roughness, sinuosity, and sediment transport are 

able to function naturally and are characteristic of the soil type, climate, and landform. 

Criteria to Meet Standard: 

*	 Gravel bars and other coarse textured stream deposits are successfully colonized and stabilized by 

woody riparian species. 

*	 Stream bank vegetation is vigorous and diverse, mostly perennial, and holds and protects banks 

during high stream flow events. 

*	 The stream water surface has a high degree of shading, resulting in cooler water in summer and 

reduced icing in winter. 

*	 Portions of the primary floodplain are frequently flooded (inundated every 1-5 years). 

STANDARD 3: WATER QUALITY 

Water will have characteristics suitable for existing or potential beneficial uses. 

Surface and groundwater complies with objectives of the Clean Water Act and 

other applicable water quality requirements, including meeting the California and 

Nevada State standards, excepting approved variances. 

Management Objective: For water bodies, the primary objective is to maintain the existing quality and 

beneficial uses of water, protect them where they are threatened, and restore them where they are 

currently degraded. This objective is of even higher priority in the following situations: 

2
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

a.	 where beneficial uses of water bodies have been listed as threatened or impaired 

pursuant to Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act; 

b.	 where aquatic habitat is present, has been present, or is potentially present for Federal 

threatened or endangered, candidate, and other special status species dependent on water 

resources; and 

c.	 in designated water resource sensitive areas such as riparian and wetland areas. 

Meaning That: 

BLM will: 

Maintain the physical, biological, and chemical integrity of waters flowing across or underlying the 

lands it administers. 

Protect the integrity of these waters where it is currently threatened. 

Insofar as is feasible, restore the integrity of these waters where it is currently impaired. 

Not contribute to pollution and take action to remedy any pollution resulting from its actions that 

violates California and Nevada water quality standards, Tribal water quality standards, or other 

applicable water quality requirements (e.g., requirements adopted by SWRCB or RWQCB in 

California, or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to Section 303(d) of the Clean 

Water Act or the Coastal Zone Reauthorization Act). Where action related to grazing 

management is required, such action will be taken as soon as practicable but not later than the 

start of the next grazing year (in accordance with 43 CFR 4180.1). 

Be consistent with the nondegradation policies as identified by the States. 

Develop and execute a Management Agency Agreement with the States of California and 

Nevada for the efficient protection of water quality associated with the BLM’s management. 

Work with the States’ water quality administrative agencies and the EPA to establish appropriate 

beneficial uses for public waters, establish appropriate numeric targets for 303(d)-listed water 

bodies, and implement the applicable requirements to ensure that water quality on public lands 

meets the objectives for the designated beneficial uses of the water. 

Develop and implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s) approved by the States to protect 

and restore the quality and beneficial uses of water, and monitor both implementation and 

effectiveness of the BMP’s. These BMP’s will be developed in full consultation, coordination, 

and cooperation with permittees and other interests. 

State or Tribal approved variances or exceptions to water quality standards may be applicable 

within their Basin Plans for specific types of activities or actions. The BLM will follow State or 

Tribal administrative procedures associated with variances. 

3
 
 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

As Indicated By: 

*	 The following do not exceed the applicable requirements for physical, chemical, and biological 

constituents including but not limited to: temperature, nutrients, fecal coliform, turbidity, sediment, 

dissolved oxygen, and aquatic organisms and plants (e.g., indicator macroinvertebrates, fish, algae, 

and plants). 

*	 Achievement of the standards for riparian, wetlands, and water bodies. 

*	 Monitoring results or other data that show water quality is meeting the standard. 

STANDARD 4: RIPARIAN and WETLAND SITES 

Riparian and Wetland areas are in properly functioning condition and are meeting 

regional and local management objectives. 

Meaning that: 

The riparian and wetland vegetation is controlling erosion, stabilizing stream banks, shading water areas to 

reduce water temperature, filtering sediment, aiding in floodplain development, dissipating energy, delaying 

floodwater, and increasing recharge of ground water that is characteristic for these sites. Vegetation 

surrounding seeps and springs is controlling erosion and reflects the potential natural vegetation for the 

site. 

Criteria to Meet Standard: 

*	 Riparian vegetation is vigorous and mostly perennial and diverse in species composition, age class, 

and life form sufficient to stabilize stream banks and shorelines. 

*	 Riparian vegetation and large woody debris are well anchored and capable of withstanding high 

stream flow events. 

*	 Negligible accelerated erosion as a result of human related activities is evident. 

*	 Age class and structure of woody riparian and wetland vegetation are appropriate for the site. 

Exceptions and Exemptions to Standard 4 (where Standard 4 is not applicable) 

*	 Structural facilities constructed for livestock/wildlife water or other purposes are not natural 

wetland and/or riparian areas. Examples are: water troughs, stock ponds, flood control 

structures, tailings ponds, water gaps on fenced or otherwise restricted stream corridors, etc. 

4
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

STANDARD 5: BIODIVERSITY 

Viable, healthy, productive, and diverse populations of native and desired plant
 

and animal species, including special status species, are maintained.
 

Meaning that: 

Native and other desirable plant and animal populations are diverse, vigorous, able to reproduce and 

support nutrient cycles and energy flows. 

Criteria to Meet Standard: 

*	 Wildlife habitats include seral stages, vegetation structure, and patch size to promote diverse and 

viable wildlife populations. 

*	 A variety of age classes is present for most species. 

*	 Vigor is adequate to maintain desirable levels of plant and animal species to ensure reproduction 

and recruitment of plants and animals when favorable events occur. 

*	 Distribution of plant species and their habitats allow for reproduction and recovery from localized 

catastrophic events. 

*	 Natural disturbances such as fire are evident but not catastrophic. 

*	 Nonnative plant and animal species are present at acceptable levels. 

*	 Habitat areas are sufficient to support diverse, viable, and desired populations and are connected 

adequately with other similar habitat areas. 

*	 Adequate organic matter (litter and standing dead plant material) is present for site protection and 

decomposition to replenish soil nutrients and maintain soil health. 

5
 
 

 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

3. GUIDELINES FOR LIVESTOCK GRAZING MANAGEMENT 

The following guidelines are meant to apply to one or more of the standards for rangeland health. 

Guideline 1: Adequate stubble will be present on all stream-side areas at the end of the growing season, 

or at the end of the grazing season if grazing occurs after fall dormancy. The residual or regrowth should 

provide sufficient herbaceous forage biomass to meet the requirement of plant vigor maintenance, bank 

protection, and sediment entrapment. Stubble height thresholds will be set on a site-specific basis, except 

for those allotments to which Guideline 16 applies (see Guideline 16 for an explanation of when Guideline 

16 applies). 

Utilization of stream-side herbaceous and woody plants should be limited to a specified amount of the 

current growth, and/or livestock should be removed to allow sufficient time for plant regrowth. 

a.	 Late season use (summer or fall grazed pastures) requires more restrictive utilization 

based on site specific situations. 

b. Special situations such as fragile fisheries habitats or easily eroded stream banks may 

require more restrictive utilization thresholds. 

c. Hoof action impacts or chiseling on stream banks will not exceed specified thresholds so 

that stream bank stability is maintained or improved. 

Guideline 2: Desired seral states will be determined through the allotment management plan (AMP) 

development process; generally the goal will be to achieve advanced ecological status in the riparian zone, 

except where site-specific objectives call for lower ecological status (such as meadows in important sage 

grouse habitat, where the objective might call for a pattern of meadows in different seral stages from midseral to the potential natural community). These site-specific objectives will be determined through 

AMP’s or other plans and analyzed through the NEPA process. 

Guideline 3: Periods of rest from livestock grazing or other avoidable disturbances must be provided 

during/after periods of stress on the land (e.g., fire, flood, drought) and during critical times of plant 

growth. 

Guideline 4: Plans for grazing on any allotment must consider other uses (recreation, archaeological 

sites, wildlife, horses and burros, mineral resource extraction, etc.) and be coordinated with the other 

users of public lands so that overall use does not detract from the goal of achieving rangeland health. 

Guideline 5: Intensity, frequency, season-of-use, and distribution of grazing shall provide for growth and 

reproduction of desired plant species and the achievement of the potential natural vegetation or DPC. 

Guideline 6: Grazing permits will include site-specific, measurable terms and conditions. 

Guideline 7: Design and work towards implementation of a grazing management strategy for livestock 

for each grazing unit (pasture) within I (Improvement) and M (Maintenance) category allotments, to 

maintain or improve rangeland health. This may consist of, but not be limited to, season-of-use, rotation, 

or by setting utilization levels for desirable plants. Each management plan implemented will incorporate 

the factors necessary to maintain the health of desirable plants. 

6
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

Guideline 8: Determination of grazing use by livestock must provide for the habitat requirements of fish 

and wildlife. 

Guideline 9: Grazing management practices must sustain biological diversity across the landscape. A 

mosaic of seral stages, vegetation corridors, and minimal habitat fragmentation must be maintained. 

Guideline 10: Take aggressive action to reduce the invasion of undesirable exotic plant species into 

native plant communities. The spread of noxious weeds will be controlled through appropriate methods 

such as grazing management, fire management, and other management practices. 

Guideline 11: Prescribed fire and (natural) prescribed fire will be utilized to promote a mosaic of 

healthy plant communities and vegetative diversity. 

Guideline 12: Grazing and other management practices shall take advantage of transitional opportunities 

(e.g., drought, flood, fire) to enhance or establish populations of desirable tree, shrub, herbaceous, and 

grass species. Utilization levels will be established for desired seedlings, saplings, and/or mature plants to 

promote their presence in the plant community. 

Guideline 13: Development of springs, seeps, and other water related projects shall be designed to 

promote rangeland health. Wherever possible, water sources shall be available year long for use by 

wildlife. 

Guideline 14: Apply the management practices recognized and approved by the States of California and 

Nevada as Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for grazing related activities to protect and maintain 

water quality. 

Guideline 15: In watersheds draining into water bodies that have been listed or are proposed for listing 

as having threatened or impaired beneficial uses, and where grazing activities may contribute to the 

pollutants causing such impairment, the management objective is to fully protect, enhance, and restore the 

beneficial uses of the water. 

Guideline 16: Utilization Levels to be Applied to those Allotments Not Meeting or Making Significant 

Progress Toward Meeting the Standards 

If monitoring or documented observation indicates that one of more of the standards is not being met, and 

if significant progress is not being made toward meeting all of those standards that are not being met, and 

if there is evidence that current grazing practices are causing or contributing to this unsatisfactory 

condition, then the following utilization levels will be applied. 

7
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

Utilization of key upland herbaceous species 

UTILIZATION GUIDELINES 

(adapted from Holechek 1988 and Holechek et al. 1998) 

Community Type Percent of Use of Key Herbaceous Species 

Salt desert shrubland 25-35 

Semi-desert grass and shrubland 30-40 

Sagebrush grassland 30-40 

California annual grassland 50-60* 

Perennial grass communities within the California 

annual grassland vegetation type 30-40 

Coniferous forest 30-40 

Mountain shrubland 30-40 

Oak woodland 30-40 

Pinyon-juniper woodland 30-40 

Alpine tundra 20-30 

*	 Residual dry matter (RDM) guidelines will be used instead of these utilization levels for management of annual species 

in the California annual grassland. These RDM levels correspond approximately with these utilization levels. The 

RDM levels given in the table in the Final EIS under Alternative 5, Ukiah RAC Recommended Standards and 

Guidelines (Section 2.92), will be used for those few annual allotments within the area covered by the Northeastern 

California and Northwestern Nevada Standards and Guidelines. 

Utilization of key upland browse species 

There will be no more than 20 percent utilization of annual growth on key browse species prior to October 

1 within identified deer concentration areas. These concentration areas are those areas within mule deer 

habitat where mule deer numbers are most likely to be concentrated during the winter season (winter 

season normally occurs from December 16 through March 31). These areas have been identified through 

State Fish and Game Agency fall and spring counts over a period of several years. Maps of these deer 

concentration areas are on file at the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office. 

Utilization of key riparian species 

A 4-6 inch minimum stubble height will remain at the end of the growing season in most riparian areas. 

There should be no more than 20 percent utilization on key riparian trees and shrub species in those areas 

where the presence of woody riparian species is necessary to meet standards. 

8
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

Application of the above utilization levels 

These utilization guidelines will be applied to those areas of the allotment responsible for the determination 

that the allotment is not meeting the standards. For example, an allotment has 10 riparian areas, of which 

six have been determined to be in proper functioning condition and four have been determined to be 

functional–at risk. The utilization guidelines for riparian species given above would be applied to the four 

riparian areas that are functional–at risk, not to the six that are in proper functioning condition (although 

all of the riparian areas will be managed to meet the standards). Also, only those guidelines that are 

applicable to making progress toward meeting the standards that are not being met would be applied. For 

example, if only riparian standards are not being met, then only the guidelines applicable to utilization and 

stubble height of riparian vegetation would be applied. 

These utilization levels will be implemented unless and until a current site-specific analysis is completed 

and new utilization levels are developed for specific allotments and documented in AMP’s, other 

management plans, and/or in terms and conditions of grazing permits/leases. New site-specific utilization 

levels that are developed may be more restrictive than the guidelines presented above, consistent with 

achieving the desired resource conditions (as prescribed in land use plans and activity plans) and progress 

toward meeting the standards. 

Implementation of this guideline 

1. Uplands (including perennial grass and browse communities). 

Guideline 16 will be implemented only on those upland areas that are responsible for the determination 

that the allotment is not meeting one or more of the standards and for which lighter utilization would be 

expected to move these areas toward meeting the standard(s). 

Management changes (such as changes in season of use, timing, duration, and/or intensity; rotational 

grazing; fencing; herding; and/or adjustments in stocking rates) will be implemented if utilization guidelines 

on the average of the upland key areas across the pasture (or allotment if there is only one pasture) are 

exceeded for 2 consecutive years or in any 2 years out of every 5 years. In addition, at least 70 percent 

of upland key areas on the pasture (or allotment) are not to exceed maximum utilization guidelines in most 

years. Because of the potential long-term damage to perennial grass species associated with severe 

grazing, severe grazing use (>70 percent utilization) in any upland key area in any year will result in a 

management change the following year. If any particular key area fails to meet the guidelines for more 

than 2 consecutive years, then management action will be taken to remedy the problem in the area of the 

allotment that key area represents. The average (mean) utilization on key species will be estimated at 

each key area and used to determine if the guidelines have been met. There are indications that the 

median may be a better statistic to use than the mean; we will calculate both statistics from the same data 

sets and make a determination on which statistic to use after examining the data over a period of a few 

years. See Appendix 20 of the Final EIS for further discussion on this issue. 

The management options to be implemented to meet this guideline will be determined in full consultation, 

cooperation, and coordination with affected permittees and other interests. 

For allotments not meeting or making significant progress toward meeting the standards (and for which 

lower utilization levels of perennial upland species would be expected to help move these allotments 

toward the standards), utilization data already in hand will be used to determine whether a management 

9
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

change is necessary. Thus, for example, if utilization on a particular key area has exceeded the 

thresholds for the 2 years previous to the approval of these standards and guidelines, a management 

change will be implemented prior to the first grazing year following this approval. In addition to 

implementing management changes that are expected to bring utilization levels within threshold values, 

close monitoring will follow to ensure that the grazing use levels are not exceeded during the grazing 

period following the management changes. If utilization levels are exceeded or expected to be exceeded 

during this period, a reduction or curtailment of further grazing in the area represented by the key area 

will be required for the remainder of the grazing season. In addition, further management changes will be 

implemented prior to the start of the next grazing season to bring utilization levels within thresholds. 

2. Riparian areas (including herbaceous and woody plant communities). 

Guideline 16 will be implemented only on those riparian areas that are nonfunctional or functional--at risk 

and lighter utilization levels would be expected to move these areas toward meeting the standards. The 

guideline will apply where the riparian area in a healthy state has the capability to produce vegetation of 

the prescribed height. The stubble heights will be measured at the end of the growing season to 

determine if the guideline has been met. Management changes (such as changes in season of use, timing, 

duration, and/or intensity; rotational grazing; fencing; herding; and/or adjustments in stocking rates) will be 

implemented if stubble heights on the average of the key riparian areas across the pasture (or allotment if 

there is only one pasture) fall below the guidelines for 2 consecutive years or in any 2 years out of every 

5 years. In addition, at least 70 percent of riparian key areas on the allotment are to exceed minimum 

stubble heights in most years. If any particular key area fails to meet the guidelines for more than 2 

consecutive years, then management action will be taken to remedy the problem in the area of the 

allotment that key area represents. 

Because stream banks may be inadequately protected by heavy use in any one year and because stubble 

heights below 3 inches result in cattle shifting their preference to shrubs, stubble heights below 2 inches in 

any one year will require a management change in the following year. 

The mean stubble height on key riparian species will be estimated at each riparian key area and used to 

determine if the guidelines have been met. There are indications that the median may be a better statistic 

to use than the mean; we will calculate both statistics from the same data sets and make a determination 

on which statistic to use after examining the data over a period of a few years. See Appendix 20 of the 

Final EIS for further discussion on this issue. 

For allotments not meeting or making significant progress toward meeting the standards (and for which 

higher stubble would be expected to help move these allotments toward the standards), stubble height data 

already in hand will be used to determine whether a management change is necessary. Thus, for 

example, if stubble heights on a particular key area have fallen below the thresholds for the 2 years 

previous to the approval of these standards and guidelines, a management change will be implemented 

prior to the first grazing year following this approval. In addition to implementing management changes 

that are expected to bring stubble heights within threshold values, close monitoring will follow to ensure 

that the grazing use levels are not exceeded during the grazing period following the management changes. 

If utilization levels are exceeded or expected to be exceeded during this period, a reduction or curtailment 

of further grazing in the area represented by the key area will be required for the remainder of the grazing 

season. In addition, further management changes will be implemented prior to the start of the next 

grazing season to bring utilization levels within thresholds. 

10
 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

The management options to be implemented to meet this guideline will be determined in full consultation, 

coordination, and cooperation with affected permittees and other interests. 

If reductions in permitted use are required 

Any reductions in permitted use required as a result of implementing this guideline will be held in 

suspension and apportioned back to the permittee(s) or lessee(s) authorized to graze in the affected 

allotment if rangeland health improves to the extent that the authorized officer determines additional 

forage to be available. 

Guideline 17: Rangeland monitoring to determine utilization of forage resources and trend of rangeland 

health will be conducted in each allotment based on current accepted practices and techniques as directed 

in the Interagency Technical References: Utilization Studies and Residual Measurements (BLM et al. 

1996b) and Sampling Vegetation Attributes (BLM et al. 1996a). Monitoring methodologies will be 

applicable to local conditions and developed in consultation with permittees and interested publics. 

To the extent possible, monitoring methods will be simple and easily accomplished. BLM, permittees, or 

others will do the monitoring. BLM will be responsible for ensuring that the monitoring is conducted in 

accordance with currently accepted practices and techniques, for analyzing and interpreting the data 

collected (in consultation, coordination, and cooperation with affected permittees and other interests), and 

for the accuracy of the data. 

Existing key areas will be used where they exist. New key areas will be selected in full consultation, 

coordination, and cooperation with affected permittees and other interests. BLM will periodically review 

established key areas to determine if they continue to be appropriate to management. This review will be 

done in full consultation, coordination, and cooperation with affected permittees and other interests. If 

there is disagreement between BLM, permittees, and other interests over the location of key areas, the 

RAC will be asked for ideas on resolution. The final decision on the placement of key areas, however, 

rests with BLM. 

BLM, in cooperation with other agencies, including Cooperative Extension, the Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, and the Forest Service, will provide training for permittees and other interested 

parties on rangeland monitoring methods. 

11
 
IMPLEMENTATION of 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA 

IMPLEMENTATION 

The fallback standards (43 CFR 4180.2(f)(1)) have been in effect since August 12, 1997. An initial 

screening of allotments was made, based on existing information, to determine the status of each allotment 

with respect to meeting the fallback standards. Each allotment was placed into one of four categories as 

follows: 

Category 1: Areas where one or more standards are not being met, or significant progress is not being 

made toward meeting the standards(s), and livestock grazing is a significant contributor to 

the problem. 

Category 2: Areas where all standards are being met, or significant progress is being made toward 

meeting the standard(s). 

Category 3: Areas where the status for one or more standards is not known, or the cause of the 

failure to not meet the standard(s) is not known. 

Category 4: Allotments where one or more of the standards are not being met or significant progress 

is not being made toward meeting the standards due to causes other than (or in addition 

to) livestock grazing activities. (Those allotments where current livestock grazing is also 

a cause for not meeting the standards are included in Category 1 in addition to this 

category.) The authorized officer should take appropriate action based on regulation or 

policy; however, these actions not related to livestock grazing are outside the scope of 

this implementation plan and will not be addressed in this document. 

An assumption has been made by the BLM field managers that, with few possible exceptions, the 

implementation needed for the regulatory fallback standards and guidelines will essentially be the same as 

for any anticipated set of final approved standards and guidelines implemented pursuant to this Record of 

Decision (ROD). Consequently, the categorization of allotments under the standards in this ROD is likely 

to be the same as the categorization under the fallback standards and guidelines. Existing allotment 

assessments and their resulting determinations as to category will be reviewed to ensure that the 

determination is correct under the standards set in place by this ROD. 

New allotment assessments, reviews of existing allotment assessments, and determination of allotment 

category will be conducted in full consultation, coordination, and cooperation with permittees and other 

interests. 

We intend to conduct rangeland health assessments on all allotments within the next 5 years. First priority 

for these assessments will be given to those allotments where we already know or suspect one or more of 

the standards is not being met. These include those allotments placed in Category 1 under the fallback 

standards and those allotments currently in Category 3 that we have reason to believe may not be meeting 

standards. After these allotments have been assessed, the remaining allotments will be assessed using the 

BLM I, M, and C priority management system, with first priority to I, second to M, and last to C. 
IMPLEMENTATION of
 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA
 

For those allotments where the standards are not being met (Category 1), management actions will be 

implemented to correct the situation prior to the next grazing season turn-out period for the allotment. The 

management options will be determined in full coordination, consultation, and cooperation with permittees 

and other interests. 

Monitoring will be conducted to evaluate the progress towards improving rangeland health and to evaluate 

the success of the specific management measures applied (see Guideline 17). 

APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES 

Once the guidelines are approved by the Secretary of the Interior, they will be applicable to the 

management of livestock grazing on all allotments not meeting the health standards. Some guidelines will 

be applicable regardless of the specific rangeland health condition, as they are designed to help protect 

and sustain rangeland health and are not intended to be applied only to remedy problems. Many of the 

guidelines will need to be more specifically identified and then applied as terms and conditions of a permit 

or lease, based upon the specific needs for meeting rangeland health standards. There will be instances 

where specific terms and conditions will be applied to grazing use authorizations for reasons other than 

those directly related to rangeland health, such as to accommodate other resource needs and land uses or 

to meet administrative requirements. Examples of this may include protecting cultural resource sites, 

requiring a specific breed of livestock to be used that is compatible with the needs of other permittees or 

lessees using the same allotment, or for meeting various regulatory requirements for grazing 

administration purposes. In some instances, existing terms and conditions will be carried over from 

previously made plans and commitments, such as those identified in allotment management plans or 

coordinated management plans. In these instances, the terms and conditions may or may not be related to 

rangeland health needs. 

Any terms or conditions specified for a permit or lease must be consistent with and support appropriate 

BLM land use plans or other land use plans applicable to the public lands. BLM will also adhere to 

requirements such as those identified as terms or conditions from a biological opinion for protecting the 

habitat of a plant or animal under the Endangered Species Act. 

Terms and conditions will be applied to grazing permits, leases, or other grazing authorizations as the 

authorized officer (Field Manager) determines the need. The determination of what terms and conditions 

will be applied will be made in full consultation, coordination, and cooperation with the respective 

permittees/lessees and other interested parties involved in the particular allotment. The same process will 

be used for making needed changes to any existing terms and conditions. Information from assessments 

and evaluations of monitoring data will be used to determine the management changes needed. 

Management options that would be expected to move allotments toward meeting the standards will be 

determined in full coordination, consultation, and cooperation with permittees/lessees and other interested 

parties. 

Alternative management changes will be considered and evaluated through the NEPA process prior to 

making final determinations. It is anticipated that in most instances, the terms and conditions will be 

identified cooperatively and be agreed upon by the affected permittee/lessee and all interested parties. 

Where an agreement cannot be reached, then a formal decision (which is appealable) will be issued. 
IMPLEMENTATION of
 

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES for RANGELAND HEALTH in NE CALIFORNIA and NW NEVADA
 

If reductions in permitted use are necessary to achieve the standards or meet the guidelines, the animal 

unit months (AUMs) by which the permitted use is reduced will be held in suspension. Once the 

authorized officer determines that rangeland health has recovered to an extent that all or part of the 

suspended permitted use can be restored, this suspended permitted use shall first be apportioned in 

satisfaction of suspended permitted use to the permittee(s) or lessee(s) authorized to graze in the 

allotment in which the forage is available (this is in accordance with 43 CFR 4110.3-1(b)). 

REPORTING PROGRESS IN RANGELAND HEALTH ACHIEVEMENTS 

Rangeland health conditions will be reported annually for each grazing allotment. This information will 

include the determinations of rangeland health conditions through assessments and monitoring and the 

progress made towards meeting rangeland health standards. At a minimum the report will identify, by 

allotment: (1) what standards, if any, are not being met; (2) whether significant progress is being made 

toward meeting those standards that are not currently being met; (3) the magnitude of those standards not 

being met, in terms such as acres, miles of stream, number of sites, etc.; (4) the progress that has been 

made in determining and implementing needed management changes; and (5) the results of making the 

management changes as determined from monitoring and assessment information. Additionally, any 

changes in the management categories of the allotments will be identified, accompanied by an explanation 

of the reasons for the change. 

The above information will be gathered at the field office which administers the respective allotment(s). 

A summary of this information will be consolidated for all of the allotments within the EIS area and made 

available to the public annually. 

Tables were provided in the Final EIS that showed all allotments in the State and the category to which 

they were assigned in 1997. Since that list was compiled, management changes have been implemented 

and additional assessment and monitoring work has been completed that makes those lists obsolete. 

When the annual report is compiled each year, an updated list of all allotments, by category, will be 

provided as part of the report. 

Throughout all processes the public is encouraged to participate in the identification of rangeland health 

conditions, developing management remedies, monitoring results, and reviewing progress towards 

achieving rangeland health standards. 
 

 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

This page intentionally left blank. 

K-78 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

FOREST SERVICE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

Range 

GOAL: Manage all allotments to maintain suitable range presently in Humboldt LRMP 

satisfactory ecological condition, and improve suitable range that is Page IV-5 

in less than satisfactory condition. Range 

Goal 16 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. Develop improved management systems for all allotments by 1988. Page IV-5 

b. Develop grazing systems which include periodic rest, where possible. Range 

Objective 

MD: Manage allotments to maintain suitable range in satisfactory ecological Humboldt LRMP 

condition and improve range in less than satisfactory ecological condition by Page IV-32 

developing management plans on all allotments and wild horse territories by Range 

1988. Management Direction 

MD: Describe ecological sites and develop score cards to rage ecological status Humboldt LRMP 

and resource value. Define management strategies for rangeland. Page IV-37 

Range 

Management Direction 

MD: Conduct monitoring and evaluation on all allotments in accordance with Humboldt LRMP 

Forest Service Regional Handbook. The Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Page IV-37 

Handbook will be used as a guideline. Range 

Management Direction 

S&G: Develop allotment management and territory plans for each allotment Humboldt LRMP 

and wild horse territory. Update allotment management and territory plans to Page IV-32 

reflect Forest standards and guidelines Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G Each new or updated allotment management or wild horse territory plan Humboldt LRMP 

will contain specific monitor8ng standards developed with an interdisciplinary Page IV-33 

team Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G Develop an annual operating plan for each allotment which identifies the Humboldt LRMP 

specific action items and techniques to be utilized during the current grazing Page IV-33 

season. the annual operating plan will consist of written section will include, Range 

where applicable: Standard and Guidelines 

1. Clear and definite instructions concerning management of livestock while 

on the allotment. This should include the schedule for each unit to be 

grazed, expected amount of time each unit will be grazed, how the 

livestock will be moved from unit, and standards for getting the livestock 

moved and “cleaned out” of a grazing unit. 

2. Range improvement maintenance responsibility for the current year, when 

the maintenance will be accomplished, and the maintenance standards to 

be attained. 

3. A list of range improvement projects to be started or completed during 

the year. 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-79 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

4. Any necessary instructions concerning training and/or trucking livestock. 

5. Special instructions on camp sanitation and fire prevention responsibilities 

of permittee. 

6. Multiple use coordination requirements with which the permittee is 

expected to comply, including animal control practices and compliance 

with endangered and threatened species requirements. 

The graphic section should include: 

1. A map showing allotment and management unit boundaries, range 

improvement, closed areas and special management situations. 

2. Acceptable forms for recording actual use, losses, improvement, 

maintenance, and other management data. 

Update range allotment analysis according to Regional Guidelines Analysis or Humboldt LRMP 

updates will be conducted according to Regional Guidelines Page IV-36 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

Evaluate livestock conversion requests based on resource needs capabilities and Humboldt LRMP 

not solely on the desires of the livestock permittee Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

Vacant allotments and allotments in a nonuse status that are in satisfactory Humboldt LRMP 

ecological conditions will be considered for livestock use. Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Produce a sustained yield of forage on al lands available and Humboldt LRMP 

suitable for livestock grazing while maintaining or enhancing the Page IV-6 

productivity of the land Range 

Goal 17 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. Develop an acceptable balance between the available grazing capacity and Page IV-5 

livestock numbers through proper monitoring of allotment management Range 

plans, to insure that resource objectives are met. Objective 

b. Complete vegetative treatment projects that are prescribed in allotment 

management plans that are compatible with other resources and are coat 

effective. 

c. Complete coordinated LUPs where private lands, BLM lands and other 

Federal lands can be managed in conjunction with National Forest System 

lands 

S&G: Forage utilization standards are established for each grazing allotment as a Humboldt LRMP 

part of the allotment management plan. As plans are updated the standards of Page IV-33 

utilization may be adjusted. These utilization standards are developed by an Range 

interdisciplinary team to insure that specific resource objectives are met Standard and Guidelines 

S&G The District l.D. Team as supported by other resource specialists is Humboldt LRMP 

responsible for determining Proper-use criteria. Ills essential that the Team Range 

consider the full spectrum of resource needs and values. The following forage Amendment #2 

utilization values are presented by non-riparian (upland) and riparian categories. 

They are applicable to key species and areas. 

K-80 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

Maximum Forage Utilization Values 

Riparian 

Management Management Percent 

Utilization 

Key 

Species/Grass 

Season long I-II Highest to high III-IV, 35 

Moderate to Limited 50 

V, Low 55 

Deferred Rotation I-II Highest to high III-IV, 45 

Moderate to Limited 55 

V, Low 65 

Rest Rotation I-II Highest to high III-IV, 45 

Moderate to Limited 60 

V, Low 65 

High Intensity Short I-II Highest to high III-IV, 55 

Duration (early season) Moderate to Limited 65 

V, Low 70 

1. Utilization of crested wheatgrass seedings may periodically exceed the 

above rates by 5-10% to regulate growth form. 

2. The maximum utilization levels would normally be used only where the 

plan community is at or near the desired future condition. 

3. The listed value is the maximum rate which can be prescribed unless 

otherwise approved by the Forest supervisor. 

4. Key species can vary by range site and management system. 

5. Proper use based on the utilization of shrubs will normally not exceed 50% 

of the current year’s growth. 

6. Under the High intensity short duration (early season), timing in relation to 

the period remaining for regrowth is key. The system is dependent upon 

sufficient regrowth to meet plant physiological needs and other resource 

values. Physical damage to the vegetative and soils resource to be 

considered. 

7. Sediment entrapment is essential to streambank restoration. This is an 

objective at least 3-4 inches of herbaceous stubble height is needed on site 

during high flow periods. 

S&G: Allotment management plans will identify and schedule detailed forage Humboldt LRMP 

improvement opportunities and structural/nonstructural improvement needs Page IV-34 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Range readiness, livestock numbers and ownership and compliance with Humboldt LRMP 

annual plan of use will be monitored. Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

­

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-81 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Treatment of rangeland pests by APHIS will be requested when serious Humboldt LRMP 

forage loss is expected. Page IV-40 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Manage livestock to recognize the special needs relating to Humboldt LRMP 

vet meadows and Page IV-6 

riparian areas, and fisheries habitat Range 

Goal 18 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. Emphasize proper range management techniques that will. improve Page IV-6 

livestock distribution. Range 

b. Utilize the latest research information available in designing and Objective 

implementing grazing systems. 

c. Fence developed springs or small wet meadows that cannot otherwise be 

protected. 

d. Consider conversions from sheep allotments to cattle allotments only after 

careful consideration of these areas through an environmental analysis 

process. 

S&G: Grazing systems will be developed to enhance riparian zones Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-32 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Where possible, relocate stock driveways and trailing areas away from Humboldt LRMP 

riparian zones. Page IV-33 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Conversion from sheep grazing to cattle grazing will not be allowed Humboldt LRMP 

where riparian areas would be adversely affected. Page IV-33 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Minimize livestock/fisheries habitat conflicts in riparian areas: Humboldt LRMP 

1. Implement grazing systems that enhance riparian area streambank stability Page IV-36 

and vegetative cover. Range 

2. Apply vegetative treatment which will improve habitat conditions. Standard and Guidelines 

3. Install structural improvements (range and fisheries) to aid recovery of 

riparian area resources. 

S&G: Fence spring sources developed for livestock use to maintain water Humboldt LRMP 

quality Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G Management will be directed toward having riparian areas in good or Humboldt LRMP 

better ecological condition and stable or upward trend. Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

K-82 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Livestock management will consider sensitive areas such as riparian areas Humboldt LRMP 

and critical wildlife habitat to maintain or enhance special values Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Reduce conflicts between livestock and wildlife for forages on Humboldt LRMP 

key winter ranges. Page IV-6 

Range 

Goal 19 

S&G: Build all fences to provide ease of wildlife passage Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guideline 

S&G: Coordinate livestock grazing with the wildlife habitat improvement Humboldt LRMP 

program Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guideline 

Minimize livestock/big game conflicts on key winter range: Humboldt LRMP 

1. Hold stocking levels of livestock on key winter ranges to the carrying Page IV-35 

capacity needed to meet objectives. Range 

2. Implement grazing systems that reduce competition for forage on winter Standard and Guideline 

ranges. 

3. Apply vegetative treatment on winter range which will improve habitat 

conditions. 

4. Install structural improvements on winter range which will aid in 

controlling an d distributing livestock use. 

S&G: Coordinate non-structural improvements with wildlife habitat Humboldt LRMP 

requirements. Complete non-structural improvements projects to treat Page IV-37 

deteriorated range, treat range to sustain existing use, and to improve range Range 

condition. Standard and Guideline 

S&G: Locate improvements to minimize adverse impacts on wildlife Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guideline 

GOAL: Manage the Cherry Springs, Monte Cristo, and Quinn Wild Horse Humboldt LRMP 

Territories in accordance with the Wild Horse and Burro Act and the Page IV-6 

approved territory plans. Range 

Goal 20 

MD: Manage allotments to maintain suitable range in satisfactory ecological Humboldt LRMP 

condition and improve range in less than satisfactory ecological condition by Page IV-32 

developing management plans on all allotments and wild horse territories by Range 

1988. Management Direction 

S&G: Develop allotment management and territory plans for each allotment Humboldt LRMP 

and wild horse territory. Update allotment management and territory plans to Page IV-32 

reflect Forest standards and guidelines Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G:: Each new or updated allotment management or wild horse territory plan Humboldt LRMP 

will contain specific monitoring standards developed with an interdisciplinary Page IV-32 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-83 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

team Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G; Manage wild free-roaming horses and burros to population levels Humboldt LRMP 

compatible with the resource capabilities and needs. Page IV-40 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Support predator control program by making Humboldt LRMP 

recommendations on the need for control, methods to be use d, and Page IV-7 

special precautions needed and by evaluating the environmental Range 

effects of predator control Goal 23 

S&G; Allow predator control on grazing allotments where there is a Humboldt LRMP 

demonstrated need as shown by permittee reports or as verified on site by Page IV-39 

Forest Service or APHIS personnel. Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G; Allow the use of only environmentally acceptable methods of predator Humboldt LRMP 

control. Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Emphasize the control of priority 1 noxious weeds. Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-7 

Range 

Goal 24 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. Cooperate with counties in the treatment and control of noxious weeds. Page IV-7 

b. Re-treat those areas where priority 1 noxious weeds have not been Range 

eliminated and concentrate new treatment on those areas posing the Objective 

greatest threat. 

S&G: Incorporate noxious weed control into mineral operating plans and Humboldt LRMP 

allotment management plans. Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Treat new infestation and priority one noxious weeds first. Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Coordinate with permittees to treat poisonous plants where livestock Humboldt LRMP 

losses have occurred and/or have the potential to occur. Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

Timber 

GOAL: Promote the utilization of fire-killed trees, chaining, and green Humboldt LRMP 

pinyon- juniper through an aggressive firewood program. Page IV-7 

Timber 

Goal 26 

K-84 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. By 1995, harvest 200 cords of green hardwood annually for firewood or Page IV-7 

other products. Initially, offer at least 50 cords per year. Timber 

b. Develop a personal use firewood program that will provide 5,000 cords Objective 

annually through the first two decades. 

c. Design sales of green softwoods to accomplish silvicultural, fuel 

management, wildlife, and other resource management goals. 

d. Open pinyon-juniper areas planned for type conversion for greenwood 

cutting prior to chaining or burning. 

e. Utilize the temporary roads concept to provide access to fuelwood not 

available by the existing road system. 

S&G: Humboldt LRMP 

Encourage commercial firewood sales in more remote areas. Page IV-42 

Timber 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Humboldt LRMP 

Maintenance and improvement of wildlife habitat will be incorporated into Page IV-44 

fuelwood harvesting programs Timber 

Standard and Guidelines 

Range 

GOAL: Manage all allotments to maintain suitable range presently in satisfactory Humboldt LRMP 

ecological condition, and improve suitable range that is in less than satisfactory Page IV-5 

condition. Range 

Goal 16 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. Develop improved management systems for all allotments by 1988. Page IV-5 

b. Develop grazing systems which include periodic rest, where possible. Range 

Objective 

MD: Manage allotments to maintain suitable range in satisfactory ecological Humboldt LRMP 

condition and improve range in less than satisfactory ecological condition by Page IV-32 

developing management plans on all allotments and wild horse territories by Range 

1988. Management Direction 

MD: Describe ecological sites and develop score cards to rage ecological status Humboldt LRMP 

and resource value. Define management strategies for rangeland. Page IV-37 

Range 

Management Direction 

MD: Conduct monitoring and evaluation on all allotments in accordance with Humboldt LRMP 

Forest Service Regional Handbook. The Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Page IV-37 

Handbook will be used as a guideline. Range 

Management Direction 

S&G: Develop allotment management and territory plans for each allotment Humboldt LRMP 

and wild horse territory. Update allotment management and territory plans to Page IV-32 

reflect Forest standards and guidelines Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-85 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G Each new or updated allotment management or wild horse territory plan Humboldt LRMP 

will contain specific monitor8ng standards developed with an interdisciplinary Page IV-33 

team Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G Develop an annual operating plan for each allotment which identifies the Humboldt LRMP 

specific action items and techniques to be utilized during the current grazing Page IV-33 

season. the annual operating plan will consist of written section will include, Range 

where applicable: Standard and Guidelines 

1. Clear and definite instructions concerning management of livestock while 

on the allotment. This should include the schedule for each unit to be 

grazed, expected amount of time each unit will be grazed, how the 

livestock will be moved from unit, and standards for getting the livestock 

moved and “cleaned out” of a grazing unit. 

2. Range improvement maintenance responsibility for the current year, when 

the maintenance will be accomplished, and the maintenance standards to 

be attained. 

3. A list of range improvement projects to be started or completed during 

the year. 

4. Any necessary instructions concerning training and/or trucking livestock. 

5. Special instructions in camp sanitation and fire prevention responsibilities 

of permittee. 

6. Multiple use coordination requirements with which the permittee is 

expected to comply, including animal control practices and compliance 

with endangered and threatened species requirements. 

The graphic section should include: 

1. A map showing allotment and management unit boundaries, range 

improvement, closed areas and special management situations. 

2. Acceptable forms for recording actual use, losses, improvement, 

maintenance, and other management data. 

Update range allotment analysis according to Regional Guidelines Analysis or Humboldt LRMP 

updates will be conducted according to Regional Guidelines Page IV-36 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

Evaluate livestock conversion requests based on resource needs capabilities and Humboldt LRMP 

not solely on the desires of the livestock permittee Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

Vacant allotments and allotments in a nonuse status that are in satisfactory Humboldt LRMP 

ecological conditions will be considered for livestock use. Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Produce a sustained yield of forage on al lands available and Humboldt LRMP 

suitable for livestock grazing while maintaining or enhancing the Page IV-6 

productivity of the land Range 

Goal 17 

K-86 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

Objective Humboldt LRMP 

a. Develop an acceptable balance between the available grazing capacity and Page IV-5 

livestock numbers through proper monitoring of allotment management Range 

plans, to insure that resource objectives are met. Objective 

b. Complete vegetative treatment projects that are prescribed in allotment 

management plans that are compatible with other resources and are coat 

effective. 

c. Complete coordinated LUPs where private lands, BLM lands, and other 

Federal lands can be managed in conjunction with National Forest System 

lands 

S&G: Forage utilization standards are established for each grazing allotment as a Humboldt LRMP 

part of the allotment management plan. As plans are updated the standards of Page IV-33 

utilization may be adjusted. These utilization standards are developed by an Range 

interdisciplinary team to insure that specific resource objectives are met Standard and Guidelines 

S&G The District l.D. Team as supported by other resource specialists is Humboldt LRMP 

responsible for determining Proper-use criteria. Ills essential that the Team Range 

consider the full spectrum of resource needs and values. The following forage Amendment #2 

utilization values are presented by non-riparian (upland) and riparian categories. 

They are applicable to key species and areas. 

Maximum Forage Utilization Values 

Riparian 

Management Management Percent 

Utilization 

Key 

Species/Grass 

Season long I-II Highest to high III-IV, 35 

Moderate to Limited 50 

V, Low 55 

Deferred Rotation I-II Highest to high III-IV, 45 

Moderate to Limited 55 

V, Low 65 

Rest Rotation I-II Highest to high III-IV, 45 

Moderate to Limited 60 

V, Low 65 

High Intensity Short I-II Highest to high III-IV, 55 

Duration (early season) Moderate to Limited 65 

V, Low 70 

1. Utilization of crested wheatgrass seedings may periodically exceed the 

above rates by 5-10% to regulate growth form. 

2. The maximum utilization levels would normally be used only where the 

plan community is at or near the desired future condition. 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-87 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

3. The listed value is the maximum rate which can be prescribed unless 

otherwise approved by the Forest supervisor. 

4. Key species can vary by range site and management system. 

5. Proper use based on the utilization of shrubs will normally not exceed 50% 

of the current year’s growth. 

6. Under the High intensity short duration (early season), timing in relation to 

the period remaining for regrowth is key. The system is dependent upon 

sufficient regrowth to meet plant physiological needs and other resource 

values. Physical damage to the vegetative and soils resource to be 

considered. 

7. Sediment entrapment is essential to streambank restoration. This is an 

objective at least 3-4 inches of herbaceous stubble height is needed on site 

during high flow periods. 

S&G: Allotment management plans will identify and schedule detailed forage Humboldt LRMP 

improvement opportunities and structural/nonstructural improvement needs Page IV-34 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Range readiness, livestock numbers and ownership and compliance with Humboldt LRMP 

annual plan of use will be monitored. Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Treatment of rangeland pests by APHIS will be requested when serious Humboldt LRMP 

forage loss is expected. Page IV-40 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Manage livestock to recognize the special needs relating to Humboldt LRMP 

vet meadows and riparian areas, and fisheries habitat Page IV-6 

Range 

Goal 18 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. Emphasize proper range management techniques that will. improve Page IV-6 

livestock distribution. Range 

b. Utilize the latest research information available in designing and Objective 

implementing grazing systems. 

c. Fence developed springs or small wet meadows that cannot otherwise be 

protected. 

d. Consider conversions from sheep allotments to cattle allotments only after 

careful consideration of these areas through an environmental analysis 

process. 

S&G: Grazing systems will be developed to enhance riparian zones Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-32 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Where possible, relocate stock driveways and trailing areas away from Humboldt LRMP 

riparian zones. Page IV-33 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

­

­

K-88 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Conversion from sheep grazing to cattle grazing will not be allowed Humboldt LRMP 

where riparian areas would be adversely affected. Page IV-33 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Minimize livestock/fisheries habitat conflicts in riparian areas: Humboldt LRMP 

1. Implement grazing systems that enhance riparian area streambank stability Page IV-36 

and vegetative cover. Range 

2. Apply vegetative treatment which will improve habitat conditions. Standard and Guidelines 

3. Install structural improvements (range and fisheries) to aid recovery of 

riparian area resources. 

S&G: Fence spring sources developed for livestock use to maintain water Humboldt LRMP 

quality Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G Management will be directed toward having riparian areas in good or Humboldt LRMP 

better ecological condition and stable or upward trend. Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Livestock management will consider sensitive areas such as riparian areas Humboldt LRMP 

and critical wildlife habitat to maintain or enhance special values Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Reduce conflicts between livestock and wildlife for forages on Humboldt LRMP 

key winter ranges. Page IV-6 

Range 

Goal 19 

S&G: Build all fences to provide ease of wildlife passage Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guideline 

S&G: Coordinate livestock grazing with the wildlife habitat improvement Humboldt LRMP 

program Page IV-35 

Range 

Standard and Guideline 

Minimize livestock/big game conflicts on key winter range: Humboldt LRMP 

1. Hold stocking levels of livestock on key winter ranges to the carrying Page IV-35 

capacity needed to meet objectives. Range 

2. Implement grazing systems that reduce competition for forage on winter Standard and Guideline 

ranges. 

3. Apply vegetative treatment on winter range which will improve habitat 

conditions. 

4. Install structural improvements on winter range which will aid in 

controlling an d distributing livestock use. 

S&G: Coordinate non-structural improvements with wildlife habitat Humboldt LRMP 

requirements. Complete non-structural improvements projects to treat Page IV-37 

deteriorated range, treat range to sustain existing use, and to improve range Range 

condition. Standard and Guideline 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-89 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Locate improvements to minimize adverse impacts on wildlife Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guideline 

GOAL: Manage the Cherry Springs, Monte Cristo, and Quinn Wild Humboldt LRMP 

Horse Territories in accordance with the Wild Horse and Burro Act Page IV-6 

and the approved territory plans. Range 

Goal 20 

MD: Manage allotments to maintain suitable range in satisfactory ecological Humboldt LRMP 

condition and improve range in less than satisfactory ecological condition by Page IV-32 

developing management plans on all allotments and wild horse territories by Range 

1988. Management Direction 

S&G: Develop allotment management and territory plans for each allotment Humboldt LRMP 

and wild horse territory. Update allotment management and territory plans to Page IV-32 

reflect Forest standards and guidelines Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G:: Each new or updated allotment management or wild horse territory plan Humboldt LRMP 

will contain specific monitoring standards developed with an interdisciplinary Page IV-32 

team Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G; Manage wild free-roaming horses and burros to population levels Humboldt LRMP 

compatible with the resource capabilities and needs. Page IV-40 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Support predator control program by making Humboldt LRMP 

recommendations on the need for control, methods to be used, and Page IV-7 

special precautions needed and by evaluating the environmental Range 

effects of predator control Goal 23 

S&G; Allow predator control on grazing allotments where there is a Humboldt LRMP 

demonstrated need as shown by permittee reports or as verified on site by Page IV-39 

Forest Service or APHIS personnel. Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G; Allow the use of only environmentally acceptable methods of predator Humboldt LRMP 

control. Page IV-39 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

GOAL: Emphasize the control of priority 1 noxious weeds. Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-7 

Range 

Goal 24 

Objective: Humboldt LRMP 

a. Cooperate with counties in the treatment and control of noxious weeds. Page IV-7 

b. Re-treat those areas where priority 1 noxious weeds have not been Range 

eliminated and concentrate new treatment on those areas posing the Objective 

greatest threat. 

K-90 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Humboldt LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Incorporate noxious weed control into mineral operating plans and Humboldt LRMP 

allotment management plans. Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Treat new infestation and priority one noxious weeds first. Humboldt LRMP 

Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

S&G: Coordinate with permittees to treat poisonous plants where livestock Humboldt LRMP 

losses have occurred and/or have the potential to occur. Page IV-38 

Range 

Standard and Guidelines 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-91 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Toiyabe LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

Range Management 

GOAL: Rangelands will be in satisfactory condition or better Toiyabe LRMP 

Range Mgt. 

PG IV-4 

Goal 1 

Objective: Toiyabe LRMP 

Ninety-five percent of all rangelands will have been brought to satisfactory Range Mgt 

condition. Management plans will have been approved for all grazing allotments PG IV-4 

and wild and free-roaming horse and burro territories. Livestock and wild DFC 

hone/burro use will have been maintained at pre-existing levels. Noxious farm 

weeds will be under control. 

S&G: Describe ecological sites, develop SCORE cards to rate ecological status Toiyabe LRMP 

and resource values, and define management strategies for rangeland Forest S&G 

management Range 

PG IV-26 

S&G 10 

S&G: Utilize Toiyabe National Forest range suitability standards Toiyabe LRMP 

Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-26 

S&G 11 

S&G Strive to achieve or maintain a minimum of 60 percent ground cower on Toiyabe LRMP 

upland rangelands with the exceptions of low sagebrush types, Wyoming big Forest S&G 

sagebrush types, crested wheatgrass seedings, pinyon/juniper types, and south Range 

facing sagebrush types on granitic slopes of the Sierra Nevada. PG IV-26 

S&G 12 

S&G: Conduct monitoring and evaluation in accordance with FSH 2209.21, Rage Toiyabe LRMP 

Environmental Analysis Handbook, and the Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Forest S&G 

Handbook Range 

PG IV-26 

S&G 14 

S&G: Achieve or maintain rangeland in satisfactory condition which is defined as: Toiyabe LRMP 

(1) having a resource value rating (RVR) of 50 or above for vegetation or other Forest S&G 

features; or (2) being in a mid-succession or higher class of ecological status; and Range 

(3) having a stable or upward trend in soil and vegetation. PG IV-26 

NOTE: Criteria for RVR of vegetation include species, growth forum, Collage S&G 15 

type, forage value, roper use factor, production, cover, density, frequency, 

abundance, or other. The criteria used depend upon the particular use or benefit 

of highest Importance of the site or area. For example, status of soil and 

vegetation on a watershed may be the most Important resource value; or the 

production of braise on key dear winter range; or vegetative cover along stream; 

or plant diversity as related to scenic beauty. 

S&G: Complete range analysis, including inventory and evaluation, following Toiyabe LRMP 

Regional standards and the schedule set by the Forest Supervisor. Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-27 

S&G 18 

S&G: Priority will be given to range improvement on allotments with a high Toiyabe LRMP 

percentage of land in unsatisfactory condition Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-28 

S&G 24 

K-92 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Toiyabe LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Forage Utilization Standards described below are to be used as maximum Toiyabe LRMP 

standards for the development of proper use criteria. Deign of management Forest S&G 

systems will include the specific utilization standards to be applied. These Range 

standards should be applied based on utilization of key plant species by key area. PG IV-28 

Soil disturbance any also be used to determine proper use and is often the best S&G 25 

measure of proper use on sheep ranges and on granitic slopes. 

TABLE IV-6 MAXIMUM FORAGE UTILIZATION STANDARDS 

Management Vegetation Type Maximum percent 

System Utilization By Key Species 

GRASS OR FORB 

Season Long Aspen Conditions Class 

Sagebrush, Mountain Unsatisfactory Satisfactory 

Brush and Grassland 40% 45% 

Riparian 45% 55% 

Alpine 30% 40% 

Best or Sagebrush, Mountain brush 45% 55% 

Deferred and grassland, Aspen 

Riparian 55% 65% 

Alpine 40% 45% 

S&G: Proper use criteria will be established, in writing, for each unit of each Toiyabe LRMP 

crazing allotment. Proper use criteria are a mandatory pert of each allotment Forest S&G 

management plan. Long-term trend studies are also mandatory to determine if Range 

proper use criteria are correct and to determine what is occurring in regard to PG IV-30 

range condition. Proper use criteria will be developed through m tern input. It is S&G 26 

necessary that criteria be based on the factor that becomes critical first - the 

limiting factor. In some range units or pastures, it may be necessary to establish 

more than one set of proper use criteria. This is especially true where riparian 

areas are involved. 

Establishing proper use criteria requires the ID Team involvement. Proper use 

criteria define the permissible grazing level in the range unit or pasture. 

The following standard. mist be observed when identifying limiting factors and 

proper use criteria: 

A. Soil and vegetation are the basic resources. The condition of these two 

resources oust be maintained or improved. If they are in satisfactory condition, 

then they must be maintained in this condition. If they are in less than satisfactory 

condition, then allowance oust be nude for improvement in condition. Any use 

causing a downtrend condition of these two resources should be modified or 

elimination whether coed by livestock, wildlife or any other use. 

B. After requirements for the soil and vegetative resources have been 

provided, the other resources, such as livestock grazing, wildlife, and aesthetics, 

can be considered. This is the point where the tern is involved. 

Trampling of soils by grazing animals by result in either soil displacement or soil 

displacement. This effect of grazing may become a limiting factor before the 

maxima allowed utilization of the key plant species is reached. In this situation, 

the amount of soil displacement or compaction will determine the limit of 

allowable grazing use rather than utilization of key species. 

Proper use guides based on soil displacement should generally be as follows: On 

steeper slopes and on loose sandy soils, evidence of trampling should not exceed 

10 percent as determined within sample plots. Usually trampling can be tolerated 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-93
 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Toiyabe LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

on slopes less than five percent and on slopes up 11 to 30 percent with heavier 

textured soils. Certain stream baa zones may be an exception. 

Soil compaction is detrimental on heavy soils, particularly if they are wet. 

Meadows are most susceptible to compaction. Proper use is defined as moderate 

compaction or less. 

S&G: Allow no livestock grazing for two grazing seasons after prescribed or Toiyabe LRMP 

natural fires and plantings or seedings. Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-30 

S&G 27 

S&G: Allow livestock conversions based on resource needs, capability, and Toiyabe LRMP 

management objectives and not solely based on the desires of the livestock Forest S&G 

A. Conversions will be made in accordance with a management plan, and Range 

current range analysis, and if the necessary range improvement structures PG IV-31 

are in place. S&G 30 

B. When conversions are made mainly for convenience of the permittee, the 

range improvement structures necessary to complete the conversion will be 

financed and constructed by the permittee. Construction will be in 

accordance with Forest Service standards 

GOAL: All grazing allotments and wild and free-roaming horse and Toiyabe LRMP 

burro territories will be under approved management plans Range Mgt 

PG IV-4 

Goal 2 

Objective: Toiyabe LRMP 

Ninety-five percent of all rangelands will have been brought to satisfactory Range Mgt 

condition. Management plans will have been approved for all grazing allotments PG IV-4 

and wild and free-roaming horse and burro territories. Livestock and wild DFC 

hone/burro use will have been maintained at pre-existing levels. Noxious farm 

weeds will be under control. 

S&G: Maintain range administration improvements at a level sufficient to meet Toiyabe LRMP 

the purpose of the project and for the life of the project Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-26 

S&G 2 

S&G: Develop allotment management plans for all active range allotments and Toiyabe LRMP 

wild free—roaming horse and burro territories. Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-26 

S&G 4 

S&G: Ensure that water developments and other range improvements meet Toiyabe LRMP 

wildlife needs. Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-26 

S&G 6 

S&G: Update allotment and territory management plans that are not consistent Toiyabe LRMP 

with the Forest Plan, following the schedule found in Chapter V. Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-27 

S&G 17 

S&G: Develop allotment management plan in consultation with all parties Toiyabe LRMP 

Involved, including permittee(s), state, or other federal agencies, and any other Forest S&G 

organizations or individuals. Range 

PG IV-27 

S&G 19 

K-94 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Toiyabe LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Each allotment management plan shall preset administrative and Toiyabe LRMP 

management requirements of the specific range allotment or wild free- Forest S&G 

raining horse or burro territory, Each plan will contain sections on Range 

objectives, actions, monitoring, and evaluation. PG IV-27 

A. The action section will include seasons of use, mater of livestock permitted, S&G 20 

the grazing system, schedule of range rehabilitation, and schedules for 

initiating and maintaining rage improvements. Schedules are to Include 

priorities, responsibilities, and planed completion dates. The action section 

fiat also include a statement of actions required to allow for other uses and 

resources, and for resolving conflicts. 

B. The monitoring and evaluation section will address actual use by livestock, 

production and utilization, ecological, status and trends, and permittee 

compliance with management requirements. 

S&G: Prepare an annual operating plan for each grazing allotment. The annual Toiyabe LRMP 

operating plan is the action plan that implements management decisions during Forest S&G 

the current year. Anal operating plans should be mutually developed by the Range 

District Ranger and permittee. PG IV-27 

The annual operating plan will consist of a narrative and graphics. S&G 22 

A. The narrative will include, where applicable: 

1. Clear and definite instructions concerning management of livestock while on 

the allotment. This should include the schedule for each unit to be grazed, 

expected anoint of time each unit will be grazed, allowable forage, utilization, 

how the livestock will be moved from unit to unit, and standards for livestock 

removal from the allotment. 

2. Range improvement maintenance responsibility for the current year, when the 

maintenance will be accomplished, and the maintenance standards to be attained. 

3. A list of range improvement projects to be started or completed during the 

current year. 

4. Any necessary instructions concerning trailing and/or trucking livestock to 

and/or the allotment. 

5. Special instructions on amp sanitation and fire prevention responsibilities of 

the permittee. 

6. Multiple-use coordination requirements with which the permittee is expected 

to comply, including animal control practices and compliance with endangered 

and threatened species requirements. 

B. The graphic section should include: 

1. A map showing allotment and management unit boundaries, range 

improvements, closed areas, and special management situations. 

2. Acceptable forms for recording actual use, losses, improvement maintenance, 

and other management data. 

S&G: Involve livestock permittees, other federal and state agencies, and Toiyabe LRMP 

interested parties in the development of allotment and territory management Forest S&G 

plans. Utilize the Coordinated Resource Management and Planning Process as Range 

appropriate. PG IV-28 

S&G 23 

S&G: Allow no livestock grazing for two grazing seasons after prescribed or Toiyabe LRMP 

natural fires and plantings or seedings. Forest S&G 

Range 

PG IV-30 

S&G 27 

October 2013 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS K-95 
 

Appendix K. Livestock Grazing 

Toiyabe LRMP Standards and Guidelines 

S&G: Notify the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the California Department Toiyabe LRMP 

of Fish and Game one year in advance of implementation of re-vegetation Forest S&G 

projects. Range 

PG IV-31 

S&G 29 

S&G: WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS Toiyabe LRMP 

1. Manage wild free-roaming horses and burros In accordance with the Wild Forest S&G 

Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Ant of 1971. Range 

2. Carry out interagency agreements with the Inyo National Forest and the PG IV-31 

BLM. 

3. Involve interested federal and state agencies and other groups in the 

management of wild free-roaming horses and burros. 

4. Manage wild free-roaming horses and burros to population levels compatible 

with resource capabilities and requirements 

K-96 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Draft LUPA/EIS October 2013