It’s Earth Day (or thereabouts – we live in the dungeon-like Underground World Headquarters, and we’re not even sure if it’s day or night), so here’s an earthy story – a telling before and after photo post on Ralph Maughan’s Wildlife Blog detailing one small creek’s recovery from some serious livestock overgrazing:
Before and After: Lake Creek Fork of the Salmon River
In September 1993 Jon Marvel, Lin Kincannon and Lynne Stone took a hike up Lake Creek, on the East Fork Salmon River Watershed. They found fish and wildlife habitat on this 1.2 mile stretch of state land that had been brutalized by livestock for many years. The dire condition of this landscape and stream prompted Marvel to look into the Idaho state Land Board to learn as much as he could about how state lands were managed, the leasing process, everything.
“I found out these things are competitive if more than one bidder applies,” Marvel said. “I bid on the lease.” It took years of back and forth in the courts, including then Idaho Watersheds Project being awarded three consecutive victories at the Idaho Supreme Court on the same day, before the lease would be held by conservationists and the 1.2 miles along the state land on Lake Creek would be rested from livestock grazing. Photos on the left were taken of the same 1.2 mile stretch by members of WWP (when it was IWP) in 1994 on July 24, 1994, those on the right were provided by the Idaho Department of Lands dated July 18, 2007 .
You can see the rest of the photos here (and take a look at those at the bottom of the post and tell me you don’t want to fly fishing this sucker).
It’s more evidence in favor of responsible management of public lands.
See you on Lake Creek Fork (has any Undergrounder fished it?), Tom Chandler.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Gotta love it when governments and people can work together to make something good happen. Too bad it always takes so long. Great post! Love it there. Kara(Quote)
Tom:
I believe the area is closed to all fishing in the upper East Fork and all tributaries. This is prime steelhead spawning habitat. We fish the main river throughout spring (steelhead) and summer (resident cutthroat), but try to leave the redds alone.
Thanks,
Greg Greg(Quote)
From the story, it’s not really clear what role government played in this – it seems as if one group of individuals wrested the grazing rights away by making it a competitive bidding process. Inspiring for sure.
Actually, glad to hear it. Tom Chandler(Quote)
Somethings are better left alone.
Tight lines Fish Whisperer(Quote)
I spend a lot of time in that country, although not on that particular stream. One of the biggest problems is that the local educational system is not too hot, and a lot of the cattle operators have not studied range science (or much of anything). Intelligent grazing of these lands is not only sustainable, it can be a benefit to the rest of us by keeping more watchful and caring sets of eyes out there, especially when it is not fishing or hunting season. And of course, the local economies are some of the most impoverished in the US (check out nearby Custer County, ID on FedStats) and need such jobs and income as they can get. Philip(Quote)