Carter HMA range after livestock use August 2014

Below is an email that people are receiving from the “Acting” field manager Heather Whitman, BLM Surprise field office. This email was generated following our action alert HERE. Please note that when BLM uses the term “acting” it means literally that. There is no field office manager in the position and Ms Whitman is a float in from another district. As in many instances qualified applicants are not rushing to take these jobs.

Same range area in May 2014

We suggest a follow up email that might go something like this emailed as a reply to hwhitman@blm.gov:

Heather,

Thank you for your response. We are glad to see that your attention is now on this critical issue that involves the extremely unique herd of Carter Mustangs.

If it is the Surprise field office policy to rely on “weather station” reports, is it possible that those reports have been proven inadequate to determine drought impact to the range? Can you provide any field reports showing key monitoring sites within Carter that can demonstrate continual monitoring? Can you provide pre-livestock turnout monitoring data to compare with post turn out monitoring? As restrictions have been voluntary, how do you confirm that turn out numbers provided by the permittees are valid?

It would seem reasonable that in a year of extreme drought, that follows 2 years of some type of drought conditions noted by the weather monitoring services that compile national data, that the “2 year at 75%” rule should be evaluated. Can you please provide the citations or reports that show that “2 years at 75% below normal” is a safe zone prior to any mandatory restrictions? This seems a bit of a lax trigger for something so devastating to the range as livestock during drought, can you explain why this is appropriate?

We are aware that “upper elevations” have some forage for wild horses as cattle will not use the steep slopes. This will help the horses to get through the rest of the warm season, that is not my concern. The concern is the serious over grazing in the lowlands. Winter forage and recovery of the range is the primary concern in preserving wild horses

We are aware that your “inventory” of HMA and “off HMA” claims 137 individuals. This number is still below the minimum population recommendation made by BLMs own experts to sustainable genetics. As the National Academy of Sciences report is currently under review, we will address the absurdly low AML for Carter through the land use planning process and hope that you recognize the loss in genetic material demonstrated in the samples taken from the last two “gathers.”

This herd is very important to many people, myself included. Will you please add my name to any mailing list you have concerning any activity within (or around) this precious California treasure?

Thank you,

add your name and mailing address here

Carter horses

Acting field managers response below to initial letter

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Whitman, Heather <hwhitman@blm.gov>
Subject: Re: Crisis in Carter HMA

Thank you for your email expressing concerns about conditions on the Carter Reservoir Herd Management Area. We share your concerns with the ongoing drought and the impacts it is having on public rangelands and all who depend on it. Under terms of the Surprise Field Office drought policy, the area is in a drought watch. According to the Surprise Field Office drought policy, mandatory livestock reductions will be directed if precipitation falls below 75 percent of normal for two consecutive years. Remote weather stations throughout the area indicate average precipitation during 2013 and below normal precipitation this year. The drought policy threshold for mandatory grazing reductions has not been reached.

In the meantime, livestock operators in the Sand Creek Allotment which contains the Carter Reservoir Herd Management Area have voluntarily reduced livestock numbers. Some turned out no livestock and others turned out numbers lower than their permits allow. Seven grazing permits allow for 816 cattle in a grazing season running from April 15 through September 30. About 400 cattle were turned out in the HMA this year. All cattle will be removed from the HMA by September 30.

Our monitoring of the area to date has not shown wild horses in distress. Forage conditions and water availability are good in the upper elevations of the HMA. Based on an aerial survey conducted in 2011, we estimate there are 137 wild horses in and around the Carter Reservoir HMA. The appropriate population level stated in the Surprise Field Office Resource Management Plan is 25-35 animals.

Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. We will continue monitoring the situation and will take appropriate management actions as needed.

Heather Whitman
Heather Whitman
Acting Field Manager
*************************
Bureau of Land Management
Alturas & Surprise Field Office
708 West 12th Street 602 Cressler Street
Alturas, California 96101 Cedarville, California 96104
530.233.7904 Alturas Office 530.279.2749 Surprise Office
530.233.5696 Alturas Fax 530.279.2171 Surprise Fax

Heather Whitman
Acting Field Manager
*************************
Bureau of Land Management
Alturas & Surprise Field Office
708 West 12th Street 602 Cressler Street
Alturas, California 96101 Cedarville, California 96104
530.233.7904 Alturas Office 530.279.2749 Surprise Office
530.233.5696 Alturas Fax 530.279.2171 Surprise Fax

Stallion noted in higher elevations looking forage as lowlands are degraded and still contain domestic livestock