FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bully Creek overgrazed again in 2007, according to report

            ONDA and Western Watersheds Project have issued a monitoring report prepared by High Desert Ecology documenting the effects of the 2007 grazing season on the Bully Creek Pasture. The report finds that livestock grazing had a significant impact on vegetation and streambanks during this drought year, including utilization rates of over 75% and extensive trampling of streambanks. The report concludes that the degradation will continue unless the pasture is rested.

            Bully Creek Pasture lies within the BLM Vale District’s Willow Basin Allotment, in the headwaters of the Malheur River. BLM issued an order to close the pasture to grazing in 2007 due to chronic violations, but the decision was overturned by an Administrative Law Judge. ONDA and WWP asked a federal court judge to enforce the closure decision, but he too declined to halt grazing, resulting in permitted grazing occurring once again on the pasture in 2007.

           WWP and ONDA responded by redoubling our efforts to augment BLM’s monitoring. Led by the efforts of stalwart volunteer Gene Bray and Stuart Murray of High Desert Ecology, WWP staffers and scientists made multiple monitoring trips to the pasture this summer. Findings in the report include:

*    Riparian areas are heavily grazed by cattle. Utilization exceeded 75% of available grasses, sedges and rushes.

*     Mesic vegetation was completely trampled and provided no ground cover following grazing.

*     E.coli levels in streams were less than 2 MPN/100 ml prior to grazing and increased to 52-104 MPN/100 ml following grazing.

*     Streambanks exhibited high levels of trampling and low levels of cover.

            We have submitted the report to BLM and trust they will consider it in determining whether to permit grazing in 2008.

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