1964-68 Walker Basin (S) Allotment Management Plan

Long Valley District

The objective on the summer range is the implementation of a six-unit rest-rotation management system whereby one unit will be rested each year and the other five units will be grazed. The grazed units will be handled so that a unit will not be grazed at the same time each year.

These units will be as follows:

Horse Knoll Unit

This unit is primarily a Northern Woodland vegetative type with moderate amounts of juniper invasion. Control of these juniper areas, followed by burning and reseeding will greatly improve this unit. The unit lies in the northwest corner of the summer country, and will be enclosed by the proposed Rim and Juniper fences.

Snake Ridge Unit

Basically a Northern Woodland vegetative type, this unit also has areas of invasion juniper that can be worked. It lies south and east of the Horse Knoll Unit and will be enclosed completely by construction of the Rim and Juniper Fences.

Banfield Unit

This unit is primarily a Conifer type with an understory of Blue grama for the most part. It is north and east of the two previous units, in the north central portion of the summer range. After construction of the Rim and Juniper fences, the Hollingshead fence on the east side of the unit will completely enclose it. This area should be used in the summer.

Hollingshead Unit

This unit has a conifer overstory with a potential pine bunchgrass understory. It lies in the north east part of the allotment. This is also summer country.

Heifer Unit

This small unit will be used in conjunction with the Steer Unit because of its size. It is in the conifer type with a pine bunchgrass potential, and should be used during the summer.

Steer Unit

This unit is the same general type as the Heifer Unit, and in about the same range condition. Both units are in fair condition, mostly, and can receive moderate to heavy use, if rested at intervals.

This management is discussed in detail under the heading Management Systems later on.

To implement this system of management, and development of the forage producing potential, the following range development will be needed:

Range Development Program

A range development and improvement program will be undertaken, subject to available appropriated funds, as follows:

Management System

To implement the planned type of management, in a gradual manner as the range improvement program develops, the cattle management by units and grazing seasons will be as follows:

1964 - Effort will be directed to eliminating use on the Hollingshead and Banfield Units. To do this, the cattle use will be directed towards the existing Steer and Heifer pastures and the Horse Knoll and Snake Ridge Units by riding and salting. No salt will be placed in the Hollingshead and Banfield Units. The Rim Fence will probably be constructed too late in the season to materially aid this control of the cattle. Periodic checks of the Hollingshead and Banfield Units will be made by the permittees and livestock found there will be moved to the steer and heifer pastures.

1965 - Livestock use will be excluded from the steer and heifer pastures by closing the gates and an effort will be made to exclude use from the Snake Ridge Unit by riding and by not placing salt within the unit. Following the construction of the Juniper Fence in July or August, the cattle will be excluded from the Snake Ridge Unit. Horse Knoll, Banfield and Hollingshead Units will be grazed. Horse Knoll Juniper Control will be undertaken in the summer and fall.

1966 - Utilizing the Juniper and Rim fences the grazing use will be in the Snake Ridge Unit in the spring and fall. The Horse Knoll Unit will be used season long. The Steer and Heifer pastures will be used in the summer. The Horse Knoll juniper control will be burned when and if weather conditions permit, and then reseeded.

1967 - The Snake Ridge Unit will be used in the spring until the first part of July and then the cattle will move to Steer and Heifer Units until the middle of August. They will then go to Banfield & Hollingshead Units. Cattle will return to Snake Ridge Unit about October 1. Horse Knoll will be rested. Hollingshead fence will be constructed in the summer and fall. If necessary, Snake Ridge will be used seasonlong.

1968 - Snake Ridge, Banfield and Hollingshead, Steer and Heifer Units will be used in that order and shipping will be done from Mahan Park. The breeding herd will move back to the winter range via Snake Ridge Unit. Snake Ridge will be used seasonlong, if necessary.

At the close of the 1968 grazing season a determination of range condition, trend and future stocking will be made in accordance with the terms of the non-use agreement. Future management will be in accordance with rest rotation principles as outlined in the objective.

• Management Unit Allocations

Last Revised: 2 January 2002