Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Inflation everywhere—except grazing on public lands
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Thursday, February 10, 2022
Cattle grazing in Arizona's Agua Fria National Monument | Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])
For decades, ranchers have paid rock bottom prices to graze livestock on millions of acres of public lands around the West. Last week, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service announced next year's fees for public lands grazing, a paltry $1.35 per animal unit month, the lowest allowable by law and far below rates charged on private lands. That's the amount charged for one cow and calf, one horse or five sheep.
According to reporting by High Country News ([link removed]) , while inflation may be at a 40-year high, the real cost of grazing permits is lower than it was 40 years ago. Over those four decades, grazing rates have ranged from $1.35 to $2.31, with the highest rates charged in 1981. If that fee had merely kept up with inflation, it would be $7.61 in 2022, providing much needed revenue to taxpayers and rangeland improvement programs.
While previous administrations and Congresses have proposed reforms to the system governing grazing on public lands, none have been adopted in recent years. Ranching and grazing has long been a major use of our public lands. As those public lands face threats from overgrazing and climate change, investing in rangeland health is all the more critical.
Quick hits
** New Mexico legislators continue to underfund state's environmental agencies
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Capital & Main ([link removed])
** Bureau of Land Management goes on a hiring spree after Trump destruction
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E&E News ([link removed])
** As Zion hits 5 million visitors annually, what's next for Utah's parks?
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St. George Spectrum & Daily News ([link removed])
** National parks try to make progress on long-deferred maintenance
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Idaho Capital Sun ([link removed])
** Facing drought, Colorado lawmakers look to pay for ripping out grass
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** New Mexico could adopt constitutional amendment on environmental rights, but time is short
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InsideClimate News ([link removed])
** Stakeholders hint at deal to avoid shutdown of major Wyoming coal plant
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WyoFile ([link removed])
** Everything is getting more expensive—except public lands grazing fees
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High Country News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” There’s a growing recognition that we have to reduce the amount of irrigated turf we have, and a growing recognition that while some turf is definitely beneficial – parks, sports fields, parts of people’s yards – we all know there’s a lot of turf that doesn’t get used”
—John Berggren, water analyst with Western Resource Advocates, Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Picture this
** @usinterior ([link removed])
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For a short time in February — if the conditions are perfect — Horsetail Falls at @YosemiteNPS ([link removed]) appears to be set ablaze when the sun’s light hits the waterfall at just the right angle, illuminating the water and mist to a brilliant orange fiery glow. Photo by Nikhil Shahi (sharetheexperience.org)
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