Victory over Cows on Lower East Fork of Salmon

[JoseCuervo]

Score another victory for hunters who love important habitat for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Mountain goats, wolverine, wolves, mountain lions, black bears, chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout as well as elk and deer.

Federal Court Orders Cattle Removed From The Boulder Unit Of The Lower East Fork Allotment in the White Cloud Mountains of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area


On Friday June 25, 2004 Idaho Federal District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill granted Western Watersheds Project's Motion For A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and ordered the Sawtooth National Forest to remove cattle on the Boulder Unit of the Lower East Fork allotment of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
The Boulder Unit includes tens of thousands of acres proposed for Wilderness designation by Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID). The Boulder Unit includes the entire Germania Creek, Wickiup Creek, Little Boulder Creek and Big Boulder Creek watersheds as well as such well known recreation destinations as Frog Lake on the east side of the White Cloud Mountains. It provides important habitat for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Mountain goats, wolverine, wolves, mountain lions, black bears, chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout as well as elk and deer.

The lawsuit resulting in this judicial order is a consequence of the Sawtooth National Forest's failure to comply with its own final decision of September 30, 2003 which required the closure of the Boulder Unit and other areas on the Upper and Lower East Fork allotments for a minimum of five years. The Forest Service had issued Annual Operating Instructions to the livestock permittees on June 8, 2004 which contradicted that decision and permitted grazing in the Boulder Unit.

In his Order Judge Winmill stated:

"Plaintiff has established that irreparable environmental injury is likely in the absence of injunctive relief, including injuries to environmental and recreational values protected by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Organic Act, as described by Defendant U.S. Forest Service in the Final Environmental Impact Statement of September 2003 (A.R. Exh. 5)."

Under the Order the cattle that are currently grazing the Boulder Unit must be removed by July 9, 2004.

WWP Executive Director, Jon Marvel, stated: "At least the federal court understands that the Forest Service cannot go back on its own analysis and decision. In this case livestock grazing is incompatible with the values of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area."

 

[JoseCuervo]

Unfortunately, the rancher failed to comply with the Judge's orders....

Lower East Fork Allotment Cattle Slow To Leave

In order to implement federal District Judge B. Lynn Winmill's Order that cattle be removed by July 9, 2004 from the Boulder unit of the Lower East Fork allotment in central Idaho's White Cloud Mountains, the U.S. Forest service has been obliged to hire six riders to assist in the removal.
As of July 14, 2004 WWP has been informed that about 20 head of cattle remain on the allotment, and that they will be removed in the next few days. Hot temperatures have slowed the horses and riders, and no help has been provided by the rancher permittee.

WWP is still seeking Forest Service confirmation that once these cattle have been removed the entire Lower East Fork allotment will have no cattle present for the first summer in over 110 years.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Judge Winmill is done putting up with crap from the FS and welfare ranchers.