Rangeland Management
Resource Concepts has provided rangeland management services in Nevada, California, and Idaho. We provide utilization studies, range trend analyses, ecological status determinations, grazing planning, vegetation and soil mapping, and allotment permitting.
Range Management & Resource Economics / Nevada State Grazing Boards
Over the years, RCI has been retained by several State Grazing Boards in Nevada to provide professional expertise in the areas of range management and resource economics. The Boards represent livestock operators that are dependent upon public rangelands in Nevada. Tasks for which RCI has been responsible under these projects have primarily included evaluations of the appropriateness and economic implications of proposed Bureau of Land Management policies. RCI, in coordination with BLM, has assisted the Boards in establishing effective rangeland monitoring systems. RCI’s success can be measured through effective changes, which have been implemented and the excellent relationship, which has been maintained with resource users/management groups on all sides of the issues.
Flying M Cattle Company / Fulstone Ranches – Yerington, Nevada
The Bodie Hills allotment complex is comprised of three allotments totaling more than 90,000 acres of rangeland. Resource Concepts, Inc. continues to provide rangeland expertise for the two permittees in the form of utilization studies, range trend analysis, ecological status determinations, grazing plan reviews, vegetation and soil GIS mapping, as well as the collection, organization, maintenance, and management of all agency and in-house monitoring data for each of the three allotments. RCI also takes an active role in cooperative initiatives with the BLM in regards to grazing management, preference adjustments, coordinated resource management, and land exchanges. RCI continues to work with the permittees, BLM, and other interested parties on issues within these allotments including adaptive management for drought, range improvements, aspen health, deer migration and winter areas, threatened and endangered species habitat, riparian areas, and other critically important natural resources.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes – Fort Hall, Idaho
This three-year project comprehensively documented the baseline conditions that were used to develop a livestock grazing plan and a long-term rangeland resources monitoring plan on approximately 300,000 acres of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Fort Hall, Idaho. Parameters measured and evaluated included livestock utilization, wildlife key areas, proper functioning condition of streams, and ecological condition of rangelands on ten range units. RCI provided the technical expertise in the areas of range management, wildlife management, fluvial geomorphology, stream rehabilitation, rangeland ecology, grazing management, and resource planning.
Star Lake Grazing Association – Gooding, Idaho
Resource Concepts, Inc. continues to provide on-going range consultant assistance to the Star Lake Grazing Association. RCI has completed utilization monitoring of the Star Lake Allotment, evaluated the grazing plan, and coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management to adjust the grazing system from a rest-rotation to a deferred rotation grazing system. RCI has also been retained to complete an annual production inventory on the allotment and continue coordination between the grazing association and BLM, regarding revisions to the grazing plan and grazing preference.
Yucca Mt. Railroad / BLM/Department of Energy (DOE)
This new railroad was proposed to transport low-level nuclear waste 320 miles from Caliente, NV across southern Nevada to the Yucca Mountains Repository for storage. The proposed alignment crossed and caused disruption to 38 grazing allotments. The contract purpose was to assess and report on the extent of the impacts. RCI prepared a report that demonstrated extensive impacts to the grazing allotments including damage to the public lands, private property, and private property rights. The DOE used the information in the preparation of the EIS for the proposed railroad project.
Effluent Reuse and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
The Nevada Department of Corrections operates a 500-acre ranch, small dairy, and 500-head wild horse holding facility at the Stewart Facility in Carson City, Nevada. The ranch irrigates with treated effluent supplied by Carson City and qualifies as a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), due to the number of horses in the 40 acre Wild Horse Holding Facility. RCI has assisted the Ranch since 1997 with permit applications as the facility has expanded, groundwater quality and nutrient management compliance issues, as well as quarterly monitoring and reporting. Environmental permits obtained for the facility include a Zero-Discharge Permit for spray and flood irrigation with treated effluent, including an effluent management plan identifying hydraulic loading, nutrient loading, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the irrigated areas. RCI has also helped the facility to obtain a state CAFO permit and has applied for federal NPDES permit in accordance with amendments to the Code of Federal Regulations. Reporting requires a field-by-field evaluation of nutrient loading on an annual basis prepared by RCI. Engineering design has also been provided for groundwater monitoring wells and lined retention basin (capturing the 25-year, 24-hour design storm).