BOISE, ID (Aug. 3, 2006) -- Members of the Owyhee Initiative Work Group praised the leadership of Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) on the introduction of the Owyhee Initiative Implementation Act. The Work Group, comprised of Idaho ranchers, conservationists, county commissioners and outfitters, pledged to do all they can to help the Senator pass the measure through Congress. The culmination of nearly five years of hard work by Senator Crapo’s office and the 14 member Owyhee Initiative Work Group, the legislation would permanently protect 517,000 acres of Wilderness, safeguard almost 400 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers and ensure the future viability of ranching families by resolving longstanding Owyhee County public land management issues.
“This is truly a grassroots effort,” said Fred Grant, Owyhee County spokesperson and co-chair of the Owyhee Initiative. “These are Idaho issues, Idaho wildlands, Idaho rivers and Idaho ranch families, and we’ve developed an Idaho solution that we now need Congress to help us enact. Senator Crapo and his staff have done a great job helping us get this far, and while it’s been a long time in the making, it’s the right solution for our people and places.”
Efforts to resolve many of the contentious natural resources issues in Owyhee County were launched almost five years ago after decades of debate. The effort brought together a broad spectrum of local, regional and national interests including ranchers, county commissioners, conservationists and outfitters. The group worked to address a number of issues from Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers to grazing and off-road vehicle use. The result was the development of the Owyhee Initiative Agreement, a proposal that was released to the public in 2004 and ultimately was used as the basis for Senator Crapo’s new legislation.
“Senator Crapo has been a true leader throughout this process and we are confident that he will guide this legislation through the complicated legislative process,” said Lou Lunte of The Nature Conservancy. “This legislation is good for Idaho’s remaining wild open spaces and our local communities. We are confident when people look at the whole package they will support it.”
“This proposal addresses our local ranching concerns and protects the region for generations to come,” said Chad Gibson, Owyhee Cattlemens Association representative. “We have disagreed with one another for generations over the management and use of Owyhee public lands and this legislation and the relationships developed through the Owyhee Initiative process go a long way towards resolving these issues.”
A unique and ambitious piece of legislation, the bill represents a carefully balanced compromise on the part of all interests. The Owyhee Initiative Implementation Act addresses a broad spectrum of Owyhee County public land issues, including:
- Designation of 517,000 acres of Wilderness
- Designation of 384 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers.
- Resolution of decades-old public land conflicts through the use of selected land exchanges and grazing preferences compensation.
- Designation of 55,000 acres of Wilderness that will not be grazed by livestock within the proposed wilderness.
- Launching of a travel planning process to designate a system of motorized routes for all public lands in Owyhee County and closure of 200 miles of motorized trails in candidate wilderness areas.
- Continued public access to special places including Crutchers Crossing and the main Owyhee River.
- Better management of ORV use in Owyhee County.
- Increased protections for Shoshone-Paiute cultural sites and resources.
- A commitment to seek support for research and conservation projects in Owyhee County.
- Independent science review of data and information used in BLM decisions on livestock and other management issues by an independent, balanced panel of experts.
The Owyhee Canyonlands contain spectacular rivers and one-of-a-kind wilderness, making them unique among America’s remaining wild places. Senator Crapo’s bill will create the largest protected area in Idaho since the 1980 Frank Church/River of No Return Wilderness designation. In addition to the political and historical significance of this proposal, it protects critical habitat for a number of rare and endangered species including lambing areas for California bighorn sheep.
“Idaho has always cherished its wild country and this legislation will ensure that one of our most spectacular landscapes is protected forever,” said John Robison with the Idaho Conservation League. “Vital habitat for some of the nation’s rarest wildlife and plant species from bighorn sheep and sage grouse to big-eared bats will be protected.”
The legislation would also protect the spectacular rivers that wind through the county, increasing the total mileage of Wild and Scenic River in Idaho will increase by nearly two thirds. The legislation ensures water will stay in the basin safe from out of state diversion and restricts when and how water can be taken from designated streams.
“Spend a day floating the rivers and streams of the Owyhee Canyonlands and you’ll see what wild and scenic truly is,” said Liz Paul, Campaign Coordinator with Idaho Rivers United. “These waters are the life blood of the Owyhee’s – providing vital habitat for native redband trout, migratory birds, and river otters in addition to fantastic recreational opportunities. The Wild and Scenic designations in this bill will be the most significant river protections in the state’s history.”
“Owyhee County is not immune to the dramatic growth throughout southwestern Idaho,” said Grant Simonds of the Idaho Outfitter and Guide Association. “We must take steps now to protect our special lands and rural way of life that are less than an hour’s drive from one of the West’s fastest growing regions.”
“We all agree we must put an end to the growing network of illegal roads, diminished range lands, and trampled vegetation that result from unmanaged cross-country travel. We also agree that it’s important to provide opportunities for appropriate recreational ORV use,” said Inez Jaca, Owyhee County representative. “This bill gives us the opportunity to protect many critical areas and also focus on thoughtful management for hundreds of thousands of other acres. Without Senator Crapo’s legislation the fragmentation of the Owyhee’s would only get worse.”
The Owyhee Initiative Implementation Act also helps protect native cultural sites, ensures access to public lands, and helps resolve long-standing livestock management issues.
The legislation authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to permanently retire selected grazing allotments that are voluntarily relinquished by cattle ranchers and directs the federal government to compensate grazing permit holders. In some situations, ranchers are given the option to acquire alternative grazing land through the use of land exchanges. Nothing in this legislation will affect existing grazing permits and allotments.
While there is real enthusiasm for this legislation, not all members of the Work Group supported all aspects of it. Some members disagreed with the process of the compensation package.
“We felt that the appraisal process deviates too much from standard procedure,” said John McCarthy, with The Wilderness Society. “However, from our perspective, the benefits of this package are enormous and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity.”
Members of the Owyhee Initiative will travel to Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks to meet with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to help move the proposal forward.
“Simply put, we just want to protect our rural way-of-life here in Owyhee County,” said Fred Grant. “This proposal accomplishes that. It protects the lands and resources we all care about, provides the ranching community with options and ensures that our children will be able to enjoy the Owyhee Canyonlands for years to come.”
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