Range Destruction caused by Uncontrolled Grazing

Smith 1899 1. Reduction in grazing capacity 2. Replacement of desirable forage with unpalatable plants 3. Compaction of soil 4. Decreased soil fertility 5. Decreased absorption after rain 6. Increased loss of soil during rain 7. Increase in jackrabbits and prairie dogs?

1900-1920

-Forest Service is formed in 1905 and cattle and sheep are given separate allotments. -Arthur Sampson, the father of range management, conducts studies involving deferred grazing in Oregon. -Frederick Clements and James Weaver developed theories of plant succession.

Why Progress in Improving Rangeland Has Been Slow

1. Low precipitation, much rangeland recovers slowly. 2. Range ecosystems are complex and variable. 3. Government agencies allocated monetary and personnel resources into developing environmental impact statements rather than directly into range improvements. 4. Until recently range management principles were not widely applied on private lands. 5. Unsound government policies have created incentives for land mismanagement.

Homestead Act(1862)

Granted 160 acres after 5 years’ residence; encouraged large numbers of people to move west for farming.

Morrill Act(1862)

Set up the land grant colleges (provided land for these institutions

Transcontinental Railroad Act(1862)

Large acreages of land were granted to railroads to provide incentives for railroad construction in the west. This resulted in rapid transportation for large numbers of people to move west.

Forest Reserves Act(1891)

Set aside forested areas for timber with grazing privileges allocated to ranchers in these areas.

Enlarged Homestead Act (1909)

Granted 320 acres and required ¼ to be cultivated; designed to promote farming on remaining federal land; caused rangeland destruction by cultivation of land not suited for farming.

Stockraising Homestead Act (1916)

Granted 640 acres for raising 50 cows which caused rangeland destruction because 640 acres would not support 50 cows in most areas.

Taylor Grazing Act (1934)

Allocated grazing on unsold government lands in the West based on the ranchers’ ability to provide water (southwest) or hay (northwest). This act was passed as the result of ranchers concerned about range deterioration.

Soil Erosion Act (1935)

Set up Soil Conservation Service to deal with soil erosion problems on private lands.

Multiple Use Act (1960)

Mandated that Forest Service lands be managed for several purposes rather than single use. In 1976, Bureau of Land Management lands were brought under the multiple use mandate under Federal Lands Policy and Management Act.

National Environmental Policy Act (1969)

Required government and private agencies to draft environmental impact statements on proposed actions that would affect federal lands (EIS/EA).

Endangered Species Act (1973)

Requires federal agencies to protect listed wildlife/habitat

USA land facts

*The US Bureau of Land Management has the most federal land - 47% *The US Forest Service is second - 26% *The US Fish and Wildlife Service is third - 12%

What is the state with the most public land?(2005)

Kansas

What is the state with most private land?(2005)

Nevada