Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Outcome-based Grazing
In 2017, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it was beginning a collaborative approach to issuing grazing authorizations, which is the permitting system through which private livestock operators (known as permittees) utilize federal lands. In March 2018, BLM selected 11 demonstration projects in six states, with a variety of conditions and circumstances. The BLM will consider the success of these projects when crafting guidance and best management practices for future grazing authorizations. The following FAQ details some common questions regarding this pilot program. If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to contact Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands, which is a partnership between the BLM and the Intermountain West Joint Venture that is supporting this program.
What is the purpose of Outcome-based Grazing Authorizations?
The purpose of outcome-based grazing authorizations (OBGA) is to improve BLM management of public lands grazing by providing greater flexibility to BLM managers and operators to manage livestock in response to changing on-the-ground conditions, rather than under traditional prescriptive terms. The OBGAs would develop a framework within which the BLM manager and permittee may make grazing management changes in response to changing weather, progress toward achieving objectives, or other activities on the land.
What are OBGAs designed to accomplish?
These authorizations are intended to:
Emphasize conservation performance and ecological outcomes rather than process and prescription,
Cooperatively improve, manage and/or protect public lands within an allotment and/or specified geographic area (multiple allotments),
Provide BLM managers and livestock operators the ability to make management decisions based on experience, knowledge of local conditions, and a well-articulated set of resource and operational objectives,
Support enhanced partnerships in managing livestock grazing; and,
Continue to achieve or attain positive economic and social outcomes.
Who is overseeing this process?
The OBGAs are being developed by an interdisciplinary team of range specialists, biologists, hydrologists, riparian specialists, cultural resource specialists and managers from BLM field, district, state and headquarters offices. The process will be implemented and administered by a local BLM Authorized Officer supported by an interdisciplinary team in partnership with permittees and input from state agencies and interested parties.
How were the OBGA demonstration projects selected?
Twenty proposals were submitted to the Washington Office via the BLM field offices. The proposals were reviewed and ranked by BLM Washington, D.C. Office and state offices, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the U.S. Forest Service using criteria developed by an interdisciplinary team from BLM field, state, and Washington offices. These criteria included the length of each project considered, logistics and budgetary concerns, as well as the ultimate goal of each project. Twelve projects were selected and these are the current demonstration projects.
Why are demonstration projects being piloted right now?
BLM plans to develop guidance and best management practices for broader implementation of outcome-based grazing based on the experiences from implementing nationally supported demonstration projects. In order to facilitate an effective use of this new approach, the BLM selected twelve proposals. Participating BLM managers and operators will have the flexibility to exercise knowledge, experience and stewardship to achieve resource and operational objectives rather than to apply prescriptive terms and conditions that can interfere with timely grazing management adjustments, such as adjusting dates and numbers of livestock based on annual weather conditions.
As the demonstration projects progress, they will give BLM and its partners information and experience for developing consistent national guidance and best management practices to implement outcome-based grazing authorizations as a standard practice.
Where are the demonstration projects located?
The demonstration projects are located in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming. Learn about each of the demonstration projects here.
How will the projects be evaluated?
A monitoring and evaluation plan will be incorporated into every project. The plan will identify the type of data/information needed, data collection methods and standards, the monitoring schedule, as well as the evaluation schedule. It will also identify those responsible for collecting the data.
Monitoring data will be used to ascertain progress made towards achieving the authorization’s objectives. The evaluation will consider Grass-Shrub/Assessment Inventory and Monitoring data collection, annual habitat conditions, and vegetative trends. BLM will be responsible for completing the evaluation with review and opportunity for input by the operator, other federal and state agencies, and interested parties.
How can I be involved? How can the public be involved?
Contact the appropriate BLM field office if you are interested in any of the listed demonstration projects. Field offices will provide opportunities for public participation through local Resource Advisory Councils and during development and NEPA analysis of the grazing plan.
What are the next steps?
BLM will conduct work sessions for developing objectives and monitoring plans, management alternatives, NEPA, and other elements as needed, with the selected project participants, including the local BLM office and the operator. Field offices will consult and coordinate with appropriate state agencies, other landowners within the affected allotments, other affected permittees, interested public, and Resource Advisory Councils. Grazing management actions will be developed for NEPA analysis.