Forest Service halts a plan to allow more cattle grazing on Tonto public lands

The U.S Forest Service has withdrawn its final environmental assessment and draft decision notice that would have allowed for additional livestock grazing and infrastructure in Tonto National Forest. The decision came after the agency received objections from environmental groups.

The plan would have authorized up to 1,900 new cattle and supporting infrastructure on the Hicks Pike Peak Allotment located in the ecologically diverse Salt River Canyon Wilderness Area. The Western Watersheds Project objected to the proposed action in October over environmental concerns.

The Forest Service concluded that based on its review, the analysis presented in the original environmental assessment and supporting documentation did not clearly disclose existing conditions on the allotment, potential site-specific actions or effects of the actions for each alternative.

The agency had released its environmental assessment and draft decision notice for the proposed action in September. It came a year after a nearly identical decision for the allotment was pulled over similar objections.

The Forest Service said in its next review, it will clarify the proposed actions listed for the allotment and develop additional analysis and documentation to address the findings.

Group says reviews did not assess grazing risks

Cattle have grazed on the allotment, which stretches over 21 pastures, for more than 100 years. The Tonto National Forest Land Management Plan lists the allotment as suitable for livestock.

According to the American Farm Bureau Association, grazing on public lands supports ranching in rural communities, reduces wildfire risk, supports quality watersheds and promotes sustainable rangelands.

But Western Watersheds believes the cows do more harm than good by trampling native riparian vegetation, eroding soil, increasing the risk of flooding and introducing toxins like E. coli into waterways.

Western Watersheds had argued in its objection that the Forest Service did not adequately assess the impacts in riparian areas or the effects of climate change. The group said there was lack of monitoring on the impacts of livestock grazing and that drought conditions were not adequately analyzed.

The objection from Western Watersheds had also listed soil erosion and poor stream conditions as concerns over the introduction of new cattle. Grazing on the on the allotment is believed to be partly responsible for failed water quality in parts of the river.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality conducts reviews every two years on state rivers, lakes, and waterways, and submits data into the EPA’s Water Quality Exchange.

According to ADEQ’s assessment dashboard, the Salt River, from Pinal Creek to Roosevelt Lake, just downstream of the allotment boundary, is considered "impaired" due to E. coli contamination.

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Forest Service promises new reviews

The Western Watersheds objection also raised concerns over the stress that additional cattle would have on wildlife that relies on riparian areas along the river, pointing to the Forest Service’s acknowledgment that the narrow-headed garter snake is present in the project area, but not in great numbers. Western Watersheds believes the low numbers of the snake could be caused by historic livestock grazing or reduced water from grazing.

“It’s a major reason that many of Arizona’s wildlife are in danger of extinction,” said Cyndi Tuell, the Arizona and New Mexico director of the Western Watersheds Project.

The Salt River Canyon Wilderness area is also home to the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher and razorback sucker, as well as the threatened yellow-billed cuckoo.

Following the pulled decision, the Forest Service says the agency may need to reinitiate consultation under the Endangered Species Act and complete other tasks to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

At the time the draft decision notice was released, the Forest Service told The Arizona Republic that the proposed actions were in accordance with the congressional grazing guidelines under the Wilderness Act of 1964.

In the letter to the Western Watershed Project, the service said, “The new EA must better define the proposed action and alternatives, clearly describe the existing conditions, clearly disclose the potential site-specific resource effects of the actions for each alternative and describe the actions that may be taken under an adaptive management strategy as well as the resource conditions that would trigger those actions.”

A new environmental assessment will be conducted, and a draft decision notice with alternatives on the allotment will likely follow.

Jake Frederico covers environment issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to jake.frederico@arizonarepublic.com.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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