Grazing and Salmon

Grazing and Salmon

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Does the controversy over grazing on public lands ever end? We’re going to talk about issues in Oregon but they apply to every Western state in some form or another. It’s about environmental impact. Sage grouse always come to mind but in this case it involves salmon. Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, recently pressed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver for answers as to the science behind environmental rules that limit grazing activities in eastern Oregon. During a hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee, Walden called for increased local input when determining grazing management policies, and stressed the importance of livestock grazing for rural communities in Oregon.

 

 

“These communities are pretty upset when it comes to taking all of the hits, applying it all to grazing, when it comes to trying to do a balanced effort to restore salmon and steelhead fishery. They really want a little more face-to-face time with the National Marine Fisheries Service,” said Walden.  “This is a life-and-death matter for the ranchers out there. A lot goes on out in the ocean that we’re told is just a black box that you can’t do anything about. Then we watch the fish get devoured by the sea lions coming up the river and then the only thing you can do is shut down cattle operations and blame it all on them. We’re not going to put up with that.”

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