|
February
1999 -– $1.8 million dollar agreement reached
to protect 1,508 acres of wildlife habitat near the Yellowstone
River, just outside Yellowstone National Park.
January 2001 – Baseline Study for Devil’s
Slide prepared for US Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest
and Church Universal and Triumphant in cooperation with Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation and US Department of Interior.
December 2002 – Grazing Management
Plan for Devil’s Slide released by Church Universal
and Triumphant.
February 2003 – Gardiner Ranger District,
Gallatin National Forest signs off on Church Universal and
Triumphant’s Grazing Management Plan for Devil’s
Slide.
Devil’s Slide Purchased Conservation Easement
BASELINE STUDY Royal Teton Ranch Conservation Project, January
2001.
* Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest
and the Church Universal and Triumphant in cooperation with
the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the US Department of
Interior.
* Kathleen Gordon, President Church Universal and Triumphant;
David Garber, Supervisor Gallatin National Forest; Michael
Finley, Superintendent Yellowstone National Park; Gary Wolfe,
President & CEO Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; have “read,
understand and approve” the Baseline Study. All parties
signed in April 2001.
* Establishes the conditions of the land “to enforce
the terms and conditions of the August 30 1999 Conservation
Easement” between the US Forest Service and Church Universal
and Triumphant.
* “The People of the United States recognize”
that the Devil’s Slide “and their surrounding
environs, have significant and important natural features
and wildlife habitat values.”
* “… important habitat for large numbers of wild
ungulates including antelope, bison, bighorn sheep, elk and
mule deer and other nationally significant wildlife programs
such as recovery efforts for bald eagle, peregrine falcon,
grizzly bear and gray wolf.”
* “The parties … are desirous of preserving and
protecting said values in perpetuity for the benefit and enjoyment
of the American people.”
* “It is inappropriate to assume that without the CE
that the 1,508 acre Devil’s Slide parcel would never
be developed or that the wildlife habitat values could or
would be protected.”
* “The RTR project was designed to protect critical
wildlife habitat, particularly ungulate winter ranges and
migration corridors, and improve the flexibility for management
of those species.”
* Church Universal and Triumphant leases hunting rights on
the Devil’s Slide to Montana Guide Service.
* Devil’s Slide is in the Yellowstone River valley,
in the foothills of the Gallatin Mountain Range on the west
and the Absaroka Mountain Range to the east. Sagebrush and
grassland ecology, cottonwood riparian habitats, juniper and
Douglas forest amidst mountain meadows and exposed rock slides
of sandstone, shale, and limestone on its name sake: Devil’s
Slide.
* Devil’s Slide has favorable microclimate conditions
for wintering wild ungulates.
* Easement contributes critical habitat for:
• Northern Yellowstone elk herd – one of the largest
in North America;
• Pronghorn Antelope – a genetically isolated
and unique population at risk of extinction in the next 100
years;
• Bighorn Sheep – important link for genetic and
habitat viability for subpopulations of bighorn and disease
ecology;
• Mule Deer – large numbers;
• Bison – “potential habitat and increased
management flexibility for bison” [references 2000 Interagency
Bison Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement
and Church Universal and Triumphant’s Bison Preservation
and Management Plan 1999];
• Federally listed species including Grizzly Bear, Wolf,
Bald Eagle and Canadian Lynx.
* Pronghorn antelope on decline: 160-210 left; bighorn sheep
populations also in decline.
* Bison migrate along the Yellowstone River and “under
undisturbed conditions bison movements up into Cinnabar Basin
and beyond might be expected.”
* 2/3 of all bison killed from winter of 1984-1985 through
1996-1997 came from the northern range but account for 1/4
of the Yellowstone bison herd population.
* 20,000 elk on the northern range.
* 1,600 to 2,500 mule deer on the northern range.
* Numerous grizzly bear dens in Reese Creek, Beattie Gulch
and Mol Heron. Devil’s Slide is within the wolves’
home range.
* Chief Joseph wolf pack sightings in Tom Miner Basin and
on the OTO Ranch.
* Important wintering habitat along the Yellowstone River
for bald eagles.
* Peregrine falcon eyrie sites observed at Devil’s Slide.
* 376 vertebrate species in Park County; 303 birds documented
in Yellowstone.
* Confirmed rare birds near Devil’s Slide include: trumpeter
swan, peregrine falcon, pygmy owl, golden eagle, northern
goshawk and osprey.
CHURCH UNIVERSAL AND TRIUMPHANT Devil’s Slide Conservation
Easement Grazing Management Plan, December 10, 2002.
* Church Universal and Triumphant’s plan for how they
intend to manage 1,508 acre Devil’s Slide easement,
prepared by Ecosystem Research Group (Missoula, MT).
* The Grazing Management Plan is “consistent [with]
objectives and livestock grazing parameters in the DOCE”
and Church Universal and Triumphant’s “land management
goals”: “Maintain and improve the property use
which is a spiritual retreat. To enhance the sacredness of
our land and spiritual retreat. To manage our forest and the
rest of our natural resources. To preserve our private property
rights.”
* Up to 178 AUMs to be grazed – an AUM supports a steer
or cow-calf pair for one month. “The challenge for this
GMP is to balance wildlife needs with traditional livestock
use.”
* “The purpose of this GMP is to fulfill the requirements
of the DOCE. Ideally, the forthcoming Wildlife Plan and the
Bison Management Plan (in-process) will be consistent with
this GMP.”
* A Wildlife Management Plan is referenced vis-à-vis
cattle grazing practices but does not yet exist. The Bison
Management Plan also has not been released.
* Church Universal and Triumphant negotiated and granted Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation a Deed of Conservation Easement (DOCE).
The US Forest Service has legal possession of the easement.
* The easement states there is a “right” to use
the conservation easement lands for livestock grazing “provided
these activities do not materially jeopardize the wildlife
habitat values.”
* Calls for no livestock use from October 15 through June
1.
* Livestock numbers established each season “consistent
with the goal of protecting wildlife habitat.”
* 135 cow-calf pairs “historically grazed” Devil’s
Slide.
* Note: the document claims that the amount of grazing is
being reduced by 68%, but 178 AUMs is more than 135 AUMs.
* Noted portions of the conservation easement lands have been
overgrazed – accelerated erosion and changes in plant
communities.
* Noted overuse near riparian areas by livestock and wildlife.
* Church Universal and Triumphant’s decision: “To
implement the chosen alternative of a seasonal/deferred grazing
plan … to provide for continued livestock grazing”
on Devil’s Slide.
* Grazing Management Plan establishes a schedule to guide
cattle grazing through 2012.
* Grazing Management Plan establishes a resting period from
Sept 2003 to June 2005 (though this is contradicted in Table
5.2).
* A 1982 rangeland evaluation gave excellent marks to Devil’s
Slide’s biological status rating but a moderate forage
value rating.
* Mountain meadows comprise 30% of the conservation easement
lands but produce 90% of the forage. And “major streams
in the unit provide habitat for trout”.
Gardiner District Ranger letter to Church Universal and Triumphant,
February 25, 2003.
* Ken Britton, Gardiner District Ranger letter to Kate Gordon,
Church Universal and Triumphant’s President.
* US Forest Service reviewed Devil’s Slide Grazing Management
Plan and determined it was consistent with the Conservation
Easement and the goals and objectives established by Church
Universal and Triumphant, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and
US Forest Service.
* “We also expect that the plan will be consistent with
the forthcoming Bison Management Plan, which is also specified
in the Conservation Easement.”
* “ … if stocking stays within the established
guidelines set forth in the GMP; a measurable improvement
of land, water and wildlife values will be realized.”
Prepared by:
Darrell Geist & Associates
PO Box 7941
Missoula, MT 59807
z@wildrockies.org
(406) 531-9284
Buffalo
Field Campaign
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
buffalo@wildrockies.org
(406) 646-0070
Contact
for:
Church Universal & Triumphant (CUT) / Royal Teton Ranch
Phone (inside USA): 1-800-245-5445
Phone (outside USA): 1-406-848-9500
Fax (in US) 1-800-221-8307
Fax (out of US) 1-406-848-9555
P.O. Box 5000
Gardiner, Montana 59030-5000
Web: http://www.tsl.org/ContactUs.asp
Top
of page
|
