Authorizing Livestock Grazing Compliant with the Endangered Species Act in the Upper Salmon River Basin of Central Idaho – Initial Successes and Future Challenges

Over 90 percent of Custer and Lemhi Counties are federally managed and support approximately 214,000 animal use months of livestock grazing annually.  Federal lands support four native salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and extensive streams and riparian areas in the Upper Salmon River Basin that are designated critical habitat essential for the species’ survival and recovery.  Agencies are increasingly litigated for failing to consult under the ESA and for not grazing as proposed – often resulting in adverse effects to ESA-listed resources.  Until recently, Federal management predominately focused on grazing season, duration, and numbers, with little quantitative monitoring targeted toward established riparian management objectives at the grazing unit scale.  Recent ESA consultations have increased agency efforts to manage grazing for riparian improvement and reducing impacts on ESA-listed resources.  Specifically, consultations have resulted in: (1) Increased documentation of current riparian and stream conditions; (2) adopting measurable in-season move triggers and end-of-season grazing use standards targeted at attaining riparian management objectives; (3) improved effectiveness monitoring at the grazing unit scale; and (4) modifying utilization standards where environmental responses are inadequate.  Challenges include limited agency staff and resources, disproportional livestock distribution across management units, and influences of climate change.