Spring Creek Grazing Association

LAND MANAGEMENTISSUING GRAZING PERMITS WHEN USFS LAND IS AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK GRAZING, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCGA TO ISSUE A PERMIT FOR GRAZING. PERMITS ARE GENERALLY ISSUED TO RANCHERS OWNING ADJOINING PRIVATE LAND. IF THE RANCHER MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS, THE PERMIT IS ISSUED FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD WITH ANNUAL PERMITS ISSUED THAT SHOW MORE DETAILED GRAZING INFORMATION (NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK GRAZED IN EACH PASTURE AND THE DATES THE LIVESTOCK WILL GO INTO AND COME OUT OF THE PASTURES).MONITORING GRAZING PERMITS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCGA TO ASSURE THE LAND IS GRAZED IN A PROPER MANNER. THE LAND AND LIVESTOCK ARE MONITORED TO BE CERTAIN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERMIT ARE BEING FULFILLED. THIS INCLUDES ITEMS SUCH AS MAKING SURE THE LAND IS NOT OVERGRAZED, THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF LIVESTOCK BEING GRAZED ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERMIT, THE LAND DOES NOT HAVE NOXIOUS WEEDS, LAND DISTURBANCES ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH USFS RULES, CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN LIVESTOCK ARE CONTROLLED, DEAD ANIMALS ARE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY, SALT LOCATIONS ARE PROPER DISTANCES FROM WATER SOURCES, ETC.ADMINISTERING RANGE IMPROVEMENTS WHILE THE USFS OWNS THE LAND AND ALSO OWNS THE IMPROVEMENTS (FENCES, WATER WELLS, ETC), IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCGA TO MAINTAIN THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPLACE IMPROVEMENTS ACCORDING TO THE USFS LIFE EXPECTANCY TIME FRAMES FOR IMPROVEMENTS. ALL NEW IMPROVEMENTS MUST MEET USFS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (NEPA), WHICH PRIMARILY CONSISTS OF ARCHAEOLOGY CLEARANCES AND WILDLIFE CONSIDERATIONS. THE SCGA MUST ASSURE NO ACTION IS TAKEN IN THE FIELD UNTIL ALL NEPA CONSIDERATIONS ARE SATISFIED.COLLECT FEES THE USFS SETS A FEE EACH YEAR FOR GRAZING PUBLIC LAND. THE FEE IS BASED ON ANIMAL UNIT MONTHS (THE NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK GRAZED AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY ARE GRAZED). THE SCGA COLLECTS THOSE FEES FROM THE PERMITTEES (THE RANCHERS). A PORTION OF THE FEES ARE THEN PAID TO THE USFS FOR USE OF THE LAND. THE REMAINDER OF THE FEES ARE RETAINED BY THE SCGA FOR ADMINISTRATION COSTS AND FOR NEW RANGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.