NEPA--Environmental Assessment

Alternative
Minimization of Threat of Disease Transmission 2 3
Salting
Every effort should be made to deny bighorn access and consequent attraction to the domestic sheep
salting activities. Leaving available salt or excess salt residue in the soil or on rocks or tubs presents a
salt source that may attract bighorn and may even train bighorn to follow the domestic sheep bands in
search of salt. (2.18)
Blocks of salt will be allowed and, if used, will be kept with the domestic sheep at all times. Salt will not
be left behind when the domestic sheep are moved. (2.19)
Salt or supplement will be placed only on rocky knolls, well-drained sites or in timber where excessive
trampling will not destroy plant growth. Salt or supplement will not be placed closer than ¼ mile to
streams, springs, water developments, or other wetlands without prior approval of the Agency Officer.
Salt or supplement will not be placed near trailheads, on open roads, in natural travel routes, passes,
parks, meadows, in areas of concentrated public use, or in other areas where such placement is liable to
result in conflicts with other public land users. Salt or supplement will not be placed within tree
regeneration areas where the smallest trees are less than three feet tall. (2.20)
Herder education
It is of utmost importance that the permittees spend as much time as necessary teaching the herders the
requirements attached to the grazing permit, annual operating instructions and all the applicable Project
Design Criteria included here. With the implementation of “adaptive management,” areas authorized for
grazing as well as routing patterns and schedules may change from year to year and even within the
year, along with other management techniques. Following procedures to avoid contact and prompt
accurate reporting of bighorn/domestic sheep contact or impending contact is essential. Herders are
crucial to ensuring proper management and in maintaining compliance to an exacting standard.
Ultimately the responsibility rests upon the permittees to ensure compliance is being achieved. (2.21)
General wildlife sighting reporting
Permittees will be required to report wildlife sightings on the annual actual use form that must be turned
in each fall to the FS/BLM; however bighorn sightings in the proximity of the domestic sheep band must
be reported immediately. If bighorn are seen near or on any FS/BLM sheep and goat allotment, follow
protocol above. (2.22)
Planned domestic sheep estrus cycle
The planned breeding season for the domestic sheep operation will not occur during the permitted
grazing season on federal land. This is to lessen the attraction of bighorn rams to domestic sheep ewes
in estrus. (2.23)
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