Grazing Management Plan for 910 Cattle Ranch

Project Description: The County is in the process of acquiring the Ranch. The Ranch is one of the last remaining contiguous mountain ranches in western Summit Count, offering exceptional ecological, cultural, and agricultural value. Historically grazed with sheep, the Ranch, since early 1990, has been seasonally grazing exclusively with cattle (approximately 250 cow/calf pairs). For the continuation of cattle grazing on the Ranch, the County seeks to adhere to proper management of rangeland resources for the long-term resilience and sustainability of the Ranch’s ecological services, leading to improved water quality, thriving native plant communities, and adequate forage reserves to ensure supply for both the livestock and the native wildlife populations. This RPF shall provide the County with the needed tool for these purposes. The RPF should include the assessment of and recommendations for:
• Current rangeland conditions and desired future conditions.
• The sustainability of current and future grazing practices.
• Access to water, proposing solutions that protect and support sensitive riparian areas and springs. Note: Fencing the creek and streams is not the County’s preferred method. Proposals that include alternative water management approaches and use of selective fencing strategies (i.e. virtual fencing) are preferred.
• Appropriate stocking rates, pasture identification, rotation schedules, and strategies for maintaining or improving rangeland and riparian health.
The plan must incorporate current best practices in regenerative, rotational, and adaptive grazing management strategies with a focus on our Wasatch Mountain ecological system to guide responsible and productive use of the land while preserving its ecological integrity.