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Vegetation Management. Carrizo Plain National Monument
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Grazing Decisions and Rationale 2011
The winter of 2010 - 2011 was exceptionally wet on the Carrizo Plain as well as unusual. In December some places received 12 inches of rain and in January, it warmed up and no rain fell. We received yet a couple of more inches of rain accompanied by warm weather, then the cold returned and we had snow on the flowers! It was an interesting season. A result of all of this unusual weather was the growth of vegetation. One of our key vegetative goals is to restore and maintain a mosaic of natural communities to benefit the Monument’s biodiversity. Some of our endangered animal species may struggle if the non-native vegetation becomes too thick and dense. The Carrizo Plain National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP) prescribes that excessive vegetative growth be reduced in Core Areas to help maintain native animal species. The results of vegetation monitoring in the Core Areas for these species have shown a need to reduce vegetation and we have applied a grazing treatment for that purpose. The objectives for these decisions are contained in the Conservation Target Table Attachment 5 in the RMP. These decisions were based on the habitat criteria requirements for the blunt nosed leopard lizard objective (page ATT-5-55) and the fairy shrimp objective (page ATT-5-59). While all Core Areas for the fairy shrimp, blunt-nosed leopard lizard and giant kangaroo rat were considered and monitored, not all Areas met the criteria and were dropped from consideration. We will continue to monitor these Areas and others as the season progresses. 
Cattle standing in grazing area.
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Summary of Vegetation Management Actions taken October 2010 through September 2011 to meet the Carrizo Plain National Monument RMP Biological Objectives:Livestock Grazing: Mountain Plover (MOPL) Core pastures: Assessments in August – September 2010 revealed adequate amount of suitable MOPL habitat present; no treatments needed in October for this purpose. Blunt-nosed leopard lizard (BNLL) Core pastures: Late February assessments had 1,500 to 2,500 lbs/ac., livestock turned out into 4 of 5 BNLL pastures in early March.
Mid May assessments were 1,900 to 3,100 lbs/ac.
Mid June assessments were 1,500 to 1,800 lbs/ac.
Anticipate livestock removal for this purpose by end of July 2011. Giant kangaroo rat (GKR) Core pastures: March assessments were 3,800 lbs/ac., but GKR density was 200 rats/hectare; no treatments needed for this purpose. Fairy Shrimp pastures: Late March assessment was 4,600 lbs/ac., livestock turned out in 1 of 2 Fairy Shrimp pastures.
Mid May assessment revealed treatment was adequate, livestock removed. Shipping and receiving pastures: Certain small pastures are used for short durations to facilitate livestock management of treatment pastures.
Fire Management: 200 acres in East Painted Rock pasture was burned before restoration efforts in FY2011.
Other Restoration: 200 acres in the East Painted Rock pasture was seeded with native annuals, shrubs and bunchgrasses and 10,000 grass plugs? in FY2011. The Painted Rock parking lot was seeded with native annuals and bunchgrasses in FY2011.
| Pastures Assessed | Target
Resource | Summary of Assessment Results | Calf Shed,
Temblor-Caliente, #53 | Fairy shrimp
KPSM
LETH | - March assessment; grazing doesn’t seem to affect these pools, no treatment necessary.
| Center Well,
KCL Ranch, #29 | MOPL core
BNLL core
GKR core | - August – September assessments; Adequate amount of suitable habitat for MOPL, no treatment needed.
- February assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives within desired range, no treatment needed.
- March assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, treatment initiated.
- May assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, continue treatment.
| | East Cochora, Temblor-Caliente, #53 | BNLL core
GKR core
LETH | - March assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, treatment initiated.
- May assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, continue treatment.
| East Cousins,
KCL Ranch, #29 | MOPL core | - August – September assessments; Adequate amount of suitable habitat for MOPL, no treatment needed.
| Holding,
Carrizo Ranch, #70 | GKR core | - March assessment; variables to meet GKR objectives within desired range, no treatment needed.
| Hostetter,
Temblor-Caliente, #53 | Fairy shrimp Spadefoot toads | - March assessment; variables to meet Fariyshrimp objectives outside desired range, treatment initiated.
- May assessment; treatment adequate, discontinue treatment.
| Kinney-Hahl,
KCL Ranch, #29, | MOPL core BNLL core GKR core | - August – September assessments; Adequate amount of suitable habitat for MOPL, no treatment needed.
- February assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives within desired range, no treatment needed.
- March assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, treatment initiated.
- May assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, continue treatment.
| Old Adobe,
KCL Ranch, #29 | GKR core | - March assessment; variables to meet GKR objectives within desired range, no treatment needed.
| Old Corral North,
KCL Ranch, #29 | MOPL core BNLL core GKR core | - August – September assessments; Adequate amount of suitable habitat for MOPL, no treatment needed.
- February assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives within desired range, no treatment needed.
- March assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, treatment initiated.
- May assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives outside desired range, continue treatment.
| Shipping,
KCL Ranch, #29 | GKR core | - Allowed to use short term when turning out into CenterWell and Kinney-Hahl
| West Cochora,
Temblor-Caliente, #53 | BNLL core GKR core LETH | - March-May assessment; variables to meet BNLL objectives within desired range, no treatment needed.
| West Well,
KCL Ranch, #29 | GKR core
LEJA | - GKR core is small portion of pasture and at edge of core area. No treatment needed.
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