News Release

For Release:  May 2, 2008       
Contact:  Jeff Starosta (760) 872-5032
CA-CC-08-59

BLM Bishop, F.M. Fulstone Inc. and Flying M Ranch Sign Cooperative Rangeland Monitoring Agreements

The Bureau of Land Management’s Bishop Field Office has reached additional agreements with grazing allottees to cooperatively monitor rangelands.

On May 1, BLM Bishop Field Manager Bill Dunkelberger, Steve Fulstone of F.M. Fulstone Inc., and Ernie Paine of the Flying M Ranch signed  memorandums of understanding establishing a framework and specific plans to cooperatively monitor the BLM rangelands associated with Fulstone’s and Flying M’s allotments in the Bodie Hills near Bridgeport.  A 2004 memorandum of understanding between the BLM and the Public Lands Council established the process for developing these types of cooperative monitoring programs.
 

"We greatly appreciate these permittees’ interest in strengthening our partnership to sustain the health and diversity of the public lands.  Cooperative rangeland monitoring is an important tool that increases our capacity to better manage of livestock grazing and maintain desired range conditions on public lands," said Dunkelberger.  The Bishop Field Office entered into a similar agreement with another rancher and BLM livestock permittee for his allotments north of Bishop earlier this year.

-BLM-

Bishop Field Office – 351 Pacu Lane Suite 100, - Bishop, CA 93514