Rangeland Stewardship Awards

2009

In recognition of their integration of resource conservation practices into livestock management, the BLM has presented Lava Lake Land and Livestock Company with the Bureau's 2009 Rangeland Stewardship Award.  News Release (October 26, 2009)

Digging out invasive scotch thistle in the Fish Creek Drainage on the Lava Creek Ranch in south-central IdahoThe Lava Lake Ranch encompasses 824,000 acres of private and public lands within and adjacent to the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and the foothills of the Pioneer and Boulder White Cloud Mountains, near Hailey, Idaho.

The ranch holds BLM grazing permits on 27 allotments administered by the BLM Shoshone Field Office.  Brian & Kathleen Bean bought the ranch in 1999 and produce high-quality lambs for the organic meat market.

The Bean family and Lava Lake staff have a commitment to managing both public and private lands for a variety of uses, including wildlife, livestock and recreation.  They have worked to create a sustainable livestock operation and improve rangeland health, with a vision of 'a working landascpe that is rich with healthy wildlife populations and functioning ecosystems, preserving the wild nature of the land while using it carefully.' 

 

Fish Creek, October 2001 - before riparian restoration efforts   A second location on Fish Creek, June 2002 - before riparian restoration efforts

The Beans inherited several rangeland health issues when they purchased the ranch.  Non-functional riparian areas (above) were most evident.  Wildlife habitat was impaired, and noxious weeds had invaded sagebrush steppe (top).

Fish Creek in the West Fork Allotment (above) was chosen as the site for habitat restoration in 2005.  The ranch partnered with the BLM and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to install protective fencing and control erosion along the creek.  In just three years, there has been significant improvement (compare above-'before' 2001/2002 and below-'after' 2007/2005). Willows are establishing, desirable riparian vegetation is replacing weeds, previously bare banks are re-vegetating, the stream is narrowing, and water quality has improved.

  Fish Creek, August 2007 - after riparian restoration work   The second location on Fish Creek, June 2005 - after restoration efforts

Sage-grouse have benefited significantly from riparian restoration, weed management, adaptive grazing management and resource monitoring.  Tangible improvement in ecological conditions also support populations of other sagebrush-dependent species, as well as deer, elk and trout.  Aspens are regenerating on the ranch's private lands after treatments to stimulate their growth and provide ongoing protection.

Researchers from BLM, Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game, and Idaho State University partnered with Lava Lake staff to radio-collar sage-grouse hens. Aspens on private lands within the Lava Lake Ranch are regenerating.

 

One of the increased number of guard dogs working with sheep herds on the Lava Lake Ranch.

 

An increased number of guard dogs are part of measures to avert wolf predation non-lethally. Herders use radio telemetry to monitor the movement of nearby wolves.  Lava Lake sheep also wear GPS collars to track their movement and help adjust future grazing strategies. BLM Director Bob Abbey said this kind of innovative use of technology goes 'above and beyond the expected in rangeland management.'

The Bean Family and Lava Lake staff are working 
to ensure a legacy of sustainable ranching in the West.