Grazing Permit Renewal for the Grazing Permits on the Wilson Creek Allotment

Grazing Permit Renewal for the Grazing Permits on the Wilson Creek Allotment Managed in the Ely District, Caliente Field Office.

The purpose and need for the action is to fully process the renewal of the grazing permits for nine permittees who currently hold grazing permits for cattle and/or sheep on the Wilson Creek Allotment (#1201) and whose permits have not been previously renewed with a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document. The issuance of the term permits would be for a period of up to 10 years. Two other permits on the allotment (2703273 and 2704653) may be renewed with changes if upon determination through the (NEPA) process, changes are deemed necessary to achieve the Mojave-Southern Great Basin Standards for Rangeland Health.

The current term permits and allotment information for the permittees is as follows:

Permit Number	Livestock Number/Kind	Grazing Period Begin/End	% Public Land	Type Use	AUMs
2705110	184 Cattle	3/15 – 9/30 12/01 – 12/30	100	Active	1391
2705105	181 Cattle	10/15 – 5/15	100	Active	1267
2705106	90 Cattle	3/1 – 2/28	100	Active	1080
2705100	953 Cattle	3/1 – 2/28	100	Active	11436
2705135	250 Cattle	3/1 – 2/28	100	Active	3000
2705109	1735 Sheep	11/1 – 4/30	100	Active	2076
2705103	344 Cattle	3/1 – 2/28	100	Active	4128
2704737	37 Cattle	5/1 – 5/8 11/15 – 11/21	100	Active	67
2705101	119 Cattle	4/15 – 9/30	100	Active	661

Additional Grazing Permits on the Allotment Which Could be Reissued if Necessary Based on the Determination of Rangeland Health
2703273¹	Sheep²	10/28 – 6/4	100	Active	10641
2704653¹	106 Cattle 1391 Sheep	1/1 – 3/31 11/01 – 4/10	100 100	Active Active	314 1473
¹This permit is valid on the allotment but is not due for renewal at this time. If changes to the permit are necessary the permit could be reissued with new terms and conditions. ²The number of sheep for this permit varies by use area and season of use.

Allotment Summary:

Allotment Name/Number	Active Use AUMs	Suspended AUMs	Total Permitted Use AUMs
Wilson Creek (1201)	48,176³	13,862³	62,038³
³Source: Rangeland Administration System (12/15/2008) These figures still include the AUMs which occur in the pastures recently removed from Wilson Creek Allotment and attached to the Geyser Ranch Allotment.

The Wilson Creek Allotment is located in Lincoln County, Nevada. The allotment encompasses 846,246 acres. Major use areas were defined by Decision in 1992, and serve as sub-allotments within the allotment. The Pony Seeding, Atlanta, Fairview, and Muleshoe/Maloy Use Areas of the Wilson Creek Allotment were recently removed from the Wilson Creek Allotment and added to the Geyser Ranch Allotment (Final Decision 11/20/2007). These areas will not be included in the current Wilson Creek evaluation.

WILSON CREEK ALLOTMENT
Use Area	Acres
Hamlin Valley	51155
South Lake Valley	118000
Deadman	61914
Pioche Bench	21503
Thorley	27507
Dry Lake Valley	104898
Patterson Seedings	45073
Brown Spring	46870
Summer Native	252651
Delmue Burn	9100
Miller	85662
U4	21,913
Total Acres	846,246

The Wilson Creek Allotment encompasses portions of the following watersheds: Hamlin Valley, South Spring Valley, Lake Valley, Spring Valley Southwest, Spring Valley Southeast, Patterson Wash, Rose Valley, Eagle Valley, Dry Lake Valley, Lake Valley, and White River South.

Portions of two Wild Horse Herd Management Areas occur on the allotment including Silver King and Eagle HMAs as described in the Ely Resource Management Plan.

Two wilderness areas occur on the allotment including the White Rock Range and Parsnip Peak Wildernesses.

The Wilson Creek Allotment was evaluated in 1989. A final multiple use decision was issued in 1992 which established new terms and conditions for grazing use, established use area (pasture) boundaries, and implemented rotational grazing systems. The renewal of the grazing permits will entail the completion of a determination of rangeland health on the allotment compared to the current Standards for Rangeland Health, a determination of conformance to the guidelines as provided in the Standards, and completion of an environmental analysis in accordance with NEPA.

General Location: (Township/Range):

T.1 S. through T. 8 N. and R. 62 E. through R. 70 E. (portions thereof); all in Lincoln County, Nevada. The allotment southern boundary is just north of Pioche, Nevada. The Utah state line borders the east side. White River and Highway 318 borders the west. Fortification Range borders the northern boundary.

Contact Information:

Shirley A. Johnson

Rangeland Management Specialist

(775) 726-8100