Federal Land Managers seek public input on wild horse management in eastern Oregon
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JOHN DAY, Ore. — The U.S. Forest Service Malheur National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management Oregon-Washington are seeking public input on wild horse management in the Murderers Creek Wild Horse Joint Management Area. The agencies propose to establish a Herd Management Plan for the area to protect and manage wild horses, promote the health and vitality of the Murderers Creek horse herd, and achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance, alongside other important uses on the landscape.
The proposal, captured in a proposed environmental analysis, comes partially in response to impacts to sensitive resources by wild horses. The current Murderers Creek wild horse herd is estimated at more than 500 horses. The large herd size has caused degradation to natural resources in and around the 143,000-acre joint management area, which is located in Grant County.
The proposal’s preliminary environmental analysis describes several options for herd management methods as well as a no action alternative. Each alternative option considered proposes a suite of management tools, consistent with the respective herd management area plan, to include gathering methods, population growth controls, and monitoring.
Release of the proposal opens a 30-day public comment period, which is open through July 14, 2023. More information on the effort, including relevant documents, are available for review at https://www.fs.usda.gov/
Comments can be submitted electronically (preferred method) to the Comment Analysis and Response Application (CARA) database at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=44570.
Comments may also be submitted in-person or by mail to: Attn: Wild Horse; Blue Mountain Ranger District; Malheur National Forest; 431 Patterson Bridge Road; PO Box 909; John Day, Oregon 97845. Faxed comments can also be submitted to 541-575-3319.
For additional information, contact Ryan Falk, U.S. Forest Service Environmental Coordinator by phone, 541-575-3181, or email, ryan.falk@usda.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.