NEWS ROUNDUP

Bush administration's changes to forest plan illegal, judge says A federal judge has concluded that the Bush administration broke environmental laws last year when it cleared the way for more commercial logging of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest and northern California. In 1994, the government adopted a set of environmental protections and limits on timber harvesting - the Northwest Forest plan - designed to halt the decline of the northern spotted owl and other wildlife that depend on large, old trees. Last year the administration dropped part of that plan - a requirement that, before logging, federal forest managers search for rare plants and animals associated with old growth and, if the species turn up, alter logging plans to prevent any harm to the ecosystem. The administration complained that the surveys were expensive, time-consuming and had made it impossible for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to conduct the volume of logging permitted under the Northwest plan. Ruling Monday in a case filed by a coalition of environmental groups, District Judge Marsha Pechman in Seattle said the agencies had violated the law by not fully analyzing the environmental impact of eliminating the survey program. The government had argued that another conservation measure would protect many of the species covered by the survey requirement, but Pechman noted that there was no guarantee those species would be included in the other program....
Developers play mitigation game When SunCal Cos. wanted to build a 2,200-unit housing development in Chino, the project was stopped because burrowing owls were found on the site. SunCal set aside 39 acres for the displaced birds, and the College Park development got the green light. Was anyone pleased with the deal? Not in the real world. Mitigation. It's one of those legalese/bureaucratese terms that usually means no one is happy. It's from the Latin mitigatus: to make mild, soft or tender. Convicts use it to try to persuade the judge to go easy. But in the endangered-species game, it means trade-offs in which no one really gets what they want, including the critter. Habitat mitigation has its critics, but it's the dance that developers and conservationists do to get things done....
BLM Shows Horse Sense A select group of Idaho media members were given an opportunity last Thursday to watch the federal government play God-or at least to help clean up His holy mess. In the aftermath of the lightning-started, nearly 250,000-acre Clover fire in the south-central Idaho rangelands, approximately 350 wild horses living south of Glenns Ferry were left with little vegetation on which to graze. In response, the Bureau of Land Management quickly organized an emergency roundup of the entire equine community, from the most grizzled stud to the freshest filly, until the rangeland could be reseeded to handle what will soon be a drastically smaller herd....
Tribes getting land back after 90 years More than 15,000 acres off Interstate 10 in western Arizona that were taken from the Colorado River Indian Tribes' reservation 90 years ago are being returned under a bill President Bush signed into law on Tuesday. The nearly 25-square-mile parcel about 175 miles west of Phoenix near Quartzsite and the California-Arizona line is known as the La Paz lands. It was removed from the reservation by President Woodrow Wilson amid tribal disputes with miners and cattlemen. Bush offered no comment in signing the bill, sponsored by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz....
Governors call for new duck habitat legislation Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco are urging Congress to pass legislation that would use money from duck stamps to pay for conservation of migratory waterfowl habitat. The governors are proposing the 2006 Emergency Wetlands Loan Act, which would double the amount of money available to purchase the habitat. In a letter sent out Tuesday, they urge their fellow governors to lobby lawmakers for the legislation. Federal duck stamps are pictorial stamps produced by the U.S. Postal Service for the government, but they are not valid for postage. Among other things, they serve as the federal license to hunt waterfowl, and currently raise between $40 million and $50 million a year for habitat protection, Pawlenty said. Under the governors' proposal, the Federal Duck Stamp Program would borrow $400 million against future duck stamp fees to buy up land at current prices. That would double the amount of money for land acquisitions each year, Pawlenty said....
The nature of the beast They were paddling easily in the endless Arctic sunlight when they spotted the bear, its blond-brown fur blending into the surrounding tundra. Perhaps 500 pounds, they guessed, but at close range all grizzlies look big, and they were spectacularly close to this one. Kalin Grigg and Jennifer Stark were thrilled. They paddled slowly, so their oars would not splash or flash in the sun. They wanted to photograph the animal and hoped not to spook him, but as they reached for their binoculars and camera, they noticed something else. The river they were rafting, the Hulahula, bent left. On the far bank, just beyond the bear, a tumble of brightly colored camping gear was scattered across the beach. Their guide, Robert Thompson, first spotted the strange disarray. This doesn't look good, he said quietly, almost to himself. It looked as if a small tornado had razed someone's bivouac. Robert was Inupiat. He had grown up in Alaska, and he knew what he was seeing....
Senator Crapo to speak at Ranchland protection celebration Senator Mike Crapo will deliver the keynote speech at an August 10 event celebrating the protection of working ranches through the Henry’s Lake Ranchland Protection Project. The event will be held at the Meadow Vue Ranch, on the south shore of Henry’s Lake. Staff members of Senator Larry Craig and Representative Mike Simpson are also expected to attend the event. The event will celebrate recent successes in protecting working ranches in the area through conservation protection agreements, also commonly known as conservation easements. These agreements are voluntary, legal agreements that allow the owners to continue traditional uses of their land while protecting wildlife habitat and open space from development in perpetuity. A recent conservation protection agreement funded with Land and Water Conservation Funds through the Bureau of Land Management protects Meadow Vue Ranch, a Henry’s Lake property owned by the Moedl family. The ranch is operated as a working ranch and youth camp. It hosts weekly rodeos and barbecues for tourists and is the site of a renowned cutting horse competition....
South Dakota anthrax cases reach 15 Humid, hot weather this summer has contributed to a near record number of anthrax cases in South Dakota, the state veterinarian said Tuesday. Five new cases of the disease were reported Monday, bringing the total number in the state to 15, Dr. Sam Holland said. Between 5-10 other cases are believed to be anthrax but have not yet been confirmed, said Holland. By comparison, one case of anthrax was reported in cattle in South Dakota during 2004. In 2003, there were two cases. Nine cases were reported in 2002....
Column: Time bombs lace most U.S. meat Because she knew how the animals had been raised, she could say with confidence that they weren't laced with antibiotics and they weren't hosts for antibiotic-resistant bacteria like most of the animals raised for meat in America. And this was one crowd that could really appreciate it. The guests of the natural-meat activist were scientists and activists who lobby Congress and federal agencies to take action to preserve antibiotics for essential medical treatment. And unlike most of us, they pay very close attention to what they eat....
Oregon gives worm ranchers a break Worm rancher Dan Holcombe is finally getting some respect, along with his squiggly, slithering livestock. Worm wrangling is right up there with cattle ranching and wheat farming, at least in Oregon. A bill signed last week by Oregon's governor will add worms to the state's list of tax-exempt farm products. Holcombe believes it's about time worms got some recognition. He says his Red Wigglers eat garbage and create prized compost. Not to mention the fish bait....wonder what kind of brand laws Oregon has....
Windmills provide the back beat to the rhythm of the West Texas landscape The windmill is the supreme icon of the Llano Estacado. The region was not permanently settled until windmills were invented. During the hey-day of the cattle baron travelers navigated the vast prairie using windmills as landmarks. Windmills were named -- sometimes fancifully (High Lonesome) or by location (South Pasture No. 3.) Around a homeplace windmills meant that shade trees and vegetable gardens could be nurtured, "spring houses" could be erected to preserve meat, milk and vegetables, and horses and milk cows kept close to the house. The windmill's creaking and thumping became the back beat to the rhythm of ranch life, a comforting sound intrinsic to the well-being of the heart and soul of the people dependent on its bringing water to the surface of the land....
Family a part of XIT reunion The XIT Rodeo Reunion is more than a day full of fun and free food for Doyle Hanbury. It is a day for family history and family reunions. Both of his grandfathers were cowboys on the XIT ranch when it was a working ranch. He and several family members, including both of his sons and his father-in-law, have served as directors of the XIT Rodeo Reunion Association. "It is always a time for our family to get together for a reunion," Hanbury said. "All five of my kids and eight grandchildren will all be here this year."....
Navasota cowboy has wild week traveling circuit But last week will be one 14-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Ricky Canton will never forget. Canton, who lives in Navasota, broke the world tie-down roping record Thursday at the Strathmore Stampede in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada. On Sunday, he won the tie-down roping title at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyo. In Strathmore, the 39-year-old Canton won in 6.3 seconds during the second round of slack, a performance that features an overflow of competitors who are not in the main shows. The previous record was 6.5 seconds, held jointly by five-time world champion Cody Ohl (2003 NFR) and Clint Robinson (Amarillo in 2004). In Cheyenne, Canton won the title with an aggregate time of 37.6 seconds on three head and earned $21,106, catapulting him to eighth from 18th in the Professional Rodeo weekly world tie-down roping standings. He has $56,629 in season earnings....

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