Official Upholds Bighorn Forest Grazing Reduction

A regional U.S. Forest Service official has upheld a decision by the Bighorn National Forest to reduce cattle grazing capacity on six allotments in the Tongue River watershed. A dozen ranchers had appealed decisions by a district ranger and a forest supervisor to reduce grazing capacity on the allotments by 43 percent over two years. Rocky Mountain Regional Forester Rick Cables recently sided with local forest officials. David Kane of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association says Cables' decision is frustrating for the permittees but they don't plan to sue over it. Forest officials say the reduction comes after years of monitoring the health of forage and vegetation in the forest. AP