Activity Report Explorer

Northern San Juan • Entered by Robyn Cascade on March 30, 2022

NSJ Bighorn Sheep Advocacy 2022 Q1

January 5, 2022 – March 31, 2022

Key Issue: Wildlife Protection
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: BHA, RMBS, SJCA, NWF, Senator Hickenlooper’s office
Landscape/area: Uncompahgre National Forest (951767 acres)

Measurable Outcomes

Outcome 1: Advocacy actions (24 letters/postcards)
Outcome 2: Advocacy actions (1 donor)
Outcome 3: Advocacy actions (1 earned media)[/if 1231]

Short Description of Activity

NSJ Broads continue to advocate for the closure of high risk domestic sheep allotments in the San Juan Mountains. Following the release of the draft decision by the BLM Gunnison Field Office (GFO) in 2021, NSJBB, along with coalition partners, began to rally our members and elected officials (from town to counties to congress) to express to BLM and CPW Commissioners the need for the BLM to retire these high risk allotments. Spoke for the first time with Gunnison County Commissioner Liz (Elizabeth) Smith. We also began working with NWF on exploring potential donors to contribute financially to NWF’s efforts to buy out some specific allotments in the San Juans. In non-advocacy matters, we have obtained the revised version of the bighorn rack cards, our binoculars and binocular harness have been purchased (with Circle of Dreams grant funding) and we contributed to the review MSI’s 2021 Bighorn Monitoring Project report. Robyn was interviewed by Durango Herald reporter Aedan Hannon regarding the bighorn sheep monitoring project and the 2021 MSI report.

Reflection/Evaluation

This advocacy campaign has been an incredibly educational journey (that’s not over yet!) Grazing is such a complex and sensitive issue on all levels – CPW, USFS, BLM, permittees, National and Colorado Woolgrowers Association (see uploaded letter from Bonnie Brown/CWA full of untruths and personal attacks.) It seems we are making headway with moving the BLM GFO toward a final decision that, though not our ideal outcome, will be a benefit to Rocky Mountain bighorn in the region. Time will tell when the final draft is released. Though we solicited support from Gunnison County Commission for retirement of high risk allotments, Commissioner Smith stated the County has too many collaborative projects underway with livestock producers to risk those relationships by publicly supporting closure of allotments. Our coalition has also received the attention of CPW Commissioners with our letters and SJCA’s public comment at their January meeting. Broads also sent out an action alert to all CO BBs, but we don’t know how many members took action/wrote the CPW Commission. Delighted to report that one donor we approached to contribute to the buyout effort will likely contribute; another is pending and there are several more to ask. NSJ Broads are working with an amazing coalition of organizations!! Note: the majority of the 30 hours this quarter were volunteered by one leader though others wrote letters to CPW Commission. Developed great rapport with Durango Herald reporter

Photos/Uploads

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Photo Captions

1. NSJ Broads letter to CPW Commissioners
2. Colorado Woolgrowers’ Association letter to Ouray County Commissioners (which was copied to all the people to whom the Ouray Commissioners sent their December comment letter supporting retirement of high risk allotment including BLM, CO senators, USFS)