BLM: Grazing doesn't fit Ore. National Monument

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Federal rangeland managers said continuing to allow cattle to graze on the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is harming the rare plants, fish and wildlife the monument was created eight years ago to protect. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management was to issue an assessment of the health of the monument rangeland on Thursday, concluding that the current level of grazing is incompatible with the biological values the monument was meant to protect, said monument Assistant Manager Howard Hunter. Dave Willis, of the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council, said he hoped the long overdue finding will help pass special legislation pending in the Senate that would make it possible for conservation groups to pay ranchers to retire their grazing leases. The monument was created in 2000 by President Clinton from 53,000 acres... [read full story]