Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Range Management for New Mexico (McKinley County)

Plan Goal

Zuni livestock producers with Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Zuni Tribe Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP)will understand range monitoring as reflective of range condition. Unit range conditio

Situation Statement

The Zuni Reservation encompasses over 400,000 acres of grazing land. Livestock production involves ninety-eight grazing units that are each held by permittees individually or often multiple Zuni family members. After over thirty years of effort a Zuni Range Code was passed by the tribal government on March 7, 2005 that mandates re-establishment of unit carrying capacities and then assess grazing fees accordingly.

Target Audience and Actions

The Zuni Tribal Council has empowered the Range Technical Team composed of three agencies (BIA, DNR and FRTEP) to reach concensus on range condition in each Zuni range unit over a period of several years. As these range assessments are completed they significantly affect the management decisions of the traditionally underserved. The evolving template for a Range Unit Conservation Plan are Annual Operating Instructions for Zuni livestock permittees.

Short-Term Objectives

The pace and priority of individual range unit assessment is set by the BIA and is reflected in their performance evaluation. This initial awareness of the relative health of individual range units is cumulative and essentially based upon "windshield surveys." FRTEP is to provide the definitive opinion on contentious units with a horseback survey that has a research knowledge basis. The motivation is to collect revenue from tribal renewable resources.

Medium-Term Objectives

As range conditions are sequentially determined and conveyed to permittees through the "Annual Operating Instructions" the policies of the Zuni Tribe through implementation of the Range Code will change behaviors and practices or risk enforcement by the Tribal Rangers. However, decision making by the Technical Team is supplemented by "landuser input" and has an appeal mechanism to the policy making Zuni Tribal Council.

Long-Term Objectives

To educate Zuni producers on proven practices regarding rangeland resources which retains economic returns for the livestock enterprise and the tribal entity. Ultimately to sustain an agricultural system that protects watersheds, enhances wildlife habitat and is environmentally and culturally acceptable. To retain an amicable collaboration that conveys a knowledge and understanding of rangeland and livestock health and the economic realities of both.

Evaluation Plan

To mirror the BIA evaluation mechanism regarding the pace of rangeland unit assessment. To survey the practices implemented as indicative of knowledge gained. To assess the economic return for both producers and government. To gauge overall trends with "same photo point" comparisons and livestock exclosures that take into consideration drastic climatic developments.