A revised management plan for Spring Creek Basin HMA has been approved, according to a report published yesterday by The Journal of Cortez, CO. Western Horse Watchers was unable to find an announcement at the BLM news site.
The Decision Record, which authorized Alternative A in the EA (the Proposed Action), has no signatures and no dates. The 30-day appeal period began July 20.
The new plan includes:
- A larger AML (was 35 – 65, now 50 – 80)
- Decreased herd growth rates (fertility control)
- Monitoring criteria for identifying excess horses
- Bait trapping as the preferred method of removal (helicopters not banned)
- Introduction of outside horses to increase genetic diversity
- Forced age distribution
- Vegetation monitoring objectives
- New water developments to increase wild horse dispersion
Although livestock grazing does not occur in the HMA, it was not designated a WHR.
The HMA covers approximately 22,000 acres in western Colorado.
RELATED: Comments Invited on Spring Creek EA.
Western Horse Watchers Association 