The BLM opened a new project in ePlanning on June 14, skipping the scoping period and moving directly to document review, in what may be an attempt to fast-track a decision.
The Proposed Action, Alternative A in the Draft EA, features gathers and removals over a ten-year period, with intensive use of ovary-killing pesticides.
The population would never drop below 32 adults, consisting of 16 mares treated with said pesticides and 16 studs.
The initial roundup would gather as many horses as possible, followed by selective return to the low end of AML.
The HMA covers 74,234 total acres in eastern Oregon, including 72,359 public acres, according to the March 2023 HA/HMA Report.
The AML ranges from 32 to 64.
The stocking rate at the upper end of AML is 0.9 wild horses per thousand public acres, slightly less than the target rate across all HMAs of one wild horse per thousand acres.
The HMA coincides roughly with the Palomino Buttes and Weaver Lake allotments, as discussed in Section 3.2.1 of the EA.
The National Data Viewer shows the arrangement. Click on image to open in new tab.
Livestock receive 4,332 AUMs per year, compared to 768 AUMs per year for the horses.
The HMA is managed primarily for animal agriculture.
The 64 wild horses allowed by plan will compete with livestock equivalent to 361 cow/calf pairs on a twelve-month grazing season.
Comments will be accepted through July 16, but only in writing or by email.
The HMA appears in the latest roundup schedule, with a start date of August 14.
Western Horse Watchers Association 