Abstract
The Trout Creek Mountain experience is an example of how the land and the people can win by building bridges of understanding and common interest between concerned constituencies. Love of the land, its natural resources, and realization of a need for changing grazing practices to reverse the degradation of riparian areas were the common interests that caused environmentalists, ranchers, the BLM, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work together to find solutions. The result was a new management plan that was biologically sound and had diverse public support-this is what ecosystem management is all about. the social-political factors which allowed all this to happen were trust and respect between constituencies, recognition of the problem by concerned publics who together asked federal participation in finding solutions, strong support by BLM through all managerial levels, keeping communication open between constituencies, and having one BLM person in the position of Rangeland Manager Specialist/Ecologist so that trusting relationships can be built. The lessons learned from this are that public citizens have the power and obligation to take responsibility for the destiny of private and public lands, and that success comes when diverse individuals in the public accept each other and work together to make a healthy land and community.
Recommended Citation
Hatfield, Doc and Hatfield, Connie
(1995)
"Trout Creek Mountain project, Oregon,"
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues: Vol. 5, Article 8.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/nrei/vol5/iss1/8
