STATEMENT BY JEAN E. STETSON  

ON  

The Endangered Species Act

And Its Effect on Agricultural Producers  

Submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives

Committee on Agriculture

Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development, and Research

The Honorable Frank Lucas, Chairman  

July 26, 2004  

Good afternoon, Chairman Lucas and distinguished members of this Subcommittee.  My name is Jean Stetson.  I appreciate the opportunity to be here today to provide some of my experience with the Endangered Species Act and its effect on agricultural producers.  

The Stetson family has been cattle ranching in Northwest Colorado for 3 generations.

Our ranching operations have experienced first-hand the burdens and the challenges of the Endangered Species Act.  In Northwest Colorado , producers are not just dealing with the impacts of a single species, but rather several species of concern.  We have the greater sage grouse, the black footed ferret, leopard frogs, endangered fish, white tailed prairie dogs and now the wolf.  Each species brings with them their own set of rules, regulations, costs, and time.  Most agricultural producers I know are very limited on time and money. However, agricultural producers must take the time to be involved in the processes that come with endangered species issues because, if you are not involved, the species management requirements you are handed are often impossible and unrealistic.  When we become involved, then we can at least try to help drive the process and make expectations more manageable.   

My experience with the Endangered Species Act began in July of 1998 when our ranch became very concerned about the impacts of Greater Sage Grouse.    I became the spokesperson for our ranch regarding sage grouse because my husband was already involved in the process of representing our ranch and the livestock industry in a plan that was being written for the recovery of endangered fish in the Yampa River .  Our ranching operations, along with many other operations in the area, rely on the Yampa River for irrigation and stock water.  There was concern that requirements in the fish recovery plan would affect our water usage.  He could not attend both sets of meetings, so we split the responsibilities.  

Our concern with the grouse began when we received information in a BLM permit renewal that was requiring the herding of our cattle away from grouse nesting areas. The BLM wanted a vegetative condition that was desirable for nesting sage grouse and wanted us to maintain residual grass cover of at least 6 inches high in the spring. The BLM was also requiring that we use this pasture first in the pasture rotation pattern.  

In addition to the grouse, the BLM also had some concerns about the leopard frog being present and the impacts that grazing the riparian area may have on the leopard frog.  Thankfully, the leopard frog did not become a concern.   

These requirements alarmed us. We could not afford a herder and we questioned whether the vegetative requirements were reasonable for the types of grasses that are on our range.  We decided it was important to get involved in the sage grouse planning process to make sure that our interests were represented fairly.        

I have spent too many hours to count in 6 years of meetings for the sage grouse and stressing the importance of data, science and a common-sense approach when trying to implement these plans. As a result of the sage grouse concerns, our ranch changed grazing rotations and hired a range consultant to help us monitor and gather data on our BLM permits so that we would have accurate information regarding the vegetation.   We did not want to risk changes to our permits that were not based on data and science.   

If all this was not enough, there is yet another endangered species that has very recently been alarming us.  The wolf.  Wolves are moving south out of the Yellowstone area.  Last spring, wolves killed cattle about 20 miles northwest of Baggs , Wyoming .  Baggs is just 10 miles from the northern Colorado state line. The wolves are coming to Northwest Colorado and this will affect how every rancher does business.    What will the costs be?  Can we afford the extra time and management changes that will come with yet another endangered species?   Wolf proponents suggest that it is up to the rancher to adopt new husbandry techniques that help minimize the potential of wolf depredation.  The burden is on the producer.  How can we protect our livestock?   How can we possibly have the time and manpower to patrol thousands and thousands of acres to protect our livestock?  So many of the operations in Northwest Colorado require large amounts of land because of the arid climate and range conditions.  We must use our range resources very carefully.  The wolf issues will take more of our already precious time, money and resources.   I am currently representing the livestock industry on the Colorado Wolf Management Working Group because I am fearful that if we do not truly manage the wolf, the wolf will have a negative impact on the livestock producers.       

The Endangered Species Act is now 30 years old. The act has done very little of what it was intended to do:  restore populations of species at risk of becoming extinct.  In its history, over 1,300 species have been placed on the list as endangered, and less than 30 have been removed from the list.  This Act has resulted in regulatory and financial burdens that have been placed on the people who are out on the land trying to make a living and on the people who care for the land.   

It is time to change the focus of the Endangered Species Act. Reduce the regulatory burdens, and truly promote species recovery.  Encourage win – win projects; projects that will benefit the species, the land, and the people out on the land trying to make a living. Promote common sense adaptive management and the use of good science.  Treat the people who work and care for the land as partners. These partnerships need to encourage the sustainability of agricultural operations.  Farming and ranching operations are often key components in species recovery programs.  Farms and ranches maintain open space and that open space is important for a diversity of wildlife habitat.  Condominiums will not help species recovery.   It is time to promote cooperation and true conservation.

Thank you for your time and consideration.