War On Cheatgrass Legislation Passes

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The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) working with the Utah Partners for Conservation and Development (UPCD) secured major reinforcements from the Utah Legislature for the war on cheatgrass. Senate Bill 89, authored by Senator Dennis Stowell (R) Parowan, established the Invasive Species Mitigation Fund and set aside $2 million to fund range projects that will limit the size of wildfires.

A significant portion of Utah’s rangeland is being invaded by fast growing annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, that negatively impacts livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Cheatgrass has been blamed for fueling catastrophic fires during the summer of 2007 that contributed to highway traffic fatalities, and record pollution in Utah.

Provisions of SB 89 offer the UDAF and the UPCD the financial resources to undertake projects to reduce cheatgrass encroachment and begin the restoration of Utah’s watersheds and rangelands.

“For years we have been spending millions of dollars fighting range fires that pollute our environment, threaten public safety, and negatively impact wildlife and livestock interests,” said Agriculture and Food Commissioner, Leonard Blackham. “This will help us improve range conditions that could limit the size and frequency of wildfires, thus saving millions of dollars to repair environmental damage,” he added.

The UDAF and its partners will distribute up to $2 million from the Invasive Species Mitigation Fund for projects undertaken by agencies such as the BLM, the Department of Natural Resources, the Utah Conservation Commission and 15 other state and federal agencies. Such projects will focus on mitigating risks to public safety and health, air pollution, flooding, soil erosion, the release of carbon, damage to local economies, and habitat for wildlife or livestock.

Posted March 20, 2008