DOINews: BLM Selects Beyeler Ranches as 2013 Rangeland Stewardship Award Winner; BLM Idaho Posts Video of Beyeler Success Story

In September 2013, the Bureau of Land Management announced the Beyeler Ranches of Leadore, Idaho, as the winner of the 2013 BLM Rangeland Stewardship Award because of the Beyeler family's dedication to improving land management through implementation of successful management practices on public land.

The BLM Idaho this month posted a YouTube video that features the Beyeler family and their work in an effort to share the success stories about work accomplished on the ground to improve public lands.

CLICK HERE to view the BLM Idaho YouTube video, 2013 Rangeland Stewardship.

Since 2006, BLM field managers have submitted nominations for the annual BLM Rangeland Stewardship Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals and groups who hold BLM grazing permits for their excellent stewardship of the public lands. A selection committee of ranchers, BLM employees and representatives of environmental and conservation groups makes a recommendation for selection by the BLM director.

The presentation of this year's award took place at the annual fall meeting of the rancher-based Public Lands Council. All members of the family – Merrill and Sharal Beyeler and their sons Bryant, Doug, and Curtis Beyeler - were on hand to receive the BLM award.

In August of 2013, Merrill Beyeler took BLM and Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game staff as well as other partners on a tour of several allotments that have benefited from his unique conservation efforts.

Beyeler was able to show off an upland allotment that has thriving blue bunch wheat grass and other grasses and shrubs. Beyeler rested this allotment after a fire destroyed a portion of it years ago.

The Beyelers' two public land grazing allotments in the BLM Salmon Field Office both meet the bureau's standards for rangeland health and conform to the agency's guidelines for livestock grazing. The health of this strategically grazed area, which includes sage grouse habitat, is evidenced by sagebrush recovery and an abundance of deep-rooted perennial grasses and native forbs.

The Beyeler family decided to pump water from the Lemhi River instead of taking it from Eight Mile Creek, which would allow Eight Mile Creek to run throughout the year and provide great habitat for fish species.

The Beyeler family's participation in restoration projects to improve aquatic and riparian habitats, conserve water and remove fish-barrier irrigation structures has benefited the Lemhi County, Idaho, economy. This has occurred through the investment of salmon-restoration capital funds in farm infrastructure that has improved the profitability of farming operations.

“In our valley, the mentality has changed,” said Merrill Beyeler. “Now everyone is seeing the importance of doing these kinds of projects.”

By: Sarah Wheeler, public affairs specialist, BLM Idaho
Jan. 15, 2014