Wild horse advocates say six too few for Red Rock Canyon

Saturday, March 3, 2001 | 1:50 a.m.

They say the plan, which is subject to a 30-day protest period this month, implies as few as six horses could be allowed to exist in a central part of the canyon. The chunk of scenic desert west of the Las Vegas Valley, backed by steep cliffs, represents one-tenth of the 197,000-acre national conservation area.

Advocates claim that's not enough horses to sustain the band, but a Bureau of Land Management official says the plan's wording is being misconstrued.

"The plan doesn't call for setting any numbers permanently," said John Jamrog, assistant field manager for renewable resources.

He said the figure in the General Management Plan stems from an agreement the BLM reached with horse groups last year when some animals were rounded up because of poor range conditions and lack of water. "There was quite a concern. The perception by the public was we were going to zero-out the horses north of (state Route) 160," he said.

The process for permanently setting the number of horses that a range can support is not complete because data collected on horses, vegetation and water supplies hasn't been analyzed, he said. That will be a separate document.

But according to the General Management Plan, lowering the number of animals in the area north of state Route 160 to Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and west of state Route 159 to six to 10 horses "may improve the health of the remaining horses if the available forage improves. With the presence of burros and the remaining horses, the recovery potential off the vegetation is unsure at this time."

Although the 300-member National Wild Horse Association won't state its official position until its members have reviewed and discussed the plan, President Billie Young contends limiting that area to as few as six horses is not enough to maintain a sustainable, genetically diverse herd.

"We're hoping we can resolve it without filing a protest. But we are prepared to do so, if necessary," Young said.

BLM wild horse specialist Gary McFadden said he has set up a meeting "to discuss their concerns and see if we can mitigate their concerns prior to the appeal process ending."

The protest period for the plan, which is restricted to people who commented on its draft version, is the last step before the document becomes final.

The final document will guide how the public canyonlands are managed for recreation, ecology and preservation of wildlife during the next 20 years.