Grazing east of Steens Mountain
Cattle grazing in an allotment east of Steens Mountain, March 28, 2017, by Greg Shine, BLM.
The BLM is responsible for administering nearly 14 million acres of rangelands in Oregon and Washington.
Rangeland Health Assessments conducted by BLM specialists on these lands are used to determine watershed functions, ecological processes, water quality and habitat for all species, including native, threatened, and endangered species.
Much of BLM-administered rangeland is grazed by livestock under a system of permits and leases in which ranchers pay grazing fees for the use of public land.
There are many different treatments used in maintaining rangeland health, including prescribed burns, rehabilitation of burned lands, fencing, water developments, and juniper management.