Friends of Idaho Watersheds Project

This is a copy of the news release IWP sent out today to various media outlets in Southwest Idaho, Eastern Oregon, and Northern Nevada. Let IWP know if you see this turn up in your daily or weekly paper.

Jon Marvel

for Idaho Watersheds Project

News Release

February 17, 1998

Federal Judge’s Order Will End Congressional Meddling in Owyhee County Idaho Watersheds Project announced today that Federal District Judge B. Lynn Winmill issued a decision on Wednesday, February 11, 1998 in which he ordered the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to come up with a schedule by March 13, 1998 to complete the politically stalled Owyhee Resource Management Plan (RMP) which will govern BLM management of 1.3 million acres of public land in Owyhee County, Idaho.

In his decision Judge Winmill also denied Idaho Watersheds Project and the Committee for Idaho’s High Desert’s motion requiring BLM to make even earlier changes in grazing management, by March 1, 1998; but he retained jurisdiction over the final plan to determine if it expeditiously addresses the need to bring land uses on 1.3 million acres of public lands in Owyhee County into compliance with the law.

The Judge’s decision stated: “ The Court’s conclusions on the legal issues rest in large part on its confidence that an expeditious timetable can be set for the completion of this project (The Owyhee RMP). If that confidence is misplaced, the Court may need to revisit many of its conclusions in this case.”

Jon Marvel, a spokesperson for Idaho Watersheds Project stated: “ Judge Winmill’s decision will result in the ending of political meddling by Larry Craig and Helen Chenoweth which has stopped the implementation of long overdue changes in livestock management in Owyhee County to protect clean water and wildlife habitat.” Laird Lucas, attorney for the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, which represented the plaintiffs in this case stated: “We are pleased that the judge recognizes the serious problems which overgrazing has caused in the Owyhees. In ordering BLM to come up with a strict timetable to change grazing practices, he has put the agency and the ranchers on notice that the past twenty years of delay and inaction will no longer be tolerated."