Friends of Idaho Watersheds Project

This is a news release sent out this afternoon (1/26/98) regarding
IWP's victory in blocking a stay request of livestock removal from the
Dry Creek Allotment in Custer County. Thanks to Ted Zukoski for his
excellent legal work in this intervention by IWP.

News Release
January 26, 1998
Cattle Removal Affirmed on Public Lands in Custer County

Idaho Watersheds Project announced today that the Interior Board of
Land Appeals, in a decision signed by Administrative Judge James P.
Terry, has denied a request for a stay of a BLM decision in Custer
County which requires the removal of cattle for twelve months from the
Dry Creek allotment in the Pahsimeroi Valley in Custer County.

The order to remove the 468 cow-calf pairs came in August 1997 from BLM
Challis Resource Area Manager Renee Snyder who stated that resource
degradation especially of the riparian areas on Long and Short Creeks
required livestock removal for a minimum of twelve months.

Idaho Watersheds Project, represented by attorney Ted Zukoski of the
Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, intervened in Whitworth Ranches’
appeal of the decision and argued successfully against the stay
request. Jon Marvel of Idaho Watersheds Project stated: “This judgement
denying a stay of Manager Snyder’s decision will result in no livestock
use of  public lands on the Dry Creek Allotment for the first time in
well over 100 years. The result will be a start on the healing of these
severely abused public resources. Idaho Watersheds Project welcomes the
BLM’s choosing a new path in the management of public lands which
includes protection of clean water and healthy creeks.”