Working Ranches

Working ranches in BC rely on grasslands for fall, winter and spring forage. These health of these areas are crucial to the economic viability of the ranching operation. Working ranches apply stewardship tools through the development of land management plans.  Each ranch applies strategies that will best protect its grasslands, wetlands and riparian areas. The land management plan benefits the rancher, wildlife and ecosystems alike.

Contents

• 130 Mile Ranch

• Working Ranches and the GCC

130 Mile Ranch

130 Mile Ranch is owned and operated by Lee Hoium and Wendy Braim. Located 40 kilometres south-east of Williams Lake in the San Jose River Valley, the ranch is composed of valuable grazing land for cattle and contains some of the finest wetlands in the Cariboo.

Traditionally, cattle were grazed on an open range system that contained little fencing and had unrestricted access to wetlands This led to the eventual loss of productive rangeland and wildlife habitat.  In 1996, the owners of the ranch began to work with Ducks Unlimited Canada through the Interior Wetlands Program to develop a land management plan that would provide benefits for both ranching and wildlife. This new plan involved rotational grazing, alternative stock-watering systems and a water supply for a new irrigation system. 

Today each pasture in the ranch is set-up with a monitored general grazing schedule.  Alternative watering methods that were developed include: tapping into a small spring to supply water to five different pastures, a reservoir to establish a stable water supply for the ranch and benefit wildlife, and a new pump and pipes to fill the reservoir from the river and to keep the water level stable.

This ranch is a prime example of how the cooperation between non-government organizations and the ranching community are key to solving land management concerns.

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Working Ranches and the GCC

Healthy grasslands and sustainable ranching go hand in hand.

The goal of preserving working ranches is inextricably linked to all other GCC conservation initiatives. Data from the BC Grasslands Mapping Project indicates that roughly 90 percent of BC's grasslands are grazed by domestic livestock, either through deeded private rangelands, grazing tenures on  crown land or grazing regimes on First Nations land. Without working ranches, the conservation of grasslands is near impossible. Therefore, preserving working ranches is of utmost concern to the GCC.

For a full suite of articles on the importance of grassland stewardship and sustainable ranching, see the GCC's September 2003 issue of BC Grasslands magazine: Range Management and BC's Ranching Legacy - Past, Current and Future Challenges. 

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For more information on other ranching initatives, click on the links below.