Rangeland and Grazing
The Forest Service concentrates its efforts on managing the vegetation resources across the range landscape to serve a multitude of resource needs. Rangeland management specialists work to provide such things as habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, clean water, and sustainable grazing and browsing.
Annual Operating Instructions
Annual Operating Instructions (AOI) are issued for individual grazing allotments. The AOI conveys long-term directives into instructions to the permittee and is agreed upon by both parties. You can learn more regarding Indicators of Grazing Intensity below.
Disclaimer: The USDA Forest Service recognizes that some of the terms found on archived documents may be considered offensive to many. These terms are not representative of USDA policy but reflect the actual place names that were in use at the time of original publication of these historical maps and documents.
- Anita Cameron - 2024
- Bellemont - Summer 2024
- Big Springs - 2024
- Corva - Summer 2024
- Double A and Corva - Winter 2024/2025
- Davenport Lake, Homestead, and Sitgreaves - Summer 2024
- Dog Knobs & Elk Springs - 2024
- Ebert - 2024
- Chalender, Garland Prarie, and Pomeroy - Summer 2024
- Government Mountain and Government Prairie - 2024
- Hat - Summer 2024
- Irishman Dam - 2024
- Juan Tank - Spring/Summer 2024
- Moqui - Summer 2024
- Partridge Creek - Winter 2023/2024
- Pine Creek - 2023
- Rain Tank - Summer 2024
- Smoot Lake and Moritz Lake - Winter 2024/2025
- Spitz Hill - 2024 amended
- Spring Valley, Cowboy Tank, and Twin Tanks - 2024
- Tule - 2024
- Burro - 2021
- Willis Canyon - Fall-Winter 2021/2022
- Ryan - 2021
- Houserock - 2021/2022
- Central Summer, Central Winter, and Kane - 2021
What is Open Range?
This question is frequently asked by owners of private land in rural subdivisions whose property is damaged or encroached upon by livestock from adjoining Federal, State, or Private grazing land.
The Arizona Department of Agriculture's Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 3, Chapter 11, Article 8 (No-Fence Districts), contains nine separate statutes that comprise the open range laws of the State. A private landowner who wants to know if a particular location is "open range" should contact the County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is the entity that has the authority to designate No-Fence Districts and is responsible for maintaining the records for such designations (ARS 3-1421-1422). In northern Arizona, No-Fence Districts have not been established in Coconino, Navajo, and Yavapai counties.
If an area has not been designated a No-Fence District, it is open range. Within these areas, the private landowner who is concerned with livestock damage or encroachment has an obligation to fence his/her private land with a lawful fence to keep animals out. A lawful fence is defined in ARS 3-1426. In general, a lawful fence is defined as being constructed and maintained with posts not further than 30 feet apart, having at least 4 equally spaced strands of barbed wire with the top wire fifty inches above the ground, and stays placed not more than 7.5 feet from each other or from posts. Other fences constructed of an equally strong material and effective in turning livestock may also be considered a lawful fence. Having a lawful fence is necessary in any action to recover damages due to trespassing animals (ARS 3-1427).
If an area has been designated a No-Fence District, it is not open range. Within a No-Fence District, the livestock owner is not allowed to permit his/her livestock to run at large (ARS 3-1424). No-Fence District provisions do not apply to any land that is located within an incorporated city or town (ARS 3-1429).
FSM 2230.6 – Lands not under jurisdiction of FS
The United States is not responsible for intrusion of permitted livestock upon private lands or for the settlement of controversies between the owner of the livestock and the owner of the land. Federal courts have rendered decisions (Shannon v. United States, l60 Fed. 870 (Cir. 9 1908); Light v. United States, 220 U.S., 523; United States v. Gurley, 279 Fed. 874 (N.D. GA. 1922); United States v. Johnston, 38 F. Supp. 4 (S.D.W.VA. 1941)) holding that the United States is not required to fence its lands to protect them against unauthorized livestock or to control the livestock permitted to graze on the National Forest.
Light Grazing Intensity:
- Approximately equal to a maximum of 20% Utilization (grazing and trampling) of forage standing crop (current and previous years’ growth) at the end of the growing season (November 15).
- The range appears practically undisturbed. Only good forage plants and areas show use.
- Areas greater than 1 mile from water show little use.
- There is no evidence of livestock trailing to forage.
- Good forage plants have abundant seed stalks (80% or more of stalks remain).
- Good forage plants are topped or slightly used.
- Young plants are little disturbed.
- No use of poor forage plants.
Conservative Grazing Intensity:
- Approximately equal to a maximum of 40% Utilization (grazing and trampling) of forage standing crop (current and previous years’ growth) at the end of the growing season (November 15).
- Rangeland may be topped, skimmed, or grazed in patches.
- Areas greater than 1 mile from water show little use.
- There is no evidence of livestock trailing to forage.
- Good forage plants have abundant seed stalks (60-80% of stalks remain).
- 1/3 to ½ of good forage plants have been grazed in key areas.
- Most young plants are not damaged.
- Poor forage plants are not grazed at all.
Moderate Grazing Intensity:
- Approximately equal to a maximum of 50% Utilization (grazing and trampling) of forage standing crop (current and previous years’ growth) at the end of the growing season (November 15).
- Most of the accessible range shows some use.
- Areas between 1 mile to 1 ½ miles from water show some use.
- There is little evidence of livestock trailing to forage.
- Good forage plants have some seed stalks left (15-25% of stalks remain).
- About ½ to 2/3 of the good forage plants show some use.
- Some young plants show damage.
- Less than 10% of the poor forage plants are utilized.
Heavy Grazing Intensity:
- Approximately equal to a maximum of 60% Utilization (grazing and trampling) of forage standing crop (current and previous years’ growth) at the end of the growing season (November 15).
- All of accessible range shows use.
- Grazing is noticeable in areas greater than 1.5 miles from water.
- There is evidence of livestock trailing to forage.
- Good forage plants don’t have any seed stalks left.
- All the good forage plants are used.
- Many young plants show damage.
- 10-50% of the poor forage plants are utilized.
Severe Grazing Intensity:
- Greater than 60% Utilization (grazing and trampling) of forage standing crop (current and previous years’ growth) at the end of the growing season (November 15).
- The rangeland has the appearance of complete search. It has a clipped or mown appearance (not much stubble height) and there are indicators of repeated coverage. In extreme cases, the remaining stubble of good forage grasses is grazed to the soil surface.
- Areas greater than 1.5 miles from water have little to no stubble height.
- Livestock trails to forage are very common.
- There is no evidence of reproduction or current seed stalks on any herbaceous species (good, fair, or poor forage plants). Shoots of rhizomatous grasses are missing.
- All herbaceous species are almost completely utilized. Shrubs are severely hedged.
- All young plants show damage or they are missing.
- More than 50% of the poor forage plants are utilized.