University Lands FY20 Annual Report

RANGE & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Range & wildlife management has been an integral part of UL since its inception. This aspect of managing the PUF Lands retains a rich history that spans many generations of ranching families who have settled the area and raised families on the lands.

In the last 50 years, UL has increased its awareness and purposeful management of range and wildlife. UL’s 110 grazing lessees maintain the rights to graze livestock and manage wildlife resources.

UL monitors livestock stocking rates to ensure grazing leases maintain good range conditions. Good grazing management helps maintain other natural processes including groundwater management and recharging aquifers for future consumption.

UL also encourages and enforces conservative management of PUF Lands wildlife. There are many huntable species on PUF Lands, including white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, dove and quail.

UL conducts aerial surveys to monitor the wildlife population to determine the overall health of each species and to provide harvest recommendations to ensure the resource will be there for generations to come.

UL invests in these natural resources by putting money back into the lands. Various projects are completed annually such as installation of new fencing to protect our boundaries and new interior fencing to promote proper livestock grazing management. New water wells, pipelines, storage tanks and troughs are installed to increase water for livestock and grazing management. Different methods of brush control are implemented on the land to encourage more grass production, which also increases the water quantity and quality that is captured. Water improvements, along with brush control, aid in distributing livestock to all areas of the ranch, maximizing the full potential of all 2.1 million acres and increasing stocking capacity.

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Environmental Stewardship

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