Creek Watershed - Rangeland Principles - Exercise, Exercises of Biology

Download Creek Watershed - Rangeland Principles - Exercise and more Exercises Biology in PDF only on Docsity! Creek Watershed Group Size: variable Setting: Classroom The purpose of this activity is to give students the opportunity experience the give-and-take that occurs when representatives of competing interests participate in a collaborative Rangeland planning simulation. Goals: Students will: 1. Experience the give and take that occurs during planning/management. 2. Explore personal values. 3. Explore creative solutions in disputes over rangeland resources. Materials Needed: Handout Process: Provide overview of problem and planning activity instructions. Assign students to the different representatives. Handout the provided overview, history, representatives, rules, and map. Put groups together to debate. Go over results and how they got there. Rangeland Planning Simulation Part 1: General Plan The mayor of Westerly has called for the creation of the Big Meadow Advisory Panel (B-MAP) to solve environmental conflicts that arise in the Big Meadow Creek Watershed. This watershed does not exhist, but is modeled on a real landscape in south-central Idaho. Conflicts will be addressed in the following steps: 1. Overview the History of Big Meadow Creek Watershed. 2. Meetings of the groups participating in the B-MAP. 3. The first meeting of the B-MAP will focus on introductions of the groups represented and each group will present their values, beliefs, and preferences for rangeland use. 4. The second meeting of the B-MAP will be dedicated to managing several problems that have arisen, and then, reporting back to the Mayor. Docsity.com 5. Additional meeting of the B-MAP will address a serious issue that involves a conflict between and endangered bird species and the livestock that graze land in that bird's habitat. Final management plans will be developed and presented to a Judge that has been appointed to make a decision in the case. Part 2: Conflicting Representatives The past few decades have seen changes in how people value Big Meadow Valley, and how they believe it should be managed. The mayor of Westerly has called for the formation of a Big Meadow Advisory Panel to seek solutions to conflicts before they result in law suits and ill feelings in the community. The advisory panel consists of representatives from the following organizations: The Big Meadow Creek Livestock Association consists of the eleven ranching families who own the deeded land along Bog Meadow Creek. Most of these ranched have been operating in the Big Meadow Creek Watershed for three or four generations. Historically, there were a few sheep operations in the association; however today, all the members of the association own only cattle. All eleven families have a representative in B-MAP although usually no more than three show up for an one meeting. The Westerly Horizons Development Council (WHDC) was created several years ago by the city council to encourage development of Westerly. The council, made up of local business owners and entrepreneurs, want to encourage growth. They are especially interested in promoting the area's recreation potential through upscale shops, restaurants, and motels to serve the hikers, campers, and anglers who might visit Big Meadow Creek Watershed. The Rugged Mountain Recreationists are a group of local residents who like to recreate in the mountains and valleys of Big Meadow Creek. This group gets together every month to share hunting and fishing stories and learn ho to do recreational activities such as fly fishing, back packing, bird watching, low-impact camping, ect. The Northwestern Environmental Coalition (NWEC) is a regional environmental organization concerned with preserving the health and western rangelands. The "preservation" goal of NWEC yields several campaigns to limit the use of public lands for grazing, timber, and recreation. Several members of NWEC live in Westerly and focus on monitoring wildlife species and encouraging wise management of lands. They keep a close eye on the activities of public land agencies and try to discourage use and development of the Big Meadow Creek Watershed. NWEC is also concerned with maintaining open space for wildlife and people. The Retired Citizens of Westerly (RCW), if possible. RCW is a diverse group of citizens that once owned businesses and ranches in Westerly and the Big Meadow Creek Watershed. They have seen the valley change over the last 70 years and have a deep concern and love for the beauty Docsity.com