It may not be the BLM's fault.
The way I hear it, many state and federal agencies are hamstrung by the
"bleeding hearts" (as Lisa called them) who will not think twice about suing the
state or feds if they don't like the former's plans, decisions and
programs. Around here, there are folks who will cheerfully sue the state
parks system for some perceived infraction. Therefore, nothing truly
productive is allowed to happen.
An example is trails in our nearby
state park. One particular trail is disintegrating, year by year from
erosion, yet no one is allowed to restore and protect it because it is in a
"wilderness" area that precludes the use of mechanized equipment. I don't
see hand crews doing the work needed on 6 miles of steep terrain. A good
trail machine with a skilled operator would do a beautiful job of
restoration.
There are also trails that could be
opened to use...old skid roads and current foot trails that need attention, but
the park folks are not allowed to touch these without various permits,
etc. Progress is so bogged down in bureaucracy that it is brought to a
standstill.
As for excess numbers of wild horses,
the public is reaping the results of closing the truly practical management tool...herd
reduction via the dog food can and the table in France. If
the unsuspecting public has been taught that cattle grazing is destructive to
the ranges, they haven't seen what an over-population of horses can
do.
That is why they are called the Bureau of LAND Management - because just
about the only thing the government CAN manage is an inanimate object - and
they don't do THAT well. Notice they are not the Bureau of WILDLIFE
Management. vbg
