Rangeland and Grazing
Rangelands form a major component of ecosystems in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland on all but one of our ranger districts, with over 480,000 in active grazing allotments and more than 50,000 permitted head months.
Well-managed rangelands provide forage for wildlife and domestic livestock in addition to quality water and recreational values. Forage is a renewable resource, but the way it is grazed and the environment in which it grows affect its sustainability.
A cow on the Pawnee National Grassland cools off in a water tank.
The Pawnee National Grassland has approximately 150 grazing allotments. These are mostly permitted through two grazing associations, the Pawnee Cooperative Grazing Association and the Crow Valley Livestock Cooperative, Inc. They are the two oldest grazing associations on National Forest System lands (active since 1937). There are also another ten direct permits for grazing.