Conservation work at Horseshoe Bar Ranch
John Day River
After we purchased the Horseshoe Bar Ranch in 2021, we took a systematic approach to improving the ecological conditions of the ranch. We have partnered with the NRCS and Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation Districts to protect 4.7 miles of riparian areas on the John Day River and Sorefoot Creek with wildlife friendly fencing. Working with the USFS Clarno Tree Nursery, we have planted over 300 native cottonwoods, willows, Ponderosa Pines, and dogwoods and installed irrigation systems to help establish along the John Day River. Our goal is to improve these riparian areas that provide critical habitat for numerous species but especially threatened steelhead and Chinook salmon.
Sorefoot Creek
Sorefoot Creek is a historic spawning stream for steelhead but has been seriously degraded by past land management practices, increase Western Juniper, invasive grass species, and incised stream banks and poor hydrological function. This summer we will be installing beaver dam analogues (BDA’s) to mimic beaver dams to further improve wildlife habitat and stream flow function. The work done on Bridge Creek, a tributary of the John Day River, starting in the early 2000’s, provides a template for the work we are doing now.
Conservation Partners
On the rangelands, we have developed springs to improve the grazing distribution and we are starting the process of strategic brush control of Western Junipers. Working with Grazewell and Sustainable Northwest, we have established fixed permanent transects to monitor species composition and grazing management and have established a rest/rotational grazing system. Areas of the ranch are heavily infested with invasive species such as Medusahead and cheat grass. Through a well-planned rest/rotational grazing system and utilizing targeted grazing, we manage our rangelands with the goal of reducing these invasive species while increasing the native perennial bunch grasses. Cattle, when properly managed, are an excellent conservation tool.
Our Mission
Our mission is to produce a sustainable profit over a long-term basis while improving the asset base which includes ecological conditions, cattle herd, wildlife, riparian areas, housing, improvements; and, most importantly, the families that own, live, and work at the Horseshoe Bar Ranch.
Memberships
We are proud to be a member of Society of Range Management and the Pacific Northwest Section of SRM.