Part 3
Land and Water Use
RANGELANDS
• Uncultivated land dominated by native plants: grasses, grass-like plants, or shrubs.
• All land that is not farmland, dense forest, barren desert or land covered by solid rock, concrete, or glaciers
What is Rangeland?
How much rangeland is there?
47% of the EARTH is rangeland
36% of the US is rangeland
53% of Western States is rangeland
• Overgrazing
• Desertification
Issues Facing Rangelands
• When grazed severely, use energy stored in roots for regrowth
• Roots die back– Severity depends on grazing
• Grazed again before roots recover
How Overgrazing Kills Plants
• Adds organic matter• Increased soil porosity• Increased infiltration• Increased moisture holding capacity
Positive Effect of Root Dieback
Consequences of Overgrazing
• Overgrazing• Soil erosion• Prolonged drought or climate change• Overuse of available resources
Causes of Desertification
• “Public Land” is owned and managed by federal and state governments – Bureau of Land Management (BLM)– U.S. Forest Service
Who owns rangeland?
• The careful use and management of rangeland resources (plants, animals, soil, and water) to meet the needs and desires of society
What is rangeland management?
• Controlling the number and distribution of livestock
• Restoring degraded rangeland• Moving livestock to allow recovery• Reduce damage to sensitive areas
(riparian zones)– Boundary zone between land and stream
Rangeland Management Goals
• Suppress growth of invasive species• Reduce soil erosion
– Replant native grasses• Provide supplemental feed• Locating water holes, water tanks,
salt blocks in areas where will not affect environment.
Rangeland Management Goals
MINING
OverviewSteps Description Environmental
Effects
Mining Removing mineral resources from the ground
• Mine wastes – acids and toxins
• Displacement of native species
• Reclamation of land and recycling
Processing Removing ore from mined material
• Pollution• Human health
concerns
Use Distribution to end user
Will Site be Profitable?
• Site development
Extraction
• Surface Mining– Pros:
– Cons
Extraction
• Underground Mining– Pros
– Cons
Extraction
• In-situ Leaching– Pros
– Cons
Extraction
• Intensive chemical processing
• Often uses extreme heat and toxic chemicals
• Chemical frequently leak into ground water
Processing
• 2 billion tons of minerals extracted in US every year
• Oil
• Coal
• Natural Gas
Global Reserves
• General Mining Law 1872– Free access to prospect for minerals on federal
lands• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act 1977– Regulates surface coal mining and reclamation
activities
Relevant Laws
