Staff at Point Reyes National Seashore released this photo of McClure's Creek, taken on August 19, 2020, to assure the public that the seashore's elk had sufficient water/NPS
Concerns that Tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore don't have enough water for survival prompted a letter Monday to the seashore's acting superintendent, the National Park Service's acting director, and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt asking that they ensure the elk don't die from thirst.
"...there is evidence that the majority of the limited water sources upon which these fenced elk depend have already become dry or may become dry in the immediate future due to drought," reads a letter sent to those officials by the director of the Animal Law & Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School.
"It appears that at least six elk have recently died on Tomales Point, of unknown causes but under similar drought conditions to 2012-2014," Katherine A. Meyer continued. "The last time the Tomales Point elk were faced with this kind of dire situation—during the drought of 2012-2014—nearly half (more than 250 of the 540 elk) of the Tomales Point elk population died from a lack of water, and their inability to migrate to find water due to the elk fence which the Park Service maintains."
In her letter (attached below), Meyer claimed that water resources for the seashore's four Tule elk herds were growing dire:
- The South Herd: The two ponds normally used by this herd—South Pond I and South Pond II—are completely dry and have been for a while.
- The North Herd: Of the two ponds normally available to the elk, North Pond I is now completely dry; North Pond II has some water, but it is way below capacity.
- The Plateau Herd: of the two ponds normally available to this herd, Central Pond I is already completely dry; Central Pond II is very close to dry.
- The White Gulch Herd: There do not appear to be any ponds available to this herd, and it is not currently ascertainable whether the seep normally used by this herd (that drains toward the Tomales Bay) is running.
Elk tracks near a seep at Point Reyes National Seashore/NPS
At Point Reyes, staff recently created a detailed "Frequently Asked Questions" page specific to the elk herd, and used words and photos taken in mid-August to assure the public that the elk currently have adequate water even though some manmade stock ponds have gone dry.
"Brown grass and a dry pond near the road above Pierce Ranch might give you the impression that Tule elk can't get enough water during California's dry season. But looks can be deceiving," reads one section. "Tucked in the rushes just behind this dry pond, the spring feeding the pond has standing pools of water with fresh elk tracks. A few hundred yards from there, another seep down in the willows has water oozing out of the ground. A wildlife camera shows tule elk and other animals drinking there regularly. The creek down to McClure’s Beach is flowing well ... If you hike three miles out on the Tomales Point trail, you'll see a large pond with plenty of water for the Tule elk herd in that area."
Meyer also stated in her letter that a fence prevents the elk from migrating to additional water sources.
"The fence prevents Tomales Point elk from gaining access to forage and water used by livestock owners who lease adjacent public land in the national seashore for their cattle," she wrote. "Thus, although the cattle have access to water sources south of this fence, the Tule elk—who, unlike the cattle, are required by federal law to be 'conserved' —are denied such access by the National Park Service. This conflicts with the statutory mandate to conserve the elk."
But park staff said they haven't seen elk congregating along the three-mile-long fence, and don't plan to remove it, a point made in the 1998 Tule Elk Management Plan and Environmental Assessment.
"Elk tend to closely remain within their home ranges, and we observed elk distributed across Tomales Point in the usual places during our surveys, indicating that the elk had the necessary resources (forage and water) needed within their occupied areas," the FAQ page said. "We have no evidence of elk trying to leave Tomales Point in search of water."
In a press released issued last week, acting Point Reyes Superintendent Carey Feierabend said her staff was closely monitoring the elk herds.
"Park staff are making regular field observations and using wildlife cameras to ensure the herd has access to water sources," she said. "If needed, we will provide water to the elk in the southern portion of the reserve."
Supplemental water would be provided "by placing a trough in a location where the elk are already accustomed to finding water. Providing water in a trough is preferred over adding water to any dry ponds that occur within the reserve, partly because most added water would just drain into the dry soil initially," reads one section of the FAQ page.
At the Center for Biological Diversity, which was in support of Meyer's letter, Senior Conservation Advocate Jeff Miller told the Traveler they were still worried about the elk herds, despite the Park Service's assurances that they wouldn't go without water.
"We still have concerns about the low water levels, given that we have 2-3 more months of the dry season," he said.
Each fall the seashore staff performs a census on the park's elk population. Last fall the tally was 445 individuals, near the high end for the average population (300-500) noted from 1998 to the present, according to the seashore's records.
Comments
Eric and Jason [presuming, generously, that you are two different individuals]...don't forget the words of that strong conservative, Stephen ColBer, who said that Reality has a liberal basis.
And, Jason, in referring to a cloud of apparent data or pseudodate, using a term like "some say" is exactly how your Mr Trump attempts to get away with making it __not him___ who is dropping the unsubstantiated datum. Break it down, take personal responsibility for what you advocate personally, and try again.That tactic of Donnie is so well known that it hardly bears repeating, yet he continues to.
I'm not going to get into some stupid political argument with you. The ones that were yelling that there was some proof testified that there actually was none and their emails said that there actually was none do your research and find out
and Stephen Colbert is a tool
Top Obama administration officials told the House Intelligence Committee they had no "empirical evidence" the Trump campaign conspired with Russia ahead of the 2016 election, transcripts released Thursday revealed.
"I never saw any direct empirical evidence that the Trump campaign or someone in it was plotting/conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election," former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the committee in 2017.
Actually, Humph, you've stated it very accurately, and you've explained the larger political context perfectly. For those who think you're going overboard, they need to pay better attention. People, you watch: Trump and his rotten corrupt cronies will use everything they can to prevent an inevitable Biden win: violence, legal (but specious) challenges, destruction of the post office, delays in finalizing the vote, lies and more lies, inciting his ignorant base, etc. The man and his scummy friends, all exploiters of our natural resources and violaters of our protective environmentsl laws, will do all they can to stay in power. Here, read this: https://truthout.org/articles/if-trump-tries-to-hijack-the-election-we-m.... And think about it.
So don't preach moderation when we're faced with an immanent threat of out and out facism. Not to mention racisim, white supremancy, "my gun makes me right" and other loser attitudes. Get real and get ready.
The sleazebag ranchers have to leave our national park. They are typical of large-scare welfare abuse. They may not be corporations, although many have formed family trusts, but they are parasites sucing off the public tit in a most despicable way. The waters of Pt. Reyes are among the top 10 woprst in the state, due to the fecal pollution from the manure. They overburden the land such that, if you haven't seen it, you would be disgusted, as it has been trampled and destroyed and looks like a wasteland. Which, sad to say, it is.
Fencing in wildlife is obviously making it not truly will. Fencing it in to die of thirst is cruel and low. The solution is laying open right in front of you. Please correct this atrocity.
Thank you,
Mikael
Anyone who kept a dog or cat in a a cage, or behind a fence, and didn't give it food and water, and let it die of dehydration and starvation would be jaild for animal abuse. This is clear cut animal abuse- why isn't the head of Point Reyes National Park in jail for animal abuse?
Ms Phillips, I have to confess that I haven't thought about the mess at Point Reyes for a while, been focused on other messes. Thank you for nudging me back awake. Something really does need to be done and the next year or two actually might be a window. Also, thank you, Matt M., for your supportive comments. You're correct; these sleazebag ranchers have to leave this national park unit. It's hard to believe; but, their unnecessarily predatory attitudes and excessive behavior actually exacerbate even the already severe problems caused by their operations.
So, why would I think the next year or two actually might be a window for making progress on some of these problems? It's because the next year or two might be the time to exert a little persuasive pressure on U.S. Representative Jared William Huffman who represents California's 2nd congressional district, including the Point Reyes area. Representative Huffman is actually a Democrat and really acknowledged to be very progressive and supportive on almost all other environmental and conservation issues; but, when it comes to protecting Point Reyes National Seashore or the Tule elk that rightfully belong there from the rampant destruction caused by those ranching and dairy operations, he has been weak and passive, if not downright enabling.
For some reason, Representative Huffman seems willing to buy into these ranching interests' ridiculous claims of being "pioneer" or "heritage" agriculture and part of the "custom and culture" of the area. He doesn't seem to recognize or, for some reason, doesn't want to recognize what those of us who have spent our lives in the rural west know by heart, which is that "pioneer heritage" and "custom and culture" are the empty "go-to" buzzwords of every deadbeat, too lazy to be educated, ne'er-do-well punk out here. Although admittedly, they do all take the time and seem to find the resources to outfit themselves in such nice, colorful, western costumes. In fact, the whole damn Bundy family and much of Utah are built on little more than those empty buzzwords and western costumes. Representative Huffman has even been willing to help entrench legislation to perpetuate the livestock operations at Point Reyes, which is apparently a major reason why those operations have been so arrogantly tough to deal with.
So, why would Representative Huffman, with such an otherwise outstanding record on other environmental and conservation issues, be willing to so obviously deviate from his past progressive record and instead decide to defend and protect these clearly rapacious livestock interests at Point Reyes? There has to be a reason. It may be because of the influence of an important campaign donor or constituent. It may be due to some connection in his private life that is important enough to tip the scales. There are, I guarantee, clues for an investigator to follow; there always are. And, since there are now two years before the next time Representative Huffman faces an election campaign, now is the time to start doing some investigative research and apply some of that aforementioned little bit of persuasive pressure. It won't happen by itself. Outraged comments will help to energize the effort; but, by themselves, they won't make it happen. Somebody needs to do the research, find the source of the problem; and strategize a minimal collateral damage approach for convincing, as Matt M. put it, these "sleazebag ranchers" to take what they have already bled out of the system and go find alternative employment elsewhere. I guarantee the process will take every bit of the next two years and probably more and the longer some savvy activist lingers before getting started, the longer it will take to get to the end.
There is actually a clear explanation. Ranchers stick together to vote on issues via guidance from the Farm Bureau and other organizations. Politicians realize that and despite relatively few ranches within Point Reyes, Rep. Huffman's congressional district extends north to the Oregon border and is mostly rural with many ranching families. They will all be familiar with the elected official's position on any agricultural issues, so they have an inordinate amount of voting power. The same impact is seen on local elections around Point Reyes.