CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

March 17, 2025

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Trump Admin. Signals Intent to Roll Back California National Monument Designations
On Friday night, the White House issued a fact sheet noting that President Donald Trump was “Terminating proclamations declaring nearly a million acres constitute new national monuments that lock up vast amounts of land from economic development and energy production.” No such provision appeared in an executive order issued that day rescinding actions of the Biden Administration, though, and the fact sheet was quickly edited to remove the reference to national monument designations.

As reported by The Washington Post and other outlets, the national monuments initially referenced in the fact sheet appear to be the Chuckwalla National Monument in eastern Riverside County and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, which includes portions of the Modoc, Shasta-Trinity and Klamath National Forests. Both monuments were designated during former President Biden’s final week in office.

While President Trump has not yet taken action to diminish or rescind national monument protections for Chuchwalla or Sáttítla Highlands, the initial wording of the fact sheet issued Friday clearly signals the Administration’s intent to roll back designations for the two new monuments. Such a move would certainly be challenged in court, as it is unsettled whether a president has the legal authority to remove national monument designation without congressional approval.

As previously reported in California Cattleman Weekly, the Sáttítla Highlands designation implicated several U.S. Forest Service grazing allotments, and “While its proclamation provides for continuation of existing livestock grazing permits, similar language has not precluded diminution of grazing within national monuments in the past,” leading to CCA policy which broadly opposes national monuments designations.

CCA will keep members informed of future Administration actions impacting the Chuchwalla and Sáttítla Highlands national monuments.

Trump Signs Continuing Resolution Funding Federal Government Through Sept. 30. 
President Donald Trump on Saturday signed into law a continuing resolution (CR) which will keep the federal government funded through Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year.

According to CCA’s national affiliate the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the CR retains numerous federal priorities of the beef cattle industry, including:

• Extending the 2018 Farm Bill;
• $15 million in spending authority for USDA to provide electronic identification tags to states at no cost to producers;
• Prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring greenhouse gas emissions data reporting for livestock production and manure management operations;
• Prohibiting the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from listing the Greater Sage Grouse under the Endangered Species Act;
• Continuing the livestock hauler exemption from electronic logging device requirements; and
• Extending Livestock Mandatory Reporting and the Cattle Contracts Library pilot program.

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast 
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! Representing California’s 34 Assembly District, Assemblymember Tom Lackey was joined by CCA’s Katie Roberti in his office. In this episode, Lackey shares about issues that are top of mind right now for California legislators. Lackey and Roberti also talk about how Asm. Lackey has partnered with CCA throughout his time in office. Hear about the bill he is helping CCA run this year, and why he believes ranchers are important voices to have in Sacramento. To listen, click here.

44th CCA Steak and Eggs Breakfast + Lobby Day
On Wednesday, March 12 CCA members made their way to the Sutter Club in Sacramento for the 44th CCA Steak and Eggs Breakfast + Lobby Day. As plates of steak were served, conversations flowed amongst legislators, legislative staff, government agencies and ranchers. Upon the completion of breakfast, CCA members made the walk over to the Capitol Annex Swing Space to participate in legislative meetings with their representatives. This year, CCA members spoke with legislators abou two bills that CCA is sponsoring, AB 525 (Lackey) and AB 411 (Papan). To learn more about these bills see the Feb. 18 edition of California Cattleman Weekly. To learn more about the breakfast, read the April edition of the California Cattleman Magazine. CCA thanks all those who participated and helped to make the breakfast a success!

CDFW Issues Gray Wolf Updates
Earlier this month, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a series of updates regarding gray wolves in the state. The Department now reports seven wolf packs known in the state of California, a decline from the nine packs identified in the Department’s November map detailing areas of gray wolf activity. The Department explains that the Beckwourth Pack is no longer considered active, as it has had no confirmed detections in a year and that evidence suggests “that the Beyem Seyo and Antelope packs have merged.” A map of current areas of wolf activity is available here, and illustrates five areas of known wolf activity in addition to the seven known wolf pack territories. For additional details, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.
 
Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Address Wildfire Risks
Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency “to fast-track critical wildfire prevention projects statewide,” according to a press release. The proclamation suspends the application of state laws within the jurisdiction of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) – including the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act – to “critical fuels reduction projects…initiated this year.” CCA will engage with CalEPA and CNRA to advance the Association’s wildfire resilience priorities as applicable under the state of emergency proclamation, particularly regarding prescribed fire and application of livestock grazing for fire fuels reduction. For more information, see the March 3 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.
 
Water Board to Charge Late Fees for Delinquent Water Rights Reporting
The State Water Resources Control Board has announced that it is assessing late fees on water rightsholders who still have not filed their annual Water Use Reports for the 2023-24 reporting year, which were due on Feb. 1. Late fees are new this year and will be charged on rightsholders’ annual water rights fee billing, which will be sent to water users in the Fall. If you have yet to file your 2023-24 Water Use Report, CCA urges you to do so as soon as possible, as late fees will increase in April. For more information, seethe March 3 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

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CCA in the News

A rogue wolf’s killing galvanizes California ranchers SFGATE “Wolf country knows no borders, and packs span territory over hundreds of square miles and across state and county lines. However, the laws that govern wolf management are dependent on a wolf’s location. In Oregon, OR-158’s attacks on cattle left little question about how he’d meet his end. But across the state border, where wolves are protected under the California Endangered Species Act, officials don’t have the same options. A person can legally kill a wolf in California for only one reason, according to Kirk Wilbur, vice president of government affairs for the California Cattlemen’s Association. “That animal couldn’t be taken in California unless it posed a clear and immediate threat to a human,” he said.” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

Dozens of cows now grazing at Hidden Falls Regional Park to mitigate wildfire risks CBS Sacramento “People heading out to enjoy the Hidden Falls Regional Park in Placer County may have to share the trails with some rather large, hungry but friendly guests over the next few weeks. Placer County officials announced last week that a few dozen cattle are now at the park.” To continue reading, click here.

Niman Ranch founder sues NPS over Point Reyes plan Western Livestock Journal “The founder of Niman Ranch, William Niman, and his wife, Nicolette Hahn Niman, have filed suit against the National Park Service (NPS) for its settlement with local ranchers to effectively stop livestock operations on California’s Point Reyes National Seashore.” To continue reading, click here.

EPA to revise WOTUS definition Western Livestock Journal “Ranchers may be seeing some regulatory relief as the government reworks water rules that have posed challenges in the past. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intent to revise the ‘waters of the United States’ (WOTUS) definition to better align it with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA.” To continue reading, click here.