The Yainix Ranch is a microcosm of the Basin.  Its owners are working against an economic tide, while regulatory oversight adds pressure, as does the. Klamath Tribes’ claim to water and wildlife.  Yainix brings together diverse interests to demonstrate options for the sustainability of agriculture and ecological function in the Basin.

 

To address the financial impact of restoration, SNW created a group of urban investors who made financial contributions to bridge the income gap between historical stocking rates and what the ranch could produce at a sustainable level.

 

The Yainix owners, agencies and Tribes agreed to a multi-party grazing management and monitoring strategy designed by SNW and the NRST to restore Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) of the river. The Tribes hold a conservation easement based on the agreement. It passes funds between the Tribes, government, and the landowner, assuring economic sustainability of the ranch to protect resource values.

Strong relationships between the landowner and the Tribes have facilitated solutions elsewhere. Recently, the owners of a ranch on the Williamson River reached an out of court water rights settlement with the Tribes. The Tribes have agreed to use PFC as a minimum ecological condition and communication tool when dealing with water and river restoration issues.  The Working Landscapes Alliance, a team of resource specialists, is working with KBEF’s Watershed Assessment to educate landowners in basic watershed function (PFC) and opportunities for compatible river restoration and to share model in other communities.