The Northeastern RAC unanimously adopted the Bookcliffs bison management plan after a presentation from staff and committee representatives who said the local working group reached consensus on recommendations.

Glenn Sampson presented the plan and told the council the committee reached 100% consensus among attendees after two meetings. Sampson said the bison now use a wider portion of the landscape than in past years and that the plan incorporates updated distribution and management objectives. When asked whether the target had changed, staff confirmed the objective reflects a notable increase from historical estimates (members discussed increases described around the meeting from ~450 up toward 650 as the population and use of habitat have expanded).

Nut graf: The plan balances public hunting opportunity and ecological considerations, and staff emphasized active management including feral‑horse removal and interagency coordination to reduce grazing pressure. Sampson and regional staff highlighted recent removals and coordination: staff said roughly 348 feral horses were removed from parts of the landscape this past summer and that county/state funding is supporting periodic gathers in the Bonanza and East Bench areas.

Public comment raised concerns about water depletion where bison concentrate and reported observers seeing herds of dozens to a hundred animals at times. Staff replied that GPS‑collar data and field observation show multiple smaller herds moving across the unit and that hunting pressure and habitat projects have helped spread impacts across more of the landscape. Staff said monitoring will continue and management will adapt based on data.

The RAC voted to accept the plan; the motion passed unanimously after a mover and second.

Ending: With adoption, staff will move forward with the plan actions, continue monitoring distribution and impacts, and coordinate future gathers and habitat work as resources allow.