Collection of
Articles and Laws of
Ranching History
Within New Mexico
National Forests
Protection
of Ranches
and
Ranching Families
In 2021, I asked a
US Forest Service Supervisor
what are
VALID EXISTING RIGHTS
for ranchers,
for the livestock industry?
He wrote
A USFS Grazing Permit
does not grant any
right, title, or interest in the land or resources.
Water is left to the state.
The search began...
THE HISTORY
Does it include use of the range on Federal lands?
Yes, it seems so.
Under NM Territorial law of 1876,
Travelers with large herds of livestock need permission to use streams and springs of another. One could not use another's waters from wells or ponds or reservoirs of waters.
Today NM 72-1-6.
1889 Territorial law, With the US congress' blessing, a ranch is protected through the local magistrate court; Today New Mexico Law of Occupation 19-3-13 thru 19-3-16 with fines and jail time.
1866 Ditch Act-Mineral Land; Water users vested and accrued rights, 30 USC 15, 14 stat 253
1897 Organic Act-Laws of Conservation; water within national forests may be used under laws of the State, 16 USC 481, 30 stat 36
1978-Public Rangeland Improvement; Subject to Valid Existing Rights, 43 USC 4120 3-2, 92 stat 1805
The Public Rangeland Improvement Act recognizes valid existing rights to water, meaning that any water rights established before the Act's Implementation are protected and cannot be infringed upon by new regulations or agreements. This insures that those who have historically used water resources retain their rights.
The Court described a ranch as
"The rule in general that however nominally divided . . ., if the whole area is used together for a farm, ranch, or other appropriate purpose, it is to be considered one property. Moreover, the fact that different portions of a farm, ranch, or other rural holdings were acquired from different persons, or are otherwise held under different titles, will not prevent its being treated as an entirety in the assessments of damages for a taking of a part, if the whole area is held and operated as a single property." (omitting citations; emphasis added)); see also 6 ALR 2d 1217 § 9.
Ranchers under Federal Law, Taylor Grazing Act, who didn't clainm ranches under state water laws were ignored. Pay attention! Learn from court cases.
Water is gold.
Note [8] This is not to ignore the fact, however, that these are situations where the water is found on the land leased from the State and in such instances, of course, the value of the land leased from the State is not negligible.
which control adjoining National Forest range is "given nearly the same weight with the ownership of cultivated lands."
ranch; property within or near the Forest, and dependence upon the range; or by the acquisition of stock grazed upon National Forest lands under permit and of improved ranch; property used in connection with the stock, Pg. 10
improved ranch; property which is commensurate, and used in connection, with the stock Pg. 12
A class A owner is one who does not own more than the protective limit number of stock established for the Forest, who owns and resides upon an improved ranch; within or adjacent to the Forest, and who is dependent upon the use of the National Forest range in connection with his ranch; property. Pg. 35
I found hundreds of articles.
To get them organized is the challenge.
Please be patient,
Check for updates.
I'm not a lawyer,
I like to read laws,
court cases,
and
old newspapers.
Federal Law
All actions by the
Secretary concerned
under
Federal Lands Policy
Management Act
SHALL BE
SUBJECT TO VALID
EXISTING RIGHTS.
Oct 21, 1976
(90 Stat 2786)
43 USC 1701 (h)
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