ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
Subject: Prescribed Grazing for Vegetation Management Program Number: PW-__
Responsible Department: Public Works
Effective Date: [Insert Date]
Date Revised: [Insert Date]
Purpose
This Administrative Procedure establishes a standardized process for permitting, reviewing, monitoring, and administering prescribed grazing activities on designated Cityowned green space.
The procedure is intended to ensure that prescribed grazing is used as an effective vegetation management tool while protecting City property, public health and safety, flood control functions, water quality, sensitive vegetation and habitat, adjacent properties, and animal health and welfare.
Scope
This procedure applies to the controlled and rotational use of goats, sheep, or mixed herds on designated City-owned green space for targeted weed reduction, fuel reduction, invasive plant control, vegetation management, and other approved vegetation management purposes.
Prescribed grazing authorized under this procedure is a vegetation management activity and does not authorize permanent livestock keeping, animal husbandry, agricultural operations, or other land uses unrelated to approved vegetation management objectives.
Nothing in this procedure supersedes the Marysville Municipal Code, applicable City Council resolutions, federal or state law, or requirements imposed by another agency having jurisdiction over the property or activity.
Definitions
Active Grazing Area – The portion of an approved grazing site that is fenced, contained, and occupied by grazing animals at any given time.
Approved Grazing Site – City-owned green space approved for prescribed grazing pursuant to the Marysville Municipal Code.
Grazing Management Plan – The site-specific plan identifying the proposed grazing areas, animal species, herd size, stocking rate, rotation schedule, rest periods, containment methods, environmental protections, and other operational requirements.
Mixed Herd – The combined use of goats and sheep within an approved prescribed grazing operation.
Permittee – The individual, contractor, organization, entity, or public agency authorized by the City to conduct prescribed grazing pursuant to an approved permit.
Prescribed Grazing – The temporary, controlled, and managed use of goats, sheep, or a combination thereof to achieve approved vegetation management objectives.
Rotation Area – An identified portion of an approved grazing site used as part of an approved rotational grazing plan.
Responsibilities
1. City Manager
The City Manager shall have overall administrative authority for the Prescribed Grazing for Vegetation Management Program and may interpret, implement, and modify administrative procedures, forms, checklists, standard permit conditions, and related requirements consistent with the Marysville Municipal Code and City Council policy.
The City Manager or designee may approve, condition, modify, suspend, deny, or revoke Prescribed Grazing Permits and may waive or reduce permit fees when authorized by City Council resolution.
2. Public Works Director
The Public Works Director shall serve as the Responsible Department Director for administration of the Program.
The Public Works Director or designee shall review permit applications and grazing management plans, coordinate site evaluations and inspections, establish site-specific permit conditions, determine appropriate species and stocking requirements, monitor compliance, require corrective action, and coordinate with other City departments and outside agencies when necessary.
3. Other City Departments
Other City departments shall provide technical, risk management, legal, environmental, public safety, or administrative review when requested by the City Manager or Public Works Director.
4. Permittee
The Permittee shall comply with the Marysville Municipal Code, this Administrative Procedure, the approved Grazing Management Plan, all permit conditions, and applicable federal, state, regional, and local requirements.
The Permittee is responsible for animal containment, health and welfare, daily monitoring, emergency response, protection of City property and environmental resources, and prompt correction of violations or adverse conditions.
Procedures
1. Permit Application and Required Documentation
A Prescribed Grazing Permit shall be obtained before animals are placed on City property.
Applications shall be submitted on forms approved by the City Manager or designee and shall include:
• Applicant, grazing operator, and 24-hour emergency contact information; • Identification of the proposed grazing site;
• Total site acreage and proposed active grazing acreage; • Proposed animal species, herd composition, number of animals, and stocking rate; • Proposed grazing dates and vegetation management objectives; • Identification of targeted vegetation;
• Proposed grazing and rotation schedule;
• Proposed containment and fencing methods;
• Animal monitoring, water, and welfare provisions;
• Identification of public access areas and adjacent properties; • Identification of waterways, wetlands, riparian areas, drainage facilities, levees, flood control facilities, known elderberry shrubs, and other sensitive vegetation or habitat;
• Proposed buffers, exclusion areas, and protective measures; • Emergency procedures;
• Proof of required insurance; and
• Other information reasonably required to evaluate the proposed operation.
Applications shall include a site map and proposed Grazing Management Plan, proof of insurance, representative pre-grazing photographs, and copies of any outside regulatory approvals specifically required for the proposed activity.
Submission of an application does not authorize commencement of grazing activities.
2. Application and Site Review
The Public Works Director or designee shall review the application and proposed grazing site to determine whether prescribed grazing is an appropriate vegetation management method and whether the proposed operation complies with City requirements.
The review shall consider vegetation management objectives, targeted vegetation, available acreage, proposed species and herd size, rotation adequacy, terrain, soils, erosion potential, seasonal and hydrologic conditions, public access, adjacent properties, water availability, animal delivery and removal access, waterways, sensitive habitat, levees, flood control facilities, containment requirements, and other site-specific conditions.
The City may conduct a pre-grazing inspection and require additional information or modification of the proposed operation before permit approval.
3. Grazing Management Plan
Each permit shall include or incorporate an approved Grazing Management Plan.
The plan shall identify, as applicable:
• Total available acreage;
• Active grazing areas and rotation areas;
• Animal species and herd composition;
• Number of animals and stocking rate;
• Anticipated grazing and rest periods;
• Proposed movement of animals between rotation areas;
• Water locations;
• Fencing and containment methods;
• Public access areas;
• Waterways and water features;
• Buffers and exclusion areas;
• Sensitive vegetation and habitat;
• Levees and flood control facilities; and
• Emergency access and animal removal routes.
The Public Works Director or designee may require modification of an approved Grazing Management Plan when necessary to protect City property, public safety, environmental resources, flood control functions, or animal welfare.
4. Species, Stocking, and Rotation Standards
The Public Works Director or designee shall determine appropriate animal species, herd composition, stocking rates, active grazing areas, and rotation requirements based on targeted vegetation, site conditions, seasonal conditions, and management objectives.
Unless otherwise approved:
• Active grazing shall be limited to five acres at any one time; • Stocking shall not exceed ten animals per active grazing acre; • No individual acre shall be actively grazed for more than 14 consecutive days; and • A minimum 30-day rest period shall occur before animals return to the same acreage.
The five-acre limitation applies to the area actively occupied by animals and does not limit the total acreage included within an approved rotational grazing site.
The Public Works Director or designee may modify species, herd composition, stocking rates, active grazing area size, grazing duration, or rest periods based on vegetation conditions, available forage, vegetation recovery, soils, seasonal conditions, rainfall, temperature, or other relevant factors.
Year-round grazing may be approved only where sufficient acreage is available to maintain adequate rotation and vegetation recovery. Where adequate rotation cannot be maintained, grazing shall be limited to seasonal or intermittent use.
5. Floodplain and Water Quality Protection
Prescribed grazing within river-bottom and floodplain property shall be conducted in a manner that protects water quality, minimizes erosion, and avoids interference with flood conveyance and flood control functions.
Grazing shall not occur during flood events, when the City determines flooding is imminent and orders removal of animals, or when soils are sufficiently saturated that grazing could cause excessive soil disturbance, erosion, or water quality impacts.
Animals shall be excluded from active wetted channels and other water features as required by the City.
The Public Works Director or designee may establish setbacks, buffers, exclusion areas, seasonal restrictions, advance removal requirements, or other protective measures based on site conditions, slope, soils, hydrology, proximity to waterways, environmental sensitivity, or other relevant factors.
6. Sensitive Vegetation and Habitat Protection
Sensitive vegetation, habitat, and environmental resources shall be identified to the extent reasonably practicable during application and site review.
The Public Works Director or designee may require buffers, exclusion areas, temporary protective fencing, seasonal restrictions, modifications to grazing practices, or other protective measures.
Particular attention shall be given to elderberry shrubs and associated habitat supporting protected species. Animals shall be prevented from browsing, damaging, or otherwise adversely affecting vegetation or habitat identified for protection or exclusion.
Issuance of a City permit does not relieve the Permittee of responsibility for compliance with applicable federal, state, regional, or local environmental requirements.
7. Levees and Flood Control Facilities
Grazing on levees, levee slopes, levee crowns, within levee rights-of-way, or on other flood control facilities is prohibited unless expressly approved in writing by the applicable agency having jurisdiction.
A City Prescribed Grazing Permit does not constitute approval from another agency having jurisdiction over a levee or flood control facility.
Where an approved grazing site is adjacent to a levee or flood control facility, the City may require fencing, buffers, or other measures to prevent animals from entering restricted areas.
8. Containment, Animal Welfare, and Public Safety
Animals shall remain securely contained within approved active grazing areas.
Containment methods may include temporary electric fencing, conventional temporary fencing, herding, guardian or herd-control animals, or other methods approved by the City.
The City may require additional containment measures based on proximity to streets, trails, public facilities, adjacent properties, waterways, levees, or other hazards. Escaped animals shall be retrieved immediately.
The Permittee shall ensure that animals are in good health, receive adequate potable water and nutrition, receive shade or weather protection when reasonably necessary, and are monitored at least daily. Sick, injured, distressed, or deceased animals shall be promptly treated or removed from the site, as appropriate.
Guardian or herd-control animals may be used when approved by the City. The Permittee shall prevent guardian animals from creating excessive noise, threatening the public, leaving the approved site, or otherwise creating a nuisance or safety concern.
Warning or informational signs shall be posted at access points and other locations required by the City and shall include applicable warnings and a 24-hour emergency contact number.
Grazing activities shall be conducted in a manner that reasonably minimizes excessive noise, odor, dust, interference with public access, and other unreasonable impacts to adjacent properties and the public.
9. Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting
The Permittee shall maintain procedures and sufficient personnel, equipment, access, and transportation resources for the prompt removal or relocation of animals in response to:
• Forecasted storms or flooding;
• Fire;
• Failure of fencing or containment systems;
• Animal escape;
• Hazardous site conditions;
• Environmental emergencies; or
• Other conditions requiring immediate action.
The City may order advance removal, relocation, or temporary suspension of grazing activities when necessary to protect public safety, City property, flood control functions, water quality, environmental resources, or animal welfare.
The Permittee shall immediately notify the City of significant incidents, including animal escapes, injuries to members of the public, significant animal injury or mortality, containment failures, damage to City property, significant erosion or environmental damage, entry of animals into excluded areas, or emergency animal removal.
The City may require a written incident report.
10. Inspections and Monitoring
The Permittee shall monitor the grazing operation and animals at least daily. City staff may inspect an approved grazing site at reasonable times.
Pre-grazing, operational, and post-grazing inspections may evaluate:
• Vegetation and soil conditions;
• Animal containment, health, and welfare;
• Compliance with approved species, stocking rates, grazing areas, rotation schedules, and rest periods;
• Water availability;
• Soil disturbance and erosion;
• Water quality concerns;
• Buffers and exclusion areas;
• Sensitive vegetation and habitat protection;
• Signage and public safety;
• Damage to City property;
• Achievement of vegetation management objectives; and
• Compliance with permit conditions.
Representative pre- and post-grazing photographs shall be maintained in the permit file.
11. Corrective Action
When a violation or adverse condition is identified, the Public Works Director or designee may require corrective action.
Corrective actions may include moving animals, reducing herd size, modifying stocking rates or herd composition, changing grazing or rotation schedules, increasing rest periods, establishing or expanding buffers, repairing fencing, removing sick or injured animals, correcting erosion or soil disturbance, temporarily suspending grazing, or removing animals from the site.
Immediate corrective action may be required when necessary to protect public safety, environmental resources, City property, flood control functions, or animal welfare.
12. Permit Term and Renewal
Prescribed Grazing Permits shall generally be valid for one year and require annual renewal.
Renewal applications shall be evaluated based on compliance with the Municipal Code and permit conditions, adequacy of grazing and rotation practices, site conditions, complaints and incidents, environmental impacts, animal welfare, effectiveness in achieving vegetation management objectives, and other relevant considerations.
The City may impose revised conditions as part of permit renewal.
13. Fees and Fee Waivers
Permit processing and annual renewal fees shall be established by City Council resolution and incorporated into the City’s Master Fee Schedule.
The initial permit processing fee shall be $100, and the annual renewal fee shall be $50, unless subsequently modified by City Council action.
The City Manager or designee may waive or reduce a permit fee upon a written determination that the waiver or reduction is in the best interest of the City.
14. Suspension and Revocation
The City Manager or designee may modify, suspend, or revoke a permit for:
• Violation of the Marysville Municipal Code, this Administrative Procedure, or permit conditions;
• Failure to maintain required insurance;
• Inadequate animal containment or care;
• Creation of a public health or safety hazard;
• Damage to City property;
• Excessive erosion or soil disturbance;
• Threats to water quality or flood control functions;
• Damage to sensitive vegetation or habitat;
• Creation of a nuisance or unreasonable impact; or
• Failure to take required corrective action.
Where immediate action is necessary, the City may order the immediate suspension of grazing activities and removal of animals.
15. Recordkeeping
The Public Works Department shall maintain official Program records in accordance with applicable law and the City’s Records Retention Schedule.
Records shall include, as applicable:
• Permit applications;
• Site maps and Grazing Management Plans;
• Insurance documentation;
• Outside regulatory approvals;
• Pre- and post-grazing photographs;
• Inspection records;
• Complaints;
• Incident reports;
• Corrective actions;
• Permit decisions;
• Fee payments or waivers; and
• Renewal documentation.
No Program records shall be destroyed except in accordance with the City’s approved Records Retention Schedule and applicable law.
16. Administrative Forms and Procedures
The City Manager or designee may develop, issue, interpret, and modify permit applications, checklists, standard permit conditions, inspection forms, and other administrative documents necessary to implement the Program.
Administrative forms and procedures may be modified as necessary to improve Program administration, address operational experience or changing regulatory requirements, or protect City interests, provided such modifications are consistent with the Marysville Municipal Code and applicable City Council policy.
17. Compliance
Nothing in this procedure supersedes the Marysville Municipal Code, applicable City Council resolutions, federal or state law, regulatory requirements imposed by an agency having jurisdiction, or other applicable legal requirements.