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Donald D. Alt and "Pastor Rick" McKinney
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Silver Springs Ranchers
Defy Federal, State Laws
Part Six
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The lands within Stockton Flat legally are public lands. The flat is used regularly for recreational purposes and is used and watched by a number of citizens in the area. Questions are arising as to how a cattle operator can apparently run roughshod on public lands, cause private property damage, intimidate lawful users of these public lands and not be reigned in by the land's management agency, the BLM. Many residents are concerned that if Mr. Alt is so heedless of BLM and federal grazing laws, that it is not improbable that he might illegally harm wildlife and estray horses, and further interfere with the lawful public users of the allotment. Mr. Alt has made a number of threats and has carried out a few, such as destroying the water tank, placing cattle on the allotment and fencing across a public access. Citizens and volunteers alike worry as to what may be next.
As one Silver Springs resident put it, "What's the point in having laws if nobody enforces them? Seems like we're still living in the old west."
It should be noted that BLM has initiated administrative proceedings in response to some of Mr. Alt's activities, however current laws and regulations make it difficult for BLM to remedy these kinds of situations in a speedy manner.
Installation of new public lands signs at entrances.
In response, Don Alt nailed his own signs over the public lands signs.
Posting such signs without the property owner's written permission is a state violation.
Don Alt's signs were subsequently removed and as of this writing have not reappeared.
Other Notes.
On October 17, 2007, Mr. Alt testified in the Fernley Justice Court that he ran (based) 175 head of cattle from "his land" at the north end of Stockton Flat. Public records show this land actually belongs to Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and a small lot belongs to a private party operating a microwave tower.
Upon contacting Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Mr. Larry Johnson explained that those sections did in fact belong to the sheep organization and that they have allowed Mr. Alt's cattle to use those sections. Mr. Johnson pointed out that they had no formal agreement with Mr. Alt nor did they have any purchase agreement with Mr. Alt or any other documents associating Mr. Alt to Nevada Bighorns Unlimited's properties.
Mr. Johnson indicated that if Mr. Alt was creating problems, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited would reconsider their informal consent to allow grazing. Mr. Johnson has been made aware of the recent problems on Stockton Flat however as of this posting we are unaware of any change in sheep organization's relationship with Mt. Alt.
Furthermore, as of this posting we have been unable to identify any local parcels belonging to or controlled by Mr. Alt that would qualify as "base property" for what permitted grazing he did have. It is possible that Mr. Alt has a qualifying lease that we are unaware of with one of the boundary property owners, however few of the boundary properties actually meet all the criteria for "base property" under the Taylor Grazing Act.
Finally we deem it responsible to post the disclaimer that this story is based almost entirely on the observations and experiences of volunteers and citizens. Mr. Alt has yet to provide any credible explanations for his actions other than to emphasize that Stockton Flat is his range and threaten or intimidate questioners. Nonetheless, until proved in a court of law, the accounts presented in this story have to be taken in the context of allegations. In this country even the most aggravating of individuals are presumed innocent until they have their day in court.
Post Script.
This story is not about whether public lands ranchers are good or evil. It is about one or more individuals, a minority among the ranchers, whose behavior suggests that they have no respect for the law. The citizens and volunteers who compiled the information about Mr. Alt and his comrades are the same ones who report vandalized fencing, help corral livestock that get loose as a result of vandals, and on occasion even hold and feed stray cattle until the ranchers can pick them up.
Public lands ranching and the multiple use doctrine governing our public lands only work when those using our public lands are law abiding and when those who flaunt the law are prosecuted. lawfulness versus lawlessness is the fundamental basis for this story.
Volunteers finish cleaning trash and debris from around the corrals after the cattle were removed.
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