Research and outreach conducted by the Santa Barbara County Trails Council indicate that responsible public access and trails can coexist with grazing operations. Numerous land management agencies and organizations throughout California successfully manage public access through grazing lands. This report compiles relevant findings and best practices.
This report was prepared by Andrew Watson, a range management specialist with extensive experience in public land access, grazing systems, and ecological restoration. His expertise in balancing recreation and agricultural use has informed a thorough assessment of potential conflicts and solutions for trail development at Las Varas Ranch.
Addressing Problems and Use Conflicts
Based on Watson’s experience, conflicts between hikers, bikers, and livestock are generally uncommon and minor. The most frequent issue cited by livestock operators is gates being left open, leading to cattle wandering outside designated pastures, which increases management costs and time. Another concern is unleashed dogs harassing livestock, though serious incidents are rare. Public complaints primarily involve stepping in manure or concerns about livestock in a park setting. Instances of injury caused by cattle interactions are minimal and typically resolved through insurance channels.
Overall, Watson’s review suggests that most recreational users practice common sense and follow “range etiquette.” In more rural areas, where agriculture is a familiar presence, public use and grazing operations tend to coexist without major issues. Land managers and livestock operators have historically adapted well to recreational access, and in Watson’s experience, very few leaseholders have opted out of grazing lands due to public access.
Applicability to Las Varas Ranch
Watson reviewed the Agricultural section of the Las Varas Ranch Environmental Impact Report (EIR) along with Dr. Orrin Sage’s “Las Varas Ranch Trails Analysis.” Dr. Sage identified a significant potential impact on the ranch’s cow-calf operation, particularly concerning heifer weaning and calving pastures. He suggested that these concerns warranted rerouting or limiting trail access.
However, Watson believes a more balanced solution exists. He proposes a fenced corridor along the southern edge of the heifer pastures to serve as a vegetative buffer, shielding cattle from trail users. A thirty-to-forty-foot-wide strip, enclosed with durable fencing and planted with native coastal sage scrub, would effectively separate livestock from recreational users. Given the site's gentle topography and soil conditions, the establishment of this buffer would be feasible within two to three years with minimal long-term impact on grazing operations.
Beyond the heifer pastures, the proposed trail would pass under the railroad tracks, entering areas used by mature cows that are more accustomed to human presence. Watson concludes that with proper management and minor modifications, public access can be successfully integrated with existing grazing operations at Las Varas Ranch.
Download the full report: Compatibility of Trails and Livestock at Las Varas Ranch and Elsewhere