The city of Pendleton marks its 10th year of prescriptive grazing this month as goats arrive on city-owned properties. Goats are expected to be on the Umatilla River, visible from the Pendleton River Parkway, in about two weeks.
Since 2012, the city has contracted to bring in prescriptive livestock – in this case, goats – to cut down unwanted vegetation on city-owned properties that are difficult to maintain.
Prescriptive grazing helps to reduce fuel loads and open up views of the Umatilla River, while also helping with weed control and keeping the city in compliance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rehabilitation Inspection Program. Grazing also provides better ability to inspect the levee, storm water outfalls and overall conditions of storm drainage.
This year, prescriptive grazing will happen on 56.60 acres of city-owned properties, and more than half of that property is along the levees on the Umatilla River. Viewing the goats has become a community activity while the goats are visible from the Pendleton River Parkway, so this year, the city of Pendleton will be issuing weekly “Goat Watch 2022” social media posts. The “Goat Watch 2022” will give residents and visitors an idea of where to view the goats during levee grazing.
In April, the city awarded a five-year contract for goat grazing services to Jerry Knopf. The funding for grazing along the levee comes from the city’s sewer fund. The grazing activities are not designed for prescriptive vegetative maintenance activities, as this would require a spraying program, different timing for grazing the levee system and a much higher cost.
To participate in Goat Watch 2022, follow the city of Pendleton on Facebook and Instagram.
