The 2007 "Rancher Relief" report by the Utah Partners for Conservation & Development outlined how the fires' aftermath has affected the quality of life and public safety throughout the state.

"The long-term environmental impacts from soil erosion and flooding also remain a concern," according the most recent UPCD report.

The UPCD is made of several groups, including the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs. In its report, the UPCD called for emergency relief for farmers and ranchers.

"The rehabilitation of the lost range land will be a long-term effort," the UPCD concluded. "In the interim, ranchers are faced with either moving their animals to other land, purchasing feed to supplement what grazing land they have left, or selling off their herds temporarily or permanently."

At least 28 ranchers surveyed said they intend to sell off animals because of the wildfires' impacts. Ranchers reported that wildfires killed 299 cattle and 78 sheep in 2007, with another 1,305 head of livestock listed as "lost or dead." Ranchers estimated losing $2.3 million in fencing, corrals and water systems and needing about $3.8 million to purchase about 38,500 tons of feed for their livestock while waiting for range lands to recover.

Last year Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. declared 25 of Utah's 29 counties as disaster areas. On Aug. 21, 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted Utah a federal disaster declaration, opening up low-interest loans to impacted ranchers and farmers. The state kicked in $2 million for reseeding efforts in burned-out areas — which was in addition to the $2 million Blackham said has recently been made available.

Applicants from 11 counties sought a share of $301,000 that State Conservationist Sylvia Gillen and the Utah Natural Resource Conservation Service helped obtain to assist in regenerating tribal and private grazing lands scorched in 2007. The UPCD report stated, "Gillen expressed hope that these funds will assist the eligible producers to carry out conservation and improvement practices that will help heal and improve range conditions."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com