Virtual Fence

In July, Gilliam County landowners near the town of Lonerock experienced a large and devastating wild-fire. The Lonerock Fire burned an estimated 137,222 acres. This fire consumed approximately 50,000 acres of grazed rangeland that supports approximately 2100 cow-calf pairs in Gillam County alone. In Gilliam County this fire occurred on 28 different entities, some of which lost nearly 100% of their grazed range-land. An initial inventory conducted by the Gilliam SWCD identified approximately 300 miles of fence within the burn boundary in Gilliam County with an estimated replacement value of roughly $9.5 million dollars. 

 

The Gilliam SWCD has worked to provide immediate assistance to these producers by implementing virtual fence systems to assist these community members until the infrastructure can be rebuilt. Additionally, these virtual fence systems will be used to respond to future fires and assist this agricultural community as well. Funding was secured through the Ford Family Foundation, Gilliam County, landowners, and GSWCD to purchase ten virtual fence systems. To date, two systems are in place, providing available grazing to 2 producers affected by fire, with more implementation planned in 2025.