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AZ delegation wants Salt River horse progress

Posted at 5:55 AM, Dec 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-05 07:55:08-05

Arizona's entire congressional delegation is calling on U.S. agriculture officials to look into an ongoing effort to protect wild horses along the Salt River.

Rep. Matt Salmon's office says the state's nine congressional representatives sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Friday.

The panel wants Vilsack to find out why the U.S. Forest Service has not followed up on plans to consult with people in the state about a management plan for the horses.

Conservationists protested federal officials' plans in August to remove and possibly auction up to 100 wild horses from the Tonto National Forest.

The Forest Service halted the round-up.

Officials said they hoped to work with the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and other stakeholders on an alternative strategy.