Grazing sheep return to Chino Hills for 11th year
A part of Chino Hills' "green" weed abatement program, 1,800 sheep began munching this week in the open space area adjacent to Hidden Trails Elementary School.
The sheep add to city's efforts to mitigate wildfire danger in the open space. They will graze in the areas where the terrain is very steep and more difficult for city crews to work.
The partnership with sheepherder Vincente Narganes is a win-win situation. While his flock gets to graze in areas abundant in vegetation, the city saves about $11,250 in yearly weed abatement costs, which adds up to $200,000 over the program's history.
The sheep will continue to graze their way toward the northern city limits over the next several months and will be moved out of the open space when the remaining weeds turn brown.
Periodically the city also employs the goats to munch on the low-growing chaparral such as the laurel sumac. Grazing cattle can be found on 270 acres in the Village Oaks area and grazing horses enjoy 155 acres in the Butterfield Ranch area.
Narganes resides in a small trailer on the grazing site and together with his border collies tends the sheep during the day and pens them at night.
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