Dude built an unpermitted fence to (1) prevent legal access by neighbors and (2) redirect local wildlife near a wildlife refuge from water sources on his property. Typical rich-guy-thinks-he's-above-the-law horse hockey.
Land grant laws supercede current regulations by over 2 centuries.
private landowners do have rights and if they want security to prevent trespassing, that is for them to determine if that cost is worth it. There are entire massive gated communities around the country that certainly have an impact on a lot of things such as wildlife. This landowner could very easily do the same thing that is done along the interstate and provide wildlife crossings to remove that concern. As far as the impact on the local water? Give me a break. A single dozer track along a fence line is going to impact water flow and runoff in such a significant amount that there are noticeable changes. Fires and clear cutting forests sure. Not a 20 foot path, temporary even as it will all grow back unlike a road, is a joke.
yes, knowing that does cloud the situation a little bit but as long as there is access granted somewhere, not sure exactly how that is any different than how you and I can't cross private property to reach BLM land even though its the way shorter than walking in 10 miles from the other direction
As @TOGIE notes below, the neighboring private landowners also have certain rights to cross through the property.
