HIGH COUNTRY CONSERVATION

 

Helping you protect soil, water, air, wildlife and our way of life

 

Laramie Rivers Conservation District

Spring 2011 Edition                      Volume 22, No 2

SAGE GROUSE INITIATIVE

By Tony Hoch

 

As many of you are aware, people in Wyoming have been working very hard the past few years on developing conservation measures to keep the Greater Sage Grouse off of the Endangered Species list.  A listing could adversely affect the state’s economy, customs and culture.  Efforts began with local working groups throughout the state which included landowners, state and federal agencies, conservation groups and industry representatives.  These resulted in the Governor Freudenthal’s “core population area” strategy, which was first released in 2008 and then revised in 2010.  The strategy of designating and protecting core areas is a model for western states who wish to be proactive in sage grouse conservation. 

The focus in core areas is to maintain and enhance Greater Sage Grouse habitats, populations, and connectivity.  Existing land use activities in core areas are recognized by the state and are not to be managed under the core area strategy.

The idea of protecting existing uses while encouraging proactive conservation measures is also being promoted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service through its Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances or the CCAA program.  On February 22 a workshop was held by the Medicine Bow Conservation District and co-sponsored by conservation districts in Laramie and Saratoga to get information out on options for landowners who want to help protect their private property rights as well the sage grouse.  The idea is that if the landowner takes the proactive step of participating in the CCAA program, he will not be restricted in his practices should the Greater Sage Grouse be listed.  While this program may not be for everyone, we want landowners in core areas to know that it will soon be available as an “insurance policy” should the bird be put on the Endangered Species List.  Under the CCAA ranchers are asked to identify threats on their property, which are within their control, and then work to put forth conservation measures to address these threats.  Threats include weeds, concentrated livestock areas and overgrazing, and power poles which could be eliminated if solar stock pumps were installed.  Conservation measures could include reseeding native grasses and improving grazing management.  It would be possible to combine conservation measures pledged under the CCAA with Farm Bill programs offered by the NRCS.

 

The CCAA is completely voluntary and something that can be canceled by the participants at anytime should they see the need to do so.  We at LRCD will continue to monitor the progress of the CCAA program for sage grouse and make the latest information available for the people we serve in Albany County.  Please call or stop by if you would like to discuss any of these initiatives or if you would like a current Greater Sage Grouse core area map for Albany County.

April 29-30th     Annual Tree Sale

May 30th                    Office Closed Memorial Day

Other workshops listed throughout publication