USDA to Continue Support of Greater Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2005—U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight today announced that USDA will continue support of greater sage grouse habitat efforts through voluntary conservation programs, employee training and partnership activities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Jan. 7, 2005 that the greater sage grouse does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. Populations currently exist in 11 states—California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

“The Bush Administration has responded to threats to greater sage grouse and its habitat in unprecedented ways through conservation enhancement, restoration and unique public and private partnerships to assist with population recovery,” Knight said. “These efforts have and will boost the conservation actions taken by private landowners to improve sagebrush habitat.”

The greater sage grouse is a large, round-winged bird with a long, pointed tail. Its legs are feathered to the base of the toes. The bird is found at elevations ranging from 4,000 to more than 9,000 feet and is highly dependent on sagebrush for cover and food.

NRCS is one of several federal agencies that supports voluntary greater sage grouse habitat enhancement. NRCS allocated about $2.4 million for greater sage grouse conservation in fiscal year 2004. Of that total, the agency allocated $2 million for special projects to help protect greater sage grouse habitat in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Washington through the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). Producers can use GRP to protect, restore and enhance habitat for greater sage grouse and other grassland-dependent species. NRCS also allocated $350,000 to protect greater sage grouse habitat at Parker Mountain, Utah, through the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). WHIP also helps conserve habitat for at-risk fish and wildlife.

“USDA will continue to provide cost share and technical assistance to help private landowners conserve, restore and enhance habitat for the greater sage grouse and many other species,” Knight said. “We will train NRCS’ field staff in the 11 affected states to further enhance their abilities to help landowners better manage and conserve greater sage grouse habitat.”

The agency’s greater sage grouse conservation efforts will increase significantly in fiscal year 2005. In response to Congressional language encouraging USDA to enhance its efforts for greater sage grouse conservation, NRCS will provide a minimum of $5 million through conservation programs to support greater sage grouse habitat.

In addition, NRCS is co-sponsoring a Western Governors Association conference in February 2005 to bring local groups, private landowners, conservationists and others to share knowledge, experience and data on greater sage grouse conservation. Other conference sponsors include Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Department of the Interior and North American Grouse Partnership.

NRCS will evaluate the effects of conservation practices being implemented to conserve, restore and enhance greater sage grouse habitat to assist with future conservation planning efforts.

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