Idaho Sage-Grouse ConservationCSG WestEnergy and Environment CommitteeJuly 28, 2015

Dustin T. Miller

Governor’s Office of Species

Conservation

Map?

History Greater sage-grouse has a long history of listing

petitions, federal actions, and litigation.

FWS March 2010- species warranted for listing across its entire range, but precluded because of other higher priorities.

Added to the federal list of “candidate” species.

The FWS must reevaluate the status of greater sage-grouse by September 3o, 2015.

Rangewide Threats to Greater Sage-Grouse Identified by the FWS

1. Habitat fragmentation due to:

Infrastructure/ energy development (Rocky Mountain states).

Wildfire/ Invasive species (Great Basin states).

2. Inadequate regulatory mechanisms.

Deficiencies with nearly 100 Federal Resource Management Plans (RMPs).

FWS identified multiple secondary threats- many of them localized.

The Federal Planning Effort National Sage-grouse Planning Strategy – 2011.

Secretary of the Interior’s invitation to western Governor’s to participate.

Update RMPs across 11 states.

Most sage-grouse habitat in Idaho occurs on federal land.

Governor Otter establishes a sage-grouse task force – 2012.

Governor’s plan (Alternative) for federal lands developed.

Idaho Governor’s AlternativeSage-grouse management area (4 conservation areas) with three

distinct habitat zones: Core, Important and General.

95% of the sage-grouse population in CHZ and IHZ.

Management flexibility increasing as you go from CHZ to GHZ.

Robust adaptive management process.

Primary threats addressed: wildfire, invasive species, and large-scale infrastructure.

Implementation Team for adaptive management and projects.

FWS “concurrence” on foundational elements of Alternative- April 2013.

Designated by BLM as a “co-preferred” Alternative- October 2013.

Wildfire and Invasive Species in Sage-Grouse HabitatLoss of sagebrush (and sage-grouse habitat) in the

Great Basin due to increase in fire frequency.Facilitated large by the incursion of non-native

annual greases (cheatgrass, medusahead etc).Expansion of conifer (junipers) due to changes in

wildfire return intervals. State and federal agencies contain most fires (nearly

97-98%).Those few that get away can become massive if

conditions are conducive. Thus the focus on wildfire and invasive species in

Idaho.

Holloway fire (460,811 acres) and long draw (558,198 acres) over 350 miles dozer lines- many multiple widths wideROS recorded300K acre run in one burn period- approx. 15 miles per hour

Buzzard Complex 395,747 acres

Miller Homestead Fire on Burns District same time as Long draw burned 160,801 acres

Murphy Complex fire 653,100 acres

Wildfire ActionsPrevention, suppression and restoration efforts within the Governor’s Alternative.

Rangeland Fire Protection Associations.

DOI Secretarial Order on wildfire.

Idaho BLM- juniper removal and fuel breaks projects.

Additional Idaho Conservation EffortsNRCS Sage-Grouse Initiative: Conifer removal, fence marking,

seedings, grazing system modifications, conservation easements.

In Idaho NRCS has invested $9.8 million on private land since 2010.

Plan for conservation on state endowment lands: 600,000 acres, 6% of the habitat- includes stipulations for land-use activities.

State funding commitments: lek monitoring, habitat rehab, RFPA investments, fuel breaks.

Status of the Federal Planning EffortFinal EISs and Land-use Plan Amendments released in

late May.

Significant changes between the draft and final EISs with inclusion of Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) and rule set.

Governor Otter protested and is currently completing a

consistency review of the FEIS.

Record of decision (ROD) signed in summer 2015.

Listing determination by FWS September 2015.

Why Does this All Matter?Local collaboration produces the greatest results

– people have ownership in the outcomes. Unprecedented collaboration and local

partnerships created. Significant investments have been made in Idaho

and other western states.Each state has their own unique circumstances-

thus variation in plans. Working to achieve a consistent outcome. Management and conservation better left to the

states and local partners.

QUESTIONS?