Dubya Drops the Ball on Sage Grouse

[JoseCuervo]

How come if the problem is "cattle and oil and natural gas wells" we don't address the problem? Instead, we throw pennies around to ranchers to try and solve the problem???

Dubya once again shows how little concern he has for hunters.

Ag Dept. offers funds to protect grouse


WASHINGTON — The Agriculture Department offered $2 million Thursday to help private land owners in four Western states protect the habitat of the sage grouse.

The bird, about the size of chicken, has seen its numbers thin as its territory gets crowded by homes, cattle and oil and natural gas wells .

The money will be available under the Grassland Reserve Program, which gives ranchers and farmers dollars and technical help in protecting grassland and shrubland. Those areas include the sagebrush where the birds live.

The funding might help protect tens of thousands of acres, said Bruce Knight, chief of the Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Conservation Service. It's ‘‘a small slice of money'' but a step in the right direction, he said.

The Agriculture Department said sage grouse numbers had fallen by 90 percent in 20 years. Estimates of the current population vary, but generally range from around 140,000 birds to 250,000 or more. Experts say there were as many as 2 million when in the early 19th century, when Lewis and Clark explored the West.

Environmental groups have asked the Interior Department to place the birds on its endangered species list. Doing so could sharply restrict use of 770,000 square miles in 11 states where the birds live. About 28 percent of those acres is private land.

They were skeptical about how much can be done for the sage grouse with the $500,000 that Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Washington will each get to encourage private voluntary efforts.

‘‘This is going to be a token amount in terms of actually causing change on the ground,'' said Peter Aengst, an energy policy analyst for The Wilderness Society in Bozeman.

He said stronger government action is needed, such as protecting nesting areas in spring and summer so loud noises from oil and gas wells do not frighten the birds away from their eggs.

Jim Sims, a vice president of Partnership for the West, a business group in Denver , praised the program, however. ‘‘Encouraging conservation on private land is a hard thing to do,'' he said.

 

[Ithaca 37]

The Ag Dept. is wasting 2 million bucks. Nothing more than more welfare for the ranchers. They should address the real problem.

 

[Michaelr]

Sage chicken numbers are looking alot better on on and around our property in the spencer Id. area.
sure is nice to see them doing better.

 

[Ithaca 37]

They might be doing better compared to the last five years, but how are they compared to 40 years ago? With all the habitat they've lost, there's no way they'll get back to high numbers without lots of help.

 

[Nut]

Ithaca, what are some of the ways that we as sportsman will be able to help the sage grouse rebound to a decent population?

I would like to read what others think also.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Nut, That's what 1 pointer is working on-----figuring out ways to bring back the sage grouse and aviod having to put them on the Endangered Species list. He'll be much more up-to-date than I about the latest developments. I hope he sees this topic.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Originally posted by Nut:
Ithaca, what are some of the ways that we as sportsman will be able to help the sage grouse rebound to a decent population?

I would like to read what others think also.

Nut,
In a Democracy, you would have the opportunity to provide comment, letters, meetings, etc.. to have your voice heard. But with Dubya's supsension of Democracy in this Nation (see Roadless Rule, where 90% of 2.5 million comments were in Favor, and Dubya overturned) I am no longer convinced that there is a "system" that you can work through, for the right decision to be made.

Unfortunately, also, the hunting groups (National fill-in-the-blank Federation) that promotes habitat for Elk, deer, Turkeys, Ducks, etc... are all very non-confrontational, and are unwilling to work to change policy. They are trying to keep both sides of the aisles happy, in order to raise $$$$ for conservation easements. They are unwilling to take a "take no prisoners, make no compromises" stand on any policy.

Therefore, it seems like we are only left with the Environmental groups who have a "pure" heart and purpose, and have goals to protect animals. These are the people who are leading the fight on Sage Grouse. People like Katie Fite and the Committee for High Desert, Jon Marvel and the Western Watersheds Project and a host of others who are engaged in protecting these game birds because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

If you look at the track record of many of these environmental groups, you will find they are incredibly effective at preserving species and places to hunt. And it doesn't take much to support them, as they tend to operate on pretty low budgets.

If you ever make it out West, and bring your boys, is this what you really want to see???

 

[Ithaca 37]

Here's an easy way to comment on other gummint lunacy:

http://greateryellowstone.org/take-action/action-alerts/btnf-drilling-aa1.php?

 

[Bambistew]

Hey gunner is that a picture of your ranch? Looks pristine

 

[1_pointer]

This money will do some good I think. I do know that in UT there are at least 3 working groups that I know of that are working on helping out the birds. In each of these the participants include ranchers, environmentalists, wildlife advocacy groups, fed & state agencies, and just interested public groups. The main focus is looking at the habitat and how to best meld the interests to help the birds. Lots of sagebrush removal and crunching followed by seeding is going on, which is already benefitting the birds and in the long run will help big game and livestock. I think this money will help jump start some of these groups and may enable some of the others to do projects that they didn't have funding for. One big problem these groups (that I'm aware of) are facing is that many of the treatments are also good for livestock. This then gets the attention of other groups who then work to stop the treatments. Cows and sage grouse do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Nut - If you want to help sage grouse, I'd look to support habitat based groups that are working to increase the amount and quality of sage grouse habitat. I do know TNC, Wildlife Federation, and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife are doing some of this. Another way would to buy a hunting license and go chase some!

 

[Nemont]

EG, Nut and IT,

I see the anti grazing pics all the time. For those who believe that is how all grazing allotments look you need to come out and walk the ground.

If you need a tour I would be willing to arrange one for you.

Now about Sage Grouse: Habitat loss due to farming has a much bigger impact in my area. The farming has stripped sagebrush off of a lot of the land scape. I agree that Cattle grazing also has an impact but to post pics without the context is a misleading way of making an argument.

 

[BuzzH]

Nemont, while I agree that some allotments are not in bad shape, many are.

The BLM's own estimates are that 60% are in poor condition, another 20% are functioning properly but at risk....that leaves about 20% in good condition.

Thats about the exact same figures I came up with while conducting range/riparian inventory work in MT, SD, ND, and ID.

Its equally as unfair to tour a few good allotments and say, "see, they're in good shape."

The fact is, most arent.

Oh, and I found State leases in the same states to be in better condition, but still 50-60% had major problems.

For the record, I only inventoried 3-4 hundred miles of riparian areas in each of ID, ND, and SD. Probably closer to 6 hundred miles of riparian in Montana. Grazing allotments inventoried were many thousands of acres in each state, but I couldnt tell you exactly how many.

But, it was a fairly good cross section of habitat and habitat types across 4 states, so certain conclusions could be drawn from the data.

 

[Nemont]

Buzz,

Agreed, my point is just as it is unfair to tour allotments in good shape and say all of them look like that so is posting pics that and saying all look like a moonscape.

I think you will find that I don't condone actions that degrade public land. I have no doubt you have walked the ground and understand the issues the problem is that the VAST majority of Americans do not understand the issue. I feel science should be followed. I also think politics ruins any chance of cooperation between conservationists, preservationist and cattlemen.

Nemont

 

[1_pointer]

Nemont- I agree, center pivot irrigation and associated technologies have not been good for sage grouse. I've noticed that sharptails seem less affected.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Nemont,

Would I post something out of context????

1_ptr,
Do you relly think the Conservation groups can raise enough private money to buy enough land to have big impacts??? Or are they just the "little Dutch Boy, sticking a finger in the dike"?

If you raise a $100k, you can buy a 40 acre ranch.... or, for the same $100k, you can file a half Dozen lawsuits, tie up 40 BLM employees, and win the case all the way to the Supreme Court effecting policies and rules on a national scale.

1-PT and Nemont
How come the corners of the Pivots aren't even better habitat for the Sage Grouse???

 

[1_pointer]

'Gunner- Right now, the groups that I'm familiar with aren't looking at buying land, but working with current land owners to improve their land for sage grouse. So, far it's been working well, but it is still a bit early in the process. The problem in No. UT is not the lack of sagebrush, but too much of it and the lack of grass/forbs. Thus, the local landowners are receptive in doing the treatments on their land, as more grass/forbs is better for livestock as well. IMO, working with the landowners to instill a bit of a 'conservation ethic' in regards to sage grouse will be better in the long run. I've been pleasantly suprised by the landowners that I've been working with in their dedication and willingness to help out the sage grouse. I think they see the writing on the wall as to what could happen if the bird was listed range wide. They'd be out on their ear, so instead they're working with the DWR, environmentalists, wildlife advocates, and fed agency to be proactive.

That $100K will allow you to file 1/2 doz. lawsuits, untill you don't win one!

The hay fields provide good cover, but the corners alone don't provide near enough hiding cover for chicks or thermal cover during winter. Sagebrush is a VERY important component for sage grouse other than as feed.

 

[JoseCuervo]

1+Ptr,

If you file a 1/2 dozen suits, and make 40 claims per suit, you only have to get 1 claim to stick. Those are pretty easy odds. Look at that picture above, and try and tell me that I could not convince a judge somewhere, that the agency that allows that to happen is not following the ESA on a threatened specie.

My guess is the "enlightened" ranchers who are working with the enviros are gonna go extinct, and the ranches will be bought by rich Californians and managed as play toys. All a wild card then...

 

[1_pointer]

'Gunner- That's true about the suits/claims, but wouldn't you rather have range con's out policing the public lands than making copies? I know I would! However, I'm finding the settlement process to be good for both sides and that's where many of the lawsuits in No. UT seem to be heading. Give some, take some, and make sure all are equally dis-satisfied!

Just think of the brush crunching, prescribed burning, and reseeding you could do on public lands for $100K! That would help out deer, pronghorns, and sage grouse quite abit.

 

[MarvB]

ranches will be bought by rich Californians and managed as play toys

gee Gunner...you wouldn't "stereotype" now would ya Why wouldn't these ranches be bought by Coloradans? After all they have a higher per capita personal income. I actually enjoy reading the info you bring to the table (along with that of most the other folks here) but would like to see it a little more often without the "insult" shot over the bow for effect.

 

[Bambistew]

Hey gunner... you signing up for this welfare progam? Being how it will directly bennifit you, does that make you a welfare rancher? Oh I think it does.