Sage Grouse Funding

Sage Grouse Funding

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
As part of the State of Idaho's commitment to conserving greater sage-grouse and implementing habitat actions identified in the State sage-grouse conservation strategy, $600,000 will be granted to groups and individuals to complete projects that improve habitat for this iconic western species. That's a lots of money but the sage grouse does have its advocates including Idaho Republican Congressman Mike Simpson. Here's his spokesperson Nikki Wallace.

 

In May 2015, the Governor's Office of Species Conservation (OSC) and other state agencies (Idaho Department of Lands and Idaho Department of Fish and Game) designated to implement the state's sage-grouse strategy partnered with federal agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service), as well as the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and The Nature Conservancy to create the Team. The Sage-Grouse Actions Team (Team) meets regularly to identify, prioritize, and fund projects that target the primary threats (invasive plant species and wildfire) and limiting factors to sage-grouse.

 

OSC and the Team are currently accepting project applications for this funding. Information on how to apply and the project review process are available on the OSC website: https://species.idaho.gov/greater-sage-grouse/.

 

Examples of projects covered by the funds include, but are not limited to: 

 

Exotic annual grass treatment 

Juniper removal

Fuel reduction projects 

Fuel breaks 

Offsite water development 

Wet meadow restoration

Other types of sage-grouse habitat restoration and enhancements

 

Funding proposals will be evaluated by the Team and distributed to projects that address threats to sage-grouse and are in key habitat areas. Collaborative project proposals that benefit large landscapes across state and private land, involve multiple landowners, and provide matching funds are a focus of this Request for Proposals. The Team will rank projects according to location and sage-grouse Habitat Management Areas, types of threats being addressed and the proposed solution, as well as timeline and budget. An area of focus for the Team this year are projects located in the West Owyhee Important, and the eastern portion of the Desert Important and Mountain Valleys Priority Habitat Management areas (see Application Instructions for clarification on these locations). If the project includes work on federal land, NEPA must be completed.

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