07/11/06 Idaho Sage grouse conservation plan

Sage grouse populations have declined in parts of Idaho and the west over the past 50 years. Now, the State of Idaho and the federal government have a plan to help that species. RISCH "What we've done here is a model for collaborative conservation." During a Statehouse ceremony yesterday Governor Jim Risch signed off on an agreement that was the product of more than two years worth of effort by varied interest groups including agriculture. Led by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game the sage grouse conservation plan identified 19 threats to habitat and populations. HEMKER "We're able to gather up a lot of the existing information, put it in one place so that each local group doesn't have to go out and reinvent the wheel." Fish and Game's Tom Hemker says their next objective is finding money and getting it to local groups so they can make on-the-ground improvements. HEMKER "To find good projects. Maybe its plant sagebrush here, planting grass there, whatever it might be. There's lots of project I know local people know about and just haven't have the time and money to get it done." The number one threat to sage grouse in Idaho according to an advisory committee was wildfire. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott