ShareTrails | Sage Grouse Proposals Threaten Restrictions Across Millions of Acres

There has been a long debate over the Sage Grouse with environmental advocates pushing to have the species listed under the Endangered Species Act. In order to prevent an endangered species listing, a Sage Grouse Land Use Plan was developed. The Bureau of Land Management created this plan in 2015 in order to protect the species and its habitat, which has kept it off of the endangered list. The species still has yet to be listed, therefore the BLM is not required to treat Sage Grouse and its habitat as endangered or threatened, and should not be managing land as such. The plan was amended in 2019 and the BLM is proposing additional amendments. This will affect the states of California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. It includes 77 resource management plans across these states and 69 million acres. Comments will be accepted through June 13, 2024. You can read the environmental impact statement as well as the proposal to address habitat changes. One concern is it would designate millions of acres as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). ACEC’s are historically restrictive, have closed roads, and shut down access for all types of users.

The pressures and effects on Sage Grouse vary state by state. The BLM should not be creating a broad land use plan that is restrictive in nature that will affect users who are not proven to have a significant negative impact on the species. One size fits all will not be beneficial to the species. Although studies have shown a decrease in the population, research shows that this is due in part by wildfires and urbanization. The Sage Grouse are being used as a pawn in a greater scheme to control more of our federal land even when the species population levels and health do not warrant listing.

Submit a comment below to the BLM:

Alternative 2-no action

Alternative 1- 2015 Approved RMPAs

Alternative 3- Most restrictive, BLM would designate 11,139,472 acres of ACECs

Alternative 4- mixture of 1 and 3.

Alternative 5- BLM preferred alternative.

Alternative 6- The same as alternative 5 but would designate ACEC’s.

Public Meetings:

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – 1 pm MDT | Virtual

Pre-register

Thursday, April 11, 2024, 6 – 8 pm  | Billings, MT

BLM Montana State Office | 5001 Southgate Dr., Billings MT 59101, Main Conference Room

Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 6 – 8 pm | Reno, NV

Nugget Casino Resort | 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks NV 89431, Cascade Room

Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 6 – 8 pm | Craig, CO

Colorado Northwestern Community College | 2801 W. 9th St., Craig CO 81625, Library

Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 6 – 8 pm | Lakeview, OR

BLM Lakeview District Office | 1301 South G St., Lakeview OR 97630, Meeting Room

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 5 – 7 pm | Cheyenne, WY

Laramie County Library | 2200 Pioneer Ave., Cheyenne WY 82009

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 5 – 7 pm | Boise, ID

Silverstone Amenity Center | 3405 E. Overland Rd., Meridian ID 83642

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 6 – 8 pm | Ontario, OR

Four Rivers Cultural Center | 676 SW 5th Ave., Ontario OR 97914

Monday, April 22, 2024, 5 – 7 pm | Rock Springs, WY

White Mountain Library | 2935 Sweetwater Dr. Rock Springs, WY 82901

Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 5 – 7 pm | Worland, WY

Washakie County Library | 801 Big Horn Ave., Worland WY 82401

Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 6 – 8 pm | Salt Lake City, UT

BLM Utah State Office | 440 W 200 S, Suite 500, Salt Lake City UT 84101, Monument Room

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 5 – 7 pm | Casper, WY

Agricultural Resource Learning Center | 2011 Fairgrounds Rd., Casper WY 82604, Midwest Edgerton Room

Thursday, April 25, 2024 – 6 pm MDT | Virtual

Pre-register