BLM Amends Management Plans for Sage-Grouse Habitat

A 2021 U.S. Geological Survey study revealed a staggering 80 percent decline in the greater sage-grouse population since 1965. Nearly 40 percent of that decline has occurred since 2002.

Now, the Bureau of Land Management is responding by building on previous sage-grouse management plans to account for updated findings and provide more robust protections for the species while allowing for continued multiple use on BLM lands.

In March 2024, the BLM outlined six options for moving forward. “Alternatives in the proposal build on the most successful components of the plans that the BLM adopted in 2015 and updated in 2019,” the agency wrote. “The draft plan incorporates new sage-grouse conservation science and lessons learned, accommodating changing resources conditions while increasing implementation flexibility.” 

The alarming trend in sage-grouse populations has the public concerned, according to a June 2024 Pew Charitable Trusts poll showing strong voter support for enhanced protections for the species.

The poll of over 600 participants showed strong public support for increasing sage-grouse protections. More than 90 percent of respondents said protecting the bird’s habitat is somewhat or very important.

“The BLM is amending its sage-grouse plans, originally developed in 2015, to consider new science—including the effects of increasing temperatures and other stressors on the bird—in determining how best to conserve sage-grouse habitat on public lands across 10 Western states,” Pew reported.

Pat Deibert, national sage-grouse conservation coordinator for BLM, told Mountain Journal  the agency is currently sifting through around 38,000 public comments on its draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, and is tweaking its final EIS, which, she said, will be released sometime in September. Deibert is hopeful there will be a Record of Decision for each state by the end of the year. 

The amendment addresses updates to RMPs across California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

“We will release the final EIS, and then work with each individual state,” Deibert said. “This is an overarching, range-wide EIS, but [one that] recognizes ecological differences across the ranges and state-specific circumstances.”  

Deibert said the main topics addressed in the updates include connective populations to maintain genetic flow across ranges, climate issues, and conserving the right habitats.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mountain Journal is a nonprofit, public-interest journalism organization dedicated to covering the wildlife and wild lands of Greater Yellowstone. We take pride in our work, yet to keep bold, independent journalism free, we need your support. Please donate here. Thank you.