Lawsuits prompt bill to count Montana sage grouse

January 19, 2017 by Laura Lundquist

As January draws to a close, it won’t be long until male sage grouse once again strut across their historic breeding grounds in hopes of attracting a mate. A Montana legislator wants biologists to count all those birds, because the species faces an uncertain future as state and federal lawmakers fight the rules created to encourage the bird’s survival.

More than a year ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided the sage grouse did not need Endangered Species Act protection, but the ruling was based on all the management plans created by state and federal agencies to conserve the species. More than half the remaining sage grouse live on national forest and BLM public lands, so federal sage grouse plans are key to the survival of the species.

Alternatives proposed in BLM mining ban to benefit sage grouse

January 02, 2017 by Laura Lundquist

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is moving ahead with a proposal to stop future mining development on more than 10 million acres of federal sage grouse habitat.

On Friday, the BLM released its draft environmental impact statement of the ramifications of freezing all future mining claims on federal land in six states, including Montana. That starts the clock on a comment period that will close on March 30. It’s the second chance for the public to comment, the first being the scoping period that occurred in late 2015.

Sage grouse team chooses projects for mitigation bank

May 24, 2016 by Laura Lundquist

As Montana tries to preserve sage grouse habitat, agency leaders must decide which conservation projects would best help the bird in the future.

On Tuesday, the Sage Grouse Oversight Team met to review the first nine applicants for the new Sage Grouse Stewardship Fund Grant Program. The Stewardship Fund provides competitive funding for voluntary, incentive-based conservation on private lands in important sage grouse habitat.

FWP gets sage-grouse transplant approval

January 14, 2016 by Laura Lundquist

This spring, 40 Montana sage grouse hens will be looking for love in Canada.

On Thursday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission voted to approve the transplant of 40 sage grouse to Alberta, Canada, as part of an effort to bolster Canadian populations. The 3-1 vote went against a recommendation made by the legislative Environmental Quality Council on Wednesday to ban all such transplants for the next three years.

Legislators urge ban on sage-grouse transplants out-of-state

January 13, 2016 by Laura Lundquist

Montana legislators are asking for a three-year ban on transplants of sage grouse outside the state.

On Wednesday, after another fractious discussion of sage grouse conservation efforts in Montana, Sen. John Brendan, R-Scobey, proposed that the legislative Environmental Quality Council send a letter to Gov. Steve Bullock and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks asking for a three-year moratorium on sending sage grouse out of state. The letter passed on a 10-5 vote.

Update: BLM extends comment period for mining ban

November 17, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

The Bureau of Land Management has extended public comment on plans to ban any new mining on critical sage grouse habitat.

BLM considers mining ban to conserve sage grouse in Montana

October 09, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

The Department of the Interior would ban new mining operations to save the sage grouse on public land, but the public will be allowed to weigh in.

On Sept. 24, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service announced the temporary ban on new mining claims on lands critical to sage grouse survival in six Western states.

Gov. Bullock amends Montana's sage grouse conservation plan

September 09, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

Montana is following Wyoming’s lead when it comes to sage grouse conservation, as evidenced by a new executive order from Gov. Steve Bullock.

At Wednesday’s Environmental Quality Council meeting, legislative research analyst Hope Stockwell explained to legislators the various amendments that the governor signed Tuesday night to bolster Montana’s sage grouse conservation strategy.

Federal, state funding streamlined to conserve sage grouse on private land

July 20, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

Montana has taken a unique step toward conserving a bird that has much of the West scrambling to head off an endangered species listing.

On Monday, Gov. Steve Bullock signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Montana, Inc. to streamline funding for private efforts to conserve sagebrush on Montana’s rangelands.

The memorandum of understanding, the first of its kind in the West, seeks to focus conservation efforts on priority habitat and make it easier for Montana landowners to get a portion of the federal money set aside for sage grouse conservation.

Politicians seek to block September sage-grouse decision

June 16, 2015 by Laura Lundquist

When industries could be affected, politicians use legislation to block environmental laws or stall science-based decisions. Such is the case with sage-grouse survival as a Sept. 30 deadline approaches for a U.S. Fish and Wildlife decision.

Members of Congress are proposing amendments to at least two pieces of legislation to prohibit or at least delay a USFWS decision on whether the sage grouse should be listed under the Endangered Species Act.