Feds extend comment period on Gunnison sage-grouse

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Will political meddling outweigh conservation science?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed designating about 1.7 million acres of critical habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse in Colorado and Utah.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed designating about 1.7 million acres of critical habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse in Colorado and Utah.

Gunnison sage-grouse. Photo courtesy BLM.

Gunnison sage-grouse. Photo courtesy BLM.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — With only about 4,000 to 5,000 Gunnison sage-grouse left in a few population pockets in Utah and Colorado, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided in January to list the birds as an endangered species. At the same time, the federal agency proposed designating about 1.7 million acres of critical habitat for the birds.

The announcement elicited a critical response from state wildlife officials and local stakeholders, who say they’ve developed locally based conservation plans that will help protect the birds.

Since then, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and other lawmakers have urged the USFWS to extend the public comment period on the listing and critical habitat proposals to give affected communities more time to weigh in on the federal plans. (more…)

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Biodiversity: Feds proposed endangered species listing, critical habitat designation for rare Gunnison sage-grouse

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Colorado wildlife officials disappointed by listing proposal

Colorado Gunnison Sage-grouse critical habitat map

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed designating about 1.7 million acres of critical habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse in Colorado and Utah.

Gunnison sage-grouse

A male Gunnison sage-grouse struts as part of its spring mating ritual. Photo courtesy BLM.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite ongoing voluntary conservation measures, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said this week that the best available science indicates that the Gunnison sage-grouse is in danger of extinction and needs protection under the Endangered Species Act.

By some estimates, there are only about 4,000 to 5,000 of the iconic western birds remaining, scattered in eight small population pockets in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. As a result, the USFWS has proposed listing the species as endangered and also proposed designating about 1.7 million acres of critical habitat.

The proposal triggers a 60-day public comment period, with input due by March 12. The agency will also hold a series of public meetings to take input from residents and landowners in areas that could be affected by the listing. The meetings will likely be held in Gunnison, Montrose, Delta and Cortez, Colorado, or in Monticello, Utah and will be advertised at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State Parks, endangered species, Environment | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

No federal protection for Gunnison sage-grouse

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

No endangered species listing for Gunnison sage-grouse. PHOTO COURTESY COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE.

Conservation groups frustrated with Obama administration’s lack of progress on endangered species protection

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — In a setback for a rare Colorado bird, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists said Monday the Gunnison sage grouse won’t get protection under the Endangered Species Act — even though the species qualifies for listing, and existing conservation measures don’t go far enough.

Gunnison sage grouse live only in a few isolated areas in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. The federal agency said the species qualifies for listing based on the best available scientific information, but claimed it lacks the resources to finalize a listing rule, and that other species are in greater need of protection. Best estimates indicated there are only about 4,000 breeding individuals left.

The federal agency acknowledged that state and local collaborative conservation efforts are not adequate to address the threats to the bird. Research shows the birds need large expanses of unfragmented blocks of sagebrush habitat. Residential development, road building and oil and gas drilling are the main threats to  Gunnison sage grouse habitat. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, endangered species, Environment, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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