Colorado: BLM taking comments on sage grouse study

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Greater sage grouse. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. FOREST SERVICE.

Open house meetings set to take input in early stages of environmental study

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — As part of a larger regional effort, The Bureau of Land Management’s Northwest Colorado District will begin a district-wide greater sage-grouse planning effort with four open house meetings to hear from the public.

More than 1.8 million acres of Colorado’s greater sage-grouse habitat is on BLM lands in the Northwest District — almost half of the entire greater sage-grouse habitat in the state.

To incorporate new national sage grouse conservation measures in the region, the BLM will do an in-depth environmental impact statement for the five field offices within the District: the Colorado River Valley Field Office in Silt, the Grand Junction Field Office, the Kremmling Field Office, the Little Snake Field Office in Craig and the White River Field Office in Meeker. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, BLM, Colorado, endangered species, Environment, public lands, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Biodiversity: BLM to use local data for wildlife planning

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A fox in Breckenridge, Colorado. PHOTO BY DYLAN BERWYN.

Feds look for efficiencies in conservation efforts

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Since wildlife doesn’t recognize the lines on a map that represent political boundaries, it’s important for conservation biologists to know how wild animals move on a regional level.

A new initiative from the Western Governors’ Association may help with those large-scale planning efforts, according to the Bureau of Land Management, which last week announced that it will use state and regional data and maps to help it identify wildlife corridors and crucial habitat.

The maps will be available for the BLM to use as a result of the Western Wildlife Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool, known as “CHAT,” an initiative of the Western Governors’ Association. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, federal government, Summit County news, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

CDOW buys 940-acre Grand County ranch

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has bought a 940 acre ranch in Grand County to help protect wildlife habitat and ensure access to a public shooting range.

Market value buy will protect wildlife movement corridors, sage grouse habitat

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A 940-acre land purchase by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Grand County will protect an important east-west migratory corridor for deer and elk and sagebrush steppe that provides significant habitat for greater sage-grouse. The acquisition of the Grand View Ranch will also assure the future of a public shooting range in Grand County.

The purchase of the Grand View Ranch property was approved by the Colorado General Assembly‘s Capital Development Committee and finalized by the Colorado Wildlife Commission. The property opened for hunters in time for the current big game hunting seasons. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Environment, Summit County Colorado, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Wildlife commission to finalize big game licenses

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Bob Berwyn
Mule deer in Colorado

Colorado mule deer. PHOTO COURTESY COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE.

Audio coverage of meeting available online; agenda also includes presentation on sage grouse conservation

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Hunters can tune in on the web Thursday, May 6, when the Colorado Wildlife Commission will finalize all 2010 limited, big game license numbers for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear and moose at its regular meeting in Glenwood Springs.

The meeting is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. at the Ramada Inn and Suites, 124 W. 6th St.

The wildlife commission will also hear a presentation on Colorado sage-grouse conservation and research by Division of Wildlife staff and finalize provisions related to Division of Wildlife properties. Regulations will be established on newly opened properties State Wildlife Areas at Andrick Ponds, Paddock, Reddy, Tomichi Creek and Van Tuyl.

The Commission will also look to provide additional public-land turkey hunting opportunity by extending the closing dates on various State Trust Lands until May 31.

Also on the agenda are several regulations at the draft stage including the modification of the Landowner Pilot Program in Game Management Unit 1, and annual changes to gurbearers and small game regulations.

You can listen to live audio feeds of the meetings by clicking on the “listen to audio” link on the “Wildlife Commission” web page during the meeting. Broadcasts are only available during the meeting.

To view the entire agenda for the May Commission Meeting, please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is an 11-member board appointed by the governor. The Commission sets Division of Wildlife regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife, nongame, threatened and endangered species. The Commission also oversees Division of Wildlife land purchases and property regulations.

For more news about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us/news/index.asp?DivisionID=3

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us

Filed under: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Summit County Colorado, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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