News: Revised Oregon Sage Grouse Plan available for review
July 20, 2010
SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today released a five-year update to the greater sage-grouse conservation plan for public review. The revision of the document, Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon, builds on the original 2005 plan and includes accomplishments to date, refined population estimates, core-area mapping and mitigation recommendations.
“The new mapping effort lets us take a strategic look at priority habitats,” said Christian Hagen, ODFW Sage-Grouse Conservation Coordinator and lead author of the plan. “We now have solid data to use as a benchmark going forward.”
An important addition to the plan is categorization of sagebrush habitat based on sage-grouse lek (breeding ground) density and habitat connectivity. Category one habitats are proposed as “no development;” category two habitats are recommended as limited development with “no net loss with net benefit.”
The draft plan is available to view on ODFW’s website. Request a print copy from the Wildlife Division, ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97303.
Written comments will be accepted through Oct. 1, but to be included in the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission information briefing materials, comments must be received by Aug. 17. They can be mailed to the headquarters’ address or e-mailed to sage.grouse@state.or.us.
Topics: Sagegrouse, Sage Steppe,
