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BLM’s Final Greater Sage Grouse Plan Amendments Will Direct Management Across 10 Western States
TRCP emphasizes the need to finalize plans, turn to implementation to advance conservation on the ground
(Washington, D.C.)—The Bureau of Land Management has announced its final greater sage grouse plan amendments that will guide management of 65 million acres of sage grouse habitat across 10 Western states.
“After more than a decade of collaboration between federal and state agencies, private landowners, industry and NGOs to revise management plans to conserve the greater sage grouse, we thank the BLM for their efforts to finalize these amendments,” said Madeleine West, interim vice president of Western conservation for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This milestone must be a marker that ends the cycles of planning and moves attention back to on-the-ground management to benefit the sagebrush ecosystem and the Western communities that rely on it.”
Since 2012, the BLM has engaged in three separate planning efforts to amended management plans to conserve the greater sage grouse and its habitat for the purpose of preventing the need for federal protections under the Endangered Species Act. The first set of plan amendments were finalized in 2015 in tandem with a determination by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the greater sage grouse did not warrant ESA protections. This effort was a result of unprecedented collaboration between state and federal agencies, private landowners, industry and NGOs. The BLM initiated a new round of planning in 2018 to enhance cooperation and improve alignment with the state plans or management strategies. Legal deficiencies found in those plans, finalized in 2020, required the BLM to initiate this latest cycle of plan amendments, now for the third time.
The planning area for the BLM’s plan amendments is nearly 121 million acres of sagebrush ecosystem – the largest terrestrial biome in the Lower 48 at over 165 million acres across the West. It is home to the iconic greater sage grouse as well as 350 other fish and wildlife species, many of which are game species valued for the hunting and fishing opportunity they allow. A 2022 U.S. Geological Survey report revealed that half of the original sagebrush ecosystem has been lost at a rate of approximately 1.3 million acres each year over the last two decades. Numerous fish and wildlife species depend upon this ecosystem, but so do rural economies such as agriculture, hunting and fishing and outdoor recreation, which makes reversing the decline a priority for all Westerners.
“With these new plans, the BLM has removed some poison pills that existed in the 2015 plans, retained important changes included in the plans finalized in 2020 to respect state authorities, and incorporated updated science to reflect our improved understanding of ecosystem needs over the last decade,” added West. “TRCP looks forward to working with the BLM, state agencies, and other public land users to implement these plans in a durable, lasting manner that has the greatest positive impact on sage grouse and Western communities.”
The BLM is accepting protests on the plan until December 16, 2024. Documents are available on the agency’s eplanning website.
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
Wyoming Land Board Votes to Move $100 Million Sale of Iconic Kelly Parcel to Grand Teton National Park Forward
Wyoming sportspeople thank Governor Gordon, Auditor Racines, and Treasurer Meier for supporting school children and iconic big game migrations.
(Cheyenne Wyoming) — Wyomingites are celebrating a crucial step forward in conserving the outstanding wildlife values of the Kelly Parcel with the State Board of Land Commissioners approval of a $100 million sale to Grand Teton National Park. The sale, which will generate a windfall for public education, was authorized by the Wyoming legislature during the 2024 legislative session pending the Governor’s favorable review of the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RS RMP). It has broad support from citizens across the state including a coalition of nine hunting and angling organizations.
“The Kelly parcel contains the longest known pronghorn migration route in the world, numerous elk migrations, winter range for bighorn sheep and moose, and native cutthroat trout habitat,” said Josh Metten, Wyoming field manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Selling this parcel to Grand Teton is a win for Wyoming school children, and for its outstanding wildlife resources including the ability to hunt and fish on the parcel in perpetuity.”
The 640-acre parcel, located adjacent to Grand Teton National Park, is managed by the Office of State Lands and Investments to optimize revenues for public education. The sale of the Kelly Parcel is estimated to generate over a billion dollars in compound interest revenue in the future, according to a recent analysis by the Treasurer’s office.
“Wyomingites have spoken loud and clear that they want the Kelly parcel preserved for future generations,” said Metten. “The TRCP and our coalition of Wyoming Sportspeople are grateful to Governor Gordon, Auditor Racines, and Treasurer Meier for endorsing the desire of local stakeholders to meet the financial needs of our students while conserving this iconic parcel.”
The Governor’s final authorization of the sale will come after the Record of Decision is released for the Rock Springs RMP, which is expected by the end of the year. Supporters are invited to thank the Governor, Auditor, and Treasurer at the following email addresses:
- State Treasurer: Curt.meier@wyo.gov
- Governor: Mark.gordon@wyo.gov
- State Auditor: Kristi.racines@wyo.gov
Learn more about TRCPs Wyoming migration work here.
Photo Credit: Josh Metten
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
TRCP Partners Receive Over $275 Million for Habitat Creation and Enhancement
Hunters and anglers should expect serious benefits from these projects over the next several years and beyond.
On October 23rd, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced $1.5 billion of funding awards through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The RCPP uses a public-private partnership model to deliver voluntary, incentive-based conservation in ways that neither NRCS nor partners could do on their own. This year’s awards are at an unprecedented level, with $300 million being available through a traditional Farm Bill model and a staggering $1.2 billion provided by the Inflation Reduction Act for climate-smart activities.
Lead partners on this year’s awards include universities, Tribes, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Many, if not all, of the projects will improve wildlife habitat and water quality in one way or another, but hunters and anglers should be particularly excited about those projects led by TRCP partners. As part of their mission, TRCP partners demonstrate a commitment to creating, enhancing, and protecting habitat, supporting access, and more. Funding these groups means better opportunities for hunters and anglers nationwide.
Of the 92 awarded projects this year, 16 are led by TRCP partners or their state-level affiliates, and these alone add up to over $275 million of conservation work. An additional 21 projects are led by members of the Land Trust Alliance, a TRCP partner. Several others are led by informal partners we work with regularly, and many more by others but include our Policy Council members as supporting partners.
So, what will this actually accomplish? Here are a few examples:
- Our partners at Tall Timbers will receive $25 million to use practices like prescribed fire and forest stand improvement to enhance upland forest habitat for species like bobwhite quail.
- Trout Unlimited will receive over $14 million to build habitat through stream restoration in the Salt River of Wyoming and its tributaries.
- The Conservation Fund will protect 100,000 acres of Montana grasslands at high risk of conversion with its $25 million award.
- The Nature Conservancy and its state level affiliates in Idaho and Maine will support climate-smart forest management in Maine and New Hampshire, protect forests and grasslands in Idaho and South Dakota, improve water quality in Indiana, improve fish passages in Maine, and reduce methane emissions from dairy cattle. These projects will total over $102 million.
- Ducks Unlimited will lead two projects totaling over $31 million, restoring wetlands and grasslands in Illinois and protecting waterfowl wintering habitat in California.
- Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever will restore rangelands in the Colorado River Basin of Arizona, enhance grasslands and associated wildlife migration corridors in Montana, and manage invasive Eastern Red Cedar in South Dakota with its $73.9 million across three projects.
- The Trust for Public Land will create habitat while supporting military readiness by permanently protecting 100,000 acres of working lands in the Colorado Springs area with their $19.4 million award.
“Active land stewardship, guided by science and fueled by a passion for hunting, has led to the remarkable success of regions like the Red Hills, with their thriving wild quail populations and high biodiversity,” said Shane Wellendorf, Director of Tall Timbers’ Land Conservancy. “The RCPP award enables Tall Timbers to reach a broader range of landowners, implementing critical conservation practices such as frequent prescribed fire. These practices build on past successes and conserve wildlife corridors, mitigate wildfire risks, and bolster forest resilience.”
“The $14 million Salt River Watershed Restoration Project will restore aquatic and riparian habitat, reduce streambank erosion, restore habitat connectivity, and sequester carbon in the Salt River and its tributaries through stream restoration, grazing management, and agricultural infrastructure projects,” said Tanner Belknap, Salt River watershed manager at Trout Unlimited. “This is a huge win for the entire Salt River Basin, and we are thankful to the NRCS for this funding, which will allow us to reconnect and restore habitat for the Snake River cutthroat trout, improve the health of the watershed, and increase partner coordination around watershed priorities.”
Hunters and anglers should expect serious benefits from these projects over the next several years and beyond, and we are working to make sure that conservation programs like the RCPP continue. Learn more about how you can help HERE.
Top photo by USDA via flickr
The Mississippi’s Massive Catfish, Tasty Drums & Bountiful Crabs: Video Compilation
See what happened when TRCP brought a group of talented river anglers with prominent online followings to check off a multitude of fishing wish-list items
TRCP recently hosted several well-known, river-savvy angling influencers on a two-day fishing and crabbing excursion on the Mississippi River, to talk about the importance of restoring the functionality of the river, throughout the basin from the Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota. The video-makers got an up-close look at freshwater and sediment diversions to see firsthand how effective they are at improving productivity and rebuilding land being lost to subsidence, rising seas, and battering from hurricanes.
Particularly near the river’s confluence with Neptune Pass, the group got into a bevy of black drum, sheepshead, catfish, redfish, speckled trout, and blue crabs. Chris Macaluso, TRCP’s director of marine fisheries, said that he was impressed by how everyone who attended was already aware of how important a naturally flowing river is for the best angling opportunities.
“Buras, Louisiana, in the fall can be one of the most incredible places in the world to fish because the Mississippi River and its passes and connected marshes are teeming with fresh and saltwater fish, ducks, alligators, crabs, and shrimp,” Macaluso said. “For some, it was their first chance to fish in the river where it meets the Gulf of Mexico and catch redfish and giant catfish with massive ocean-going ships passing by and migrating ducks landing all around. While they hadn’t seen the river at that scale and talked about connecting that much water and sediment into coastal wetlands, all had a story about some of their home waters and how much better the fishing is in rivers that continue to interact with floodplains and support wetland habitats.”
Check out the resulting videos below.
Cole & Jay
Cole and Jay Harken, based in Arkansas, are a husband/wife duo with a passion for wildlife, nature, and fishing in particular who post weekly outdoor content that focuses on freshwater angling as well as interesting wildlife encounters and traditional Southern sporting endeavors like frog gigging.
Marsh Man Masson
Todd Masson is and outdoor writer and lifelong fisherman who travels Louisiana’s Gulf Coast and beyond seeking speckled trout, redfish, flounder, bass, and other sportfish and panfish. His videos offer techniques and locations to help other anglers mimic his success and introduce viewers to local guides. With a mind for conservation, Masson also has been featured in several collaborations with TRCP.
Outside the Levees
This YouTube channel, hosted by Jared Serignè, features hunting and fishing adventures in South Louisiana “outside the levees” of the Mississippi River. The channel offers many videos focusing on targeting invasive species and cultural traditions like shrimping, crabbing, and alligator hunting, with an emphasis on the catch-and-cook mentality.
River Certified
Based in Iowa, Spencer Bauer’s posts on River Certified are mostly about fishing for giant catfish, bass, walleyes, and other Midwestern fish, from kayak, boat, and shore. He also offers angling tips and tricks, and posts on camping and general outdoor fun, with a new video posted every Monday and Thursday afternoon. While in Louisiana with TRCP, Bauer made a number of videos because of all the action he found, including some on landing monster blue catfish.
TRCP is working to improve Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and fish habitat, and enhance recreational fishing opportunities, by restoring more natural flows from the Mississippi River. Click the video below to learn more.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
From now until January 1, 2025, every donation you make will be matched by a TRCP Board member up to $500,000 to sustain TRCP’s work that promotes wildlife habitat, our sporting traditions, and hunter & angler access. Together, dollar for dollar, stride for stride, we can all step into the arena of conservation.
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