Sage Grouse Habitat Enhancement

LAKE DeSMET CONSERVATION DISTRICT

SAGE BRUSH / GRASSLAND RESTORATION PROJECT

The Lake DeSmet Conservation District Sage Brush/Grassland Restoration Project was completed in the Spring of 2011. It was landowner initiated and the $3.3 million dollar project was funded through dollars provided by the NRCS Farm Bill programs, LDCD, private landowners, and grant dollars awarded by; WG&F, USF&WS, Pheasants Forever, Wyoming Governor’s Sage Grouse Fund, Bow Hunters of America, the oil and gas industries, CBNG, WWNRT, NRCS-CIG grant and private foundations. The project focused on habitat for the “at risk species” sage grouse.

Crazy Woman Canyon

Last Modified on May 16, 2013
Text Box: Due to the recent listing, by US Fish & Wildlife Service, of the Sage Grouse as a ‘warranted but precluded’ species, the district and cooperating landowners are working to improve the bird’s habitat in order to keep it from being elevated to an endangered species. The LDCD and a local rancher have cooperated in submitting and receiving funding from the NE Wyoming Sage Grouse Work Group to develop a new study entitled the Demonstration Emergency Wildfire Restoration Buffalo Core Sage Grouse Habitat Project. In 2010, approximately 270 acres of prime “core” sage grouse habitat burned in a wildfire. The next spring, sagebrush seed was broadcast with a pasture aerator on upland sites and a mixture of sage grouse forb seed was added within overflow sites within the burn area. A monitoring plan, along with a grazing plan for deferment to achieve seeding success has been developed. The randomly selected key monitoring sites occurred within the same ecological site to maintain a control for success. Parameters being monitored include production, density, cover and photo points. Permanent photo points were established to coincide with baseline transects to document percent plant composition changes. Monitoring will be conducted over a five year period to achieve long term results. Grazing strategies will be assessed, annually to consider any needed changes.

Left: Monitoring the baseline rangeland adjoining the burn area

Right: Burn area being reseeded along with aerator

The Northeast Wyoming Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan is available here.

Some additional documents that are available are:

The Enhancement and Restoration of Sage Grouse Habitat in Johnson County, Wyoming (newly added)

(This is a very large file.)

Evaluating Habitat Aeration Treatment on Wyoming's Northern Johnson County

Food Habits of Juvenile Sage Grouse

Sage Grouse Habitats and Use Guide

Sage Grouse Facts Feb-06

Sage Grouse diet tech note

Improving Sage-grouse Habitat through Revegetation and Rangeland Management

Grazing Influence, Objective Development and Management in Wyoming Greater Sage Grouse Habitat (newly added)

Greater Sage-Grouse Candidate Status in Wyoming Bulletin

Sharing Solutions for Successful Plantings

Reclamation Tools for Restoring Healthy Sagebrush Ecosystems

(Note: Some of these documents are very large and will take a while to download.)

· A pasture aerator was used to enhance a total of 15,972 acres for sage grouse habitat on private lands benefitting over 350,000 enrolled acres. 

· 142 wildlife escape ramps were placed in stock tanks to lessen fatalities for the sage grouse and other wildlife species

· Over 17,000 pounds of shrub and forb seed were planted

· 74 watering tanks were installed

· 6 solar-powered systems providing energy efficient water development were put in place

· 18 miles of pipeline were installed

· 54 miles of fence installed to further grazing strategies on the enrolled acres

· Grazing management plans completed for all 24 participating land owners

· Annual monitoring will continue