The Mitigation
Commission is supporting conservation and recovery of sage grouse in
Utah's Strawberry Valley. The Strawberry
Valley Area Assessment, which was developed by the Mitigation
Commission and Heber Ranger District of the Uinta National Forest, found
the species to be operating outside of a properly functioning condition
and at risk.
Based on this assessment and because enlargement
of Strawberry Reservoir, as part of the Central Utah Project, inundated
four out of five historic sage grouse leks (displaying and breeding
areas), the Commission is funding a study to identify additional causes
for
sage grouse decline in Strawberry Valley. The study is being conducted
by Brigham Young University.
Participants in the study are the U.S. Forest
Service, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. Information gained is being used to develop a sage grouse recovery
strategy.
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