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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

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Burley Field Office

Wildlife

Local Working Group Efforts Benefit Sage Grouse in South-Central Idaho

The sage-grouse population in south-central Idaho’s Shoshone Basin has been making a strong comeback in recent years. The number of males counted along the lek (strutting ground) route increased from 61 in 1997 to 231 in 2005 - a 290 percent increase. This change can be attributed in large part to steps being taking by the Shoshone Basin Local Working Group to improve grazing and wildlife management practices on private, public and state land in the area.

Burley

The Shoshone Basin Working Group was formed in July 1994 to address local sage-grouse management issues. The group concentrated its management efforts on four Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grazing allotments and associated private land where sage-grouse numbers had dramatically declined.

Participants in the group include private land owners/permittees, sportsmen, a local falconry group, Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), BLM and members from the general public.

The Shoshone Basin Local Working Group recommended grazing management changes and vegetation treatments to improve and maintain breeding and brood rearing habitats. Many of these recommendations were implemented by local ranchers and land managers, and resulted in significant improvements to riparian and upland habitats. A 2005 IDFG assessment indicates that the 290 percent increase in sage grouse coincides with the recovery of habitat and changes in management practices implemented within the grazing allotments.

Under the collaborative conservation approach being implemented, the acres of sage grouse habitat that rated excellent in project area increased from 14 percent to 29 percent since the early 1990s, without reducing Animal Unit Months for the grazing season.

The Shoshone Basin Working Group continues to work cooperatively across private and public lands to ensure properly functioning riparian and upland systems to improve sage-grouse habitat and increase sage grouse numbers, and to provide a stable long-term forage base to sustain existing cattle operations.

Efforts Recognized

In 2006, the ranchers participating in the Shoshone Basin project received the BLM’s first annual Rangeland Stewardship Award for their progressive management style and collaborative efforts. In 2004, the group was also recognized by the Idaho Chapter of the Wildlife Society for their outstanding contribution to wildlife conservation.

“Jim Baker, Bill Thompson and Rob Rogerson (permittees with BLM) were very instrumental and active in this process. They came to all of the meetings.” Rich Yankey, District Conservationist NRCS

“It has been a pleasure to work with these guys (Baker, Thompson, Rogerson). After we developed trust and got out on the ground to talk about making good things happen for wildlife, they did all they could to make it happen.” Randy Smith, Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Making Changes on the Ground

Specific examples of on-the-ground management actions taken by the Shoshone Basin permittees include:

Managing three private pastures in the Horse Creek Allotment to improve sage grouse nesting and brood habitat
Grazing cattle lightly in native range to ensure adequate herbaceous cover for nesting sage grouse in the spring
Modifying their grazing systems in the Horse Creek and Magic Common allotments to accommodate brood and nesting sage grouse and waterfowl habitats
Mechanically treating 250 acres of non-productive, decadent sagebrush using the Dixie Harrow method - increasing the herbaceous, vegetative component and invigorating sagebrush to improve sage grouse nesting and brood rearing habitat
Allowing IDFG to apply sagebrush seed to private lands in the Horse Creek Allotment burned by the West Basin wildfire in 2000
Cooperating with BLM in the modification and construction of water developments which have redistributed livestock use away from sage grouse nesting habitat to exotic crested wheatgrass seedings
Cooperating with BLM, IDFG, and IDL in creating four riparian pastures to facilitate riparian improvement and enhance sage grouse brood habitat and waterfowl habitat
Cooperating with IDL and NRCS in the control of rabbitbrush on 160 acres in the Horse Creek Allotment on state lands to enhance sage grouse brood rearing habitat
Working with local hunting interests to ensure a quality experience when hunting, including the Horse Creek Allotment participating in the IDFG “Access Yes” program, which allows sportsmen access to private lands

“It takes time to make positive changes on the land. Developing plans and implementing actions don’t happen overnight. It can take several years to make the changes, but the results are well worth the wait.” Elena Shaw, BLM range conservationist