Sage Grouse Habitat Montana

Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Advisory Council

BSage Grouse Habitat Montanay Jay Bodner, MSGA Director of Natural Resources

Governor Bullock established by Executive Order the Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Conservation Advisory Council on February 2, 2013. In April 2013, the Governor appointed the 12-member Council to gather information, furnish advice, and provide to the Governor recommendations on policies and actions for a state-wide strategy. The goal of this planning effort is to preclude the need to list the Greater Sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Council was directed to complete their recommendations by no later than January 31, 2014. The Council is co-chaired by FWP Director, Jeff Hagener, and the Governor’s Natural Resources Policy Advisor, Tim Baker. Council members include representatives from agriculture and ranching, conservation and sportsmen, energy, mining and power transmission, tribal government, local government and the legislature.

The Advisory Council has held a series of nine meetings for the development of a draft strategy. During the meeting focused on agriculture, MSGA members Leo Barthemess (Malta) and Jim Hagenbarth (Dillon) were featured speakers explaining a ranching perspective on sage grouse management.

The Advisory Council completed a draft Conservation Strategy and held seven public hearings in Montana in primary sage-grouse areas, and well over 450 people attended the public hearings. During the hearings the draft strategy was outlined by FWP personnel, the public had the opportunity to ask questions about the draft strategy and provide public testimony on the document.

The Advisory Council also held a 34-day comment period to offer written comments on the draft strategy. The comment period closed on December 4, 2013 and 377 comments were received. MSGA provided comments on the draft plan, focusing on:

  1. Stronger provisions regarding the Predator Section
  2. Allowing flexibility to sage brush treatments
  3. Consistency with the WY Plan, in regards to the No Surface Occupancy. Recommend reducing the buffer around leks from 1mile to 0.6 miles.

Included in the comments, were most notably, the comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This is the agency that will determine the adequacy of the draft plan. The USFWS comments were very extensive and in MSGA’s review, the USFWS indicated that the plan did not include enough protections for sage grouse. MSGA was disappointed in their comments as it related to private property. The USFWS stated,

In Montana, proposed core habitat often occurs across a fragmented private / government ownership pattern, complicating landscape-scale management. Approximately 54% of proposed core habitat occurs in private ownership. This high proportion of core habitat occurring on private lands may provide limited value for sage grouse depending on the regulatory scope associated with the Montana Strategy in these areas.

Private landowners in Montana are critical factor in ensuring a healthy population of sage grouse, along with other wildlife. It is MSGA’s belief that the landowner should be commended for their efforts and not faced with possible additional regulations. MSGA also worked with the MT Farm Bureau Federation, DNRC and Council members to address the USFWS concerns in the “Range Management” Section of the draft Plan. This work group developed language that was submitted to the entire Council for their consideration.

During the January 14-15, 2014 Council meeting, the Advisory Council reviewed public comment and modified and finalized the draft plan. The Advisory Council will provide the document to the Governor by the end of the month, for his consideration. The Governor has the option to accept, modify or reject the Advisory Council’s recommendations. After finalizing Montana’s sage grouse strategy and developing an implementation plan, the Governor will submit Montana’s sage-grouse conservation strategy to the USFWS for its review. After reviewing the strategy, it is anticipated that the Service will notify the Governor about the strategy’s adequacy.

MSGA plans to review the final document as soon as it is available and also provide it to our members. If any members have questions or additional comments on the plan, please contact the office.

 

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Montana Stockgrowers Collegiate member

Montana Public Lands Council discusses issues at Convention

Montana Stockgrowers Collegiate memberSee more blog coverage from the 129th Annual Stockgrowers Convention by clicking here.

By Kelsey Haughian, Montana State University Collegiate Stockgrower member. 

The 129th annual MSGA Convention and Trade Show kicked off Thursday with numerous committee meetings and workshops at the Holiday Inn and Convention center in Billings. Thus far the member turnout has been outstanding.  Members had the opportunity to weigh in on the Montana  Public Lands Council Annual Meeting, Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Workshop and Membership Development & Services Committee meeting to name a few.

I was fortunate to attend the Montana Public Lands Council’s annual meeting held yesterday morning. It was great to see such a dedicated group of individuals from different areas of the state show up and voice their opinion. The diverse perspectives made for valuable and informative sessions with attendees ranging from collegiate members to veteran producers.

The Public Lands Council discussed issues ranging from sage grouse to forest fires to Confederate Salish Kootenai Tribal water rights. People stepped up to the podium to voice their opinion on topics that hit home for them. Topics that were discussed can directly affect ranchers; therefor it was and is, pertinent that their voices be heard.

MSGA’s annual convention is a place for people to come together to make sure congressional policy is in the best interest of the people who live and work in the industry day in and day out.

 

Sage Grouse Habitat Montana

Sage grouse, farm and ranch succession planning among topics at 2014 Winter Grazing Seminar

MILES CITY, Mont. – An in-depth discussion of sage grouse conservation and management – including a panel of ranchers who are currently managing sage grouse on their lands – is one of several topics on the agenda of the 2014 Winter Grazing Seminar, to be held Jan. 29-30 in Miles City, Mont.

The first day of the seminar will feature representatives from the Public Lands Council. Executive Director Dustin Van Liew will speak on multiple issues in agriculture. Montana Executive Director Jay Bodner and federal grazing permitee Lon Reukauf will also join the discussion. Next Tim Griffiths and Dr. David Naugle will give a presentation on Sage Grouse. To conclude the first day of the seminar a producer panel including Robert Lee from Forsyth will speak on a rancher’s perspective of sage grouse management on rangelands.

That evening, a social hour and banquet will be held at the Town & Country Club in Miles City. Northern Ag Network’s Haylie Shipp will be the Master of Ceremonies for the banquet. Range Leader of the Year Awards will be given to the winners of the rancher and professional categories. Governor Bullock is invited to give the keynote address. Bill Rossiter will be the evening’s entertainment with cowboy poetry and music.

The second day of the seminar will begin with Kevin Spafford, founder of Legacy by Design, with his presentation on Succession Solutions for Farm Families. The seminar will conclude with presentations from Fort Keogh researchers Dr. Andy Roberts on Heifer Development and Dr. Mark Petersen on Water Quality.

The seminar will be held at the Sleep Inn of Miles City. Registration is $30 per person before January 15 and $35 after. You may attend the banquet for $25 if you will be joining us for the meal.

There is no charge for those who would like to see Bill Rossiter for entertainment at the banquet.

This year’s Winter Grazing Seminar is proudly sponsored by the Custer County Conservation District, Prairie County Conservation District and USDA-ARS Fort Keogh LARRL, and in cooperation with the Rangeland Resources Executive Committee (RREC).

For the agenda and registration form please visit: http://dnrc.mt.gov/cardd/ConservationDistricts/WinterGrazing/default.asp

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Sage Grouse Habitat Montana

Meetings Set to Discuss Draft Sage Grouse Strategy

Sage Grouse Habitat Montana(Release from Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks)

The governor-appointed Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Conservation Advisory Council will host seven public meetings later this month to examine a draft sage grouse habitat conservation strategy.

The draft strategy was developed over the past six months by the citizen-based advisory council. It details a state-led effort to address threats to the species as identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to preclude the need for listing the sage-grouse as a federally threatened or endangered species.

The strategy recommends the development of a conservation fund to support land stewardship practices beneficial to sage-grouse and a set of stipulations for state agencies to adhere to when permitting development and other activities in sage-grouse habitat. The strategy also includes recommended management practices for enhancing sage-grouse habitat.

The public meetings will be aimed at discussing and examining the strategy and taking comment on the council’s recommendations. Public meetings are scheduled for:

  • Dillon              Nov. 13; 6-8 p.m.        U of M–Western, Mathews Hall, Lewis & Clark Room
  • Billings             Nov. 18; 6-8 p.m.        FWP Region 5 Headquarters
  • Baker               Nov. 19; 1-3 p.m.        Senior Citizens Center
  • Miles City        Nov. 19; 7-9 p.m.        Miles City Community College, James P. Lucas Bldg.
  • Glasgow           Nov. 20; 6-8 p.m.        Cottonwood Inn &Suites
  • Malta               Nov. 21; 12-2 p.m.      First State Bank
  • Lewistown       Nov. 21; 6-8 p.m.        FWP Lewistown Area Office

Council members and FWP will be on hand to discuss the strategy and the information displayed. Written comment can be submitted at each public meeting.

Copies of the draft strategy and comment forms will be available online at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Sage-grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy.” Public comment on the draft strategy will be accepted through 5 p.m. Dec. 4.

The council will provide its final recommendations to Gov. Steve Bullock in January. For more information, call 406-444-2612, or visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov.

Daines Announces Field Hearings on Sage Grouse, Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Daines today announced that the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing in Billings on September 4, 2013 to hear from local land users about the potential impacts of listing the Greater Sage Grouse under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the implications it holds for Montana’s economy and habitat.

The hearing, which Daines requested last week, will also focus on state and local efforts in land management to conserve species and balance responsible resource development and land use. Daines will be joined by Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), Congressman Kevin Cramer (ND-AL) and Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL).

“As a fifth-generation Montanan, I know firsthand how damaging federal overreach can be to the Montanans that depend on our land and resources for their income and their way of life,” Daines stated. “I’m pleased that the Natural Resources Committee has responded to my request for greater examination of the consequences of Endangered Species Act abuse and the potential listing of the Greater Sage Grouse, and agreed to hold this field hearing in Billings, where residents will be directly affected by the Department of Interior’s decisions. I encourage Montanans to join me at this hearing and look forward to hearing more about how these issues affect the people of our state.”

In light of the Department of Interior’s proposed Resource Management Plans and proposed priority habitat for the Greater Sage Grouse, Daines, along with Cramer, requested for Chairman Hastings to hold a field hearing on the implications of misguided federal actions under the ESA.

Daines and Cramer cited nationwide implications of ESA abuse, noting that potential federal actions under the ESA due to “mega-settlements” with fringe groups could have severe repercussions on domestic energy production. Additionally, misguided federal actions could impact livestock and outdoor recreation industries, both of which are critical to the economy and way of life in Montana and North Dakota.

The full letter requesting the hearing from Daines and Cramer is available here.

The hearing will be split into two parts and titled “State and Local Efforts to Protect Species, Jobs, Property, and Multiple Use Amidst a New War on the West.” A complete schedule is below:

WHAT: House Natural Resources Committee Oversight Field Hearings on “State and Local Efforts to Protect Species, Jobs, Property, and Multiple Use Amidst a New War on the West”

WHO: U.S. Representative Steve Daines (R-MT), Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer, other members of the House Natural Resources Committee

WHEN: Wednesday, September 4, 2013, 1:30 P.M. MST, MSU-Billings Cisel Hall, 1500 University Drive, Billings, MT

Hearing is open to the public. Witnesses by invitation only.