This plan will govern the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) efforts to conserve the greater sage grouse. The proposed plan will ‘ramp up’ sage grouse conservation by using several existing land management mechanisms and the Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) will amend 77 separate land use plans currently in place across 10 Western states. Additionally, the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) includes new Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) totaling up to 11.1M acres.
Background : Greater Sage Grouse were first petitioned as an endangered species in the early 2000s. Although they weren’t listed, rather ‘warranted, but precluded’ by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the federal management agencies consider it to be a sensitive species and have consequently worked to change their land management plans to incorporate sage grouse habitat protections. In 2015, the first sage grouse federal management plans were issued and this plan called for the implementation of restrictive sage brush focal area and sought to regulate grazing. In 2019, when the plans were updated, they more closely mirrored Idaho state’s plan and our (Idaho Public Lands Council) agreed upon recommendations.
Why is this important to cattle producers in Idaho?
Idaho’s public lands constitute approx. 66% of the state and as part of multiple use, livestock grazing is a vital element of maintaining these lands. Additionally, many livestock operators utilize private lands, and in both cases, changes could impact management of both landscapes, growing the threat to the progression of functional rangeland improvements. Additionally, the implementation of this plan will greatly affect how grazing, and other uses, are managed on public land.
Does ICA support this proposed action?
The alternative preferred by ICA will be one that maintains existing areas designated as available for livestock grazing and a decision to remove access or reduce AUMs would remain at the local level or on an allotment-by-allotment basis. The proposed alternatives vary greatly, and the agency’s proposal to use criteria in the Sage Grouse Habitat Assessment Framework as part of their land health assessment is inappropriate as it shifts focus to wildlife, not land health.
Idaho & western cattlemen have proven their commitment to long term, productive sage grouse habitats. ICA has member driven resolution that calls on the administration to acknowledge and promote the importance of strong western ranches in providing the benefit of continued stewardship, as well as calls on the administration to return agency management plans to the simple, yet highly efficacious principles of the Idaho state plan.
How do I take action?
You can participate by commenting through the link below, via the federal register. ICA will continue to submit comments on issues as a representative of its members, but this is a quick and easy way to submit comments as an individual.
You can use these sample comments as a place to start or in their entirety.
“I am a rancher / cattle producer in Idaho and would ask for your consideration for livestock grazing with the finalization of the Greater Sage Grouse management plan. Idahoans value collaborative conservation efforts and have proven themselves willing participants in the process to find solutions. It is my belief that the BLM has adequate mechanisms already in place to manage grazing in sage grouse habitat, and there should be no additional restrictions on permits if meeting standards. I would also implore the BLM to consider implementation of site specific monitoring, with adaptive management and to have these decisions made at the local level. Studies have found grazing to provide benefits rather than harm to sage grouse species and this should be considered when reviewing the management plan.”
“I am a supporter of proper wildlife management and request the consideration of livestock grazing as a beneficial component of conservation of the Greater Sage Grouse species. The BLM’s plan for Idaho should mirror the state’s collaboratively developed plan and give management decisions to those at a local level, on a site specific basis. Rigid standards for livestock grazing are unnecessary, and this practice has been found to provide benefit to the species, as well as landscape health in general. Please consider utilizing the existing framework for rangeland health standards when reviewing the final management plan for the Greater Sage Grouse.”
Comments are due through the Federal Register by June 13, 2024.
