Over 150 Attend Sage Grouse Conservation Meeting

Editor's Note: Ranchers are blaming coyotes and ravens for endangering sage grouse, not the massive, destructive livestock grazing on our public lands!

PRINEVILLE — Regulations and restrictions designed to protect the greater sage grouse could impact how farmers and ranchers operate in Central, Eastern, and Southern Oregon.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking input from stakeholders, including farmers, ranchers, and other interested parties, as it develops a sage grouse protection plan, according to Joan Suther, sage grouse project manager in Oregon for the BLM. Suther led a public meeting at the Crook County Public Library in Prineville, marking the first in a series of meetings in towns east of the Cascades.

“Now is the time to comment,” she said.

About 150 people attended the meeting. The BLM is accepting comments on a draft management plan amendment and environmental documents until February 20. The agency is particularly interested in questions, new information, and reasonable alternatives.

Suther emphasized that no final decisions have been made regarding regulations and restrictions to protect sage grouse.

The BLM released the draft amendment and documents in November as part of its effort to protect sage grouse without listing it under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Following a court order, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has until September 2015 to decide if the sage grouse warrants ESA protection. The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service are working to amend their land management plans in areas where the bird is found to avoid an ESA listing.

Sage grouse are found in 11 western states, including Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The BLM and Forest Service have released plans for regions across the west, with Oregon representing its own region.

While the BLM intended the meeting to be an open house with small groups meeting with officials, the large turnout prompted Suther to change the format. She opened the floor for questions, initially allocating 10 minutes, but the session extended to an hour.

Questions ranged from the potential impact on rural economies to the reasons behind the BLM's efforts to protect the sage grouse.

“As far as I am concerned, this is another spotted owl land-grab,” said Larry Snyder, 77, a rancher from near Condon.

According to the BLM, habitat loss is among the top threats to sage grouse.

However, Greg Bedortha, 57, argued that farming and ranching can actually benefit the bird.

“It seems like my whole life I’ve been chasing them out of my hay field,” said Bedortha, who has ranched near Paulina since 1971.

Bedortha and others suggested that the BLM should focus more on predators, such as coyotes and ravens, and their impact on sage grouse populations.

Seeing the ranchers' backlash, Craig Miller, a GIS specialist for the Bend-based conservation group Oregon Natural Desert Association, acknowledged the BLM's challenge. He noted that the agency will need to carefully balance regulations and restrictions to satisfy the ranching community while keeping the sage grouse off the ESA list.

The BLM plans to hold more evening meetings about sage grouse in the coming days around Eastern and Southern Oregon. Meetings are scheduled for today in Burns, Wednesday in Ontario, Thursday in Baker City, and Monday in Lakeview.

Originally Posted By The Bulletin