Contact: Anne Cossitt Cossitt Consulting Park City, Montana 633-2213 cossitt@usadig.com People interested in sage grouse conservation and its implications in the Dillon area are encouraged to attend a meeting Wednesday, December 17, at 3 pm, Search and Rescue Hall, to start the Dillon Sage Grouse Local Working Group.
Dillon is the first of 11 Montana communities to establish local working groups to implement the Montana Sage Grouse Management Plan. This plan was developed by livestock producers, sportsmen, biologists, and many other interested parties. It is available in PDF format (2.9 MB) on the FWP website.
The plan describes the status of, and the threats to, Montanas sage grouse population and sagebrush habitat. It provides a "toolbox" of information and conservation approaches, designed for tailoring to community conditions and concerns. The Dillon Working Group and other local groups will use the toolbox to plan and conduct activities that benefit sage grouse populations and sagebrush habitat. These groups will work cooperatively with federal and state agencies and will have the opportunity to recommend actions that could be taken on public lands.
The December 17 meeting will include an overview of sage grouse issues, a quick review of the state plan, and a discussion of how the Dillon Working Group will function over the next several months. At the close of the meeting, participants will be invited to consider becoming members of the Dillon Working Group.
The meeting will be facilitated by the Cossitt Consulting team. If you have questions -- or if you are interested but cant attend the meeting -- please contact Anne Cossitt, Cossitt Consulting, Park City, Montana, 633-2213, cossitt@usadig.com.
Kick-Off Meeting Dillon Sage Grouse Working Group Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 3 PM to 5:30 PM Search and Rescue Hall - 1000 Highway 41 Dillon, Montana
