Approximately 40 people from northeastern Montana attended the first meeting of the Glasgow area sage grouse local working group, Thursday, January 8, at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow. "We were thrilled with the turnout, especially given the recent storms, icy and drifted roads, and deep snow throughout the area," said Anne Cossitt, team leader hired to help organize the working group.
Cossitt and team member Barb Beck provided background information on the statewide Management Plan and Conservation Strategies for Sage Grouse. The process for becoming a threatened or endangered species was also explained, because petitions have been filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to protect the sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act.
Declines in sage grouse populations have been documented across the West. The state plan sets long term goals of maintaining or increasing sage grouse populations and habitat and identifies a number of possible actions. Referring to the role of up to 11 local working groups that may be established across the state, Cossitt explained, "The plan provides a framework, but the local working groups are autonomous and can decide for themselves what actions and projects make sense for their area." The ultimate goal of the local working group effort will be to maintain or increase population numbers and at the same time avoid a listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Following the presentation, meeting participants were invited to share their concerns and observations about sage grouse and sagebrush. According to Beck, "One thing we heard pretty clearly in the meeting was that landowners are justifiably proud about how well sage grouse are doing in northeastern Montana compared to many other areas, and that ranching and agriculture have contributed to that success."
Pat Gunderson, biologist with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), said, "We're doing lots of things right with respect to sage grouse in this part of the state and maybe we just need to be documenting that."
A participant noted that the FWS will be issuing a finding on petitions to list the sage grouse as threatened or endangered later this spring and asked how this would affect the local working group process. The efforts of the local working groups will continue regardless of the FWS finding because whether sage grouse are listed under the Endangered Species Act or not, concerns remain about declining numbers of sage grouse and impacts to sagebrush habitat.
The second Glasgow sage grouse working group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at 3 pm. Anyone who would like additional information can contact Anne Cossitt, Park City MT, 633-2213 or by e-mail at cossitt@usadig.com. Notes from the meeting will be posted on the website for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in the next two weeks.
CONTACT:
Anne Cossitt Cossitt Consulting Park City, Montana (406) 633-2213 cossitt@usadig.com
