Sage Grouse remains off Endangered Species Act list

Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has released a statement announcing that the greater sage grouse will not be extended Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections, due to successful landscape-scale conservation efforts across the United States. 

The potential listing of the sage grouse, a ground-dwelling bird whose habitat spans 11 western states, had sparked major controversy over the years because a listing would result in restricted land-use and energy development in the bird’s habitat. 

Earlier this year, DOI released its 10-state conservation plan that was designed to protect sage grouse habitat and economic development across the western United States. The plan was designed to conserve critical habitat by limiting energy development in core habitat areas and by working with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the energy industry on mitigation efforts to improve existing habitat and reduce the risk of wildfire. 

The conservation plan was criticized by some lawmakers and stakeholders who believed it would unnecessarily restrict land use and place an undue burden on western energy development. Western officials criticized DOI for not adhering closely enough to state conservation plans and argued that existing state plans have proven to be successful without further federal intervention. 

In a Sept. 22 announcement, Jewell stated that collaborative efforts by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, state agencies and private partners, had significantly reduced the threats to the greater sage grouse across 90 percent of the species’ breeding habitat. 

Subsequently, after evaluating the bird’s population status, along with an analysis of current scientific information and ongoing efforts through federal and state conservation plans, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) concluded that the sage grouse no longer needed protection under the ESA. 

While the sage grouse decision represents a positive outcome for conservation efforts on both federal and state levels, DOI has been criticized for failing to collaborate with and recognize individual state needs concerning protection of sage grouse populations and habitat. 

In reacting to Jewell’s statement, Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) criticized DOI for its lack of attention to local recommendations, stating, “The two main threats to the greater sage grouse in Idaho are fire and invasive species. The secretary adopts a plan that relies heavily on regulation of the mining, oil, and gas industries when it should focus more heavily on fire control.” 

NACo has consistently opposed the listing of the greater sage grouse under the ESA and supports the decision that the greater sage grouse does not warrant Endangered Species Act protections.