PERMFILE48738

• Permit No: C1981026
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Doc Name: FISH & WILDLIFE RESOURCES INFORMATION
• Section_Exhibit Name: APPENDIX G
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• It is anticipated that the full extent of
impacts on sage grouse will be assessed in the course
on the on-going study, which entails the use of radio-
telemetered birds (T. Schoenberg, misc. unpubl. reports).
Meanwhile, for the purposes of this application,
it is appropriate to summarize existing data and to
provide a generalized statement of sage grouse habitat
requirements and probable impacts.
Studies of sage grouse in North Park have been
reported by Rogers (1964) and Beck (1977). Summaries
of the sage grouse literature have been provided by
Johnsgard (1973) and Braun et al. (1977).
Studies have found that sage grouse require a
diversity of habitat types falling within or adjacent
to ecosystems where sagebrush is a conspicuous feature.
Braun et al. (1977) divided seasonal requirements into
1) leks, 2) nesting areas, 3) brooding areas, and
• 4) wintering sites. These are discussed briefly:
Leks tend to consist of openings within the
sagebrush community - areas with low stratum vegetation.
Reported sites include grassy areas, roads, sagebrush
eradication areas, prairie dog towns, and mine spoils.
Braun (pers. comm.) reported that leks appear to have
only one characteristic in common - "visibility".
Wallestad and Schladweiler (1974) believed that
the breeding complex embraced an area extending 2.4 km
from the lek. Braun et al. (1977) considered the
breeding complex as an area within 3 km of a lek.
In the course of current studies in the area
(T. Schoenberg, unpubl.), seven leks have been located,
with a peak male attendance on respective Leks ranging
from 0 - 144 in 1980. Perdiz lek, south of the lease
area, was located in 1978, and had a peak male attendance
of 16 in 1979 and 8 in 1980. Radiotelemetry has shown
an interchange of males between leks.
•
-7-