2011-12-22_PERMIT FILE - X201123500 (2)

Home Browse Search

Vegetation and Wildlife Baseline Survey Report Linc Energy Little Snake River Project Although greater sage - grouse populations have definitely declined nationwide, the greater sage - grouse in Colorado have been generally increasing for about the last 17 years and breeding populations have not declined for the last 39 years. Sage - grouse breeding occurs on strutting grounds (leks) during late March and April. Leks are generally established in open areas surrounded by Wyoming big sagebrush which is used for escape and protection from predators. Generally, sage - grouse exhibit high fidelity to lek sites and return to the same lek year after year for breeding. Leks are considered to be the center of year -round activity for resident sage - grouse populations. On average, the majority of sage - grouse hens nest within four miles of the lek. New spring plant growth, residual cover, and understory are important habitat components for nesting sage - grouse hens. The vast majority of the Little Snake River exploration permit area is within mapped sage grouse production area. Areas near nests are used for several weeks by hens for brood rearing. The habitats used during the first few weeks after hatching must provide good cover to conceal the chicks and must provide essential nutritional requirements during this period of rapid development. Brood - rearing habitats that have a wide diversity of plant species tend to provide a variety of insects that are important chick foods. Within the Little Snake River exploration permit area, both Timberline Creek and Mud Springs Creek are mapped as brood rearing areas. Summer habitat consists of sagebrush mixed with areas of wet meadows, riparian, or irrigated agricultural fields. As summer progresses and forbs mature and dry up, sage - grouse broods move to more mesic wet meadows where succulent plants and insects are still available. These habitats can be especially important in drier years and during long drought periods. As fall nears, sage - grouse form flocks as brood groups break up. As fall progresses, sage - grouse move toward their winter ranges. During winter, sage - grouse feed almost exclusively on sagebrush leaves and buds. Suitable winter habitat requires sagebrush above snow. It is crucial that sagebrush be exposed at least ten to twelve inches above snow level as this provides food and cover for wintering sage - grouse. Population and habitat analyses suggest that wintering habitat can be as limiting as breeding habitats. These seasonal movements are related to severity of winter weather, topography, and vegetative cover. Severe winter range habitat is not mapped in the Little Snake River exploration permit area, but most of the area is mapped as winter range. A Northwest Colorado Greater Sage- Grouse Conservation Plan was prepared and was released in 2005. The plan establishes seven management zones and several subzones within which conservation planning, habitat management, and evaluation will be managed. These seven zones extend across Moffat County, except in the higher elevations in the east and southeast, which are in Routt National Forest. Greater sage - grouse habitat in Southern Routt County is covered under the existing Northern -Eagle and Southern Routt County Greater Sage- Grouse Conservation Plan, which was finalized in September of 2004. In January 2008, a statewide Colorado Greater Sage- Grouse Conservation Plan was released. Page 13 Habitat Management, Inc. December 2011