The High Country Report, High Country Citizens’ Alliance’s newsletter is produced semi-annually. You may read the text from individual articles from the most current newsletter by using one of the program area selections on the left, or you may view the entire Autumn 2009 Newsletter. If you'd like to read past issues of our newsletter, you'll find an online archive of them at this link.

On August 18, 2009, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) settled a lawsuit that challenged its 2006 decision to not allow the Gunnison sage-grouse the protection of the Endangered Species Act. Nine plaintiffs (Audubon Society, Black Canyon Audubon, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Native Ecosystems, The Larch Company, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), San Miguel County, Sheep Mountain Alliance and WildEarth Guardians) are seeking to gain protection for the species, which the Audubon Society labels as one of the 10 most endangered birds in the US.

The lawsuit began in 2006 after interference from Interior Department officials kept important biological information from being considered in the determination. The settlement gives the FWS until June 30, 2010 to reach a new decision. The survival of the bird should be the foremost consideration in that decision.

Locally, the Gunnison sage-grouse population showed a few more birds over 2008, but this does not signify stability. The entire population is still between 3,000 and 4,000 birds. Efforts (in which we participate) are continuing, hoping to improve the situation for the birds, but it seems to be one step forward...

Gunnison County's Gunnison Sage-Grouse Strategic Committee produced a Strategic Plan earlier this year, and is now completing an Action section for that plan. The Plan puts forth some good ideas, but many require significant funding, which is a limiting factor. Regulations for building in sensitive grouse habitat are also well-intended, but again, the best protection is leaving habitat be, and that requires large amounts of capital as well.

The controversial issue of Antler Shed collecting had been somewhat resolved in 2007, with the season opening each May 15. In 2008, however, the Strategic Committee, complying with requests from antler hunters and not heeding the advice of local biologists, recommended allowing antler collecting to occur between March 15 and May 15. During these months, the birds mate in early mornings and are extremely depleted, needing the rest of the day to regain their energy. The Wildlife Commission approved the change, allowing antler collecting from 10 AM till sunset.

On a positive note, forwarding conservation efforts, Curtis Allen, of Allen Ranches, has become the first to sign on to the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances. This agreement between the landowner, FWS and the Colorado Division of Wildlife outlines habitat management for private property should the Endangered Species Act be employed, giving landowners surety in the event of listing.

Efforts to help the Gunnison sage-grouse are motivated by varied interests. Some argue against federal intervention in the recovery process. High Country Citizens' Alliance believes that the proliferation of the Gunnison sage-grouse should be the ultimate goal of all efforts on its behalf. Sound science and documented habitat circumstances must be the determinants of the status of the species. We hope that within the next year, the Gunnison sage-grouse will be granted the protection it needs.

2008 was a harsh winter for many species, not the least of which is the imperiled Gunnison Sage Grouse. For a bird whose numbers are already tenuous, the immediate impacts of record snows can be devastating. Informal reports are that numbers are down in the Gunnison Basin and elsewhere. Wildlife biologists saw some flocks of birds adapting to their snow-covered leks by utilizing other available open areas instead of their annual mating grounds. Their survival instincts remain strong after thousands of years in the Gunnison Basin, but it will be some time before we have an assessment of winter’s effects.

Throughout winter and spring, the Gunnison Sage Grouse Strategic Committee (on which we serve) continued to work on its Strategic Plan. This plan, which has been in the works for two years, is intended to set the framework for action planning for the benefit of the grouse. It will focus on managing private habitat via regulations and incentives, fostering education and research projects, and coordinating efforts throughout the basin. Once the plan is finalized, the Committee will implement the plan and resolve issues.

One large issue that was somewhat controlled this winter with the help of the Strategic Committee is antler shed hunting. Not even recognized as an issue when the first Conservation Plan was created in 1997, the past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people combing winter habitat areas for antlers, their impacts felt by big game and sage grouse alike. “Shed” collecting has become big business, with prices for antlers rising substantially. This activity heightens the stress levels for animals that are at their weakest during the winter season. The Strategic Committee helped the Colorado Wildlife Commission recognize the problem and restrict shed collecting months on public lands in order to reduce the impacts on the vulnerable grouse as they enter spring mating season. While the activity will continue, this put it on the radar of those who can control it.

The Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances, an important part of landowner interaction with federal and state agencies, is as yet an unrealized effort. This voluntary Agreement is meant to set up management protocols for private lands, whereby participating landowners would have established parameters should the Gunnison Sage Grouse gain the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are currently resolving differences over methods to be used to determine habitat classifications, which would have bearing on ensuing management.

High Country Citizens' Alliance is now in year 13 of our work with sage grouse committees. We recently helped create an informative handout for the County planning department to give to people wishing to build in sage grouse habitat, and have just produced a new brochure for the general public. Gunnison Sage Grouse t-shirts are still available through HCCA and at Pat’s Screen Printing in Gunnison.

The official status of the grouse is still uncertain, with the outcome of lawsuits regarding Endangered Species status still unknown. A Gunnison Sage Grouse Summit was held in May, 2008, where working groups shared their knowledge, achievements and problems. At the Summit, Clait Braun, retired DOW biologist and sage grouse expert, cautioned that with the downward population trend continuing, the population could be "one catastrophic event from disappearing." While collaborative efforts continue, we continue to believe that real success will be more readily achieved if the Endangered Species Act is employed to enhance the communities’ efforts to protect the grouse.