December 18, 2014 08:29 AM UTC

For 2015 Colorado Must Resolve to Protect the Sage Grouse

• 3 Comments
• by: PKolbenschlag

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

The State Department of Natural Resources, people that care about the Greater sage grouse, and those that care about whether the bird is listed under the Endangered Species Act (including those that prefer it isn’t) need to all get together quickly.  Delay is not our friend.  Colorado needs to resolve to act now to protect the Greater sage grouse.

Some claim that a listing by the federal Fish and Wildlife Service would be heavy-handed yet cheer that Congress pulled a ham-handed move of its own, telling the US Fish and Wildlife Service scientists they cannot spend  money to consider the plight of this magnificent species.  Not only is the sage grouse caught between–but so are those that want to see meaningful action to protect the bird.  And action is what is needed.

Because the clock is ticking, not only quite literally for the sage grouse—which has seen its population plummet as its habitat has disappeared over the last few decades—but  also on the federal government’s decision to list the bird or not under the ESA. That’s because the agency that enforces that law is under a court order to make a decision by September 2015, which is just about the time the Continuing Resolution  and  spending bill (the so-called CRomnibus) expires and with it Congress’ defunding gimmick.  As Senator Bennet (D-CO) noted in a release:

“Colorado communities continue to make a strong, science-based case that local conservation efforts are working, can continue to get better and these birds don’t need protection under the Endangered Species Act. However, thanks to this rider, Colorado communities will now be plagued with uncertainty through at least next September. Despite this ill-advised Congressional involvement, Colorado communities and the agencies will continue to work on their collaborative and locally-based conservation approaches to protect the birds and avoid future listings. They should ignore the confusing signals being sent by politicians in Washington and continue to focus on their impressive work on the ground to come together to work for a long term solution,”

In fact the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service within that department both say a listing can still be avoided.  The catch is the eleven states where the Greater sage grouse occurs, including Colorado, have to get plans in place that provide real protection for this species.  But time is wasting. So rather than passing midnight partisan riders or filing a lawsuit after the fact, a better move might be to avoid the situation in the first place, in this case by putting a strong and protective habitat management plan in place for the Greater sage grouse.  As Sally Jewell, the U.S. Secretary of Interior, put it (from PoliticoPro, a subscription service):

“It’s disappointing that some members of Congress are more interested in political posturing than finding solutions to conserve the sagebrush landscape and the Western way of life,” Jewell added. “Rather than helping the communities they profess to benefit, these members will only create uncertainty, encourage conflict and undermine the unprecedented progress that is happening throughout the West.”

The bonus is that protecting Greater sage grouse habitat protects an important resource for Colorado, land that benefits a variety of wildlife, not just the feathered kind.  Colorado’s prized mule deer and elk herds also benefit from protecting sage grouse habitat, which—in Colorado—coincides with some of the best big game habitat in the American West. And that’s good for the economy, as are the millions of dollars in tourist revenue generated from the public lands in sage grouse country.

And that’s not all.  Because protecting sage grouse doesn’t mean unduly jeopardizing other types of activity in the area, even energy development, grazing, or similar endeavors.  Yes we have to be smarter about where and how we do these things, other values and resources should not be sacrificed for any industry, but that is just sound policy.

We have an opportunity to save the Greater sage grouse but we have to act quickly and put good, meaningful management in place now.   Coloradans support balance when it comes to activities like oil and gas drilling and we want to see wildlife protected.  Colorado needs to get this done—and the Governor should direct policy that puts a strong conservation plan in place. We must resolve to act now to protect the Greater sage grouse.