Greater sage-grouse research in the Parachute-Piceance-Roan Region of western Colorado. Part I: assessment of greater sage-grouse response to pinyon-juniper removal

Greater sage-grouse research in the Parachute-Piceance-Roan Region of western Colorado. Part I: assessment of greater sage-grouse response to pinyon-juniper removal

Large-scale changes to sagebrush habitats throughout western North America have led to growing concern for conservation of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and repeated petitions to list the species under the Endangered Species Act. Greater sage-grouse in the Parachute-Piceance-Roan (PPR) region of western Colorado face two major conservation issues: potential impacts from rapidly increasing energy development and a long-term decline in habitat suitability and range contraction associated with pinyon-juniper (PJ) encroachment. In 2006, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) and industry partners initiated a 3-year study to obtain baseline data on seasonal habitat use, movements, vital rates, and genetics of greater sage-grouse in the PPR. CDOW has since expanded the original project to include generating high-resolution maps showing concentrated seasonal use areas and assessing the value of PJ removal to restore habitat as mitigation for energy development. Current and proposed energy development overlaps greater sage-grouse occupied range in the PPR. However, industry and agencies need higher-resolution maps showing where sage-grouse occur during each season to streamline development planning and mitigation and guide sage-grouse conservation efforts.

Walker, Brett L.

Binschus, Chris

Duvuvuei, Orrin

Schmitz, Nathan

Greater sage-grouse

Parachute-Piceance-Roan (PPR) region

Wildlife habitat improvement

Northwestern Colorado

14 pages

2010-02-23

Text

application/pdf

English