Colorado Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Plan
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Three separate petitions for listing the greater sage-grouse rangewide as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act were submitted between July of 2002 and December of 2003. The 12-month finding on these petitions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was negative. However, the USFWS emphasized in its’ findings that conservation activities on behalf of the species must continue. The States having greater sage-grouse within their borders are charged with securing the bird’s future.
Colorado chose a ‘bottom up’ approach of developing local conservation work groups and plans prior to the development of a statewide plan. There are 5 local work groups in Colorado; two of which had completed plans (North Park and Middle Park) prior to this fiscal year. The Eagle-South Routt plan was completed and signed in September of 2004 and the Northwest Colorado working group made significant progress towards completion of their plan. In addition, a new work group has recently been formed and covers the population of grouse in the Parachute/Piceance/Roan Creek area (Rio Blanco and Garfield counties). This group is working towards completing a local plan by the end of 2007.