PRESS RELEASE: April 15 th, 2020 / Kay Ogden, Executive Director, ESLT

A Diverse Coalition Unifies Around Sage-Grouse Conservation

Our conservation community has something to celebrate!

That’s because on March 30th this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(“USFWS”) announced it is withdrawing a 2013 proposed rule to list the Bi-State
sage-grouse as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

USFWS made this decision after an “extended and comprehensive analysis of the
best available science.” They concluded that local conservation actions have and
will continue to successfully reduce threats to the Bi-State sage-grouse.

This is good news for all the Eastside conservation professionals and community
members who have unified to form what’s called the Bi-State Local Area Working
Group (“LAWG”), a group of diverse stakeholders dedicated to bringing the power
of local land protection to care for the Bi-State sage-grouse. The LAWG is made up
of state and local officials, public and tribal land managers, ranchers, private
landowners, scientists, and conservationists like the Bishop-based nonprofit
organization Eastern Sierra Land Trust.

Sometimes, like in the cases of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker or the California
Condor, the Endangered Species Act serves as a very effective tool for the recovery
of a species. In the case of the Bi-State sage-grouse, our uniquely local and
collaborative approach is working without the need for the Endangered Species Act.

The committed Bi-State partners have seen success in the targeted and specific
actions they’ve taken to enhance our local sagebrush ecosystem. They’ve cared for
the needs of our local environment using individualized and flexible efforts.

The efforts of LAWG have not only worked, but are also being heralded across the
nation as an exceptionally successful model for local, collaborative, science-based
conservation. And after such a comprehensive analysis by the USFWS, we can rest
assured that we’re on the right track to protecting the many unique species that
make their homes in the sagebrush, like sage-grouse.

Bi-state Grouse (Photo by Bob Wick, BLM)

Bi-State sage-grouse are a unique population of Greater sage-grouse that live in the Eastern Sierra and western Nevada. The birds are known for the males’ flamboyant springtime mating displays on traditional dancing grounds, known as leks.

This species is a key indicator species for the health of other wildlife and for sagebrush areas generally. This means that if the Bi-State sage-grouse are thriving, there’s a higher likelihood that other species of plants and animals are thriving too.

During sage-grouse work days hosted by Eastern Sierra Land Trust in fall 2019, volunteers tagged fences in the Bodie Hills. Tags make fences more visible for Bi-State sage-grouse. (Photo by Sus Danner, ESLT)

In addition to the Bi-State sage-grouse, mule deer, pronghorn, songbirds, lizards,
pygmy rabbits, and more depend on wide sagebrush areas for homes and food.

It’s great to have some hopeful news right now, as our world navigates the current COVID-19 pandemic. Once it is safe to do so, local organizations like Eastern
Sierra Land Trust look forward to inviting community members back onto the land to work side by side with them and agency partners to care for sagebrush
ecosystems. Future sage-grouse workdays are planned for this autumn, and the safe participation and support of our community members make a positive difference for our iconic Eastern Sierra land and wildlife.

Eastern Sierra Land Trust works with willing landowners to protect vital lands in the Eastern Sierra region for their scenic, agricultural, natural, recreation historical, and watershed values.

To learn more about ESLT’s work, visit www.eslt.org.