Sage-Grouse Habitat

Devlin Holloway

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Aaron Tani, Sage Society Member

Aaron Tani, Sage Society Member

“It feels good to support ONDA on a monthly basis, because I know they never stop supporting our public lands. ONDA works to help make our lands a better place for the future, and I feel like I’m a part of that every month with my support.”

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Discover Desert Pronghorn

Discover Desert Pronghorn

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Volunteer Accomplishment in Hart-Sheldon

Volunteer Accomplishment in Hart-Sheldon

Goal

Improve the chances for sage-grouse survival by monitoring the implementation of the 2015 Sage-Grouse Plan and ecological conditions of sage-grouse habitat in southeast Oregon

Timeline

Project Start Year: 2016
Anticipated Completion: 2021+

Acreage

Beattys Butte Study Area – 425,000 acres
Louse Canyon Study Area – 140,000 acres

 

About these places

Over the past three years, ONDA has conducted habitat monitoring in two locations in southeast Oregon sage-grouse habitat.

Beatys Butte - The Beatys Butte study area is within the Beatys Butte Sagebrush Focal Area, one of the most important areas in the nation for the long term survival of the Greater Sage-Grouse. The region also encompasses the majority of the land between Hart Mountain NAR and Sheldon NWR, a critical linkage for regional wildlife migrations.

Louse Canyon - The Louse Canyon study area is within the Louse Canyon Sagebrush Focal Area, one of the most important areas in the nation for the long term survival of the Greater Sage-Grouse. The surrounding region boasts the highest numbers of sage-grouse in the state and encompasses numerous wet meadow and riparian areas critical for wildlife in southeastern Oregon.

Our efforts

The Bureau of Land Management’s sage-grouse plans were finalized in 2015 to address the dramatic declines of sage-grouse populations and their habitat across the west.

In both study areas, ONDA monitors how the BLM management plans to protect sage-grouse and their habitat are being implemented on the ground. The monitoring effort includes surveying for and measuring important plant groups critical to sage-grouse and other wildlife species in the sagebrush steppe.

Project history

ONDA began surveys in Beatys Butte in 2016 and Louse Canyon in 2017.

Beatys Butte – ONDA monitored 425,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat twice each year during the 2016 and 2017 field seasons.

Louse Canyon – ONDA monitored 140,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat and nine wet meadow complexes twice each year in the 2017 and 2018 field seasons.

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