2008 Sage-Grouse Lek Visits (Aerial and Ground)

Number of Visits

Protocol Clarification• Surveys – To identify new sage-grouse leks and

determine whether known leks are active

• Counts– To document actual number of males

observed at a lek

Protocol Clarification• Surveys – Can be conducted from the ground or from aircraft– Should be conducted at least three times 7-10 days

apart– Activity of known leks can be confirmed by only one

visit– Inactivity of known leks must be verified on the ground

Protocol Clarification• Counts– Must be conducted from the

ground– Should be conducted at least

three times 7-10 days apart

COA Clarification• COAs require that surveys be

conducted to verify activity

• WGFD requires that counts be conducted in order to be used in the lek count database

Reducing Lek Visitations

• Reduce or eliminate the use of flights to survey known leks

• Use flights to survey only for new leks

Number of Visits in 2008 by Type

Type of Visit

Reducing Lek Visitations• Eliminate requirement for surveying

2 mile buffers around adjacent PODs

Reducing Lek Visitations

A B

Reducing Lek Visitations

A B

• ISSUE: Must resolve when a lek is outside of POD boundaries but within 2 miles of more than one POD

63 leks where this is the case

Reducing Lek Visitations

A

B

• ISSUE: Must resolve when a lek is inside of more than one POD boundary

22 leks where this is the case

Reducing Lek Visitations• ISSUE: Must resolve how to handle

surveys around PODs that have not yet been submitted

Reducing Lek Visitations• Goal for consultants & industry: – Create a list of leks and the parties

responsible for checking them prior to survey/count season

• BLM agrees to:– Lift the 2-mile survey buffer

requirement– Make available on our website the

daily status of lek surveys & counts throughout the season