Proposed Listing and Critical Habitatfor

Gunnison Sage-grouse

Photo by Mike Danzenbaker

Current Situation

Proposed rules to add Gunnison sage-grouse to the list of threatened and endangered species and designate critical habitat

Gunnison sage-grouse currently occur in seven populations in Colorado and Utah

Rangewide - Occupies a total of approx. 940,000 acres

Current rangewide population is approximately 4,621 individuals

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Population Trends

Population trends over the last twelve years indicate six of the populations are in decline

Gunnison Basin population trend relatively stable over the past twelve years

Essential Biological Needs

Gunnison sage-grouse need sagebrush for both food and cover to survive

Also require healthy understory with forbs and grasses for food and cover

Persistence of the species is linked to the conservation of relatively large blocks of sagebrush dominated habitat in good ecological condition

Listing Factors

A. Present or threatened habitat loss and fragmentation

B. Overuse for commercial, recreational, scientific or educational purposes

C. Disease or predation

D. Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms

E. Other natural or manmade factors

Photo © James YuleUsed by permission

Threats

■Ongoing and Future Habitat Loss and Fragmentation due to residential development, roads, powerlines

■Existing regulations don’t prevent habitat fragmentation

■Small population size

PROPOSEDCRITICAL HABITAT

Critical Habitat

Only the areas within the polygons that provide primary habitat characteristics are consider critical habitat

Does not create a preserve FWS does not manage these areas Does not take private lands Only applies when there is a Federal action that

may modify or change the habitat

Important Habitat Characteristics Included in Proposed Critical Habitat

Sagebrush dominated plant communities of sufficient size and configuration to encompass seasonal habitats for Gunnison sage-grouse.

Includes areas that allow for dispersal movements between subpopulations and populations.

Breeding habitat, summer habitat, and winter habitat.

Alternative Habitats such as wet meadows, riparian shrub areas and portions of agricultural fields.

Photo by Mike Danzenbaker

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DRAFT ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CRITICAL HABITAT DESIGNATION FOR THE

GUNNISON SAGE-GROUSE

Draft Economic Analysis Summary

• The Draft Economic Analysis was prepared by an independent economics consultant, Industrial Economics, Inc.

• The purpose is to estimate the likely economic impacts of Critical Habitat designation.

• The economists contacted stakeholders including local governments, Federal land management agencies, and key landowners to gather information for the analysis.

• Activities analyzed include transportation, recreation, energy development, agriculture, and livestock grazing.

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• The Draft Economic Analysis evaluates the “baseline impacts” of conservation efforts implemented as a result of the listing of the sage-grouse as endangered.

• The Draft Economic Analysis also evaluates the “incremental impacts” of Critical Habitat Designation.

• The results of the analysis help determine if the incremental impacts are significant to the national economy.

• Economic impacts are considered significant if they have impacts to the national economy of $100 million or more in a single year.

Draft Economic Analysis Summary

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Draft Economic Analysis Summary

RESULTS

• In general, the analysis used the worst case scenario, therefore, the impacts are likely an overestimation of costs.

• The baseline impacts were determined to be $850,000 per year.

• The incremental impacts were determined to be $340,000 per year.

• The results show that designation of Critical Habitat is not likely to be significant to the national economy.

Comment on the Proposed Rules

(1) Electronically: http://www.regulations.gov.

(2) By hard copy: Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.

(3) Tonight only: Submit Oral comments during the Hearing. Submit written comments.

More information at: www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie