3 minute read
Sagebrush Ecosystem Program
Daniel T. Huser | Nevada Division of Forestry Staff Specialist | Sagebrush Ecosytem Technical Team Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | 201 S. Roop St., Ste 101 | Carson City, NV 89701 dhuser@sagebrusheco.nv.gov | (O) 775-687-2003 (C) 775-309-8655 LEARN MORE AT: sagebrusheco.nv.gov
On June 22, 2022 the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program held a field tour of various conservation projects, including projects from the Nevada Conservation
Credit System around Elko, Nevada. A Sagebrush Ecosystem Council Meeting was held the following day in Elko. This marked what has become an annual event by the program to showcase some of the projects and landscapes relevant to its efforts in areas important to greater sage-grouse conservation. The tour aimed to showcase two ranches enrolled in its Conservation Credit System as well as the conservation efforts provided through the collaborative shared stewardship projects. More than 30 individuals attended representing the general public, federal and state agencies, and the Governor’s Office. The tour was a good time to highlight some successful conservation efforts and the partnership of agencies on multi-faceted projects. The focus of the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council meeting the following day was the introduction (by Dr. Peter Coates) of new USGS science related to greater sage-grouse impacts from anthropogenic disturbances and conservation success strategies that can be implemented using several Conservation Planning Tools developed by the USGS and funded through multiple agencies. The ranches visited were Secret Pass Ranch and Owl Creek Ranch, each are enrolled in the Conservation Credit System (CCS). Each ranch has had their land assessed for its values to greater sage-grouse, committed to long-term management to maintain and improve habitat, and sold credits to those required to mitigate for disturbance to sage-grouse and their habitat. Both ranchers discussed their management strategies, their experience with the CCS, and answered questions. Two additional project sites, Lamoille Grove and the Triple B Herd Management Area were also visited to highlight Nevada’s Shared Stewardship efforts and discuss how this effort to better collaborate across agencies has taken off in recent years. Discussion at Lamoille Grove was centered on Shared Stewardship efforts to reduce fuels, and subsequently fire, in the Wildland Urban Interface of the town of Lamoille, while the visit to the Triple B site focused on the success of pinyon-juniper removal for the goals of improving wildlife habitat, reducing fuels, and improving resistance and resilience to the landscape. The group enjoyed lunch at the upper end of scenic Lamoille Canyon, where Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest staff spoke on the recent fire in the canyon and ensuing debris flows from a historic rain event. They discussed their efforts in restoring areas within the canyon that had been affected by either, or in some cases both, fire and debris flows. They explained in detail how the geology of the Ruby Mountains and Lamoille Canyon contributed to the debris flows. The tour concluded with dinner at the Star in Elko, an opportunity for people to meet and socialize and discuss further collaboration. These events are held annually, typically in the late spring or early summer. Anyone interested in attending these events in invited to keep an eye on the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program website under the Meetings tab. Anyone interested in participating in the CCS is welcome to reach out to the staff at the contact information found on the SEP website at https://sagebrusheco.nv.gov
