County

Conservation districts weigh in on plan to assist sage grouse

RBC I The White River and Douglas Creek conservation districts staff attended the BLM’s Stakeholder Workshop titled “The Next Steppe: Implementing for the Future,” in Grand Junction on April 19, when several Interior Department staff members from Washington D.C., and Colorado BLM Director Ruth Welch addressed the group.

These officials expressed their desire to hear the stakeholders’ questions, concerns and input on the draft policies that will guide the implementation of the plan. The policies were not available for review during the meeting.
Breakouts of the meeting included listening sessions in smaller groups and information sessions on Adaptive Management, Grazing, Mitigation, Oil and Gas Prioritization and Surface Disturbance.
During the listening sessions and the general session, the DOI/BLM staff heard frustration from the stakeholders regarding the changes in the “Colorado Plan.” A multitude of stakeholders worked on the state plan for two years to reach compromise we could all live with and the plan came back from Washington, D.C., with “consistency” aspects.
After hearing all the frustrations, Deputy Assistant Secretary – Land and Minerals Management Jim Lyons assured the group that this was not a top down plan. He had worked with each of the state BLM directors and stakeholders to finalize the plans.
We were pleased to hear that “well-managed livestock grazing is compatible with Greater Sage Grouse (GRSG) conservation.” However, there will be changes in prioritization and management of grazing permits.
In regard to processing permits, monitoring, field checks, thresholds and responses, Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA) will generally be the highest priority, and additional criteria may be included. Thresholds and responses will be incorporated into grazing permits/leases and GRSG habitat objectives will be tailored to local conditions.
The BLM has committed to continue working with stakeholders during the permit renewal process and recognize collaboration with permittees is key to successful grazing management and GRSG conservation.
Key message from the disturbance breakout were the primary strategy in the plan is to limit disturbance in PHMA through the anthropogenic disturbance cap of 3 percent. The percentage will be reported on a Biologically Significant Unit (BSU) such as the Parachute/Piceance/Roan (PPR) and the Meeker/White River populations, but authorizations will be limited at the project scale.
Anthropogenic includes things such as oil and gas development, coal mines, wind towers, mining, roads, vertical structures, other developed rights of ways, etc. There is always a question regarding how private land will be considered within the BLM’s disturbance cap.
Again, during this meeting they represented that private land disturbance will only be considered if there is a federal nexus such as a power line going through private land from public land.
White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts’ Executive Director Callie Hendrickson’s, final request of the BLM staff was, “We ask that while you are drafting the policies to implement this plan, you recognize and consider all the other current regulations and stipulations that the public land users must already adhere to. They have to operate within so many other federal, state, and local regulations it is nearly impossible to function. The sage grouse regulations are piled on top of all the others.”

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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
6 days ago
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
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