On May 28, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released final reviews of updated land use plans intended to better manage public lands for greater sage-grouse as well as support future economic development. The 14 final environmental impact statements (EIS's) will guide land management decisions on BLM and USFS lands and resources in 10 western states. These EIS's are a critical element to sage grouse conservation efforts and coordinate with the efforts of state fish and wildlife agencies, local partners, and private landowners who are working collaboratively to conserve sagebrush landscapes.

"The West is rapidly changing ? with increasingly intense wildfires, invasive species and development altering the sagebrush landscape and threatening wildlife, ranching and our outdoor heritage," said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. "As land managers of two-thirds of greater sage-grouse habitat, we have a responsibility to take action that ensures a bright future for wildlife and a thriving western economy. Together with conservation efforts from states and private landowners, we are laying an important foundation to save the disappearing sagebrush landscape of the American West."

Each EIS focuses on conserving Priority Habitat Areas that have the highest value to sage grouse and their habitat and designing land uses to minimize or avoid habitat disturbance in these areas. In addition there are Sagebrush Focal Areas that are important landscape blocks with high breeding population densities of sage grouse and existing high quality sagebrush. In designated General Habitat Management Areas there will be greater flexibility for land use activities. There are three common approaches that are incorporated in all of the plans: minimizing new or additional surface disturbance, improving habitat condition, and reducing the threat of rangeland fire.

The EIS's will now go through a 60-day Governor's Consistency Review and Records of Decision are anticipated in late summer. State-specific EIS's can be found on the BLM sage grouse website.