Sage Grouse Initiative Biologists FY26
Project ID: 7588
Status: Proposed
Fiscal Year: 2026
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Danny Summers
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Salt Lake Office
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Salt Lake Office
Description:
Placement of 2 wildlife biologists in Utah to specifically work on implementing NRCS farm bill programs (Sage Grouse Initiative) to conserve and protect sage-grouse populations through targeted, landscape-scale sage-grouse habitat conservation.
Location:
Biologists will be housed at NRCS field offices in Tremonton and Vernal.
Project Need
Need For Project:
Sagebrush once occurred on more than 150 million acres, stretching from the Canadian Rockies to the Southwest. Today, sagebrush habitat is rapidly being lost, degraded by development, conifer encroachment, and invasive annual grasses. The impacts on sagebrush habitat are great enough that the FWS determined the sage-grouse is warranted for listing as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Listing sage-grouse could have major impacts on land use and the economy in Utah. Other species that depend on sagebrush habitats are also affected.
Objectives:
To reverse the decline of sagebrush habitat and reduce the need to list sage-grouse, the NRCS launched the SGI, an effort including many partners to achieve spatially targeted, landscape-scale sage-grouse habitat conservation, using Farm Bill conservation programs. The principle objective is to conserve sage-grouse populations through habitat improvement and conservation. NRCS has also launched the Working Lands for Wildlife initiative. Working Lands for Wildlife empowers America's farmers, ranchers and foresters to conserve wildlife through sustainable agricultural practices.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
N/A
Relation To Management Plan:
Utah's Conservation Plan for Greater Sage Grouse
Fire / Fuels:
N/A
Water Quality/Quantity:
N/A
Compliance:
N/A
Methods:
Two wildlife biologist positions will be staffed through Pheasants Forever to help build the capacity to successfully deliver NRCS Conservation Initiatives in Utah. The positions will be located in NRCS field offices in Tremonton and Vernal. Funding will be provided through a variety of State, Federal and NGO partners that have interest in restoring sage grouse and sagebrush habitat, furthering participation in farm bill programs and reducing the need to list sage grouse. The wildlife biologists will work with private landowners to implement farm bill programs to conserve sage grouse habitat.
Monitoring:
N/A
Partners:
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Intermountain West Joint Venture, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pheasants Forever, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Future Management:
N/A
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
N/A
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Personal Services (permanent employee) $16,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
External Conservation Permit $16,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Habitats
Habitat
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Brush Eradication / Vegetation Treatments Medium
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Droughts High
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Feral Domesticated Animals Low
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Habitat Shifting and Alteration High
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Improper Grazing – Livestock (current) Low
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Improper Grazing – Livestock (historic) High
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Very High
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Invasive Plant Species – Non-native Very High
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Problematic Plant Species – Native Upland Medium
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Seeding Non-native Plants High
Lowland Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Soil Erosion / Loss Medium
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Brush Eradication / Vegetation Treatments Medium
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Droughts High
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Improper Grazing – Livestock (current) High
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Improper Grazing – Livestock (historic) Very High
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Medium
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Invasive Plant Species – Non-native Medium
Project Comments
Comment 01/22/2025 Type: 1 Commenter: Kathryn Ladig
Recommend filling out several of the fields currently marked as "NA," such as Project Location/Timing Justification, Monitoring, and Future Management. Is this project related to any federal goals that could be listed under Related Management Plans? Should Sage Grouse be listed in the Species section?
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
N/A