For Immediate Release July 6, 2004
Contact:  Tim Novotny BLM 970-826-5090
Juan Garcia CO 970-824-4451
Vaughn Whatley  BLM 303-239-3766

Partnership Enhances Sage-Grouse Habitat in Northwestern Colorado

Collaborative research by state, federal and private partners is benefiting greater sage-grouse habitat and populations in northwest Colorado. This research is a key factor in the development of the Northwest Colorado Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan.

Partners in the research include the Colowyo Coal Company L.P., Kennecott Energy, the BLM, Yampa Valley Electric, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Trapper Mining Inc., Moffat County (Colo.), University of Idaho, Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and numerous private landowners.

The study is taking place in two surface coal mining areas in northwestern Colorado: the Colowyo Coal Mine, approximately 25 south of Craig, Colorado; and the Trapper Mine, 6.5 miles south of Craig, Colorado. Both sites lie off of Colorado Hwy. 13.

As one of the largest landowners in northwest Colorado, the Colowyo Coal Company manages lands critical to sage-grouse and has been a proactive manager of greater sage-grouse for many years. The company has been continuously reclaiming the lands it mines for 20 years and started sage-grouse research three years ago.

Of the approximately 150,000 acres managed by Colowyo Coal, some 1,500 acres of mined land are now in various stages of post-reclamation succession. Monitoring by mine personnel, Colorado Division of Wildlife staff and research technicians shows that reclaimed lands are being used by sage-grouse at various times of the year with Greater sage-grouse commonly seen on these lands.

Colowyo Coal has conducted multiple wildlife surveys across all the acres it manages, identifying areas used by greater sage-grouse for breeding, nesting, brood-rearing and wintering. The company has used data gathered though these surveys to plan future development and reclamation.

The company also shared its data with the Colorado Division of Wildlife for use in the Division’s on-going research on sage-grouse habitat selection, nesting success and mortality factors in the northwestern part of the state.

Colowyo has also provided significant funding to support this research and housing for research technicians. A large portion of this research project has been conducted on lands owned or managed by Colowyo Coal.

To further enhance sage-grouse habitat and populations, the Colowyo Coal Company actively monitors livestock grazing operations conducted on its properties to ensure rangeland health. The company has also installed water features to draw livestock and big game wildlife to the uplands, keeping them out of critical riparian areas greater sage-grouse use for brood-rearing.

In addition to supporting the collaborative research, Trapper Mining has also monitored sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse use of its own reclaimed mine lands. Data from Trapper areas indicate that when sage-grouse do use reclaimed lands, it is land that has been in reclaimed status for 15 to 20 years. Most use has been for brood-rearing activities, but one male sage-grouse was recently seen strutting on reclaimed Trapper land. In addition, there is evidence of increasing Greater sage-grouse use of reclaimed lands where baseline studies showed little or no species use of these lands before they were mined.

Funding for reclamation work is provided by the respective mines. Funding for greater sage-grouse research comes from a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant and contributions from the partners listed above.

BLM is managing the Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, which generally covers the cost of the plane and pilot used by research technicians. A small number of BLM parcels are included in the areas leased to the mining companies, but these parcels are not currently being mined.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 8.3 million acres of public lands in Colorado. These lands are managed for a multitude of uses including, but not limited to, recreation, mining, wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. Along with these 8.3 million acres, BLM oversees 27.3 million subsurface acres for mineral development in the state.

Local Contacts:

Tim Novotny, wildlife biologist – BLM Little Snake Field Office (970) 826-5090
Juan Garcia, Colowyo Mine – (970) 824-4451
Forrest Luke, Trapper Mine – (970) 826-6100

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