Salmon (Idaho) Field Office

Annual lek surveys identify crucial habitat

Lemhi County is on the western side of the Continental Divide in central Idaho, along the Montana border. The project area is in the Lemhi Valley, from the headwaters of the Lemhi River to its confluence with the Salmon River.

Annual monitoring of strutting grounds has been conducted within the area managed by the Lemhi Field Office annually since 2001. Lek surveys with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Salmon-Challis National Forest identify known lek activity and look for new leks within the Lemhi Sub-basin. Surveys during the past two breeding season have located three leks that were not previously recorded.

Starting in 2002, radio collars were placed on sage-grouse at leks in the Upper Lemhi Valley. The collared birds help biologists locate areas where the birds winter, nest and rear late broods.

Data currently being collected allow the Challis Sage-Grouse Local Working Group to develop best management practices (BMPs) and projects to meet specific needs identified for the local sage-grouse populations on both public and private lands. BLM staff from the Lemhi FO are active participants in the LWG, which brings together a mix of federal, state and local governments, conservation groups, hunting groups, user groups and private individuals.

Local BLM Contact: Vincent Guyer, Salmon Field Office - (208) 756-5403