Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan North Magic Valley Sage-grouse Local Working Group January 2011 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.1 Background and Need ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1.2 Relationship of North Magic Valley Local Working Group Plan to State Plan ..................................................................... 7 1.2 Description of the North Magic Valley Sage-grouse Local Working Group ............................................................................. 8 1.2.1 Purpose .................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2.2 Goal and Objectives ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.2.3 Geographic Scope ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Organization .............................................................................................................................................................................. 10 1.3.1 Participation .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.3.2 Roles and Responsibilities .................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.3.3 Ground Rules ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11 1.3.4 Decision-Making Process ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 1.3.5 Press Protocol........................................................................................................................................................................ 13 1.4 Local Working Group Activities and Requirements ................................................................................................................ 13 1.4.1 Activities ............................................................................................................................................................................... 13 1.4.2 Required Plan Outline ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 1.4.3 Implementation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 1.4.4 History of Changes/Plan Revision Dates .............................................................................................................................. 16 2 Sage-grouse Population and Habitat in the North Magic Valley Sage-grouse Planning Area ......................................................... 17 2.1 Sage-grouse Population Overview / Background ..................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.1 Sage-grouse Population History (from state plan and regional data) ................................................................................... 18 2.1.2 Methods of assessing and monitoring sage-grouse populations within the NMVPA .......................................................... 23 2.1.3 Specific Planning Area Population Trends and Data ............................................................................................................ 23 2.1.4 Population Data Needs .......................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.2 NMV Planning Area Habitat Status and Conditions Overview................................................................................................ 27 2.2.1 North Magic Valley Planning Area Historical Background: Land Use, Disturbance, and Loss of Sage-grouse Habitat .... 27 2.2.2 Current Greater sage-grouse Habitat Condition in the NMV LWG Planning Area ............................................................. 27 2.2.2.1 Broad-scale Habitat Classification and Distribution..................................................................................................... 27 Page 1 of 161 2.2.2.2 Mid-scale Habitat Condition ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Seasonal Habitat Mapping ............................................................................................................................................................ 36 Breeding/ Nesting Seasonal Habitat ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Brood-rearing Seasonal Habitat .................................................................................................................................................... 38 Winter Seasonal Habitat ............................................................................................................................................................... 39 2.2.2.3 Fine-scale habitat condition .......................................................................................................................................... 41 Threats and Conservation Measures for sage-grouse and sage-grouse habitat in the NMV Sage-grouse Planning Area ....................... 48 2.3 Threats Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 2.4 Preliminary Threats Prioritization............................................................................................................................................. 48 2.5 Urban / Rural Development ...................................................................................................................................................... 50 2.5.1 Urban / Rural Development Conservation Measures ........................................................................................................... 58 2.6.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 61 Wildfire / Annual Grasslands ................................................................................................................................................................ 61 2.6.1 Fire and Annual Grasses Issues and Conservation Measures ............................................................................................... 65 2.7 Livestock Management ............................................................................................................................................................. 69 2.7.1 Livestock Management Conservation Measures .................................................................................................................. 72 2.8 Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................................................. 82 Infrastructure Threat Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... 82 2.8.1 Linear and Non-linear Features ............................................................................................................................................ 85 Utility Lines .................................................................................................................................................................................. 85 Roads............................................................................................................................................................................................. 87 Active Railroads............................................................................................................................................................................ 87 Oil and Gas Pipelines .................................................................................................................................................................... 87 Wireless Communication Towers ................................................................................................................................................. 88 Wind Energy