Sage-Grouse Initiative Threat Checklist

NRCS-Utah FY2011

Participant:

Planner:

Date:

Instructions: Choose “Yes” or “No” for all potential threats. Those marked “Yes” are considered identified threats present on the proposed project acreage. Mark “Treated” if the threat will be treated in the plan. Use the treatments to plan the project.

Potential Threats / YES / NO / Treat
-ed / Treatments
1. Fences are within 1/4 mile of a lek, across wintering habitat, or across other critical movement corridors. / Remove, relocate, or mark problem fences.
NRCS Practices: Fence (382), Obstruction Removal (500).
Note: 382 will be used to design and cost share fence marking projects and to replace removed fences in more appropriate locations. 500 will be used to remove problem fences.
2. Stock water tanks and troughs do not have properly designed escape ramps installed.
Must follow Biology Technical Note UT190-06-01 or specifications approved by NRCS or partner biologist. / Install wildlife escape ramps into all existing and new tanks and troughs.
NRCS Practice: Watering Facility (614), Upland Wildlife Habitat Mgmt (645).
Note: 614 will be used for new watering troughs and 645 for existing troughs.
3. Current grazing management does not allow for sage-grouse habitat requirements to be sustained.
Sage-grouse require lekking, nesting, early and late brood-rearing and winter habitats, usually in close proximity.
Work with DWR or NRCS biologist and/or the Sage-Grouse Local Working Group to identify sage-grouse seasons of use. / Implement grazing strategy that allows for sustainable sage-grouse habitat requirements.
NRCS Practices: Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645) Prescribed Grazing (528), Fence (382), Watering Facility (614) and associated practices.
Note: 645 is the required practice available to implement improved grazing management. 528 will not be cost-shared. Use the 528 standard and specification sheet to design the grazing strategy and attach to the 645 specification sheet which has been completed according to the 645 standard.
Potential Threats / YES / NO / Treat
-ed / Treatments
4. Current grazing management does not allow for adequate residual cover in sage-grouse nesting habitat to maximize nest success.
Ideal residual cover guidelines = minimum 15% grass canopy cover averaging at least 8” high within sagebrush canopy cover between 15-25% from March 1st to May 15th.
Variance from these guidelines in consideration of local ecological site potential is encouraged in consultation with DWR or NRCS biologist or the sage-grouse Local Working Group. / Implement grazing strategy that allows for increased residual cover for nesting. This will be accomplished with a grazing prescription on 20% of available nesting habitat to result in the required height and amount of nesting cover.
NRCS Practices: Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645) Prescribed Grazing (528), Fence (382), Watering Facility (614) and associated practices.
Note: 645 is the required practice available to implement improved grazing management. 528 will not be cost-shared. Use the 528 standard and specification sheet to design the grazing strategy and attach to the 645 specification sheet which has been completed according to the 645 standard.
5. Noxious weeds or invasive species that threaten sage-grouse habitat requirements are present. / Design and implement integrated pest management plan that treats identified noxious weeds and/or invasive species.
NRCS Practice:Pest Management (595), Herbaceous Weed Control (315), Restoration and Mgmt. of Declining Habitats (643).
6. There is significant conifer encroachment into the potential sage- grouse habitat.
Conifer removal should only be considered on sites with sufficient sagebrush and herbaceous understory to provide sage-grouse habitat once the conifers are removed. Treatments will have the most benefit when sage-grouse are using adjacent sagebrush habitats. / Remove conifers which have encroached into sagebrush habitat to eliminate avian predator perch sites and improve vegetative species diversity.
NRCS Practices: Brush Management (314), Prescribed Burning (338), Fuel Break (383), Firebreak (394), Range Planting (550).
Note: 314 will generally be used to remove encroached conifers. 338 may only be considered in mountain big sagebrush communities with annual precip > 16”. Either 383 or 394 may be planned if 338 is used. 550 will be used if desired herbaceous response is not anticipated without seeding.
Potential Threats / YES / NO / Treat
-ed / Treatments
7. Mesic and/or historic wetland areas (e.g. seeps, wet meadows) are dewatered and fail to provide abundant forbs and insects for sage-grouse broods. / Retrofit altered springs to provide wet seeps and restore degraded mesic areas to mimic historic moist soil conditions. Protect springheads.
NRCS Practices: Spring Development (retrofit only) (574), Pipeline (516), Range Planting (550), Fence (382).
Note: 574, 382 and 550 will be used to restore altered spring areas.
Restore hydrology to degraded wet meadows to pre-altered conditions to the extent practicable or supplement natural precipitation in areas where plants can use additional moisture.
NRCS Practices: Wetland Restoration (657), Waterspreading (640), Channel Stabilization (584), Grade Stabilization Structure (410), Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390), Range Planting (550), Fence (382).
Note: Either 584 or 410 will be planned if needed to restore down cut wet meadows, using the 657 standard (for wetlands) or the 640 standard (for non-wetlands). 390 or 550 will be used if desired plant response is not expected without planting.
8. Plant species diversity in brood-rearing habitat does not allow optimal sage-grouse chick survival and recruitment.
Optimal brood-rearing habitat guidelines = Sagebrush canopy cover between 15-25%, perennial grass canopy cover > 15%, forb canopy cover > 10%.
Variance from these guidelines in consideration of local ecological site potential is encouraged in consultation with DWR or NRCS biologist or the Sage-Grouse Local Working Group. / Develop rangeland enhancements and/or adjust management to increase native vegetation diversity for sage-grouse chick survival.
NRCS Practices: Brush Management (314), Range Planting (550), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645), Prescribed Grazing (528).
Note: 645 is the required practice to implement improved grazing management. 528 will not be funded. Use the 528 standard and specification sheet to design the grazing strategy and attach to the 645 specification sheet which has been completed according to the 645 standard.
9. Wildfire and cheatgrass invasion threaten existing sagebrush-grassland habitat. / Develop strategically placed firebreaks using greenstripping techniques.
NRCS Practices: Firebreak (394), Range Planting (550).
Total Number of Threats: / Identified: / Treated (planned): / Percent:

Sage-Grouse Initiative NRCS-UT FY1111/14/2018