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Sage-Grouse and Sagebrush Steppe Management
The document highlights the primary threats to the greater sage-grouse, focusing on invasive species and fire, while discussing the importance of resilient landscapes for sagebrush ecosystems. Effective management practices, including adaptive grazing strategies, are suggested to restore and protect these habitats, emphasizing the need for active management to ensure ecological balance. The overall message is clear: maintaining sagebrush and riparian habitats is essential for supporting the greater sage-grouse population.
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Sage-Grouse and Sagebrush Steppe Management
- 2. The three greatestthreats to the greater sage-grouse are: invasive species and fire, invasive species and fire, invasive species and fire. Ted Koch, USFWS Nevada has two really big fire problems: Way too much fire, and not nearly enough fire Gruell and Swanson 2012 What matters is what comes after the fire, if it is a resilient landscape that supports sagebrush ecosystems, the fire may have done ecological good for sage-grouse Ted Koch, USFWS It is all about resistance and resilience
- 3. Reisner, M.D., etal. 2013. Conditions favouring Bromus tectorum dominance of endangered sagebrush steppe ecosystems. J. Applied Ecology • Concluded that passive restoration by “reducing cumulative cattle grazing” may be one of the most effective means of achieving high bunchgrass cover and diversity. • However, they did not consider season, duration, or rotation of use. • Most of the sites they studied would have been grazed during the growing season for long periods in big pastures, to have a piosphere.
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- 7. • Documentation phase(late 70’s) • Recognition and protection phase (mid to late 80’s) • Learning how to graze phase (early 90’s to now) • Adaptive management phase? – why? – how? The Elko District, Riparian Story
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- 12. fall/spring/rest springannually spring/rest winter/spring/rest spring/fall/rest/hot hot/spring/rest hot/rest/winter spring/fall/hot spring/hot/fall/winter/rest Fall/ spring Fall annually Winter Winter/rest
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- 14. Season-long Grazing 1996: 5years intermittent early (mostly April) and late fall (mid Oct. or Nov. to Dec.). 1991 1999 Cool-season Grazing
- 15. 1988 2008 Season-long Grazing Rotation with Spring, Rest, andHot Season Grazing
- 16. West Fork BeaverCreek, Horse Field, Beaver Creek Allotment. S-10, T-1, down. 6-14-88. West Fork Beaver Creek, Horse Field, Beaver Creek Allotment. S-10, T-1, down. 7-21-99. Rest 1994 and 1995; 1996 unknown; 1997 first week October cow-calf pairs; 1998 2 weeks August cow-calf pairs and small number domestic horses season-long. 1988 1999 Hot season Grazing. Varied Season & Intensity
- 17. South Fork SalmonFalls Creek, Little Quakey Riparian Pasture, O’Neil Allotment. S-42, down. 10- 10-79. Use unknown. South Fork Salmon Falls Creek, Little Quakey Riparian Pasture, O’Neil Allotment. S-42, down. 7-26-99. 1979 1999 Riparian Pasture
- 18. Often Precluding Riparian Functionsand Recovery Often Allowing and Supporting Riparian Functions Long season of use Short duration Little time for regrowth Long recovery periods Late use Regrowth before winter Consistent timing of use Mix up the timing year to year Selective use Even use Annual growing season use Occasional rest Large pasture Riparian pasture No woody recovery Stutter deferred No riding or stockmanship Riding, herding, and stockmanship Stragglers Cleaned pastures
- 19. Often Precluding Riparian Functionsand Recovery Often Allowing and Supporting Riparian Functions Sustained Heavy use Moderate-light intensity Season-long use Graze early Hot or dry growing season use Cool season use No riding or stockmanship Riding, herding, and stockmanship Riparian water only Off-stream waters Salt on the creeks Scattered salt/supplement Retain riparian dwellers Select for hill climbers Cow-calf pairs Yearling cattle, steers, and or sheep
- 21. Streams change The environment changes The interaction of the two is dynamic
- 32. Ideally, Mowed areaswill retain resilience and mowing will increase resistance • Sagebrush remained on most of 76 plots across Nevada • No or few annuals or exotics no or few annuals or exotics • Perennials & native forbs increased > annuals on 75% • Perennials & native forbs > annuals on 80% Mowed sagebrush Fuel Breaks
- 33. If not retainingresilience and increasing resistance, does mowing usefully break up fuel continuity? This may depend on post mowing fuels management such as prescribed grazing
- 34. Good things happenwhen managers manage!
- 35. Photo by GaleDupree What is most important to sage grouse? • Required sagebrush and riparian habitats remain resistant and resilient
- 36. We cannot donothing!