DOINews: BLM: Nevada, California Celebrate Sage-Grouse Success

04/30/2015
Last edited 09/05/2019

DOI Secretary Sally Jewell announced on April 21 that the Bi-State Population of Greater Sage-Grouse along the California-Nevada border does not require Endangered Species Act protection. Jewell joined with USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, California Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird, and other state and local partners to celebrate the extensive long-term conservation partnership that made this possible.

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DOI Secretary Sally Jewell speaks to employees of her appreciation for the hard work being done to protect the Bi-State Population of Greater Sage-Grouse.

 

Following the announcement in Reno, the BLM Nevada State Office was proud to host Jewell as part of this celebration. In attendance were more than 100 employees from BLM Nevada and California, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Nevada state government. Senior leaders present included USDA Under Secretary Bonnie, as well as Jim Kenna, BLM California state director; Amy Leuders, Acting BLM assistant director for Renewable Resources and Planning Directorate; and Ted Koch, Nevada state manager of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

At the event, Jewell thanked all who contributed many hours to this effort and stated her belief that great science-based efforts will continue to provide healthy sagebrush habitat and encourage sustainable economic development. Jewell also highlighted the great relationships that the agencies have with stakeholders including ranchers, conservation groups, and local governments. Bonnie and Koch echoed Jewell's appreciation for the years of partnerships that allowed for proactive conservation of key sage-grouse habitat in the bi-state region.

As its name suggests, the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment straddles the California-Nevada border, where biologists estimate that between 2,500 and 9,000 of these ground-dwelling birds inhabit about 4.5 million acres of high-desert sagebrush. The birds use a variety of sagebrush habitats throughout the year on private, state, and federal lands.

While at the BLM Nevada office, Jewell also awarded four individuals from various agencies with awards for exemplary service in conservation of the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-Grouse. Awardees included Thad Heater, Nevada state wildlife biologist – Natural Resources Conservation Service; Peter Coates, wildlife biologist – USGS; Steve Abele, staff wildlife biologist – USFWS; and Steve Nelson, manager of BLM California's Bishop Field Office. Nelson was recognized for being the BLM's primary steward for sage-grouse conservation over two decades. His leadership has spread beyond the geographical boundaries of his field office and helped lead to a rich, collaborative, range-wide public-private process focused on sagebrush ecosystem conservation.

BLM Bishop Field Office manager Steve Nelson shaking Secretary Sally Jewell's hand as he accepts his award.
BLM Bishop Field Office manager Steve Nelson accepts his award for exemplary sage-grouse conservation work from Secretary Sally Jewell.

Group photo of agency leaders standing beside award-winning employees
Gathering for a photo at ceremony honoring award recipients are, from left: Amy Leuders, acting BLM assistant director for Renewable Resources and Planning Directorate; Ren Lohoefener, director of USFWS Pacific Southwest Region; Thad Heater, Nevada state wildlife biologist – Natural Resources Conservation Service; Peter Coates, wildlife biologist – USGS; Steve Abele, staff wildlife biologist – USFWS; Steve Nelson, manager – BLM Bishop Field Office; Sally Jewell, DOI secretary; Robert Bonnie, USDA under secretary; and Jim Kenna, BLM California state director.

By: Rita Ayers, social media specialist, BLM-Nevada
April 30, 2015

Related Link:

 

DOI news release

 

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