Sage Brush Rebellion

The nation's thirst for oil and gas will have a profound impact on the sagebrush landscapes of the Interior West. From Otero Mesa in New Mexico to the Powder River Basin in Montana, the number, extent, and potential cumulative impacts of federal oil and gas leases could seriously degrade sagebrush ecosystems and gravely threaten wildlife species dependent on sagebrush habitat, especially the emblematic greater sage grouse.

In response, a broad coalition of hunting, fishing and conservation organizations, and an increasing number of state wildlife agencies have mounted a concerted effort to protect vulnerable wildlife and irreplaceable wildlife habitat. With our support:

• University of Montana researcher Dave Naugle is documenting the adverse impacts of oil and gas development on sage grouse populations in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming.
• The Nature Conservancy of Wyoming developed a predictive model of the potential scope and scale of development impacts across sagebrush landscapes in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and North and South Dakota.

Living with the Endangered Species Act

Since the Endangered Species Act became law in 1973, it has been the focus of intense controversy and conflict because of its broad and overarching regulatory authority. In the American West, anger and outrage over the intrusiveness and adverse economic impacts of the ESA have been a constant in political discourse.

Despite its draconian reputation, the provisions of the ESA are inherently flexible and can provide positive incentives for protection of listed species and critical habitat, as well as eliminate uncertainty about the regulatory consequences of future species listings. The Foundation is committed to supporting efforts to apply the ESA in a manner that protects listed species and the interests of affected businesses and landowners. With our support, Environmental Defense is:

• Collaborating with the Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah State University and the USFWS to develop a market-based framework that will allow landowners who voluntarily protect Utah prairie dog habitat to sell "recovery credits."
• Working with Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma to develop a comprehensive habitat-conservation initiative for the lesser prairie chicken under the USDA State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program.
• Administering a Safe Harbor Agreement in the Lower Rio Grande Valley to encourage private landowners to restore thorn scrub habitat critical for the recovery of the Texas ocelot.