habitat management

We zoom in on a water restoration project in southwest Wyoming, the headwaters of the Colorado River system that serves about 40 million people downstream. The goal is to restore the surrounding habitat and ultimately hold water on the landscape longer, a problem that's plaguing all of the West. And one way to address that? Humans acting like beavers.

Every spring, sage grouse go to ‘leks’ – which are sacred mating grounds in the sagebrush. This year, researchers noticed 15 percent more birds at the Wyoming leks compared to last year.

The objections were primarily concerned with what the impacts would be on native plant species in an effort to treat invasive ones. Others expressed concern about applying herbicide aerially. In response, the forest has amended their plans to remove two native plant species initially slated for treatment from the project's final decision. Once approved, the new plan will be in effect by the summer of 2023 when treatments will get underway throughout the forest.

A new report showed that Wyoming is home to the largest intact sagebrush habitat in the West. Grand Teton wants to keep it that way.

Restrictions are often implemented during the summer months when fire and drought conditions are the most severe and are often lifted in the fall and winter, though they can remain in place during these times as well. Protecting lands for hunting, preserving public access, and preserving wildlife habitats are major reasons that restrictions are put in place.

The Interior Department is expected to take its first tangible step in making large changes to sage grouse management plans. Ninety-eight of these plans…