[ODFW-News] CORRECTION: Public invited to comment on Sage Grouse management

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release	Monday, August 9, 2004

CORRECTION: Public invited to comment on Sage Grouse management

SALEM - Several public meetings are being held across eastern Oregon to
discuss the development of a conservation plan for sage grouse and
sagebrush habitat. The meetings are being coordinated by the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management and the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has been involved in a
cooperative, multi-state effort to provide a comprehensive strategy for
sage grouse in Oregon since the 1990s. According to Clair Kunkel,
Watershed Manager with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, "A
key component is to have the backing and input from the local
communities to ensure that the important issues are addressed."

Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been petitioned to
list sage grouse range-wide for protection under the Federal Endangered
Species Act. The petition sites declines in sage grouse populations
across the birds' historic range as the reason for listing. There will
be a discussion of the listing process and its implications to the
conservation planning process.

Sage grouse occur in 11 western states. Oregon has 18 million acres of
sagebrush habitat.
Meeting dates, times and locations are:

Burns - August 10, Harney County Senior Center, 17 South Alder St., 7-9
p.m.
Lakeview - August 11, Lakeview Senior Center, 11 North G St., 7-9 p.m.
Bend - August 12, Bend Armory, 875 Simpson Ave., 7-9 p.m.

Individuals unable to attend the meetings may submit comments via
e-mail, fax or mail.  The contact information is:
E-mail: Christian.a.hagen at state.or.us 
Fax: 541-573-5306
U.S. Mail: ODFW, 237 Hines Blvd., Hines, OR 97738

Comments must be received or postmarked by August 30, 2004.

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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002