Colorado Wildlife Federation An awaited study released March 30, 2021 by the US Geological Survey (USGS) confirms a precipitous decline in greater sage grouse populations since 2002. USGS and Colorado State University researchers, assisted by state wildlife agencies, BLM and Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies compiled the data in 11 western states. In 2015 BLM adopted conservation plans that were weakened in 2019. Later that year an Idaho federal district court judge blocked BLM from carrying out the revisions to the plans. The new administration is expected to reinstitute the 2015 plans. CWF and other organizations had urged BLM to remove from its quarterly oil and gas lease sales during 2019 and 2020 parcels within Colorado’s high priority greater sage grouse areas. We are pleased that the new administration has ordered a pause on lease sales.
Click here to read the report: the USGS Report