Energy development and greater sage-grouse

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Rapidly expanding energy development in western North America poses a major new challenge for conservation of the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The authors reviewed the scientific literature documenting biological responses of sage-grouse to development, quantified changes in landscape features detrimental to sage-grouse that result from development, examined the potential for landscape-level expansion of energy development within sage-grouse range, and outlined recommended landscape-scale conservation strategies. Shrublands developed for energy production contained twice as many roads and power lines, and where ranching, energy development, and tillage agriculture coincided, human features were so dense that every 1 km2 could be bounded by a road and bisected by a power line. Sage-grouse respond negatively to three different types of energy development, and conventional densities of oil and gas wells far exceed the species’ threshold of tolerance. These patterns were consistent among studies regardless of whether they examined lek dynamics or demographic rates of specific cohorts within populations. Severity of current and projected impacts indicates the need to shift from local to landscape conservation. The immediate need is for planning tools that overlay the best remaining areas for sage-grouse with the extent of current and anticipated development. This will allow stakeholders to consider a hierarchy of set-aside areas, lease consolidations, and more effective best-management practices as creative solutions to reduce losses. Multiple stressors, including energy development, must be managed collectively to maintain sage-grouse populations over time in priority landscapes.

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Location: ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Birds

Suggested citation: Naugle, D. E., K. E. Doherty, B. L. Walker, M. J. Holloran, and H. E. Copeland. 2011. Energy development and Greater Sage-Grouse. Pp. 489–503 in S. T. Knick and J. W. Connelly (editors). Greater Sage-Grouse: ecology and conservation of a landscape species and its habitats. Studies in Avian Biology (vol. 38), University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation: Naugle DE, Doherty KE, Walker BL, Holloran MJ, Copeland HE. 2011. Energy development and greater sage-grouse. In: Knick ST, Connelly JW, editors. Greater sage-grouse: ecology and conservation of a landscape species and its habitats. Berkeley (CA): University of California Press. (Studies in avian biology; vol. 38). p. 489–504. [accessed 2015 Jun 1]. http://grazingforgrouse.com/sites/default/files/Naugle%20Doherty%20Walke...