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State of Nevada

Sagebrush Ecosystem Program

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

December 2021

Sunset near Secret Pass in Elko County. (SETT)

STATE OF NEVADA

SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM PROGRAM

The Semi-Annual Report is a product of the Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Program (SEP). The Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical

Team (SETT) and Sagebrush Ecosystem Council (SEC) submit this document biennially to report on the status of Greater Sage-

grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem in Nevada, the Progress of the Nevada Conservation Credit System (CCS), as well as other

strategies, programs, or projects carried out in pursuant of NRS 321.592 and NRS 321.594.

The Sagebrush Ecosystem Council’s mission is to maintain and restore a functional and resilient sagebrush ecosystem

to benefit all species while allowing for various land uses. This will be accomplished by working

through a diverse coalition of public and private stakeholders.

sagebrusheco.nv.gov

SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM TECHNICAL TEAM

Kelly McGowan (SEP Program Manager)

Katie Andrle (Nevada Department of Wildlife)

Dan Huser (Nevada Division of Forestry)

Kathleen Petter (Nevada Division of State Lands)

Vacant (Nevada Department of Agriculture)

For more information, please contact the SETT at:

201 South Roop Street, Suite 101

Carson City, Nevada 89701-5247

(775) 687-2000

SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM COUNCIL (SEC)

J.J. Goicoechea, Chair (Local Government)

Chris MacKenzie, Vice Chair (Board of Wildlife)

Allen Biaggi (Mining)

Steve Boies (Ranching)

Gerry Emm (Tribal Nations)

Starla Lacy (Energy)

Bevan Lister (Agriculture)

William Molini (Conservation and Environmental)

Sherman Swanson (General Public)

Ex-Officio Members

Bradley Crowell (Nevada Department of Conservation and

Natural Resources)

Ray Dotson (U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Bill Dunkelberger (U.S. Forest Service)

Marc Jackson (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Jennifer Ott (Nevada Department of Agriculture)

Jon Raby (Bureau of Land Management)

Tony Wasley (Nevada Department of Wildlife)

*Denotes former SEC and SETT members involved in the SEP during the timeline of this report.

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND

NATURAL RESOURCES

Bradley Crowell (Director)

Jim Lawrence (Deputy Director)

Charlie Donohue (Administrator, Nevada Division of State Lands)

CONTENTS

Nevada Conservation Credit System (CCS) 4

Background

Implementation Updates

Progress over the Years

Current Map of Projects

Other Program Efforts 8

Plans for Upcoming Year 9

GRSG & Sagebrush Ecosystem Status 10

GRSG Populations in Nevada and Western US

Threats to Sagebrush Ecosystems & GRSG

Reporting on NVCCN, ROGER, and LAWGs

AWG Efforts

The Owl Creek and Secret Pass Credit Projects in Elko County. (SETT)

CONSERVATION CREDIT SYSTEM BACKGROUND

• As required by the 2013 legislation establishing the SEP immediately began development of a system to mitigate

authorized adverse impacts (disturbances) to sagebrush ecosystems in the State.

• After a year of robust engagement with stakeholders and scientific community, the Council unanimously adopted the

Conservation Credit System as the mitigation program in December 2014.

• A primary goal expressed by all stakeholders was to develop a system that, based on best available science, could be

used consistently to both quantify authorized adverse impacts to Greater Sage-grouse habitat (debits) and quantify the

value of preservation and restoration projects (credits). To achieve this goal, the Habitat Quantification Tool (HQT) was

developed and consequently approved by the Council.

• The 2015 Legislature appropriated funds to be used for grants to “kick start” credit projects. Funding was awarded

initially in 2016 and, in addition, several landowners began credit projects on their own without any state funding.

• The transfer of credits began in 2017. However, transfers stalled upon the issuance of Instructional Memorandum (IM)

by the Department of Interior in (insert month/year) directing that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) could only

require mitigation on federal lands if there was a state regulation requiring it.

• Because the vast majority of disturbances occur on lands managed by the BLM, Nevada became more at risk of having

the Greater Sage-grouse listed as threatened or endangered species due to lack of regulatory mechanisms to mitigate

disturbances.

• In answer, the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council immediately began work on a regulation requiring mitigation on public

lands. A permanent regulation was passed in 2019.

• A combination of continuous program engagement and the adoption of the regulation has resulted in a significant

increase in credit project development and CCS mitigation transactions.

• Nevada began development of the mitigation program after many other western states with Sage-grouse habitat had

begun development of their systems. Nevada is considered a regional leader in the implementation of a conservation

credit system or habitat exchange, being one of the first to have finalized several transactions.

CONSERVATION CREDIT SYSTEM LATE 2021 UPDATES

In 2021:

• Ten mitigation transactions occurred using

the CCS with now more than 20 since the

first in 2017.

• These transactions from 2021 involved

transfers of nearly 300 credits from five

private land credit developers that

encompass more than 1,500 acres of high

value sage-grouse habitats to be conserved

for 30 years or more.

• All current credit project proponents

completed annual monitoring.

• Three new credit projects are near

completion and conserve approximately

5,000 acres and account for nearly 3,000

credits.

• The SETT visited four landowners as part

of the programs five-year assessment.

• Several landowners met with the SETT to

discuss entry of land into the CCS.

• The SETT conducted several desktop HQT

assessments on behalf of debit project

proponents. Some, if developed, may

generate debits in the thousands.

• In consultation with the SETT, at least four

debit projects altered designs to minimize

impacts and mitigation obligations.

High up on Coleman Valley Ranch near the California and Oregon borders. (SETT)

CONSERVATION CREDIT SYSTEM THE CCS THROUGH THE YEARS

-10

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Cumulative Debit Projects 2016 - 2021*

Total Debit Projects New Debit Projects / Year

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Cumulative Transactions 2016 - 2021

Total Transactions New Transactions / Year

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Cumulative Debits Offset 2016 - 2021

Total Debits Offset New Debits / Year

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Cumulative Credit Projects 2016 - 2021

Total Credit Projects New Credit Projects / Year

* 2017, prior to the regulation, reflects debit projects that entered the system previously, then withdrew.

FIGURE 1: C o nser vat i o n C r e dit S y s t em pr o gress

CONSERVATION CREDIT SYSTEM CURRENT MAP OF CCS PROJECTS

FIGURE 2: M ap o f the C o nser vat i o n Credit S y s t em Projects

OTHER PROGRAM EFFORTS LATE 2021 UPDATES

A rock outcrop in Washoe County near the Peterson Mine Debit Project. (SETT)

Other efforts of the Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team through December of 2021 included:

• Five virtual SEC meetings and an in-person SEC meeting that included a tour of CCS projects.

• Progress on the 3

annual Adaptive Management process related to GRSG population and habitat warnings/triggers

with a meeting soon to be scheduled with the statewide group.

• USGS and Environmental Incentives subgrant management for conservation planning tool development and improved

application of the CCS.

• Weed maps, prioritization of annual invasive grass treatments, and meetings on Early Detection - Rapid Response.

• Collaborative efforts to conserve GRSG and sagebrush habitats, including representing the SETT on Nevada’s Shared

Stewardship Technical Advisory Committee, efforts to update the SEP Strategic Action Plan, and work with NDOW on

the sagebrush conservation framework planning effort.

• ROGER (Results Oriented Grazing for Ecological Resiliency) meetings, Nevada Collaborative Conservation Network

(NvCCN) meetings, and Nevada Association of Conservation Districts (NVACD) Annual Meeting.

• Nevada Creeks and Communities Team assistance with Proper Functioning Condition workshops.

• CCS project entries in the GRSG Conservation Efforts Database and the USFS SMART database.

• Conferences, meetings, and webinars related to GRSG, wildfire, invasive plants, mitigation, and mining.

PLANS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR LATE 2021 UPDATES

Lightning North of Gerlach near the Estill Ranch Credit Project. (SETT)

• 7

Annual CCS Verifier Training in

January 2022.

• CCS credit project, debit project, and

transaction management, as well as

Cooperating Agency status for multiple

NEPA planning processes.

• SEP Strategic Action Plan update.

• Sagebrush/Habitat conservation

planning with NDOW.

• Federal land use plan amendments.

• The adaptive management process

outlined in the NV Greater Sage-

Grouse Conservation Plan, BLM, and

USFS land use plans.

• Development of annual conference for

credit and debit project participants.

• Discussions on an annual symposium

with other Western States involved in

sagebrush ecosystem conservation and

GRSG mitigation.

• Implementation of additional

conservation associated with the CCS

and through existing agreements and

grant opportunities.

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM & GRSG STATUS

GREATER SAGE -GROUSE POPULATION OVERVIEW

The Nevada Department of Wildlife, in conjunction with federal agency partners including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest

Service (USFS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), conducts sage-grouse lek counts and surveys

annually. Techniques to monitor leks include traditional ground surveys using accepted protocols and aerial survey using rotary or fixed wing

aircraft. Some fixed wing surveys are outfitted with cooled infrared camera technology (thermal imaging) with telephoto capabilities and flown at

altitudes that minimize or negate disturbance to birds. Approximately 40% of the 1,981 known sage-grouse leks and approximately 75% of trend

leks identified within the state are surveyed each year. Trend leks are a subset of total leks in Nevada that are monitored several times each year to

enable a better trend estimate for sage-grouse populations in Nevada.

TABLE 1 : Lek count summary (2000–2021).

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, NDOW biologists and

volunteers were challenged to count leks during the

spring 2020 lek surveying season, however lek counts

were conducted at normal capacity during 2021. A

total of 982 leks were surveyed during 2021 (compared

to only 394 in 2020), which is approximately 49% of the

2,002 known leks in Nevada. Of the leks surveyed, 436

were considered active (2 or more males). Peak male

attendance rate for active leks average 11.2 males per

lek, which is 41.4% below the 2000-2020 average of 19.1

males per lek. The attendance rate for 2021 is the

lowest observed during the 2000-2021 period. The lek

count summary from 2000-2021 is provided in Table 1.

Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Sage-

grouse Conservation Project Final Performance Report.

September 2021

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM & GRSG STATUS

FIGURE 3: Sage-

grouse lek attendance

(2000–2021).

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE POPULATION OVERVIEW

In 2021, NDOW and partners counted 157 trend leks, which exceeded the previous 20-year average of 152 trend leks counted per year. Average

male attendance at trend leks was 9.9 during the 2021 spring breeding season, which was 47.2% below the 2019 average of 18.8 males per trend lek

and 61.5% lower than the long-term average of 25.8 males per trend lek. Data from 2020 were not used for comparison due to low sample sizes. The

2021 trend lek attendance rate represents the lowest attendance rate ever recorded. Trend lek attendance is provided in Figure 3 from 2000-2021.

Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Sage-grouse Conservation Project Final Performance Report. September 2021

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE THREATS

THREATS TO THE SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM AND THE GREATER SAGE -GROUSE

Threats to GRSG are numerous but can be placed into categories that all affect GRSG habitat. Direct habitat loss from

wildfire and invasive species and habitat fragmentation are the greatest contributing factors to declining populations.

FIGURE 4: Threats to Sagebrush Ecosystems.

As habitat loss from wildfire and cheatgrass continue along with fragmentation, post-fire restoration and pre-suppression

actions to reduce wildfire frequency as well as appropriate mitigation of other impacts and preservation of intact landscapes

become even more important to conservation of Nevada’s sagebrush ecosystems and greater sage-grouse habitats.

NVCCN AND ROGER UPDATES

The SEP also provides information and updates for NVCCN, ROGER, and the LAWGs, which are all relevant to the sagebrush

conservation efforts in Nevada.

Covid-19 has reduced the ability of most of these groups in their normal setting with all partners represented.

The Nevada Collaborative Conservation Network (NVCCN): A December 2021 update was not provided.

ROGER (Results Oriented Grazing for Ecological Resilience): A December 2021 update was not provided.

With coordination by the Elko Stewardship LAWG, NDF, and the CD Program, inmate crews from Carlin and Wells Conservation Camps

installed over 1,000 sagebrush caches in the 2019 Hunter Fire footprint with USFWS Partners Funding. (Gary Reese of NDF)

Bi-State Local Area Working Group (LAWG): A December 2021 update was not provided.

Buffalo-Skedaddle Local Area Working Group (LAWG):

• Recent projects: Planted over 16,000 sagebrush seedlings in various fire scars, aerially sprayed 7,000 acres with Imazapic for annual grass control,

removed juniper on 5,500 acres.

• Future goals: Construct riparian restoration structures (BDAs and Zeedyks) on 4 different streams, continue spring improvements.

• Resource needs: Funding and capacity for project implementation.

Elko Stewardship Local Area Working Group (LAWG):

• Recent projects: Seeded Cedar Fire & continued rehab on Cherry, Corta, Owl, and Range Two fires, with Joint Chiefs and lek counts also in progress.

• Future goals: Site visits to plan additional project proposals.

• Resource needs: None noted.

Lincoln Local Area Working Group (LAWG): A December 2021 update was not provided.

North Central Local Area Working Group (LAWG):

• Recent projects: Noxious weeds and medusahead collaboration, stream improvement projects, horse removal efforts, adaptive management

meetings and recommendations. A Joint Chiefs Initiative proposal was also submitted focused on the treatment of medusahead, restoration of

meadows, reduction of fine fuels and community collaboration.

• Future goals: Get a facilitator, conduct noxious and medusahead efforts & additional rangeland improvement, upland and meadow habitat projects,

and post-fire efforts.

• Resource needs: Facilitator/Project Liaison, dedicated funding & people, consistent NEPA approaches, cooperation from agencies, better LAWG

outreach strategies.

SANE (Stewardship Alliance of Northeastern Nevada): A December 2021 update was not provided.

South Central Local Area Working Group (LAWG): A December 2021 update was not provided.

LOCAL AREA WORKING GROUP (LAWG) UPDATES