Sage-Grouse Local Working Group Locator Project
A contract supported by USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)
Greater Sage-grouse populations (Centrocercus urophasianus) have experienced range-wide declines as a result of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. While state wildlife agencies are ultimately responsible for the management of their resident sage-grouse populations, much of their habitat lies on federal and private lands with the Bureau of Land Management managing nearly 50% of the total area. With such a diverse stakeholder group, the involvement of community based sage-grouse conservation teams or Local Working Groups (LWGs), provide a critical element to the success of preserving this species and sagebrush habitats. Sixty-three LWGs have been established in 11 western states and 2 Canadian provinces. Many groups have been active for several years and are engaged in on-the-ground projects. Other groups have either just been formed or are in the process of identifying resource threats in their area and are developing Conservation Plans to address those concerns. Despite this level of activity, a consolidated resource did not exist where relevant data and information from all of these groups could be brought together.
In February 2005, a recommendation to facilitate development of an information clearinghouse to assist LWGs was reported from the National Conference for Sage Grouse Local Working Groups. The RS/GIS Laboratory in collaboration with the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center - Snake River Field Station (FRESC-SRFS), and with the support of the USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), have teamed up to help address the issue of sharing information across the LWGs by developing the Sage-grouse Local Working Group Locator http://greatbasin.wr.usgs.gov/LWG/.
The Sage-Grouse Local Working Group Locator is a web-based, geographically-linked database to identify who and where LWGs are range-wide, as well as what types of projects and conservation efforts have been identified in a specific area. The LWG Locator provides a central resource for LWGs and interested stakeholders to facilitate greater connectivity and information exchange throughout the region.
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