House approves 10-year ban on sage grouse listing
The U.S. House approved a bill Fridayl that would prohibit federal officials from declaring the sage grouse as an endangered species for 10 years.
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) is a strong supporter of the bill, and worked hard to get it passed in the House today.
“This bill is excellent news for farmers and ranchers in Eastern Oregon,” he said. “A premature listing of the sage grouse could severely impact jobs in rural communities, so a delay would give states like Oregon the breathing room to implement local conservation plans without the heavy hand of the federal government getting in the way.”
“I am proud that this common-sense provision passed the House with strong support today, and I hope that the Senate will quickly take action on it. Livelihoods in eastern Oregon and throughout the rural West depend on it,” Walden added.
The sage grouse provision was included in an annual defense authorization bill because an endangered species listing could impact the military’s ability to train on key lands throughout the United States, potentially harming military readiness and national security.
Eastern Oregon ranchers praised the bill and Walden’s role in it, according to the congressman’s news release.
“I am very glad to see the House act today to delay the listing of the sage grouse,” said John O’Keeffe, President-Elect of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. “A delay would lift a tremendous threat to Eastern Oregon that undermines ongoing conservation efforts that myself and other local ranchers and property owners are trying to implement locally.
“I appreciate Rep. Walden’s continued interest in this issue and work to get this legislation through the House and over to the Senate for action.”
Bob Skinner, secretary/treasurer for the National Public Lands Council and past president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, said, “The House’s vote today passing this legislation is great news for rural communities in Eastern Oregon who need the relief of a ten-year delay in listing of the sage grouse.
“Our communities would be severely impacted by a listing, and a delay would allow us time to finish crafting a local solution that won’t destroy the livelihoods of family ranches across eastern Oregon. I thank Rep. Walden for supporting this through the House, and look forward to this legislation moving through the Senate.”
The bill was passed by the House by a vote of 269-151. It must now go to the Senate for consideration.
Meanwhile, funding is now available for private landowners to conserve and protect their land as part of six new regional conservation projects in Oregon, including one in Central and Eastern Oregon to protect sage grouse habitat.
The projects are funded by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under a new Farm Bill program called the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
RCPP leverages partnerships and funding to tackle natural resource challenges across public and private sectors. This is the first year that NRCS has awarded funding under RCPP. In Oregon, NRCS is investing $20.8 million over the next five years for six projects. Partnering agencies are providing an additional $23 million, resulting in a combined total investment of $45 million.
Eligible landowners within the six project areas should submit applications to their nearest USDA Service Center by June 19 to request financial and technical assistance for the first round of funding. Subsequent application dates may follow based on landowner response. NRCS funding will be used to implement a variety of conservation practices on private lands, including oak restoration, juniper removal, and irrigation efficiency projects.
Funding is available for the following projects:
The Oregon Model to Protect Sage Grouse
NRCS 5-Year Investment: $9 million, Partner 5-Year Investment: $9 million
Location: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur and Union counties
Lead partner: Oregon Association of Conservation Districts
This project will provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners in Eastern Oregon’s greater sage grouse habitats to enroll in 30-year Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances. These agreements allow producers and ranchers to continue sage grouse habitat improvement practices and be protected from future regulatory requirements should the species be listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Unlocking Carbon Markets for Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners in the Pacific Northwest
NRCS 5-Year Investment: $1 million, Partner 5-Year Investment: $914,000
Location: Oregon counties: Columbia, Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas; and Washington counties: Cowlitz, Clark, King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Kitsap, Grays Harbor
Lead partner: Pinchot Institute for Conservation
This project will provide opportunities for non-industrial private forest landowners in Oregon and Washington to participate in a regional carbon crediting program through the American Carbon Registry. Eligible landowners can receive financial and technical assistance developing a forest management plan and implementing forest practices that enhance carbon stocks, such as pre-commercial thinning, tree/shrub establishment, and others. The carbon program generates carbon-saving credits used to mitigate for other industrial forms of carbon production.
North Slope Ochoco Holistic Restoration Project
NRCS 5-Year Investment: $4.2 million, Partner 5-Year Investment: $7 million
Location: Wheeler County
Lead partner: Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District
This project will use an innovative GIS approach to target priority treatment areas along the north slope of the Ochoco Mountains. Conservation practices will include pre-commercial thinning, irrigation efficiency projects, conservation easements, juniper removal, range restoration, spring developments, riparian restoration, and critical habitat restoration.
White River Irrigation Efficiency and Stream Flow Restoration Project
NRCS 5-Year Investment: $1.6 million, Partner 5-Year Investment: $2 million
Location: Wasco County.
Lead partner: Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District
This project will remove six fish passage barriers to increase fish habitat access. It will also improve irrigation efficiency to save 7,300 acre feet of water annually and restore flows in 21.9 miles of stream. Identified activities will incrase water quality, improve irrigation efficiency, and improve fish habitat in this critical area.
North Willamette Valley Upland Oak Restoration Partnership
NRCS 5-Year Investment: $2 million, Partner 5-Year Investment: $3.9 million
Location: Yamhill and Polk counties
Lead partner: Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District
This project will restore and protect critical oak and prairie habitat in the North Willamette Valley—habitat that is vital to many plant and animal species, including the endangered Fender’s blue butterfly. The project will also incorporate long term conservation tools such as land acquisitions and conservation easements.
Klamath-Rogue Oak Woodland Health and Habitat Conservation Project
NRCS 5-Year Investment: $3 million, Partner 5-Year Investment: $1.3 million
Location: Jackson and Klamath counties, Oregon; Siskiyou County, California
Lead partner: Lomakatsi Restoration Project
This project will preserve, enhance and restore oak habitats and their watersheds in 3,200 high-priority acres in Oregon and California. Many at-risk and listed species depend on quality oak woodlands that are threatened by conifer encroachment, densification, and severe wildfires in this project area. Funding for California landowners is available now; funding for Oregon landowners will be available in years 2-5 of the project.
The majority of the funding is available to landowners through the NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Some projects leverage other NRCS funding programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Agricultural Land Easement Program. Refer to the Oregon RCPP webpage for more information about each project.
RCPP is a five-year investment, therefore, applicants not selected for funding for the June 19 batch date may be eligible for funding in subsequent application periods. Also, each year USDA will award funding for new RCPP projects, so other opportunities for funding may come available in coming years.
For more information about the RCPP, contact a USDA Service Center near you or visit the RCPP webpage.
