Groups sue over sage grouse protections

SALT LAKE CITY — Three environmental groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the federal government for its failure to immediately enact protections for the greater sage grouse, which is found in Utah.

Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deemed the bird merited addition to the Endangered Species List — kicking loose a variety of protections — it also said in its March decision that other species of animals had higher priority. For now, the sage grouse remains a "candidate" species.

"Delay in protecting the sage grouse is a recipe for extinction for these magnificent birds," said Jon Marvel, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, one of the three groups that brought the suit.

"We had hoped the Obama administration would move quickly to reduce the backlog of species waiting for protection, but instead, it's adding to the backlog."

In April, the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture announced a joint conservation effort involving Utah and 10 other states, making available millions to livestock producers and others willing to embark on conservation projects for the birds.

Those projects could include making improvements to sage grouse habitat, removal of invasive species or undertaking efforts to reduce threats like disease.

Utah's population of sage grouse remains healthy enough to sustain a hunt each year, and the state has spent millions in multipronged programs to keep its numbers healthy.

In addition to an aggressive transplant program to spread its population throughout Utah, the effect of wind turbines on sage grouse is being studied by the Division of Wildlife Resources.

State officials say Utah's program has achieved such success that other Western states want to invoke similar protections.

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com