GUINN CELEBRATES SAGE GROUSE PLAN VOLUNTEER EFFORTS


Tuesday, Governor Kenny Guinn enthusiastically honored nearly 160 volunteers whose cumulative efforts over the past four years resulted in the completion of The Greater Nevada Sage Grouse conservation plan, a proactive approach to identify the risks to Nevada’s sage grouse and ways to mitigate those risks. The efforts of all involved, according to Guinn, set the stage for what needs to be done to protect sage grouse in the state of Nevada.

Guinn acknowledged the efforts of all involved including the volunteers on the local area planning boards and Governor’s team, the on-the-ground volunteers conducting sage grouse surveys, state and federal agency staff and many others whose planning, research, science, and roles as information resources led to the successful completion of the plan.

Contributors to the process even included local high school students, proving age was no barrier in the sage grouse conservation effort. Their hands-on work and research, led by Yerington teacher Steve Pellegrini, provided new and scientific insights into the genetic make-up of Nevada’s sage grouse and contributed to the ultimate research supporting the plan.

Since 1999, approximately 160 volunteers to the sage grouse planning effort invested nearly 9,300 hours of their time, and drove112,325 miles, totaling nearly $245,000 which was applied as state match to federal grants.

“I know that each one of you has made a difference, and that this process has made a difference,” Guinn said. “We are hopeful that the reviewers at the US Fish and Wildlife Service will see our data as proof that the sage grouse does not require protection under the Endangered Species Act,” Guinn said.


The Nevada Department of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for the restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources, and the promotion of boating safety on Nevada’s waters. Wildlife offices are located in Las Vegas, Henderson, Ely, Winnemucca, Fallon, Elko, and Reno. For more information, contact the agency web site at www.ndow.org.