GUSG is a bird in the grouse family that lives exclusively in the sagebrush steppe ecosystems of southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. On November 20, 2014, the USFWS listed GUSG as a threatened species (79 FR 69191) and designated critical habitat for the species (79 FR 69311) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq; hereafter Act). Further, the World Conservation Union recognizes the GUSG as a red-listed or globally endangered species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (Storch 2000). Additionally, in 2006 the Audubon Society identified the GUSG as one of the ten most endangered birds in North America. GUSG are closely associated with sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems in North America (Young et al. 2015, p. 1). The loss of sagebrush habitat has caused GUSG to disappear from over 90% of its historic range. Oil and natural gas drilling, motorized recreation, improper livestock grazing, conversion to agriculture, and development have all contributed to the degradation of sagebrush steppe. Habitat fragmentation increases the issues by segmenting the grouse into smaller groups, which limits genetic flow between isolated populations. One such isolated population is in San Juan County which supports the only occurrence of GUSG in Utah. Further compounding the problem is the large percentage of private lands in Utah's currently-occupied habitat, which is approximately 60,000 acres. This habitat consists of approximately 95% private land, 4% federal lands, and 1% state of Utah lands. Due to the large percentage of private lands in the area, the potential for habitat loss and degradation is significant, both of which could be abated through the acquisition of property by TNC.

The primary objective is durable protection of an additional ~305 acres of federally designated critical habitat for GUSG, sagebrush-obligate bird species and other sensitive wildlife species via land acquisition and management by TNC. The following secondary objectives may also be advanced: a. Provide areas for future habitat improvements. b. Provide opportunities to gather habitat data necessary for subsequent habitat enhancement work. c. Ensure that activities such as grazing, farming, and development will not negatively impact these habitats for sage-grouse. d. Protecting the parcel will add to the existing lands in the area owned by TNC. e. The proposed purchase would also positively affect the following shrub-steppe associated species known to occur within this area: * Sage Thrasher * Sage, Lark, Vesper, Black-throated and Brewer's Sparrows * Burrowing Owl * Northern Mockingbird * Loggerhead Shrike * Red-tailed Hawk * Golden Eagle * Prairie Falcon * Marsh Hawk * Rough-legged Hawk * Common Nighthawk * Mourning Dove * Meadow Lark * Ash-throated Flycatcher

The parcel TNC wishes to acquire has been designated critical habitat for the GUSG (79 FR 69311) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq; hereafter Act) and it is good condition sagebrush habitat. It is located adjacent to property currently owned and managed by TNC. If successful this project along with the adjacent TNC parcel will ensure that ~1,385 acres of habitat critical to GUSG will be protected from habitat destruction while also reducing fragmentation of shrub-steppe ecosystems. However, at this time the 305 acre parcel is listed with a real estate agent and nearby properties are being converted to dryland farming at an alarming rate. TNC is currently negotiating an option agreement with the landowner to purchase the parcel at FMV which will be determined by an appraisal. If TNC is unable to purchase this property it may be sold for dryland farming activities.

Acquisition of approximately 305 acres of GUSG critical habitat would advance objectives set forth in at least a dozen plans and initiatives. Below is more specific information regarding these plans and the objectives that this project will help to advance. 1. GSGRSC (Gunnison Sage-grouse Rangewide Steering Committee). 2005. Gunnison sage-grouse rangewide conservation plan. a. The vision of the Rangewide Plan is the survival and conservation of GUSG. Recovery will be signified by at least four resilient populations (high resiliency for Gunnison Basin, high resiliency for San Miguel Basin, high resiliency for on Mesa, and moderate resiliency for Crawford) and improved habitat in three populations (Dove Creek, Monticello, and CSCSM at low resiliency). 2. Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015--2025 DWR publication 15-14 a. Permanent conservation of sage grouse-habitat through fee title acquisitions or conservation easements b. Acquire conservation easements or fee-title to key grassland areas. c. Acquire conservation easements or fee-title to key shrubsteppe areas. 3. Gunnison Sage Grouse Conservation Plan, San Juan County, UT a. Objective: Protect critical lek, nesting, brood rearing, and wintering areas. b. Strategies: Secure or acquire important habitats through fee title from willing sellers, land exchanges, conservation easements, tax incentives, voluntary cooperative agreements, CRP leases, grazing lease agreements, etc. 4. USFWS Final Recovery Plan for Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus), 2020 a. Reducing threats and improving habitats will be necessary to maintain or increase habitat quality and quantity across the seven populations. b. Improved and maintained habitats in the Dove Creek, Monticello, and CSCSM populations will contribute to connectivity, redundancy, and representation. 5. USFWS Recovery Implementation Strategy for Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus). 2020 Version 1.0 a. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation are the biggest threats in the Monticello population because most land is privately owned and much has been converted to agriculture over the past 100-plus years. Two implementation strategies for the Monticello area are 1) Conserve existing habitats and 2) Improve habitat quality and quantity. 6. BLM Gunnison Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment. 2024 a. Approved RMP Amendment will amend up to nine land use plans in southwestern Colorado and two in southeastern Utah to promote the recovery of Gunnison sage-grouse (GUSG) (Centrocercus minimus) and maintain and enhance occupied and unoccupied habitat for the species. 7. BLM's National Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy. 2004 a. Protect habitat for sage-grouse. b. Maintain, develop and expand partnerships to promote cooperation and support for all activities associated with sage-grouse and sagebrush conservation. 8. NRCS's Sage-Grouse Initiative. 2021-225. a. The property is within NRCS's Gunnison Sage-grouse Initiative priority conservation area. 9. Utah Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy. 2002. (Version 2.0) a. Manage growth of agriculture and urban development so as not to impact sage-grouse habitats. b. Prohibit land treatments known to be negative for sage-grouse. 10. 2008 BLM Monticello Field Office's Resource Management Plan a. Sensitive resources protected by applying a no surface occupancy (NSO) stipulation in the Approved RMP include riparian areas, soils and vegetation, sensitive visual resource areas, cultural resources, wilderness characteristics, and Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. 11. The Nature Conservancy's Colorado Plateau Ecoregional Plan a. The property is located within the Sage Plain Conservation Area. b. The plan sets conservation goals for ecological systems, rare communities and species. Sagebrush shrubland, sagebrush steppe and Gunnison sage-grouse are conservation targets. 12. Utah Management Plan for Mule Deer (DWR) a. Goal: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 500,000 acres of crucial range by 2024. b. Strategy: Continue to support and provide leadership for the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, which emphasizes improving sagebrush-steppe, aspen, and riparian habitats throughout Utah. c. Strategy: Work with land management agencies, conservation organizations, private landowners, and local leaders through the regional Watershed Restoration Initiative working groups to identify and prioritize mule deer habitats that are in need of enhancement or restoration. Emphasis should be placed on crucial habitats including sagebrush winter ranges and aspen summer ranges. 13. TNC's 2030 goals which aims to conserve 1.6 billion acres of land.

Utah's Wildlife Action Plan ranks fire and fire suppression as a very high threat to GUSG (pg 345). Proper management by TNC on the ~305 acre property could help to reduce the risk of fire through ecologically sustainable grazing, removal of invasive species, and restoration of sagebrush ecosystems if needed. Acquisition will also abate the threat of improper development, off-road vehicle use, and dryland farming which could inadvertently contribute to fire risk.

In San Juan County, Utah, most GUSG nesting areas are in poor condition due to lack of herbaceous cover as a result of drought and poor grazing management practices. Long-term drought has also reduced the availability of forb and grasses which are critical habitat for brood-rearing. Vega Creek flows through the parcel TNC wishes to acquire. Protecting and proper management of this water source could result in increased forb and grass composition important for survival of GUSG young.

Not applicable

TNC has the expertise to negotiate, acquire, and manage acquisition projects and preserves. If the project is funded, TNC plans to negotiate a ~one-year option agreement with the landowner. During the option period, TNC will perform all necessary due diligence including title review, appraisal to determine fair market value, and environmental site assessment, etc. A title report and mineral assessment conducted by a qualified geologist have been completed but are in need of updating. As appropriate, all acquisition and due diligence documents will be provided to ESMF. More specifically, TNC's work plan for acquiring the identified parcel includes, but is not limited to, the following steps: 1. Conflict of interest; ensure there is no actual or perceived conflict of interest between the property owner and TNC 2. Meet with the landowner and visit the property 3. Order title report and water rights research (2 - 4 weeks, or longer if issues to resolve) 4. Order mineral assessment if minerals are severed (1-2 weeks) 5. Order/review appraisal to determine fair market value (6-8 weeks, depending upon location) 6. Negotiate/sign option agreement (2-4 weeks to negotiate) 7. Order phase 1 environmental site assessment (6-8 weeks) 8. Exercise option agreement (30-60 days prior to closing date) 9. Close. Negotiations are currently underway. It is anticipated that, in the next few months, the landowner will sign an option agreement for TNC to acquire the property. Letters of interest from the landowner are available upon request. If the project is funded, a final appraisal report, in addition to an environmental assessment will be completed within approximately six months of the estimated closing date. Acquisition of fee title is a time-tested and appropriate tool to secure long-term protection of Gunnison sage-grouse habitat, thereby abating the dual threats of habitat fragmentation through subdivision and habitat destruction through inappropriate uses such as dryland farming.

TNC's standard operating procedures require that all TNC properties have a management plan and that preserves be monitored on an annual basis to ensure compliance with the stated objectives in the management plan. A comprehensive monitoring report is completed to uniformly document the results of each monitoring visit including maps and photographs. The monitoring report includes sufficient detail to document the condition of the conservation interests of the property and the protected conservation values. In addition to TNC monitoring, the Utah Division of Wildlife (UDWR) annually conducts lek counts within Utah with the goal of counting the peak number of males on all known leks in the state.

Direct partners involved in this project are UDWR, San Juan County, and TNC. However, the San Juan County Gunnison Sage-grouse Conservation Plan included an implementation action to protect critical lek, nesting, brood rearing, and wintering areas. One of the conservation strategies to meet this action is to secure or acquire important habitats through the purchase of property and conservation easements. The following eight landowners and twelve local, state and federal natural resource agencies, and university signed the plan. Agencies and University Landowners San Juan Committee F. Bennion Redd San Juan County Commission David Fullmer U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bruce Adams Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Lynn Adams Utah State University Extension Services John Scorup Natural Resources Conservation Service Irene Redd Bureau of Land Management John Roring Farm Service Agency Juan Hansen USU, College of Natural Resources USU, Jack H. Berryman Institute

TNC has a long and effective history of purchasing and managing lands with high conservation value. The parcel will be managed by TNC to enhance and protect sagebrush shrub systems and populations of GUSG. If warranted TNC will work with wildlife biologists (DWR and USFWS) to restore degraded sagebrush, remove interior fences, and mark exterior fences. TNC can allow access to DWR biologists to provide opportunities to gather habitat data and bird population counts. TNC will ensure that activities such as grazing, farming, and development will not negatively impact these habitats for sage-grouse.

TNC will consider leasing the property based on a mutually agreed upon grazing management plan developed by NRCS and approved by DWR.