Sage Grouse and Antelope Down in South Dakota

Sage Grouse vs transmission linesThe sage grouse population has fallen in South Dakota in recent years, reports an Associated Press story in the Daily Journal. To let the population rebound, the state’s Game, Fish and Parks Commission decided not to have a sage grouse hunting season this year.

Read the Daily Journal article, here.

The state’s antelope population has not rebounded after a recent decline, but in that case the state will limit hunting licenses for firearms to South Dakota residents, the Mitchell Daily Republic reports. Archery hunting licenses will be available to residents and nonresidents.

Read the Daily Republic article, here.

Photo: Greater sage grouse by Stephen Ting. Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wisconsin Nongame Program Changes Name

Wisc DNRAfter 40 years as the Wisconsin Bureau of Endangered Resources, the program charged with caring for that state’s endangered resources is now known as the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation. The change took place on July 1.

“Our name has changed but our mission is the same,” says Erin Crain, who took over in October 2012 as bureau director, in a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources press release. However, the same press release mentions changes in organization and budget with the goal of filling long-standing vacancies in field positions.

Read the entire press release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, here.

USGS River Gauges and Sequestration

river gauge mapOne way for the federal government to save money is to turn off any number of the 7,000 river gauges installed and maintained by the US Geological Survey. Each gauge costs $14,000 to $18,000 a year to maintain, High Country News reports.

High Country News also reports on which river gauges in the West are most likely to be shut because of sequestration or other budget cuts.

We pointed you to an article about Montana’s last minute rescue of some of that state’s river gauges in May. That arrangement lasts until September.

Because river gauges are such a vital tool in managing river ecosystems, we thought you would like to know.

Read the High Country News article, here.
See the USGS map of lost and endangered river gauges, here.

Illustration: River gauge map on July 9, 2013 from USGS