The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
New modeling tool helps to identify habitat
The Gunnison County Planning Commission is proposing several amendments to the county’s Land Use Resolution (LUR) as part of an ongoing effort to protect, and manage for, the Gunnison sage grouse.
The majority of the proposed changes hinge on the county’s use of a habitat prioritization tool developed by the Gunnison County Sage Grouse Strategic Committee. The tool uses computer modeling and global information system (GIS) technology to determine appropriate habitat for sage grouse and rates it on a numerical scale. This should allow land managers and owners to better determine where building and other human activities can take place without disturbing the birds.
“This tool provides guidance for the Board of County Commissioners, and supports their strategic approach,” said county wildlife coordinator Jim Cochran.
According to Cochran, the current disturbance guidelines for the management of grouse are very general. The new modeling tool will allow the county to make provisions for the grouse as the county makes land use decisions.
“The tool allows us to exclude those areas that may be appropriate from a space/mileage issue for sage grouse, but that in reality do not meet criteria for appropriate habitat.” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist J Wenum.
The Planning Commission will send its recommendations to the county commissioners later this month. The section of the LUR to be changed is 11-106, Protection of Wildlife Habitat.
