SageGrouseConnectivity

Version 1 - 03.17.08: Sage-Grouse (sg) Core Areas as defined by the Governor's Sage Grouse Implementation Team (SGIT) on 3.17.08 in Lander, WY. Polygons were drawn on a paper map using a sage-grouse breeding density background that was created using Dr. Kevin Doherty's kernel lek density method. At the SGIT meeting, industry, NGOs, and various governmental organizations used pooled knowledge to draw polygons to protect sg breeding habitat. Version 2 - 08.07.08: Everything from version 1 except the redrawing of East Buffalo core area in the BLM Buffalo field office to match up with PLSS lines and better reflect the local conditions identified in an EIS. These changes were approved by the Governor's Office. Version 3 - 06.29.10: These core areas took the versions 2 core area concept further and refined the boundaries based on local conditions and more up-to-date threats to sage-grouse habitat. Each of the eight Local Working Groups (LWGs) met at least once and used core area scale maps (~1:90,000), local knowledge and known seasonal habitat use (winter and brood-rearing) to make recommended edge adjustments to the core area boundaries. The data available included: NAIP 2009 imagery to access the habitat and topography, oil/gas development, mining permit boundaries, permitted wind development, leks, and baseline data (roads, counties, etc.) The LWG's also had sagebrush habitat maps, WGFD Wildlife Observation System data, human footprint data, updated sage-grouse breeding density, and other supplemental datasets to make their decisions. The SGIT reviewed the recommendations by the LWGs and all the available data and finalized the boundary lines. Two connectivity corridors to Montana were also identified by the SGIT in consultation with the Northeast LWG. The final map, version 3 core areas, was presented and approved by the governor on 6/29/10. Version 4 - 07.29.15: Similar process as the version 2 to version 3 revision. The best available science and data was used to refine the core area edges to include new leks, dense population areas, and associated habitats while excluding known conflicts. The data available included: NAIP 2012 imagery to access the habitat and topography, oil/gas development, oil/gas unit boundaries, mining permit boundaries, EIS boundaries, transmission corridors, land ownership, permitted wind development, leks, updated sage-grouse current range, statewide existing disturbance data from the Density Disturbance Calculation Tool (DDCT), baseline data (roads, counties, etc.), sagebrush habitat maps, WGFD Wildlife Observation System data, research locations from Chapter 33 permits issued by WGFD, updated sage-grouse breeding density polygons from Dr. Kevin Doherty, and other supplemental datasets to make their decisions. Each of the 8 LWG's examined the core area boundaries in their area and heard proposals from NGO's, government agencies, private land owners, and industry to modify the version 3 core area boundaries. The LWG recommendations were passed along to the mapping subgroup of the SGIT. The mapping subgroup held public meetings where the original proposals were reviewed and new proposals to modify the core area boundaries were considered. The mapping sub group presented its findings to the SGIT along with the original LWG suggestions. All options and suggestions were weighed by the SGIT and they made formal recommendations to Governor Matt Mead who decided on the final core area version 4 boundaries. In addition to the core areas and connectivity areas, winter concentration areas (separate file) were also delineated. These polygons, located in western Wyoming, delineate a large portion of winter birds not covered by core area designation. Proposals were received to adjust the connectivity boundaries but the SGIT passed recommendations along to the Governor to leave these boundaries unchanged from version 3 to 4. Governor Mead accepted these recommendations.版本1 - 2008年3月17日：由州长艾草松鸡实施团队（Governor's Sage Grouse Implementation Team, SGIT）于2008年3月17日在怀俄明州兰德市制定的艾草松鸡（Sage-Grouse）核心区域。最初的多边形边界基于凯文·多赫蒂博士的求偶场核密度法生成的艾草松鸡繁殖密度背景图，在纸质地图上绘制而成。在SGIT会议上，产业界、非政府组织（NGO）及各类政府机构汇集各方知识绘制多边形，以保护艾草松鸡繁殖栖息地。 版本2 - 2008年8月7日：本版本包含版本1的全部内容，仅调整了东布法罗核心区域的边界：美国土地管理局（Bureau of Land Management, BLM）布法罗办事处重新绘制了该区域，使其与美国公共土地测量系统（Public Land Survey System, PLSS）界线匹配，并更贴合环境影响报告书（Environmental Impact Statement, EIS）中明确的当地实际情况。上述调整已获得州长办公室批准。 版本3 - 2010年6月29日：本版本进一步延续了版本2的核心区域理念，结合当地实际情况与最新的艾草松鸡栖息地威胁因素对边界进行了细化。8个地方工作组（Local Working Groups, LWGs）均至少召开一次会议，以约1:90000比例的核心区域比例尺地图、本地知识以及已知的季节栖息地利用数据（越冬与育雏期数据）为基础，提出核心区域边界的边缘调整建议。本次可参考的数据包括：美国农业部农业航拍计划（National Agricultural Imagery Program, NAIP）2009年影像用于评估栖息地与地形、油气开发项目、采矿许可边界、获批风电开发项目、求偶场（leks）以及基础地理数据（道路、县界等）。此外，LWGs还参考了艾草灌丛栖息地地图、怀俄明州鱼类和野生动物部门（Wyoming Game and Fish Department, WGFD）野生动物观测系统数据、人类足迹数据集、更新后的艾草松鸡繁殖密度数据及其他补充数据集以完成决策。SGIT对LWGs的建议与全部可用数据进行审核，最终确定边界线。SGIT还会同东北LWGs划定了两条通往蒙大拿州的连通廊道。2010年6月29日，州长正式发布并批准了版本3的核心区域最终地图。 版本4 - 2015年7月29日：本版本的修订流程与版本2至版本3的修订流程一致：采用最新可用的科学数据与资料细化核心区域边界，纳入新增求偶场、高密度种群区域及相关栖息地，同时排除已知存在冲突的区域。本次可参考的数据包括：NAIP 2012年影像用于评估栖息地与地形、油气开发项目、油气单元边界、采矿许可边界、EIS界线、输电廊道、土地所有权信息、获批风电开发项目、求偶场、更新后的艾草松鸡现有分布范围、来自密度扰动计算工具（Density Disturbance Calculation Tool, DDCT）的全州现有扰动数据、基础地理数据（道路、县界等）、艾草灌丛栖息地地图、WGFD野生动物观测系统数据、WGFD签发的第33章许可对应的研究点位、凯文·多赫蒂博士更新的艾草松鸡繁殖密度多边形数据及其他补充数据集以完成决策。8个LWGs分别对辖区内的核心区域边界进行核查，并听取了NGO、政府机构、私有土地所有者及产业界提出的修改版本3核心区域边界的提案。LWGs的建议被提交至SGIT的制图小组。制图小组召开公开会议，对原始提案进行审议，并考虑修改核心区域边界的新提案。制图小组将审议结果与LWGs的原始建议一并提交至SGIT。SGIT对所有方案与建议进行权衡后，正式向马特·米德州长提交建议，由其最终确定版本4的核心区域边界。除核心区域与连通廊道外，本次还划定了冬季聚集区（单独文件）。这些位于怀俄明州西部的多边形范围覆盖了未被核心区域纳入的大量越冬艾草松鸡种群。期间收到了调整连通廊道边界的提案，但SGIT建议保留版本3至版本4的连通廊道边界不变。该建议最终获得米德州长的采纳。