Questar and the Colorado Division of Wildlife work to benefit Greater Sage-Grouse

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and Questar Corporation are partnering to conduct research designed to document Greater Sage-Grouse seasonal habitat use and movements in the Hiawatha Development Area in northwest Colorado and south-central Wyoming.
 
Questar, a Salt Lake City based energy company active in the area since the 1920s, has provided funding for the research and will be partnering with the DOW on the project. Additional funding and support has been provided by the southwest Wyoming sage-grouse local working group. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is also cooperating on the research along with the Bureau of Land Management.
 
The project builds upon research DOW researcher Dr. Tony Apa and University of Idaho researcher Tom Thompson have conducted in the area since 2005.  DOW researcher Dr. Brett Walker will join the team to help identify and delineate important seasonal habitats for sage-grouse on a much larger, landscape scale. In the Hiawatha area, Greater Sage-Grouse generally spend the spring and summer in the high country, but move to lower elevations to winter. 
 
“To minimize impacts on sage-grouse from energy development, Questar, the DOW, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) need to know specifically when and where sage grouse occur within the proposed Hiawatha Field, and where seasonally critical breeding and wintering areas are located,” said Walker. “This project will answer those questions.” 
 
The information gained can then be incorporated into energy development plans to help industry avoid or minimize impacts to sage-grouse, and, if necessary, provide the foundation for a mitigation strategy. Data from this research could also be a catalyst for improving management options for Greater Sage-Grouse in other areas with significant energy development.
 
“Conservation of wildlife in the Hiawatha Field is possible, but it takes everyone bringing their ideas to the table and finding a balance,” said Kimberly Kaal, energy liaison for the DOW. “We appreciate Questar’s proactive approach toward developing science-based solutions to balance the conservation of Greater Sage-grouse and their habitat.”
 
“We are confident that bringing Colorado state wildlife managers, and oil and gas industry experts together will increase communication and the associated sharing of expertise, which will ultimately benefit the species as well as all the parties involved in the Hiawatha area” said Vincent Rigatti, general manager for the Questar’s Legacy Division. 
 
Questar’s voluntary support of the project is part of its long-term responsible management strategy for operations in the Hiawatha region. Wildlife experts, managers, industry, and ultimately Greater Sage-Grouse, will benefit from this research to create a strong alliance between those interested in sage-grouse conservation within the Hiawatha Field.